07-07-22 PHSB Minutes

Mountain Iron

Public Safety and Health Board Meeting Minutes

Mountain Iron Community Center

July 7, 2022

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Soyring at  1:00 PM  .

 

1. Members present: Julie Buria, Steve Hunter, Margaret Ratai,  Margaret Soyring,  Also present: St. Louis County Sheriff Sgt. Grant Toma, Mayor Peggy Anderson, Council Ed Roskoski (left after Public Form presentation.

 

1. Consent Agenda
2. Consent Agenda approval: Motion by  M. Ratai and second by J. Buria to approve the consent agenda with addition items: Mesabi Human Society and MIFD PERA. Motion carried.
3. Motion by  M. Ratai and second by to J. Buria approve May 11, 2022 minutes. Yes: 4, No: 0. Motion Carried.
4. Communications:

            Email to Board on June 22^, 2022 canceling Board meeting that day due to lack of quorum.

            Email on June 22, 2022 to Board Chairperson M. Soyring from Linda Scott, Mesabi Human Society.

 

III.       Public Forum: Presentation by City Councilor Ed Roskoski requesting Board support of                                   adding sidewalks on the west side of Cty Hwy 109, Nichols Avenue, from the Nichols                                Hall to the Short Stop, some type of sidewalk connection from Raintree, Park Villa and                         Park Place apartment complexes to Rock Ridge, side walk in Great Clips area, side walk                          across MN Hwy 169 at the signal light intersection to Walmart and Emerald Avenue.                                      Discussion held that the request has been made to the Mountain Iron City Council in the                                past.  No funding is available.  The request involves private property plus county and                                state highways.  Noted that there is a crosswalk at the MN Hwy 169 and County Hwy 7                        (by DQ and Park State Bank).  Board will not act on this request.   

 

1. Committee Staff Reports
2. First Responders: No official report. MIFD Fire Chief and Asst.  Fire Chief are actively recruiting new members.  MIFD Fire Chief exploring First Responder stipend increase.
3. Fire Department Report: No official report. J. Hipple remains as Asst. Fire Chief.

            MIFD Fire Chief and Asst. Chief are working the Virginia Interim Fire Chief                           concerning EMS issues, 24/7 staffing with ambulance at Mountain Iron and                              Virginia fire halls that developed due to the RAMS EMS discussions.  Moving                             forward on MIFD new fire hall project currently on hold.

1. Sheriff’s Office Report: No formal report.
2. Other – Mesabi Human Society: No report

 

1. Unfinished Business
2. Mesabi Human Society correspondence received on June 22^nd that did not address      questions M. Soyring, Chairperson, had made in an email to Linda Scott, Board      Chair after the May 11^th meeting. Mesabi Humane Society Contract with the City           of Mountain Iron is from January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2023.  A copy of the            Contract was provided to Board Members with the mailed agenda.

                        Discussion held on services and number of animals involved, cost of services per     year.  Past practice was to have the Public Safety and Health Board review the        contract before City Council approval. Motion by M. Ratai and second by J. Buria to have Linda Scott, Board Chairperson attend the Board’s next meeting.  Yes – 4,         No – 0. Motion carried.

1. Soyring will invite L. Scott, Mesabi Human Society Board Chairperson to the next Board meeting to address questions about the contract and services.
2. A copy of the Amended Chapter 31 of the Mountain Iron City Code for the MIFD        Paid On-Call-Fire Department and First Responders duly adopted by the City                  Council on November 15, 2021 was received by the Secretary.  The MIFD             roster shall consist of a maximum of thirty (30) paid on-call firefighter,           firefighter/First Responder and five (5) First Responder only positions.
3. Chapter 115 Mountain Iron City Code Sections was amended on February 18,    2020 to align with the federal and State of Minnesota laws for the purchase of     tobacco sales and related services to be illegal to anyone under the age of 21   years.

                        Mayor P. Anderson noted that this ordinance was updated at the last council            meeting to include vaping and vaping products. 

1. No applications have been received for the Board position. Resolution 19-07   Establishing the Public Safety and Health Board notes that the Board shall consist    of two (2) City Council members who will serve for their term of office and three           members who are residents of the City.  The City Council has an open seat until January 1, 2023 due to the resignation of Steve Skogman who served on this      Board. Discussion held to have Mayor Peggy Anderson fill the City Council seat         at this time. Mayor Anderson agreed to this duty.
2. Oriole Avenue blight issues still unresolved.  City Attorney has turned the issue          over to the County Attorney as this is tax forfeited property.

 

 

1. New Business
2. MIFD Fire Chief Mark Madden has polled the MIFD department about increasing PERA benefits or increasing the hourly wage.  This request had previously been     made by the Board.  Members were in agreement to increase the PERA benefit            from $2500 to $3500 per year.  At this time, the increase will not be a cost to the           A MIFD member needs a minimum of ten (10) years of service in good    standing to qualify for this benefit. May 15, 2022 PERA Volunteer Firefighter        Retirement Plan Cost Analysis Estimate Only reviewed.

                        Motion by M. Ratai and second by J. Buria to have the  City Council’s next                 agenda include the proposed MIFD firefighter and firefighter/First Responder                 PERA benefit increase from $2500 to $3500 effective January 1, 2023 using the     Minnesota Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan Model Resolution template.

                        Yes: 3, No: 1. Motion carried.  Mayor Anderson given copy of the Model Resolution and requested that she place this item on the next City Council agenda.

1. Discussion about blight issues in downtown Mountain Iron and Parkville.  USX is             demolishing 10 rental houses in Parkville at this time. Some have a HazMat          “Pigeon house” in downtown Mountain Iron has been demolished.

      Discussion reporting nuisances.

       Reference to Updated Ordinance§ 96.22 Nuisances notes that the City       Administrator with assistance from local law enforcement shall enforce the provisions relating to nuisance.  See remaining Ordinance on file with City           Administrator. Updated ordinance/code is not available on the website.

      Discussion about need to people to report the issues to City Administrator.     

 

VII.          Open Discussion

1. Presentation by Mayor Anderson about creating a Health and Wellness Director

      For the City.  The position could be responsible for the South Grove Recreation             Center, recreations activities in the city, possibly blight and other safety, health     and wellness activities sponsored by the City.

1.      Discussion about the YMCA closing this month. Motion by S. Hunter and second            by J. Buria to have the City open talks about purchase of the YMCA building on     Unity Avenue.  Yes: 4, No: 0. Motion passed.  Request Mayor Anderson to bring           this item forward to the City Administrator and City Council.  

 

VIII.           Announcements

1. Next Public Safety and Health Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, August 24^th at 10:00 AM, Mountain Iron City Hall Council Chambers.

 

1. Motion by S. Hunter and second by to adjourn M. Ratai the meeting. Motion carried. Meeting adjourned at  3:00 PM .

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

Margaret Ratai

Secretary