BIWABIK — Following a long administrator search and a region-high tax increase, the city of Biwabik is taking a forward-looking approach to 2026.

At the inaugural State of the City address Tuesday, Biwabik Mayor Steve Biondich highlighted the age-friendly community efforts, creation of an economic development authority, a public safety center and other planned improvements as the new year unfolds.

Updating the heating and cooling systems in city hall and the pavilion are among those items on hold for several years. The city received a $383,000 grant from the Department of Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation in December for the project.

Citing the city’s financial hardships, the agency waived the one-to-one fund match requirement for Biwabik, and the city will cover $31,900 of the total $415,400.

“We’re finally taking care of some of these issues, and its ridiculously expensive, but we have no other choice,” Biondich said.

Other improvements completed or targeted over the next year include technology upgrades at city hall to improve efficiency, new water meters for residents and taking a look at garbage services, which have been operating at a loss.

Public safety/EMS

The city’s ambulance and fire department are in line for some of the city’s most ambitious goals.

A new ambulance arrived in January and the 2026 budget accounted for the purchase of a new fire truck, which will be paid through installments and is expected to arrived in three to four years.

Biondich said the council considered offering residents a local optional sales tax referendum to cover the cost over the tax levy, but the tax is a three-year process before going in front of voters.

With a new contract in place for police services through Gilbert, he said the city is moving forward on plans for a new public safety center. The current building is in disrepair and the former police department section of it is uninhabitable.

“The building that houses the fire department isn’t falling to the ground, it’s falling into the ground,” Biondich said.

Biwabik received funding from mineral bills through the Legislature the last two sessions, and is seeking alternate funding sources to move ahead. The city has asked for $2.5 million from the state through a bonding bill this session.

City Administrator Michael Schultz said the public safety center is currently in the design and engineering stage, with stakeholder meetings taking place.

Age-friendly community

Biwabik was designated an age-friendly community by the AARP is December, and led by a committee, plans to assess options and survey residents on improving the city’s quality of life for an aging

Schultz said the designation and continued work allows the city to seek grant funding for age-friendly improvements. A survey is currently available through the city as part of the assessment phase.

“Addressing all this and the housing shortage is an Iron Range issue, so creating a sustainable community for all is the goal,” he said.

Economic development

Biondich said the creation of an EDA will aid the city in identifying opportunities to help support local businesses and bring more into Biwabik.

Beyond that, the EDA is expected to be central in finding alternate funding to boost economic development goals. Biwabik is generally seen on the Range as ripe for growth opportunities considering its proximity to Giants Ridge along Highway 135.

The EDA’s first meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. March 9 prior to the city council meeting at city hall.