Tuesday’s council meeting after ran just shy of three hours. City clerk Nancy Sanford updated council on the audit of their accounts at the end of 2025, and the city and public utilities accounts ended with an excess of $155,000 since the beginning of the year.
Sanford will be scheduling a study session with council to work out how to categorize accounts for the city in a streamlined way, together with the city’s auditor Tom Kelly.
The Kurpius/Evenstad land purchase made up most of the unfinished business discussion.
The sale has not gone through yet because of a public roadway adjacent to the land, formerly used as the original road to Argo between Basswood and Cottonwood.
“The city cannot sell this roadway, as it remains a dedicated public right of way,” said city attorney Joel Lewicki in a memo sent to council in his absence. “I recommend we do not sell or transfer the roadway at this time to remain inside the law.”
The buyer made it clear they are not seeking to purchase the road. The council tabled the discussion pending further attorney review of the purchase agreement.
Law enforcement coverage options were discussed again, but no decisions were made.
Mayor Andrea Zupancich also made an emotional statement sending condolences to the family and friends of K9 police officer Cody Siebert, who passed away unexpectedly last weekend from a brain infection.
There was substantial discussion between council and the steering committee about the repair or replacement of several heating processors in the municipal building. All of the heating processors in the building were installed in 2000.
Les Parson, a member of the steering committee, recommended that the city build a ductwork bridge. Administrative Assistant Kirsten Traut disagreed, citing the two quotes received from two different plumbing and heating companies.
One of the companies, Northern Plumbing and Heating, recommended not putting in ductwork. Iron Range Plumbing and Heating would not provide a quote at all; both companies agree that if the ductwork were put in, it would reduce part of the system’s lifespan, which is already due for replacement. Councilor Duane Lossing made a motion to table the decision andresearchaquoteintohowmuch the bridgework might cost.
The marina project, pending renaming, was next on the agenda. This project was discussed at length in a meeting on Monday. Lossing wants to “slow down, create a committee to assess the needs of the beach, and then go from there.”
Caitlin Stern, the recreation department coordinator, made it clear that “the parking lot on the west side is deteriorating, and does need to be redone.”
Project estimates were listed at $1 million. The deadline to apply for funding is Monday; but the funding would not be granted until 2028. The council did not make any motions regarding the design.
In other business the council:
• Heard Arrowhead Plumbing and Heating has ordered a regulator for the Rec Center and is still waiting to replace
• Heard Range Cornice patched a roof leak at the Ron Castellano Arena, the city will put in an insurance claim for the roof tiles, as they were supposed to be replaced a few years ago.
• Conducted a survey for the Teen Center located in the Babbitt Municipal Building, and the responses were overwhelmingly positive.
• Heard the city received a free light bar from St. Louis county, saving the city $2,500.
• Approved the Public Works Committee request to raise the casual laborer pay rate from $15.24 to $18.28 an hour.
• Discussed creating a fulltime maintenance position for the Municipal Building for HP filter inspections and replacements.
• Heard from Terry Swanson about his concerns that due notice was not given to the residents adjacent to Parcel No. 105-0080-00130 before it was sold, and Attorney Lewicki agreed that public notice was not given.
• Approved facility rental fees to be waived for the Friends of the Library on June 20, August 8 and Sept. 19.
• Tabled designation of a noxious weed inspector until Councilor John Fitzpatrick can ask his wife, a resident garden expert.
• Approved the 2026 gambling license for the Babbitt Conservation Club.
• Approved Chris Israel’s application to the Recreation Committee.
• Hired Melinda Vagle to the Ambulance Department.
• Approved two police officer applicants to move forward with an interview and ride-along.
• Picked four applicants to interview for the campground host position.
• Approved application for Congressionally Directed Spending for FY27.
• Reassigned Councilor Joseph White’s seat on the Public Safety Committee to Lossing.
• Assigned the West Babbitt Development listing agreements to Ely Realty.
• Waived facility rental fees for the Lion’s Club Easter Egg Hunt on March 21.
• Approved the 2025 Ambulance Department write-offs of 108 bills totalling $156,176.15 with higher rates from the previous year. Last year $175,035.25 was written off for 160 runs.
