Coming this summer … fireworks?

Things are looking positive for some kind of July Fourth celebration in Cloquet this summer, if discussions during Tuesday's City Council meeting hold true.

City administrator Tim Peterson asked councilors for guidance on the annual celebration, which normally features a 5K race, a parade downtown, and activities in Veterans Park all day and into the night, finishing with an outdoor movie and fireworks over the St. Louis River. "Do we want the large normal celebration, a variation where we do parts or postpone it for another year?" Peterson asked.

Most of the councilors were optimistic there could be some kind of celebration, depending on the pandemic, and wanted to move forward, with coordinator and Cloquet Chamber of Commerce employee Alyson Leno leading the way.

Mayor Roger Maki advocated a "wait and see" approach, supporting the idea of a celebration, but noting that the city will have to see how vaccinations go, and what kind of impact the new Covid variants - which are more contagious - will have on northern Minnesota.

In other matters during Tuesday's short council meeting:

• Councilors unanimously approved the appointment and promotion of Ross Biebl to the position of assistant public works director effective March 15 because the current assistant public works director is retiring. Biebl has served in the public works department since 2001, including time at both the street and utility divisions before becoming utility maintenance supervisor in 2019.

Public works director Caleb Peterson said they had three very qualified internal candidates, but Biebl was unanimously recommended by the selection panel. "I have worked with Ross Biebl my entire career and I'm 100-percent in support of this," Peterson said. "I think he's the best candidate we could find."

"I'm excited to see the potential for growth in the department," Peterson said, referring to the other candidates.

• Cloquet Economic Development Authority vice president and former Cloquet city councilor Dave Manderfeld presented the EDA's 2020 accomplishments and goals for 2021. Goal No. 1 was to improve both residential and business broadband networks. Goal No. 2 was to continue implementing the 2014 Cloquet Housing study and taskforce recommendations. Other goals include creating and maintaining child care slots, developing the Cloquet Business Park, downtown revitalization, supporting new and existing businesses and helping to redevelop difficult sites.