What happened?
The Duluth City Council on Monday delayed its vote for at least two weeks on whether to transfer operations of the city-owned zoo to the Lake Superior Zoological Society. The delay came despite councilors being inundated with e-mails from citizens who want the zoo saved and taken over by the society. Without the transfer, the Lake Superior Zoo probably will close. The city can no longer afford to run the zoo, city administrators say.
Why the delay?
Councilor Tony Cuneo said he needed more time to review information while Councilor Sharla Gardner expressed concern about a possible lawsuit by the employees' union. The union has fought the transfer of the zoo's 10 current full-time zookeepers to other positions with the city. Salaries with the Zoological Society would not match city wages.
How they voted
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Voting to delay the vote were Cuneo, Gardner, Greg Gilbert, Garry Krause, Jeff Anderson and Gary Eckenberg. Opposing the delay were Todd Fedora, Jay Fosle and Jim Stauber.
