In advance of the upcoming state legislative session, the date is now set for a meeting that brings area leaders together with state lawmakers.
The Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board will hold its annual legislative meeting on Monday, Jan. 5, at the Grand Ely Lodge.
An annual staple on Ely’s calendar, the event known as “the legislative meeting” offers both a sneak peak at what to expect in the ensuing legislative session as well as the priorities and key projects for local governments and entities.
The meeting is typically held in December, but scheduling conflicts as well as the February start to the 2026 session, prompted the move to January.
At the head of the table are Ely’s two representatives in St. Paul - State Sen. Grant Hauschild (D-Hermantown) and State Rep. Roger Skraba (R-Ely).
Hauschild and Skraba both face re-election bids in 2026, but first they will deal with a session where they will address potential bonding legislation as well as numerous other issues.
The event usually involves state lawmakers and aides to federal officials, and as many as 40-to-50 people often attend the public gathering, which includes lunch for all invited guests.
Set in advance of upcoming legislative sessions, the meeting gives Ely area officials an opportunity to address concerns and pitch particular projects and issues, both of interest to individual entities and the group as a whole.
Members of the local Joint Powers group, which includes representatives from Ely, Morse and Fall Lake townships, Winton and the Ely School District, are slated to address potential agenda items during a Nov. 5 meeting at Ely’s City Hall.
Skraba and Hauschild have committed to attending the January event and aides to U.S. Rep. Pete Stauber, U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar and U.S. Sen. Tina Smith will be invited.
County commissioners are also generally invited, and the session will likely bring representatives of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board, and the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools.
About two decades old, the event is an offshoot of meetings convened previously by the Ely Area Community Economic Development Joint Powers Board and the Ely Area Development Association.
While the joint powers group no longer contracts for economic development services, it meets intermittently to address local issues and the legislative meeting remains a focus point for the organization.
The Jan. 5 event begins with lunch at 11:30 a.m., and the meeting will be called to order at noon.
The meeting is open to the public although lunch is limited to invited guests and meeting participants.
