Sales lot owner dispute continues with city

The conflict between an outspoken business owner and the Wrenshall city council spiked again last week, when the council voted to send a letter informing Jeff Bloom he was out of compliance with city ordinance.

Bloom is the owner of the Wrenshall General Store and RV park, and was in attendance at the May 3 city council meeting.

Bloom told the board he would not seek to renew an interim use permit for his Ponderosa Sales, an auction business located on the same property as Bloom's other businesses, which also include a private storage facility - all located on 23 acres at the south end of town.

Bloom has argued he doesn't need a permit for outdoor storage, noting that his fenced-in auction items are on display for sale.

"It's the city's belief that he has outdoor storage," Mayor Gary Butala said.

Asked by the board if he would seek renewal of his permit, Bloom said: "Not at this point."

"You will be receiving a letter in the mail," Butala responded.

The conflict between Bloom and the city erupted earlier this year, after the board proposed an ordinance governing RV parks and campgrounds. It came at a time when Bloom was seeking to expand his RV park. Bloom contends the ordinance was being written to prohibit the addition of more sites to his RV park.

A Feb. 21 public hearing drew roughly 100 Bloom supporters, several of whom testified in support of Bloom and against adding to the city's ordinances. Still, the board appears poised to adopt the ordinance at its June meeting, following a legal review of the ordinance by the city's attorney.

Bloom has requested his property be annexed into neighboring Silver Brook Township, and also that a fire hydrant on his property be removed. The city is investigating those possibilities, but councilors expressed concern with moving a hydrant and doubt that it was possible.

After the meeting, Bloom said he pays more than $4,000 in city taxes and plans to tie up the city in legal fees that would match his tax payments. He wondered why the city was moving forward with an ordinance opposed by so many residents.

"If nobody listens to them, why should (residents) say anything?" Bloom said, adding that he'll support campaigns against incumbent councilors in the future.

Asked how he will treat the letter for noncompliance related to the storage permit, Bloom said he'd ignore it.

"What are they going to do to me?" he said.

Ambulance on hold

Also May 3, the city council tabled a discussion on payment to the Carlton ambulance service. Carlton is seeking $9,537 from the city of Wrenshall for its share in operating the service for 2024. In delaying the decision, Butala cited an upcoming meeting between Carlton and surrounding municipalities at 6:30 p.m. May 25 at the Carlton County Transportation Building.

"We figured it would be better not to make any commitment until we listen to whatever they're coming up with," Butala said.

So far, Carlton has received roughly $206,000 in commitments from municipalities that use the service. The goal is $250,000, which would allow for the hiring of two full-time personnel, who would work the ambulance during business hours on weekdays as well as manage the mostly volunteer service.

Butala urged all of the Wrenshall city councilors to attend the upcoming meeting to learn about the ambulance service and its needs. Carlton city officials have been meeting with local officials from throughout the ambulance's primary service area since the release of a study earlier this year, which concluded the service would be unsustainable as a wholly volunteer model. The service averages more than 700 calls a year.