Grant will help city manage EAB-infested trees

At the final meeting of 2023, Cloquet City Council members prepared for 2024.

They selected the Pine Knot News as the city’s official newspaper, approved standing rules and selected at-large councilor Lara Wilkinson as the acting mayor again, to take over when mayor Roger Maki is absent.

The council also set updated fees and charges. Taking a look ahead at the time when the Cloquet police department gets its new body cameras, they set the fee for public data requests regarding camera footage as payment for actual expenses incurred.

Public Works director Caleb Peterson shared some exciting news with the council: the city will receive a nearly $428,000 grant for community forestry work from the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.

“It’s specifically meant to address the invasion of emerald ash borer into our area,” Peterson said.

The city will work with a certified arborist to inventory all city-owned trees and put together a management plan, which would include removing diseased trees and replacing them with trees of different species. After the meeting, Peterson said the city already has a list of about 20 trees they believe are infested by EAB.

The funds can’t be used for trees on private property, but Peterson noted that trees growing in the city right of way, for example on the boulevard between a sidewalk and the street, qualify as city trees because they’re in the right of way.

In other matters Tuesday:

-The council reappointed Chris Swanson to the Citizens Advisory Board, Mary Hagen and Gerard Sordelet to the Library Board and John Badger and Tom Urbanski to the Parks Commission, along with Jensina Rosen, who will be new to the commission.

- David Srazin was appointed to represent the city of Cloquet on the Cloquet Area Fire District Board and Les Riess was appointed as an alternate.

-The council approved ordering three new squad cars at a total cost of $171,078 for three Dodge Durangos and equipment, to be delivered in 2024. The 2023 capital plan included $110,000 for new squad cars; the excess $61,000 will be covered by the state’s one-time public safety funds, police chief Derek Randall said. The council also approved ordering two pickup trucks and a plow for public works.

-The council tabled approval of a new tobacco license for Aurora Dispensaries LLC at 708 Sunnyside Drive, pending further investigation.

-The council canceled its next regular meeting on Jan. 2.