Ely City Council seeks IRRR funding, uses $200,000 from capital fund balance for fire apparatus project

The Ely City Council at its June 16 meeting approved an application to the Iron Range Resources & Rehabilitation (IRRR) FY2027 Public Works Program to help fund a Fire Apparatus Garage project and associated ambulance-garage remodel and addition.

The council approved Resolution 2026-022 authorizing the city to apply for and accept IRRR FY27 funds. The Projects Committee recommendation to apply for the grant passed on a unanimous roll call vote.

Council also approved several budget-related motions tied to the project. The council authorized purchasing a three-axle trailer for $17,000 and voted to use $200,000 from the capital project fund balance to cover an expected deficit on the Fire Apparatus Building. Clerk-Treasurer Langowski told the council that a prior USDA Rural Development grant took more than four years to process and that costs have escalated since the original application, informing the decision to apply for IRRR funds and to cover part of the anticipated shortfall from reserves.

Lahtonen said the budget calendar for 2027 was approved with a revised meeting date of Sept. 14, 2026, and that budget worksheets would be distributed to department heads on June 26 and made available to councilors. Councilmembers emphasized that worksheets are typically started by department heads and then shared with councilors and committees as the budget develops.

All motions related to the IRRR application, the trailer purchase and the fund-balance allocation carried unanimously.