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Tower council approves short-term rental ordinance, sets 4% levy and green-lights grants and agreements
Summary
At its Dec. 9 meeting the City of Tower Council unanimously approved the second reading of Ordinance 82O on short-term rentals, set a 4% final levy with Resolution 2024-017, and approved multiple grants, contracts and project pay applications. A resident urged clearer short-term rental rules during public comment.
The City of Tower Council on Dec. 9 unanimously advanced a package of routine fiscal and project decisions, including approval of the second reading of a short-term rental ordinance and adoption of a 4% final property tax levy for 2025.
Resident Rachel Lockett urged the Council during public comment to make the short-term rental rules clearer so that regulations and enforcement would be easier to follow and apply. Shortly afterward the Council approved the second reading of Ordinance 82O, "An Ordinance Establishing Short Term Rental Standards for the City of Tower."
The meeting centered on a set of mostly uncontested motions. Councilors approved Lakehead Constructors Pay Applications #3 and #4 for the water treatment facility project, increased the water and sewer rate by $5 per month while moving $5 per quarter into a capital reserve account, and voted to reimburse the City $16,833.56 for an unemployment insurance payment made on behalf of the Ambulance. The Council also declined to hire a winter seasonal employee for the 2024–2025 winter season.
On budget matters, the Council approved a 2% increase to airport hangar lease rates for 2025 and moved to set the final 2025 levy at 4% by approving Resolution 2024-017, contingent on updating financial numbers to reflect that increase. The Council voted to proceed with the Sprint Medic Pilot Program for ambulance services and approved two grant-related resolutions: Resolution 2024-015 supporting an Active Transportation Grant for the Vermilion Loop Trail and Resolution 2024-016 authorizing application for and acceptance of funds from the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation.
Other actions included approval of a 2025 Law Enforcement Services Agreement with Breitung Township, authorization to pursue Second Street North culvert repairs with St. Louis County, and authorization of a hangar lease transfer for Airport hangar 24 from Arden Niemi to Dale Niemi.
All recorded motions during the meeting passed unanimously. Mayor David Setterberg called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m.; the session adjourned at 6:46 p.m. The Council approved minutes and routine reports as part of the consent agenda. The Clerk/Treasurer performance review was tabled until January.
