Development dominates Tower agenda, Lamppa project moves forward

MONDAY, APRIL 9, 2018 — The City of Tower has been very busy with a full slate of business on the city’s agenda.  Tower moved the Lamppa Manufacturing project forward and agreed to administer a $125,000 grant request, to the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation Board (IRRRB), on behalf of the Lake Vermilion Cultural Center. The council also eliminated a wetlands hurdle for Tower Harbor Shores.

The city engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson (SEH) has completed drawings of a new Lamppa Manufacturing building, which will be built in the industrial park in the southwest corner of the city.  The city council unanimously voted to utilize SEH to request bids for the project. A ten year lease of the building to Lamppa Manufacturing was also unanimously approved by the council. Lamppa will pay the city $234,600 in lease payments over the initial term, starting with a $1,200 monthly payment and gradually increasing over the ten years to a monthly payment of  $2,625. It is expected that construction on the building will be completed and Lamppa will begin leasing the property in October of this year. With these details accomplished the city council gave its approval to seek an IRRRB non-recourse loan to fund the site preparation and construction costs of the building. Lamppa will utilize one-half of the building to build its wood stoves and furnaces leaving the other half available to lease to another business or a future Lamppa Manufacturing expansion.

Many have been concerned that work has long been idle on a project to develop a cultural center on Main Street, leaving the historic former Episcopal Church building left unfinished and exposed to the elements with building wrap serving as much of its roof and much of that wrap fluttering in the wind. The project was moving forward following its move… [Read More]