October 6, 2025 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
October 6, 2025
Mayor Anderson called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Ed Roskoski, Bradley Gustafson, Al Stanaway, Julie Buria, and Mayor Peggy Anderson. Also, present were: Craig Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Anna Amundson, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Al Johnson, City Engineer; and Sgt. Grant Toma, Sheriff’s Department.
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of September 15, 2025, regular meeting.
- 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 September 16-30, totaling $320,585.72 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period September 16-30, totaling $547,998.07 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Stanaway, Buria and Anderson).
It was moved by Roskoski to amend the original motion to remove the bills from O’Reilly Auto Parts/Parts City/Champion Auto in the amount of $1,573.00 from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The motion failed.
Public Forum:
- No
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Great event recently “Coffee with a Cop”
City Administrator:
- Future Resolution regarding – application for local road improvement project (Unity Drive) funded through MnDOT
Director of Public Works:
- Emergency repair 4k volt substation by recycling center
- Landscaping, street patching and culvert replacements done at West II Rivers Campground
- Sand hauling over next couple weeks
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria authorizing City staff to purchase 2,730ft/1/O cable from Irby Utilities, in the amount of $12,000, usage for inventory and the Northland Learning Center project. The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria authorizing City staff to move forward with the proposal from Gulbranson Excavating for the installation (both plowing and directional drilling) of three-phase 1/O wire in the amount not to exceed $82,000. This would be an electrical system upgrade and the installation power to the new Northland Learning Center. The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- Merritt days
- 2026 Merritt Days scheduled for August 4th – 9th
- Meritt days planning committee
- October 22nd at 5:30 pm at Library
- 81st “Penny” Halloween Carnival
- Sunday, October 26th from 12:00pm – 3:00pm
- Nichols Town Hall
- Grand opening – Thursday, November 13th from 4:00pm – 6:00pm
City Engineer:
- No formal report
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to approve Pay Request No. 4 – final for the Mineral Avenue watermain project in the amount of $37,546.93 to 2EZ, Inc., dba: Jola & Sopp Excavating. The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to approve Change Order No. 2 – for the City Garage Ditch Improvement project, decreasing the amount by $6,350, and approve Pay Request No. 3 – Drainage Improvement project in the amount of $8,456.80 to 2EZ, Inc., dba: Jola & Sopp Excavating. The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
Sheriff’s Department:
- No formal report
Liaison:
- Councilor Gustafson
- Attended the Laurentian Chamber Annual Gala & Fundraiser
- Three local Mountain Iron businesses nominated
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #19-25; Requesting Concurrent Detachment from Mountain Iron and Annexation to Virginia a Certain Lands Pursuant to Minnesota Statues Section 414.061(a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #20-25; Ordering Improvement and Preparation of Plans for the South Grove Rec Complex (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski to amend the original motion, that the following alternatives be factored into the Option H plan at South Grove. For the male restroom, one toilet and one urinal; for the female restroom, two toilets; for the planned patio on one end, an alternative would be to box it in or cover it up as potentially an alternative more storage area. That’s the patio that’s planned for on the west end, there is going to be roof, you could have more storage by moving the end wall out and two side walls, extra room at very little cost. The motion failed.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to approve Resolution #21-25; Authorizing the City of Mountain Iron to make Application to and Accept Funds from the Commercial Redevelopment Grant Program from the Department of IRRR (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to authorize the Soroptimist of Virginia a Temporary On-sale Liquor License, for their “Chick Flick” Fundraiser to be held on October 22, 2025, at the Cinema 6 Movie Theatre. The motion carried.
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanaway to schedule the Committee of the Whole (COW) meeting for Monday, November 17, 2025, before the normal council meeting at 5:00pm to review the 2026 budget. It was moved by Gustafson to amend the original motion and seconded by Stanaway to schedule the COW meeting for Monday, November 3, 2025, at 5:00pm, prior to the normal council meeting. The motion carried.
Announcements:
- Planning and Zoning Commission meeting – October 13, 2015 @ 6:00pm
- Economic Development Authority meeting – October 14, 2025 @ 5:00pm
At 7:13p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanaway the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
