The Silver Bay City Council met the evening of February 17th during the high winds preceding last week’s blizzard, though attendance was short a few members. Due to the absence of the Mayor and the acting Mayor, Councilor Shane Hoff was appointed Chair for the meeting. Council members Ben Bautch and James FitzGerald and City Administrator Lana Fralich were also present. There were no public comments for the short session.
Councilor Bautch thanked city employees for handling a water main break on the 14th, noting the inconvenience of having to work on an hours-long emergency during Valentine’s Day. The Council also mentioned that the Library Committee would not be meeting on the 18th due to a lack of quorum.
Consent Agenda items approved consisted of minutes from the February 2nd meeting and February 9th public hearing; depreciated surplus item rollovers for the year; an Economic Interest Disclosure Policy for the City Council aimed at preventing conflicts of interest; and Minnesota Rural Water Operator training for Randy Goutermont.
Also approved were two letters addressing economic concerns in the region. The first was a letter from Iron Range Mayors to Governor Tim Walz asking for “responsible, science- and fact-based” legislation on mining and development processes to ensure Northeastern Minnesota is financially and sustainably prosperous. The letter explains the region’s unique issues, which include juggling a wide range of industries from iron mining to tourism, with the goal of balancing environmental stewardship with responsible resource development. Budgeting for many cities in the northeastern part of the state has grown increasingly difficult, and the Mayors request greater communication between state and local-level government to prioritize local government aid, infrastructure improvements, economic development, medical services for rural areas, and support for industrial growth.
The second letter approved was from Iron Range Mayors to key Senators asking for the advancement of H.J. Resolution 140, which would “reverse the mineral withdrawal on more than 225,000 acres in northeast Minnesota.” Access to the area was withdrawn in 2023, halting several proposed mining and helium extraction projects. The Mayors argue the importance of these projects in sustaining supply chains and funding local communities, and local schools in particular. H.J. Resolution 140 would allow the area to be once again open to environmental review, allowing the possibility of future mining and extraction projects. In the letter’s conclusion, they state that “Minnesotans deserve the opportunity to evaluate mining projects on their own merits through the established, science-based permitting process, not a blanket prohibition.” The resolution is currently a topic of some debate, with those against the proposal arguing it would open the area up to purchase by outside groups with no incentive to be in the area’s best interests, potentially causing long-term damage to local residents and wildlife, as well as cutting off the area’s growing tourism industry. City Administrator Fralich covered amendments for the 2025 budget and general fund transfers. Next on the list of resolutions, a public hearing concerning street and utility improvements had been set for February 9th; however, due to delayed mail delivery notifying residents of the event, it was recommended that the Council hold another hearing. The issue of delayed time-sensitive mailings of this type has been brought up with the post office. The next public hearing for the first stage of the street project will be on March 9th at 4:30 pm at the Reunion Hall. After this, the Council was asked to consider the state of a Minnesota Department of Commerce Solar on Public Buildings Program grant they have been pursuing, which would be used for a solar installation at the Multi-Modal Trailhead Center. The use of solar would greatly reduce the need for other power sources for the facility. The Council approved electrical upgrades that would improve the possible funding gained by the grant. The next item covered was approving the State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement between the Silver Bay Police Department and state resources, which must be renewed every five years. This agreement allows the city’s police force to “use systems and tools available over the State’s criminal justice data communications network.”
Following the resolutions, the Council discussed the Lake County Housing & Redevelopment Authority (LCHRA), led by Matt Johnson, aiding with Silver Bay’s economic development projects. The partnership currently would cost nothing and there would be no binding agreement for Silver Bay; they would be free to back out of the arrangement and seek assistance elsewhere if wanted. “I think it’s a very good thing for all of us,” Fralich commented. The Council agreed to try out the arrangement. “It really works out well for us,” Councilor Hoff stated. “We’re lucky to have someone that wants to do it and be involved.”
The Council congratulated Kayla Hoffman, recently honored as District B’s Caregiver of the Year. Hoffman is a certified nursing assistant at Silver Bay’s Minnesota Veterans Home. In more good news for Silver Bay, Black Beach Campground won a top spot at the 2026 Campspot awards in the Top Public Campgrounds category. They describe the campground as “the ideal basecamp for those looking to explore the wonders of the North Shore.” Awards from booking sites have been known to boost tourism interest in areas, which in this case would allow the North Shore to benefit from the revenue taken in by local businesses frequented by visitors.
City Administrator Fralich noted they had recently been made aware that the water treatment project will affect the availability of four sites. They will be trying to ensure that reservations already made for the sites will not be disturbed by the project, and further reservations have been suspended for those sites for the duration of the project.
