Tower council adopts Blight Ordinance 16A, approves contracts for heating and harbor projects and makes appointments

Tower City Council voted unanimously to adopt Blight Ordinance 16A and approved a slate of contracts and appointments at its regular meeting. Councilors also authorized publishing a summary of the adopted ordinance and approved project payments and construction contracts for ongoing capital work.

Councilor Kevin Norby moved to adopt Ordinance 16A after Clerk/Treasurer Tammy Mortaloni noted the ordinance had received a second reading earlier but had not been formally adopted. The council voted unanimously to adopt the ordinance and also approved publishing a summary notice of the ordinance for the local newspaper, as provided in the meeting packet.

On facilities work, the council accepted a bid from Iron Range Plumbing & Heating for $42,532 to replace the Civic Center heating unit and a bid from LaFavor Heating for $19,500 to replace the Public Works heating unit; Councilor Joe Morin made both motions and they passed unanimously. Councilors also approved Pay Applications 14–16 for Lakehead Constructors and Pay Application 2 for Mesabi Bituminous.

Mayor David Setterberg reported the wastewater treatment facility is about 95% complete and on budget; he said the expansion may require removing approximately four acres of timber to comply with USDA requirements. Councilor Norby said the Mesabi Trails project will begin from the south this spring and that a portion of the Prospectors Trail will temporarily cross Junction Road near the church this summer.

On harbor work, public bids were opened and Bolton & Menk presented results. Councilor Morin moved to accept the low bid from Hoover Construction for Tower Harbor lot grading (base bid focus; alternate work contingent on later funding) and to accept the low bid from Veit & Company for the Harbor utility extension; both motions passed unanimously and the clerk was directed to inform Bolton & Menk to award the contracts.

The council adopted two resolutions related to commission appointments. Resolution 2026-06 appointed Tammy Mortaloni to the Airport Commission; Resolution 2026-07 appointed Michael Schultz to the Planning & Zoning Commission. The council also authorized advertising to fill additional vacancies on the Airport and Planning & Zoning commissions.

Other actions included approving the Ice Rescue Operations program for the Fire Department, accepting that the city is now a Firewise USA participant, approving an equal donation to the St. Louis County Fair as given last year, and agreeing to write a letter of support for Bois Forte Bank of Chippewa’s Federal BUILD grant application for intersection improvements.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt Ordinance 16A (Blight Ordinance): motion by Councilor Kevin Norby; outcome: approved unanimously. - Publish ordinance summary notice: motion by Councilor Joe Morin; outcome: approved unanimously. - Accept heating bid (Civic Center) — Iron Range Plumbing & Heating, $42,532: motion by Councilor Joe Morin; outcome: approved unanimously. - Accept heating bid (Public Works) — LaFavor Heating, $19,500: motion by Councilor Joe Morin; outcome: approved unanimously. - Approve Pay Apps 14–16 (Lakehead Constructors) and Pay App 2 (Mesabi Bituminous): motions passed unanimously. - Accept Hoover Construction low bid for Tower Harbor lot grading and Veit & Company low bid for Harbor utility extension: motions by Councilor Joe Morin; outcomes: approved unanimously. - Approve Ice Rescue Operations program: motion by Councilor Bob Anderson; outcome: approved unanimously. - Resolution 2026-06 (appoint Tammy Mortaloni to Airport Commission): approved unanimously. - Resolution 2026-07 (appoint Michael Schultz to Planning & Zoning): approved unanimously.

The meeting adjourned at 6:52 p.m.