5-11-22 PHSB Minutes

Mountain Iron

Public Safety and Health Board Meeting Minutes

Mountain Iron Community Center

May 11,2022

 

The meeting was called to order by Chairperson Soyring at 1:30 PM  .

 

1. Members present: Steve Hunter, Margaret Ratai, Margaret Soyring, Also present: St. Louis County Sheriff Sgt. Grant Toma,  Mayor Peggy Anderson, Counselor Ed Roskoski.  Absent: Julie Buria, MIFD Liaison.

 

1. Consent Agenda
2. Consent Agenda approval: Motion by S. Hunter and second by M. Ratai  to approve the consent agenda. Motion carried.
3. Motion by M. Ratai and second by S. Hunter to approve October 27, 2021 minutes with correction to the adjournment time as 12:00 PM. Motion Carried.
4. Communications: Copy of Mesabi Human Society letter to City of Mountain Iron with Contract for Services starting January 1, 2021 to December 31,2023.

 

III.       Public Forum:   None

 

1. Committee Staff Reports
2. First Responders: No report. Jim Hipple is no longer in charge of First Responders due to his full time VFD responsibilities.  M. Soyring will ask Fire Chief Madden who has been assigned to this duty.
3. Fire Department Report: No Report. See Open Discussion.

                        vehicle was put into service. A 4 wheel drive Tahoe squad vehicle will be put into service next month.

1. Other – Mesabi Human Society: No Report. M. Soyring will contact Mesabi Human Society for reports.

 

1. Unfinished Business
2. Paid On-Call Fire Department and First Responders Ordinance was approved by   

                        City Council.  M. Ratai will contact City Administrator for final copy. 

1.       No report available on status of Ordinances being updated per October 27^th    

                        minutes.

1. Animal Control, Public Nuisance and Paid-On-Call Fire Department and First 

                        Responder Ordinance updates/amendments approved by the City Council are not

                        on the City’s website after numerous requests.

1. City Attorney continues to look at the legal issues to abate the tax forfeited Oriole

            Avenue property that is still occupied.   Blight was sited on May 20, 2018.  City

            Council had a resolution to follow the Public Nuisance Ordinance for the issue on

            November 1, 2021.

 

 

1. New Business:
2. Counselor Steven Skogman resigned from his City Council position and all City Board positions. His  Public Safety and Health Board position was posted and advertised on City’s Facebook page and website. No applicants to date.        

 

VII.          Open Discussion

1. Past practice has been to have the Public Safety and Health Board review the Mesabi Human Society contract for services and make recommendations prior to the City Council approving the contract. Will discuss the contract at the next Board meeting.
2. Discussion about MIFD PERA pensions. Firefighters were to have a pension increase to $2500 two years ago but the paperwork was not submitted to PERA. This has now been corrected. Updates to the account and further discussion at next Board meeting. 
3. Discussion about the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) panel discussion held at the Clinton Town Hall on April 21^st. Event hosted by Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS).  Six regional ambulance service directors from Virginia, Eveleth, Chisholm, Ely, Hibbing, Cook/Orr area held a panel discussion related to current challenges facing rural emergency services.  The discussion can be viewed on U tube: Northern MN Rural Ambulance Meeting. Areas of concern are staffing including lack of First Responders, salaries, low stipends coverage in large rural areas, increase in mental health and drug overdose transports, increase in out-of-the area transports, mutual aid, reimbursement.

A discussion was held about forming an EMS district. More meetings may be planned by RAMS.

1. Discussion held on Committee to explore new fire hall. A meeting was held with recommendations to request the City Administrator look at hiring a consultant to assist with the process and apply for grants for grants.  No action has been taken since February.  Currently the Committee does not have a chairperson. Mayor Anderson recommended the Fire Chief and Assistant Fire Chief request the City Administrator move forward wanting a study and future meetings.  Topic will be put on next Board meeting agenda.
2. Renovations have started on the Nichols Town Hall.
3. IRRRB has plans to demolish Eric Newberg’s house that was destroyed by fire.
4. Mountain Iron house with pigeons has been torn down.

 

VIII.           Announcements

1. Next Public Safety and Health Board meeting will be held on Wednesday, June 22^, 2022 at 1:30 PM in the City Council Chambers.

 

1. Motion by S. Hunter and second by  M. Ratai to adjourn the meeting. Motion carried.

               Meeting adjourned at 2:38 PM .

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

Margaret Ratai

Secretary