120417 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
December 4, 2017
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:33p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Alan Stanaway, Steve Skogman, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Sally Yuccas, Librarian Director/Special Events Director; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the December 4, 2017, regular meeting as submitted.
- That the communications be accepted and placed on file and those requiring further action by the City Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
- To acknowledge the receipts for the period December 1-15, 2017, totaling $286,076.85 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period December 1-15, 2017, totaling $358,253.25 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
Public Forum:
- No one spoke during forum
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences to the family and friends of Jim Shaleen
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- South Grove Skating rink to open Friday, December 8th, weather depending
- Rink closures and updates will be posted on Facebook, Twitter, The City of Mountain Iron website as along with local TV stations and at the South Grove Skating Rink
Director of Public Works:
- Thursday, November 30th, road closure by Fairview Clinic, crew was working to install valve to help operate distribution system better
- Saturday, December 2nd, dip in power due to squirrel
- City Crew workers expected to be out with weather conditions anticipated to get bad throughout tonight into tomorrow morning
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the recommendation of the Parks & Recreation board and hire the following individuals to work as winter seasonal workers and rink attendants for the 2017/2018 season:
Arin Marks Casey Kintner Bryce Wainio
Colin Poitra Connie Murphy
The motion carried.
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- Library hosting “Annual Food Drive,” for Food Shelf, asking patrons to bring canned goods
- Tuesday, December 12th at 10am, “Holiday gathering” for Preschoolers
Sheriff’s Department:
- No formal or informal report
City Engineer:
- No formal report
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to approve Pay Request No. 2 for the Nichols Wastewater Pond Decommissioning Project in the amount of $18,481.30, to the Veit Company, Duluth, MN. This amount includes withholding of 5% retainage on work completed to date. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to hire Casey Kintner to the position of volunteer firefighter, contingent upon passing a physical, aptitude test and background check. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to approve the recommendation of the Public Health and Safety Committee and post internally for the Fire Chief and Fire Captain Safety Officer, with applications being accepted at City Hall until 4pm on December 20th. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution 32-17; approving the 2017 tax levy of 0% instead of the 2.1%, collectable in 2018 (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The amended motion carried on 3; 2 roll call vote. Prebeg-yes, Stanaway-yes, Skogman-no, Tuomela-no, Skalko-yes
- Discussed the 2018 budget, Councilor Prebeg challenged the Council to reduce the levy from 2.1% to 0%, cutting roughly $25,000 from the Budget. Councilor Prebeg stated that he has been here for 17 years and has never seen the levy go down, once it goes up it never goes back down, with a 6% decrease in Capital outlay budget to either individual items or as a whole.
- Discussion ensued, increase was largely due to Healthcare/Insurance Rates increasing in the foreseeable future
- Mayor Skalko stated that the City budget has no control over the Mountain Iron-Buhl School or St. Louis County budget/levy
- Councilor Skogman stated how thin is the budget going to be cut if it keeps getting pushed to the following year, if levy is increased by 2.1%, will be a continuous addition to the budget, but what is being take away, what services to be cut to stay within budget
- Councilor Prebeg stating that the City is not cutting services, but wish list instead, can be accountable by doing something and not increasing the levy
- Councilor Stanaway stated that $25,000 this would equate to $250,000 in 10 years, can understand both an 2.1% increase as well as a decrease 0% levy
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the 2018 proposed budget, with the amendment that the budget be reduced by no more than $25,000 to come out of the Capital Outlay Portion. The amended motion carried on 3; 2 roll call vote. Stanaway-yes, Skogman-no, Tuomela-no, Prebeg-yes, Skalko-yes
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to adopt Resolution 33-17; approving the 2018 market rate based referendum levy for the General Obligation Community Center Bonds and Interest (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution 34-17; approving the 2018 Economic Development Authority Tax Levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on roll call vote.
The council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the Building rental fee of $125 be waived in the form of a donation to the Melissa Norvitch Zahn benefit event/fundraiser to help defray the cost of ongoing breast cancer treatments, which will be held on January 19, 2018 at the Mountain Iron Community Center, monies to come from Charitable Gambling. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to nominate Councilor Stanaway to the RAMS, The motion carried, 4; 1, with Councilor Stanaway abstaining.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to nominate Mayor Skalko as the RAMS alternate, the motion carried, 4:1, with Mayor Skalko abstaining.
At 7:16 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
Communications:
- Notice of Board of Directors Nominations, 12 vacancies available on the RAMS board of Directors. One of the 12 is a superintendent that will be nominated by the Superintendent’s Association, with the other 11 coming from townships, school districts and cities. Nominations being accepted until December 21st.
- Mediacom will be implementing rate adjustments/ increases to its programming as of January 1, 2018.
