Babbitt’s city council meeting opened with public input from Rebecca Littler, assistant director for the Babbitt Ambulance Department.
Littler expressed disappointment in the communication channels between herself and the city.
“The process has been disheartening, frustrating, overly complicated, and I feel like it’s taking a lot longer than it should…I feel like (clerk) Nancy (Sanford) acts as a gatekeeper between me and the departments that are meant to make these decisions.”
Littler went on to say that she “cannot stand behind something I cannot fact-check. I cannot go into a meeting completely unprepared to talk numbers that do not exist and make them up as arbitrary numbers and then present them to you as fact.”
Mike Sanford also addressed the council, referencing a Facebook post that was made in What’s Up Babbitt, along with, “handouts, social media, and word of mouth.”
According to Sanford, he was voted on to be hired as a supplemental casual laborer last winter to help plow the roads, but never completed the hiring process and was therefore never paid by the city.
“If you looked deeper, or just asked, you would have known this and not wasted everybody’s time with the rumors and gossip.”
Sanford maxed out his time limit, but was voted onto the agenda by council member John Fitzpatrick about 45 minutes into the meeting.
Sanford came back up at the end of the meeting to finish his statements.
“The emotional and financial expense my family incurred was beyond what any of you could imagine, but in all of that, we did the right thing for all our team employees involved so that none of them would have to feel the pain that we did.”
The Gary Kurpius land agreement was reviewed by city attorney Joel Lewicki, who drew up a final purchase agreement. The motion to approve the purchase agreement was passed, pending the city’s signatures.
Kurpius chimed in from the audience once the motion was passed, “Can I say a hallelujah?”
Substantial discussion was had over the West Babbitt Development Project bonding process.
A representative from Northland Securities, George Eilertson, briefed the council extensively on the structure for the debt of a 20year obligation bond with a call date for February 2034.
“We can certainly hold discussion tonight, but probably not for voting upon tonight,” said Eilertson.
Some points brought up for the council to consider were Standard and Poor’s (the credit-rating entity) assessment of Babbitt. S&P “affirmed the city’s outstanding rating, which is an A+ rating with a stable outlook.” Babbitt also earned the highest rating possible, AAA, through Minnesota’s Credit Enhancement Program.
A few things working against Babbitt’s credit positives are out of the city’s control: proximity to a metropolitan area, as well as a diversified economy versus concentration in one sector of the job market, which in Babbitt’s case is the mining industry.
Todd Heikkila, interim police chief, updated the council on the burnout the Babbitt Police Department is experiencing without adequate staffing.
He met with the Breitung police department to discuss a possible merger, and Breitung’s police chief will be bringing it up to the city council. Heikkila told council that there’s updates needing to happen soon should the PD continue on.
“The Tyler system has to be implemented July 1 and for the city of Babbitt to be good with that, we have to have all new computers in our office and in our squads…that’s gonna cost roughly $33,500.”
Heikkila also said that if the city is trying to keep the department, “we need to look at getting a new squad car too.”
Council member Duane Lossing asked about the new security cameras that were discussed during the public safety meeting, to which Kirsten Traut, administrative assistant, responded that, “the FBI is requiring all police departments to have entry notifications…that’s an ‘as-soon-as-you-can’ type of thing, they are aware of our current situation.”
The pursuance of a new security system is pending a decision from the council on the future of the PD. The city of Ely is not interested in any kind of dual-department. The East Range police department has decided not to pursue a partnership with the passing of Cody Seibert, which leaves contracting with the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Department as the only other option.
The council passed a motion to approve time-and-a-half wages for part-time police officers to help staff the department, but Heikkila stated that he is, “getting extremely burnt out right now.”
The council scheduled a study session for Tuesday at 3 p.m., preceding a special meeting.
The West Babbitt Development has already broken ground and is in search of 20,000 yards, or 1,000 semi loads of material to help build up the ground.
South of the development, there is a lot used as a buffer for the wastewater treatment plant that the city cannot develop, but could offer for sale as material.
Tony Chamberlin explained that retrieving the material would “leave a ditch about 80 feet wide, with a 3:1 slope on it, finished grass and water in the bottom with a 12-foot total dig depth.”
The ballpark number is that the city would sell them about $60,000 worth of material and then pay $20,000 to have the developers restore the land, leaving the city with a profit of $40,000.
Soil and environmental health also reviewed the proposal, stating that, “the material was tested and good…the contractor is responsible for erosion control around the site, and they cannot remove trees over three inches in diameter, and the site must be reasonably restored to an original condition the city is agreeable to.”
After much debate and the rescission of previous motions, the council passed a motion to offer to sell the material at $3 per yard.
In other business the council:
• Heard from city clerk Sanford that the arena compressor project is still being negotiated
• Approved Mike Jenkins’ application to the Library Board
• Approved the proclamation of National Emergency Medical Services Week May 17-23.
• Approved Mayor Zupancich’s signature of the MN mayors’ letter of support for paid family and medical leave reform.
• Adopted a resolution for the city debt management policy
• Heard tax levy information compiled by Mayor Zupancich
• Approved a motion to record committee and commission meetings.
• Approved Jake Myer’s application to the Recreation Committee
• Waived facility rental fee for National Day of Prayer on May 7.
• Rescheduled the May 5 city council meeting to April 28; there will be no city council meeting May 5.
• Approved to hire Maizy Sundblad as a street department summer worker.
• Approved a motion to draft a resolution for repeal of the City of Babbitt 2011 Comprehensive Plan, to be reviewed by the planning commission, which is responsible for holding a public hearing, and referring back to the council.
• Directed the planning and zoning commission to discuss a minimum lot size in the mining district.
