Mark Schlangen, Two Harbors Fire Chief, appeared before the Committee of the Whole on Monday night to share details on the upcoming purchase of a new first line engine for the department. The new truck will replace Engine 25, which is over 20 years old and is getting near its life expectancy. The new truck will be a water tender which will be useful, particularly when it comes to fighting fires in rural areas. The Council approved the plan for the new equipment and the City will be entering into a contract with Custom Fire Apparatus, Inc, for the amount of $949,497. The new Engine will be available for service sometime in 2024. Engine 25 will remain in service until the new truck is delivered and will then be sold with the proceeds from the sale helping to defray the cost of the new engine.
Representative Natalie Zeleznikar attended the City Council meeting to talk about results of the last legislative session and the measures that will benefit the Two Harbors community. She said that with the State’s $17.6 billion surplus, providing the Gap Funding for the Highway 61 project was “a no brainer”. Areas of concern include a Statewide tax increase of $9.5 billion dollars and the diminishing number of Child Care Providers in the State. Zeleznikar questions the impact on working families, given increased taxation and decreased child care options. She indicated that she will be meeting with Child Care Providers to find out why they are shutting down operations in Minnesota.
Erik Simonson, Senior Lobbyist for Flaherty & Hood spoke with the Council about the work of the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities during the last legislative session. The Coalition represents 110 cities in Minnesota and focuses on economic development, property tax relief, transportation, labor relations, local government aid and environmental issues. Simonson said that one of the challenges faced by the Coalition is to balance the many legislative voices and needs coming from metropolitan areas with the voices and needs of more rural communities. The Coalition was able to push for $300,000 to help fund Nursing Homes in the State and $240,000 to help rural communities with lead pipe abatement. According to Simonson, some of the new taxes will go to help fund both public safety measures and infrastructure projects in smaller communities.
The John A. Johnson Elementary School, which has been closed since 2006, will be demolished and the site used for housing development. Lake County and city leaders will be working in concert to develop a plan that will help meet the need for housing in Two Harbors. The recently appointed Housing Committee has been meeting to set goals, look into possible funding sources and to talk about how best to move the project forward.
The Council approved a prospective plan to hold an outdoor concert on August 25th. There are a number of contingencies that will have to be met before the concert can move forward. Stay tuned for further announcements.
The next City Council meeting will be held on July 24th at 6:00 p.m.
