One of the key moments of the meeting was the address by Roger, a state representative, who spoke during the guest citizens forum. He discussed a range of legislative initiatives aimed at benefiting Northern Minnesota. Among the most significant was a funding initiative allocated to demolish an old school building, an issue that had long concerned the community. Roger recalled, “when I was here three years ago door knocking, that was one of the big issues,” underscoring the importance of addressing this local concern.

Roger also highlighted ongoing projects, including improvements to the ice arena, which had faced delays due to contractor availability. He mentioned the Massabi Trail project, recalling his involvement since its inception in 1994, and shared his vision of connecting various trails to enhance biking and hiking opportunities in the area. Additionally, he discussed legislative developments regarding mining in the region, specifically mentioning helium found in the area and the ongoing discussions with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding regulations. Roger noted the support from various environmental groups for the helium project and described efforts to ensure that local communities benefit from any potential production taxes.

Another topic discussed was rural ambulance funding. Roger emphasized that state representatives were advocating for increased Medicare rates to assist rural services, acknowledging the need for adequate funding to support these essential services.

Moving on to community updates, a representative from the Ranger Club reported improvements at their facility, including freshly painted buildings and new signage. Roy Borgard from the Ranger Club expressed gratitude to the city for its support as a fiscal agent for grant funding. He explained that the Ranger Club submits invoices to the city, which then pays the bills and gets reimbursed through the grants. Borgard highlighted the economic benefits of the trails created through their partnership with the city, noting that snowmobilers and ATV users contribute to local businesses. He also discussed the club’s training programs for young people and encouraged public participation in their meetings.

In new business, the council approved a request from the Ranger Club regarding a lease for a new tractor. The club had already paid the leasing fee and signed the lease agreement, which required the addition of the equipment to the city’s insurance. The motion was carried without objections.

Additionally, the council considered a request from Iron Range Today to waive fees for the use of the Rena multi-purpose room for a candidate forum. The council discussed the logistics of the event and the importance of community engagement, particularly regarding the moderation of the forum. It was mentioned that previous forums had utilized platforms for public question submissions, and there was a desire to replicate this model to ensure community members could participate in the electoral process.

The format for the upcoming candidate forum was also discussed, with clarification that it was structured to allow a couple of minutes per question per person and was not intended to be a debate format. Questions were raised about whether the meeting would be live-streamed or recorded for those unable to attend. While audio recording was confirmed, a technical issue had caused the video to fail halfway through. There was strong interest in providing more information about the candidates, especially given the high level of interest in the election.

The council then moved on to the hiring of seasonal part-time personnel for the city. They approved the hiring of three applicants, Eric Daro, Kent Ry, and Chris, noting that two of the three candidates had previously worked for the city. Additionally, the council approved the hiring of Matthew Bank as a full-time paramedic, contingent on him reporting any changes to his background before starting. Bank had already undergone background checks and drug testing. The council also approved the hiring of a casual part-time paramedic for a position limited to 14 hours per week.

Committee assignments were updated, with adjustments for a counselor who had several committees he could not attend. Another counselor was appointed to the EAS Range Community Advisory Panel, which meets during the day. The motion to accept these updated assignments was passed without opposition.

A significant portion of the meeting focused on the city council’s rules of procedure. The need to formalize how meetings were conducted was discussed, with an emphasis on maintaining order and preventing disruptions from the audience. Specific examples of deviations from Robert’s Rules of Order were provided, such as discussing agenda items before a motion was made and the need for members to be recognized by the chair before speaking. The council agreed that while a more relaxed atmosphere was beneficial, it was essential to maintain order and professionalism during meetings.