April 7, 2025 City Council Minutes

 MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

April 7, 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; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; and Al Johnson, City Engineer.

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

1. Approve the minutes of March 17, 2025, 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 March 16-31, totaling $349,276.65 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period March 16-31, totaling $554,947.52 (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 Parts City/Champion Auto in the amount of $300.00 and Napa Christenson bills in the amount of $731.00 from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The motion failed.

Public Forum:

• Julie Simek, Monsters Ink owner, spoke regarding the building that is being constructed on Slate Street for her business, wants to know the zoning status for two lots near her current lot as they are currently zoned Industrial and need to be Commercial

The Mayor reported on the following:

• No formal report

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to approve the Employee Input Form as presented. The motion was amended by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to include Gustafson taking on the distribution of forms, explaining forms, compiling data and discarding original handwritten forms. The motion carried.

Discussion ensued regarding input form, recommendations, feedback, distribution and ideas

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to appoint Eric Monson to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a 5-year term. The motion carried.

City Administrator:

• Met with US Steel regarding potential Mott Pitt project – presented plans for possible project
• Attending 2^nd annual US Steel CAP meeting in Virginia –
• Mediacom looking for support to seek grants for highspeed internet installment in City

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to maintain the City of Mountain Iron’s current coverage, thus not waiving the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by MN Statue Section 466.04, and to approve the Liability Coverage with the League of Minnesota Cities. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

Director of Public Works:

• City Crews
• Active water leak behind Walgreens/Sawmill – working on best time to repair

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to authorize City Staff to purchase a CAMION systems T-series Ecomaxx sprayer in the amount of $14,269.00, from Iron Valley Equipment. The motion carried unanimously with roll call vote.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to authorize City Staff to purchase (after inspection), a 2005 International 4300 Digger Derrick in the amount up to $28,900, in a consignment sale facilitated through Ascendance Truck Center. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

City Engineering:

• No formal report

Liaison:

• Councilor Gustafson spoke regarding the following:
• Parks & Recreation meeting, assessed and ranked the city parks
• Public meeting for the South Grove complex designs
• April 23^rd at 5:30pm at Community Center
• March 20^th and March 21^st – attended Connecting Entrepreneurs Communities Conference
• Attended Brownfields conference – shared resources and toured new range copper nickel complex

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson, that the request of many Mountain Iron residents, that this item go to our Street and Alley Committee as soon as possible for review and possible implementation. The Mineral Avenue and Main Street intersection southeast corner stop sign should be removed and placed at the northeast corner by Ray Saari’s. Why, 99% of the traffic goes on Mineral Avenue north then west down Main Street or it comes from Main Street going east and then south on Mineral Avenue. One percent of that intersection traffic comes from or goes to the north or to the east. The motion failed (Yes: Roskoski, Gustafson; No: Anderson, Stanaway, Buria).

It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to set the Special Meeting – Local Board of Adjustment and Equalization (LBAE) for April 24, 2025, at 5:00pm, in the Mountain Iron Room at the Community Center. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Gustafson to approve the resignation of Mary Luomanen, from the Public Health and Safety Board. The motion carried.

Announcement:

• Hamlin University Staff will be giving a presentation
• Wednesday, April 9^th @ 5:00pm and the Mountain Iron Senior Center
• Merritt Days Committee planning meeting
• Tuesday, April 8^th at 5:00pm at the Mountain Iron Library
• 2025 Merritt days – August 4^th – August 9^th
• EDA meeting rescheduled for Wednesday, April 16^th at 5:00pm

At 7:25p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanaway the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

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