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Calumet Council OKs $200,000 ADA grant, ratifies property sale and approves routine fiscal items
Summary
At its Oct. 15 meeting the Calumet City Council approved a $200,000 state grant for ADA and code improvements to the city hall/library (total project cost $680,000), ratified a commercial property sale to EIP Holdings II, LLC and approved routine licenses, insurance and donations.
Mayor Tim Zaren called the Calumet City Council to order at 2:00 p.m. on Oct. 15, 2024, and the council quickly moved through routine business before approving three formal resolutions and several administrative items.
The council voted unanimously among members present to adopt Resolution #24-10-15 approving a VOTER funding agreement with Itasca County. Council also approved Resolution #24-10-15-2, authorizing a city hall/library ADA and code improvement grant project with a stated total project cost of $680,000 and a grant award of $200,000, and affirming that the City of Calumet holds title to the building. In the same meeting the council adopted Resolution #24-10-15-3 to ratify and finalize a Commercial Real Estate Purchase Agreement and authorize the mayor and city clerk to complete the sale to EIP Holdings II, LLC.
Those three resolutions were moved and seconded on the record and passed with Mayor Tim Zaren and Councilmembers Nick Porter and Barbara Banks voting in favor; Dan Strand and Amanda Hernesman were recorded as absent.
Beyond the resolutions, the council approved routine fiscal matters and municipal business. The September clerk and treasurer reports were accepted (receipts $162,781.58; disbursements $127,716.07; investments $11,599.85; total checking $533,479.44). The council set 2025 liquor license fees at $600, approved the LMCIT worker’s compensation premium of $8,155 for 2025 and adopted 2025 employee dental and medical insurance renewal rates (Dental: Single $54, Family $125; Medical: Single $1,018.10, Family $2,111.54). The council also approved $250 to Grace House and $300 to the Greenway Music Boosters.
Public works and library staff gave brief operational updates. Public Works Supervisor Bill Berger reported equipment and maintenance activity, including placing lawnmowers in storage, cleaning the burn pile and scheduling JR Wastewater to return Friday to perform work and a potential camera inspection of a sewer line near property owned by Dave Chupurdia. Library Director Melanie Lefebvre announced a children’s Halloween Bash for Oct. 25 from 5–6 p.m.
On unfinished business, Clerk April Serich reported that 16 utility shut-off letters were sent and provided an update on blight at Red Rock Auto; the sale of a radio tower is planned for October. The council discussed a prospective buyer for the former bank building who may present plans at the next meeting or the council will further advertise the property for sale.
The meeting concluded with a motion to adjourn, seconded and carried; the council adjourned at 2:55 p.m.
Votes at a glance - Resolution #24-10-15 (VOTER funding agreement with Itasca County): adopted; yes — Tim Zaren, Nick Porter, Barbara Banks; absent — Dan Strand, Amanda Hernesman. - Resolution #24-10-15-2 (city hall/library ADA and code improvements; $680,000 project, $200,000 grant): adopted; yes — Zaren, Porter, Banks; absent — Strand, Hernesman. - Resolution #24-10-15-3 (ratify commercial real estate sale to EIP Holdings II, LLC): adopted; yes — Zaren, Porter, Banks; absent — Strand, Hernesman.
Next steps The grant paperwork and project administration steps for the ADA/code improvements will proceed under the authorized project contact. Council requested plans from the prospective buyer of the bank building or will further advertise the property before the next meeting.
