The City of Babbitt will welcome vendors searching for an alternative venue following the Blueberry/Art Festival’s cancellation last Sunday, July 19.
The Birch Landing Art Fair will take place at Babbitt’s Central Park Saturday, July 25 through Sunday, July 26. The park’s capacity could host up to 200 vendors, said Mayor Andrea Zupancich, although the city does not anticipate that large of a number.
Babbitt’s festival will join vendor-based events in Tower and Ely this weekend. On Friday and Saturday, UBetcha Antiques will host the Blueberry Bust 2026 event in Tower while the Blueberry Bazaar and Bake SalerunsattheElyCommunity Center.
“It’s a really great multi-community effort to try and keep the economic dollars in towns, because we all know everyone’s been hit,” Zupancich said.
“This is one way to keep everyone together and moving forward in a really hard situation, and by no means with anyone’s safety at risk,” Zupancich said. Organizer Karen Hamilton, president of the Ely Farmers Market and owner of the Beyond Nuts food trailer, will handle logistics. Hamilton plans to charge vendors just $50 to cover the cost of insurance, porta potties and security.
Tuesday’s meeting brought a new face to the city’s planning and zoning commission, approving Claire High’s application to one of two open seats, for a term ending in 2027.
HighownsHighRiseBakery.She received a visit from a city zoning administrator earlier this summer informing her that the small bake stand in her front yard was not in compliance with city ordinances, as she had not applied for a conditional use permit.
High’s husband, Matt High, raised concerns at the June 16 council meeting about the price tag for a $250 conditional use permit application, as well as a $200 fee to request an ordinance amendment.
Matt High’s presentation at the council meeting was followed by an appearance by Claire High at a planning commission meeting, at which she suggested the creation of a fee waiver or reduced-cost option for permit applications.
“If we’re going to have these commissions and committees, and we want people to be involved in it, we’re going to have to accept other ideas along the way, and possibly change,” council member Duane Lossing said.
“If we start to not offer these positions because someone has a different opinion than us, that’s dangerous water for us to go into,” Lossing said.
High was hired on a 3-2 vote with “yes” votes from Lossing, Zupancich and John Fitzpatrick. Jim Lassi, who currently serves on the planning and zoning commission, gave a “no” vote. Council member Joe White was not in attendance.
The council approved a $2 wage upgrade for EMTs in Babbitt, boosting wages to $23 an hour per the new policy.
Department personnel will con- tinue to be paid based on certifica tion level. The policy includes an added incentive for transports to other hospitals, which are billable by loaded miles.
Ambulance supervisor Emily Jaeger said department leadership sent out an anonymous survey to source membership opinion on the proposed pay structure. Jaeger found that most members preferred a pay scale based on credentials rather than level of a call.
This followed the policy’s tabling at the June 16 regular council meeting, due to a need for further discussion within the department.
In other business, the council:
• Accepted the resignation of Dean Graber and Lossing from the police committee, reducing num- bers to fit the newly-implemented five-person structure.
• Approved the recreation committee’s grant application to the IRRRB Culture and Tourism Grant for Red Pine Disc Golf Course costs, Little League Field upgrades, and the dog park. The grant may provide up to $30,000, with another $30,000 for these projects drawing from recreation committee funds.
• Approved a quote from Amptek for area lighting improvements.
Tabled a proposal to draw fi nancing from the recreation committee’s Permanent Improvements Fund for beach house repairs and utilities. City administration will look into grant opportunities.
• Approved a lease agreement for police department radios.
• Renewed a three-year service contract for the fire department with MacQueen Equipment.
• Approved a Fill the School Bus drive at Central Park on Aug. 13.
• Hired Linda Kottke, Lori Huseby and Rachelle Loewen as casual laborers at the City Hall.
