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Resident presses Ely council over ambulance billing, streetlights and drainage during public comment
Summary
Local resident George Chachas pressed the council about an $1,849.97 Sharp Ambulance Billing invoice, long-out streetlights, drainage eroding his property at 622 High Street, alleged project damage on Bell Avenue, and requested inspector contact information; he also objected to the RTC appointment of Steve Baer.
Ely — During two public-comment periods at the Jan. 23 Ely City Council meeting, resident George Chachas raised multiple concerns about city operations and local projects.
Chachas questioned an invoice (No. 53176) from Sharp Ambulance Billing for $1,849.97 and urged the city to stop outsourcing ambulance billing, saying "You have a city clerk, city treasurer, and the fire chief that are all well paid, and they need to do the ambulance billing." He also urged the council to replace burned-out streetlights that he said have been out for three to four months.
Chachas asked whether the council's proposed $1,730,000 appropriation (the transfers approved later in the meeting) would cover drainage work on the west side of the railroad tracks at 7th Street that he said is eroding his property at 622 High Street. He specifically asked for details of proposed projects tied to that appropriation.
Chachas also objected to the potential appointment of Steve Baer to the Regional Transportation Commission, recounting a prior interaction with NDOT and stating he had not received a permit application for parking behind the sidewalk at his motel property at 710 Avenue G. In a later public comment he asked whether the former city attorney had filed concerns related to 408 High Street, requested contact information for the Bell Avenue CDBG inspector, alleged fence damage during the Bell Avenue project, and raised additional drainage, roadway code and ADA-access concerns near Golden Gate and Avenue M.
City staff did not provide the inspector contact information or commit to specific remedial actions during the public comment periods; council responses in the meeting minutes were limited to noting the comments and proceeding with the agenda.
