APRIL 2015
Eveleth, Gilbert, Mt. Iron, Virginia
and surrounding business communities
Our mission is
“Promote business
through education
and advocacy...”
N E W S L E T T E R
Job Fair at Miners Memorial
Home, Sport & Travel Show
Seventy prospective employers were available to the over 700 job seekers who attended the 17th Annual Iron Range Job Fair on Friday, March 20. The new day and
location were a welcome change to many who attended. Seminars were available
to inform listeners on a variety of topics. Several job seekers took advantage of the
Interview Snapshots activity. They were able to brush up on their interview skills as
well as get resume assistance. Plan on joining us next year!
Chamber Business Highlight PolyMet Mining
Jim looks forward to the day when he’ll be surrounded by
full-scale versions of the manufacturer models that today
occupy the shelves of his PolyMet Mining office.
Like many of us, Jim Tieberg has been surrounded by
mining his whole life. He is now the Mining Division Manager for PolyMet, developers of the NorthMet copper-nickel
mine, which is currently going through environmental
Jim Tieberg
review and permitting processes. Jim provides operational
information and assistance for the permitting process, develops mine site plans and
evaluates mining and railroad equipment. He previously worked with LTV Steel
Mining and U.S. Steel Minntac. A native of Mt. Iron, Jim lives in Virginia with his
wife, an elementary school teacher. He’s a Laurentian Chamber of Commerce Board
member and President of the Virginia Economic Development Authority. “The
PolyMet project will diversify and expand our Iron Range economy,” he says, “plus
create good jobs for people here—and people who have moved away to find work
but will now be able to return.”
At the top of the Chamber’s list of priorities is the permitting of PolyMet. Letters
of support and resolutions for permitting PolyMet have been issued by the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce.
MnDOT
Visual Quality
More progress was made at the Highway 53 Visual Quality Committee meeting
on Tuesday, March 24, 11:30 to 2:00. Votes were taken on the design of the 200-foot
piers to be set in Rouchleau Pit, shape and size of pilasters for the 135 compressed
diamond interchange, tint (color scheme) of the bridges, and decorative railing
across the bridge along the14-foot Mesabi Trail easement. One more meeting (Tue.
Apr. 28) will be held to finalize key points for the project’s visual quality.
US Hwy. 53: City of Virginia
approval sought
US Hwy 53 Relocation Project Director Pat Huston and Traffic Engineer Rob Ege
presented relocation plans to the Virginia City Council, Tuesday, March 24, 6:00.
During the hour-plus presentation/questions and answers, much of the project
improvement was discussed. Entry and exit to Midway is a subject of concern, and
the city will meet about Midway again, and notify MnDOT of their concerns, and
possible proposal, by May 6.
Chamber Ambassador Deb Hunter, Administrative Manager Marnie Maki, and Ambassador Chair Dawn
Berg comment on the Chamber’s interest in Hwy 53 with visitors Tim Hunter and Shawn Maki at the
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce exhibit as they watch a HomeTown Focus video of a drone flyover of
the MnDOT Hwy. 53 preferred route. Ambassadors Karen Gardiner, Susan Santi, Hunter and Berg all
helped at the Chamber Home Show display.
Nearly 7000 people enjoyed the 2015 Home Sport & Travel Show at Miners
Memorial March 26 to 29. Exhibitors from about 200 companies showed off their
products and services.
Becky Kangas, coordinator for this year’s Home Sport & Travel Show said this was
one of the smoothest running events on the Iron Range. It was well orchestrated.
All of the vendors cooperated. Kangas added, “The Iron Range Home Sport &
Travel Show is a community-based event. It’s free to the public, everybody can
come, and there’s something for everyone.”
MnDOT Coffee and
Conversation
Andy Johnson, MnDOT engineer told the April 2 Coffee and Conversation gathering of about 15 people that work on the Hwy. 53 relocation project is progressing
as planned. MnDOT hopes to order steel for the big bridge in May. Publication of
the final Environmental Impact Study (EIS) will be done in late summer. The final
EIS, Record of Decision (ROD) and agency determination will follow in the fall. If
everything works right, construction could begin in the fall of 2015.
For specific geological modeling, MnDOT plans to use a small Unmanned Aircraft
System (sUAS) to chart the sides of Rouchleau Pit. Peter Jenkins, MnDOT land
surveyor, was at the meeting to talk about the aerial photography project.
Next Coffee and Conversation: Thursday, May 7, 10:00am
MnDOT Noise Barrier
MnDOT officials are urging people to vote on whether to install a 20-foot-tall noise
barrier by Midway and on Second Avenue. MnDOT will install the barrier unless
voters are against the project. No vote means the voter is presumed to be in favor
of the barrier.
+PUULY:WLJPHSZ
A TIMELESS TREASURE
Kids Eat Fee Tuesday’s & Saturday’s 4-10pm
Free Lease Opportunity!!
Free rent for Orthodontist!!!
Call April for details
763-286-4001
www.tsquaredbuilding.com
8685 Rock Ridge Drive (218) 741-3325
(equipment included for use)
Hours: Sunday thru Thursday 6am – 11pm
Friday and Saturday 6am – 3pm
218-741-5114 main/763-286-4001 cellular
www.tsquaredbuilding.com
“A Timeless Treasure”
Real estate closing services and title insurance.
Your Number One Choice for Title and Closing Services
“Located in Cook, Ely & Virginia, Minnesota to better serve your needs.”
Board Certified Real Estate Attorney on staff
ELY OFFICE
(218)365-5256
Angie Mikulich
Closing Specialist
VIRGINIA OFFICE
(218)741-1515
Jodee Micheletti
Owner/Closing Specialist
COOK OFFICE
(218)666-3174
Sharon Maronick
Closing Specialist
www.netitle.com
Monday: Pasta and Meatballs $8.99
Tuesday: Honey Mustard Chicken Skillet $8.99
Wednesday: Glazed Ham Steak Dinner $8.99
Thursday: Beef Stroganoff $8.99
Friday: Steak and Shrimp $13.49
$12.99
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Saturday:
4pc
Chicken
Dinner
$9.99
T
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MYVT
Sunday:
Pasta
Chic
Chicken
Alfredo
$8.99
T
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[V
4 piece Chicken Dinner
!HT!WTKH`ZH^LLR=PYNPUPH APRIL 2015
BusinessAfter Hours
Breakfast Connections
• Coffee • Breakfast Goodies • Door Prizes
Join us for Business and News Updates, and make a new contact!
HOSTED AND TO BE HELD AT
2015 Breakfast
Connections Sponsor
Wednesday, April 22 • 5:00 pm to 7:00 pm
Hosted By:
1301 17th St S,
Virginia
Virginia Campus
Wednesday, April 8 • 7:45 am - 8:45 am
Ken Waschke Auto
Plaza hosted Business
After Hours in March.
The Holiday Inn Express
hosted Breakfast Connections
in March.
Behind every
Small Business is a
dream worth supporting.
Legislative Affairs
Minnesota’s state budget was the main topic of discussion at the March 27 Minnesota Chamber webinar hosted by NTS Environmental Science. Chamber issues
include education and a reduction in the uncompetitive tax rate in the state. The
state chamber is supporting efforts to move Minnesota’s primary from August to
June when voters, it is believed, would be more engaged. On the issue of campaign finance, the chamber is opposed to restrictions that would be imposed by the
reform.
Kurt Doran, committee member said, “We [the committee] concisely convey and
present ideas to the Chamber membership on legislative issues.” Member Craig
Doughty agrees, reminding everyone that, “We exist to represent the interests of
Chamber members and inform them on issues of legislation that will affect business
and industry.” Next committee meeting is April 24, 8:00 am, NTS
Business Day at the Capitol:
Jaffee, officials meet
Ambassador and Legislative Affairs Committee member, Steve Jaffee traveled to St. Paul for the Minnesota
Chamber of Commerce annual Business Day (not) at
the Capitol on Tuesday, March 3. [“(not at the Capitol)”
since the Capitol building is undergoing renovations,
legislators and chamber representatives met off premises.] Jaffee talked with area legislators, including Sen.
David Tomassoni and Rep. Jason Metsa about issues
relevant to the Chamber, and especially concerning Hwy.
53 and PolyMet. He also visited with Minnesota Camber Interim President Bill Blazar. Jaffee was impressed
with Blazar’s knowledge and awareness of what is
happening on the Iron Range.
Eveleth Heritage Committee
Pat and Bill Sergeant of Poplar, Wisconsin returned
the “Eveleth Home Guard” embroidered muslin wall
hanging to the people of Eveleth just before Christmas, bringing it to Eveleth’s Public Library. Inherited
from an aunt and thought to have been stitched
around 1916 it is believed that the group had connections to Eveleth’s Company F Third Minnesota
Infantry. Names of those who stayed behind after
the militia was deployed from Company F are on the
fabric. It is a patriotic tribute to every name involved
in the United States’ war effort.
Anyone who knows of artifacts pertaining to the history of Eveleth is asked to contact Bill Aho at Eveleth
Super 8, 744-1661 or Mary Ellen Higgins at [email protected]
New Trendz Tanning & Body
Wellness Ribbon Cutting
Steve Jaffee
Chamber Golf Classic
in Virginia
The Chamber Golf Classic
will be held on Wednesday,
June 10th at
Virginia Golf Course.
Register your team today at
www.laurentianchamber.org
Chamber Ambassadors Linda Scott, Susan Santi, Pres. Bernie Collins; New
Trendz co-owner Nick Sherek; Ambassador Steve Jaffee; co-owners Becky and
Kasey Sherek; Ambassadors Crystal Spawn and Board Member Rick Marwick
were on hand March 19, for New Trendz ribbon cutting.
Community & Lakes - Adopt a Planter
What is your corporate registration?
The Laurentian Chamber of Commerce Legislative Committee has watched the Minnesota Chamber webcasts the past couple of months, and a lot of discussion centers
around taxes on corporations. To enable the Chamber to have a broader knowledge
of members’ corporate classification, would you please tell us how you company is
corporately filed? Phone 741-2717 or www.laurentianchamber.org
• Government • C-Corp
• L.L.P.
• Nonprofit
• P.A.
• Sole Proprietor
• S-Corp.
• L.L.C.
• Partnership
Community and Lakes has some really neat community beautification opportunities for individuals or groups. Here are photos of just three. All that’s asked is
that you adopt a pair of planters. If you enjoy gardening, this is a chance to make
the park pretty and demonstrate your talent for growing things. For information:
JoAnn or Dr. Don Sipola, Eye Clinic North, 741-5886. If you like water and beaches,
Community and Lakes has a few 500-foot sections of beach that need periodic clean
up. No special tools required
Thank you volunteers!
Summer
Jobs
at the Giants Ridge golf courses
Golf Shops & Courses
Cart Attendants
Golf Shop Clerks
Golf Course Maintenance
Eveleth, Virginia, Mt. Iron, Gilbert
(218) 741-2717
www.laurentianchamber.org
WE COULDN'T
DO IT WITHOUT YOU!
Food & Beverage
Banquet Cooks
Line Cooks
Banquet Servers
Restaurant Servers
Dishwashers
Bartenders
Beverage Cart Servers
Housekeeping
FT & PT positions. Application details at GiantsRidge.com
Photo by CAVU
Photo by Herbergs Hot Shots