January 20, 2026 City Council Minutes

 MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

January 20, 2026

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, Alan Stanaway, and Mayor Peggy Anderson. Also, present were: Craig Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works;  Library Director/Special Events Coordinator: Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Al Johnson, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and Mark Madden, Fire Department Chief.  

It was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Approve the minutes of January 5, 2026, regular meeting.
2. 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.
3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period January 1-15, totaling $286,305.66 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 1-15, totaling $387,943.80 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Buria, Stanaway and Anderson).

It was moved by Roskoski to amend the motion to remove item Misc. General receipts, account number 101-37-7100-023, in the amount of $17,117.10 from the January 20^th City Council meeting agenda. And have separate titles, specific itemized amounts available at the next February 2^nd City Council meeting agenda for approval at that meeting. The motion failed.

It was moved by Roskoski to amend the original motion to remove the bills from O’Reilly Auto Parts Virginia in the amount of $724.00 and Napa Auto Parts from $498.00 from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The motion failed.

Public Forum:

• No one spoke during the forum

The Mayor  reported on the following:

• Thanks to all those who have served and are serving on City Boards and Commissions
• Thanks to the City crew on continued snow efforts throughout the City

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to appoint the following:

• Sue Tuomela to the Utility Advisory Board for a 3-year term
• Macy Saari-Nelson to the Parks and Recreation Board for a 3-year term
• Corey Nelson and Barb Fivecoate to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a 5-year term
• Mary Loumanen and Sue Osell to the Public Safety & Health Board for a 3-year term
• Amanda Claesson and Tara Wainio to the Library Board for a 3-year term

The motion carried as amended.    

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to appoint Alan Stanaway and William Copeland to the Planning & Zoning Board for a 3-year term. The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway abstaining (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Buria, and Anderson).

City Administrator:

• Received preliminary approval $75,000 – final phase for downtown slip-lining sewers

Director of Public Works:

• Water line break – South Grove area
• Dealing with nuisance blowing/drifting snow

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• Annual meeting – Monday, February 23^rd @ 6:30pm

City Engineer:

• No formal report

City Attorney:

• No formal report

Fire Department:

• Fourteen First Responder calls in the first 48 hours of the new year
• Department paged 489 times during 2025 year

It was moved by Roskoski to approve the Fire Department report as presented. The motion failed due to lack of support.

Liaison:

• Councilor Roskoski
• Senior Citizen club update – meet every 2^nd and 4^th  Monday each month
• Thank you to all residents who clear snow around fire hydrants
• MSA Professional Consultants Tom Dye and Deidre Beck presented Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Study project, upgrading existing facility to increase capacity and meeting proposed MPCA limits

It was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanaway to hold a public hearing for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement for the 2^nd City Council meeting in February. The motion carried. 

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Roskoski to approve the proposal by Bolton & Menk for the Residential Stormwater Drainage analysis in the West Virginia area, in the amount of $14,150. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

It was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanway to donate $500 to the St. Louis County Agricultural Society/Fair Association for the 2026 St. Louis County Fair, monies to come out of the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Buria, Stanaway and Anderson).

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to receive and file the Hometown Focus 2026 publication rates, page 17, from the Council packet. The motion carried.  

Announcement:

• City Offices closed

At 7:16p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Gustafson the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

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