Calumet council declines museum move, pushes bank building toward rental and schedules union meeting

At its July 16 meeting, the Calumet City Council decided not to relocate items from the clubhouse museum into the bank building, citing ongoing costs to the city. Mayor John Tuorila said he did not support opening a museum in the bank; the council directed Clerk April Serich to contact Sarah Carling to assist in listing the bank building for rent and discussed possibly selling it in the future to return it to the tax rolls.

Council approved a $300 donation to the Itasca County Historical Society (motion by Dan Strand, seconded by Nick Porter). The council also addressed blight enforcement: staff will send notices to Red Rock Auto for excessive vehicles, to the old Roadway building and Schneider’s at 754 7th Ave for grass and property maintenance, and staff will check Darland’s property.

On utilities and billing, staff reported 14 shut-off letters had been sent; Mayor Tuorila moved to approve a $25 door-hanger fee for shut-offs 30 days after a bill is due. The motion was recorded in the minutes but a vote is not specified in the transcript.

The council discussed ongoing due diligence on a radio tower property: the 90-day period has expired and title work plus a DNR easement for a service road remain outstanding. Environmental reviewers reported evidence of "some kind of leak" while city staff said they observed no leak; the council asked Clerk Serich to contact AT&T (the recorded number was not working) and discussed constructing a new road on a platted city street; Jim Bougalis offered to build the road.

The council scheduled a special meeting at 9:00 a.m. July 17 with a union representative and employees to discuss Public Works employee Bob Hoshal’s medical capacity to work. The meeting adjourned at 4:32 p.m.

Next steps: staff will pursue rental listing for the bank building, mail blight notices, confirm the status of the radio tower title and easement, and hold the special personnel meeting July 17.