Wrenshall business owner 'draws line'

The owner of multiple Wrenshall businesses said he'll pack a public hearing with supporters Tuesday, when the city begins consideration of proposals the business owner said target his enterprises.

"They don't have enough building to hold the people," said Jeff Bloom, owner of the Wrenshall General Store, Lots4Bid, storage garages and RV park - all located on the same 23-acre property at the south end of town.

"I'm drawing a line in the dirt," Bloom said. "People are tired of the regulations. I'm not doing anything to harm anybody."

The public hearing is 7 p.m. Tuesday at city hall. The city's planning commission will address a new ordinance establishing standards for recreational camping areas and also an amended ordinance that would limit interim use permits to one year, instead of one, three or five years.

When reached by the Pine Knot, Mayor Gary Butala declined comment, citing advice of the city's attorney. But city clerk Alieca Johnson offered some insight on the city's intentions.

"It really isn't anything targeting him," she said of Bloom. "He's just involved in these things that they're looking at."

Bloom took over the general store seven years ago and has expanded his business operations ever since. A digital marquee at the store asks patrons to sign a petition in support of Bloom's businesses. Pages with dozens of signatures appear on the countertop by the cash register.

Until a one-year city moratorium on RV parks and campgrounds was installed last year, Bloom had been seeking permission to expand the RV park, which has been well-used, he said, by refinery and pipeline contractors who come in from out of state.

But last year, the city council implemented a moratorium on RV parks and campgrounds designed to give the city time to develop an ordinance. Currently, Bloom's RV park does not fall under campground regulations established by the state Department of Health. Bloom created the RV park so that it would avoid state regulation, putting four camping lots on a parcel instead of five, which triggers state oversight.

"They're saying it's not about me, but it's about me," Bloom said. "Because who else would it be about?"

When the Pine Knot visited this week, the RV park was sleepy and featured a half-dozen or so units actively being used by people. All of Bloom's business property was plowed and appeared to be in good condition. The general store is noticeably clean and well-stocked.

Bloom said the city hasn't been able to support alleged complaints about negative activity at the RV park, and that he "runs a tight ship" supported by most of his neighbors.

"I'm providing a service to people out there," Bloom said of the RV park. "They were desperate. They're still working at the (Superior) refinery. I had people here all summer long."

The city's campground proposal would require a minimum of 2-acre parcels, a particular thorn for Bloom, who broke up his land into pieces so that he could circumvent state oversight.

"We don't have an objection to campgrounds," Johnson said. "But we want them to be nice and have rules and not take away from neighboring properties and to consider health conditions for people living there and in the area."

Bloom also has an expiring five-year interim use permit allowing him to store auction items outdoors for his Lots4Bid business, dubbed Ponderosa Sales. Bloom said he will let the existing permit expire, and won't reapply for a shorter permit, saying he's not storing items - only displaying them for the purpose to sell them.

"This interim use permit, I don't believe I need one," Bloom said. "That's the reason I'm putting the brakes on."

An updated ordinance proposes relaxing permitting for home-based occupations. In the past, a person who, say, cuts hair in their home would be forced to get a permit. Now, unless a home business is generating extra traffic or grows to the point it affects the neighborhood, then the business owner won't need an interim use permit.

Bloom's property line borders Silver Brook Township to the south. He said he'll pursue annexation of his property if the city presses ahead with its proposed new ordinances.

And if they don't?

"It'll be the will of the people," Bloom said, adding that elected leaders "get power drunk."

As for city leaders: "They appreciate Jeff's businesses and everything he's done," Johnson said. "There's no ill will or ulterior motives."

An information sheet about the hearing provided by the city noted, "public comment on the ordinances are welcomed at the public hearing."