The West Babbitt Development Project’s paving completion date will be pushed back by ten days due to subcontractor delays, though project officials do not expect the setback to affect the final completion date.
At Tuesday’s regular city council meeting, street department director Tony Chamberlin said the West Babbitt team still aims to finalize all infrastructure work by Sept. 30.
The first of four closing phases with developer Solum Holdings, LLC will ensue within 30 days of infrastructure completion.
Street department director Tony Chamberlin said the project has come along fantastically and the primary contractor, Rachel Contracting, has accomplished the work right on time.
“Our paving subcontractor is not in a fantastic position to be here when they were originally scheduled to be here,” Chamberlin said.
Chamberlin said the paving company, Mesabi Bituminous, is currently involved in several other projects across the Range.
“There are a handful of projects that have more work to be done after paving that really need to stay on schedule for these other surrounding communities,” Chamberlin said. “It’s not just an ask for Mesabi Bituminous, but it’s an ask for Aurora and the other places.”
After pavement is poured, Minnesota Power will finalize electric installation and the lift station will become serviceable.
The Babbitt Golf Association (BGA) requested a 99-year lease renewal from the city for the golf course land.
BGA representative Merle Vandervest said a long-term lease could help the Association secure grants for clubhouse renovations.
The clubhouse formerly served as a dining hall for Reserve MiningCompanyemployees before the company gifted it for use as a golf building in 1963.
Vandervest said the flooring and foundation have degraded, making repairs unsustainable and limiting the building’s future lifespan to less than five years.
“Over the years of support from local contractors and volunteer labor, we have extended its life beyond expectation,” Vandervest said. The BGA looked at a five-acre parcel immediately east of the golf course for the potential location of a new clubhouse.
The land could be included in the new lease, though the property would require a survey. Clerk-trea surer Kirsten Traut said the survey is currently scheduled for the last of four closing phases with Solum Holdings.
Traut will work with city attorney Joel Lewicki and the developer to discuss the possibility of shifting the survey completion date to the phase one closing.
Following confirmation from the developer, Lewicki could assist city administrators to draft a lease agreement with the BGA.
The city will also invite ATV representatives to the table to discuss a snowmobile/ATV trail reroute due to the West Babbitt project. The new clubhouse could even function as a trailhead for snowmobile users.
Police department discussions continued briefly at Tuesday’s meeting.
Council member Joe White rescinded his motion for a four-man police department from June 16.
The council expanded the response time residency requirement on the description for the police chief job posting to a radius of 40 miles or 60 minutes.
The police chief response time requirement will now match recent amendments to the patrolman job description, which was altered at the Aug. 18 regular council meet -
ing.
The council accepted the resig- nations of part-time police officers Courtney Olson and Keith Nyman.
Olson and Nyman were part of the city’s roster of additional police support from neighboring agencies. These law enforcement members fill vacant shifts as needed.
Nyman’s resignation went into effect on Aug. 29, per a letter writ -ten by Nyman to interim police chief Todd Heikkila to announce Nyman’s retirement after 18 years
as a law enforcement officer.
Olson’s resignation went into effect on Aug. 28 and came as she transitions to residency in a differ- ent part of the state.
Rich Evenstad returned to the council chambers to revive discussions about his potential purchase of the old mining roadbed behind Cherry Circle, which would ensure continued access to his approxi- mately 27-acre property following the city's sale of a 6.5-acre lot to Gary Kurpius last April.
The road is used by a number of local landowners. Evenstad said all residents at the back of Cherry Circle would still maintain access, though deeds would likely need to be drawn up.
Evenstad could instead purchase an easement from the city for use of the road. In this case, the burden would likely fall upon the city to determine access options for other area residents.
Whether Evenstad purchases the road or an easement, Traut said Evenstad would take responsibility for the road's maintenance.
The council made a motion to allow Traut to work with Evenstad and Lewicki to draft a solution.
In other business, the council: Approved a 2027 campground rate increase from $3,500 to $3,800 for regular seasonal sites and from $3,800 to $4,100 for preferred sea - sonal sites. Nightly rates will re - main the same. Seasonal campers will now be required to uphold new lawn care standards at their sites.
• Accepted Courtney Olson’s and Bradley Wills’ resignations from the fire department Hired Jesse Fallin to the fire department
• Approved a city-wide cleanup date of Saturday, Sept. 19 with East Mesabi Sanitation
• Approved the street depart- ment's purchase of a $2,240 storage tank for pre-mixed brine to replace the now-cracked brine mixer previ- ously donated by St. Louis County.
