October 20, 2025 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
October 20, 2025
Mayor Anderson called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Ed Roskoski, Bradley Gustafson, Julie Buria, and Mayor Peggy Anderson. Also, present were: Craig Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Al Johnson, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and Mark Madden, Fire Department Chief. Absent members: Alan Stanaway
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of October 6, 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 October 1-15, totaling $229,687.68 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period October 1-15, totaling $473,089.48 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
Public Forum:
- No one spoke during the forum
The Mayor reported on the following:
- City crew working hard to get ready for winter
- Attended the Pan Continental Championship grand opening
City Administrator:
- Attended MNTAC cap meeting – goes over process for obtaining their permits
- Pan Continental Championship – shout out to dad Jim Wainio, who threw “ceremonial rock,” Jeff Isaacson and Matt Perushek for sweeping and Ida Rukavina for holding the broom
Director of Public Works:
- Mineral Avenue alley project started, connecting power to Northland Learning Center, waterline repair on Highway 169 near the MIB School and road sand hauling for winter season
- Thank you to Councilor Gustafson for the employee luncheon
City Attorney:
- Continue to work with Planning & Zoning on three primary projects – city code violations
Fire Department:
- Fire Prevention week recently conducted
- New fire truck from Macqueen – on schedule to be started 1st quarter of 2026
It was moved by Roskoski to approve the Fire Department report as presented. The motion failed due to lack of support.
City Engineer:
- Construction on Mineral Alley started
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson that the City Engineering firm review the intersection situation at Unity Drive and County 7 and come up with some suggestions on how to make that intersection safer. The motion was defeated on roll call vote (Yes: Roskoski, Gustafson; No: Buria, Anderson) with Councilor Stanaway absent.
- Discussion ensued regarding intersection, Unity Drive and grant
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to approve the Variance permit for Gerard Lanari. The Variance permit is for construction of a building that does not meet the required 30ft setback. The property is legally described as follows:
Parcel Code: 175-0071-01242
Plat Name: MOUNTAIN IRON
Section: 13;Township: 58; Range:18 ;Lot:-; Block -; Description: That part THAT PART OF S1/2 OF NE1/4 OF NW1/4 LYING E OF SILVER CREEK AND S OF A LINE 297.92 FT N OF SE COR
Address: 5471 Highway 7, Virginia, MN 55792
The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to approve the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Franklin Outdoor Advertising. The CUP permit is for an off-site sign. The property is legally described as follows:
Parcel Code: 175-0071-00889
Plat Name: MOUNTAIN IRON
Section: 11;Township: 58; Range:18 ;Lot:-; Block -; Description: That part of NE1/4 of SE1/4, described as follows: Easterly 270 feet of Southerly 60 feet, EXCEPT the Easterly 100 feet, which is a right of way for County Road No. 109; AND That part of SE1/4 of SE1/4, described as follows: Beginning at the Northeast corner of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11 proceed Westerly on an assumed bearing of S86deg56’03″W along the north line of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11 for a distance of 270.1 feet; thence proceed S04deg37’19″E parallel to the east line of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11 for a distance of 191.27 feet to a point on the North right of way line of State Highway No. 169; thence proceed S89deg06’20″E along the North right of way line of State Highway No. 169 for a distance of 271.26 feet to a point on the east line of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11; thence proceed N04deg37’19″W along the east line of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11 for a distance of 210.01 feet to the Northeast corner of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11, being the Point of Beginning, EXCEPT the Easterly 100 feet, which is a right of way for County Road No. 109; AND That part of SE1/4 of SE1/4, described as follows: Commencing at the Southeast corner of said Section 11; thence on a bearing of N02deg25’49″W along the east line thereof for 1097.12 feet; thence N86deg54’24″W for 100.47 feet to the intersection of the Northerly right of way line of Trunk Highway No. 169 with the Westerly right of way line of County State Aid Highway No. 109, as both highways are now located and established, and the Point of Beginning; thence continue N86deg54’24″W along said Northerly right of way line of Trunk Highway No. 169 for 296.80 feet; thence S02deg25’49″E for 100.47 feet; thence S86deg54’24″E for 196.33 feet; thence N45deg19’53″E for 135.07 feet, more or less, to the Point of Beginning; AND That part of SE1/4 of SE1/4, described as follows: Commencing at the Southeast corner of said SE1/4 of SE1/4 of Section 11; thence N02deg25’49″W, assigned bearing, along the east line of SE1/4 of SE1/4, 1097.12 feet; thence N86deg54’24″W, 100.47 feet to the West right of way of County Road No. 109; thence continue N86deg54’24″W along the North right of way of State Highway No. 169, a distance of 296.80 feet to the Point of Beginning; thence continue N86deg54’24″W along said North right of way 120.56 feet; thence S02deg25’49″E, 100.47 feet; thence S86deg54’24″E, 120.56 feet; thence N02deg25’49″W, 100.47 feet to the Point of Beginning.
Address: 5539 Nichols Avenue, Mountain Iron, MN 55768
The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to approve the Variance permit for Gary & Linda Friedlieb. The Variance permit is for construction of a building that does not meet the required 25ft setback. The property is legally described as follows:
Parcel Code: 175-0061-00060
Plat Name: REARR OF PART OF STONY BROOK PARK
Section: -;Township: -; Range:– ;Lot: 0006; Block 001; Description: LOT: 0006 BLOCK:001
Address: TBD Centennial Dr, Virginia, MN 55792
Parcel Code: 175-0062-00110
Plat Name: STONY BROOK PARK MOUNTAIN IIRON
Section: -;Township: -; Range:– ;Lot: 0006; Block 002; Description: LOT: 0006 BLOCK:002
Address: TBD Centennial Dr, Virginia, MN 55792
The motion carried (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Buria, Anderson) with Councilor Stanaway absent.
Liaison:
- Councilor Gustafson
- Attended RAMS meeting that hosted two State Committee House Chairs – October 8th
- Attended Emerging Developers training – October 9th
- Councilor Roskoski
- Parks & Rec – new South Grove building staffed during summer/winter events
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Roskoski to approve Resolution #22-25; Authorizing the Pursuit of 2025 Local Road Improvement Program for the Unity Drive Reconstruction Project (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson to approve Resolution #23-25; Authorizing the City of Mountain Iron to Make Application to and Accept Funds from the Grant Writing Assistance Program from the Department of IRRR (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Roskoski to approve Resolution #24-25; Authorizing Application for Grant Navigation Support for the City of Mountain Iron from the League of Minnesota Cities for Wastewater Plant Improvements (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson to approve the included agreement as presented with the Salvation Army for their Heat Share program for the 2025-2026 winter season. The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to donate $150.00 to the Mountain Iron-Buhl Journalism Class for the 2025-2026 Yearbook, monies to come from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway absent.
Announcements:
- Merritt Days Committee Planning meeting
- Wednesday, October 22nd at 5:30pm at Mountain Iron Library
- Parks and Recreation Board – Wednesday, October 29, 2025 @ 5:30pm
- Pan Continental Curling Championships – October 19th – 26th
- Halloween Carnival
- Sunday, October 26th from 12:00pm – 3:00pm
At 7:22p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
