August 16, 2021 City Council Minutes

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

August 16, 2021

Mayor Anderson called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Ed Roskoski, Julie Buria, Joe Prebeg Jr. and Mayor Peggy Anderson. Also present were: Craig Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Anna Amundson, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator; Al Johnson, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and Kevin Friebe, Sheriff’s Department. Absent members: Councilor Steve Skogman.

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

1. Approve the minutes of the August 2, 2021, regular meeting as submitted.
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 August 1-15, totaling $315,152.17 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes),
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period August 1-15, totaling $617,085.65 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

Public Forum:

• Roskoski spoke regarding safety at the intersection on County Road 169 and County Road 7. Several people have had this happen to them when they were turning in this intersection from County 7 onto County 169, marked turn arrows on the road are not big enough; there is no center turn arrows marked. Drivers are not following the arrows correctly, there is only one turn lane, not two. Diagram being presented at Public Health & Safety Board, it is recommended that the County be contacted so that arrows can be properly marked, with the additional center arrow.

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Big thank you to the all-volunteers Merritt Days Committee that helped throughout Merritt Days. Also big thanks to the Fire Department, Sheriff’s Department, Mrs. Amundson and City Crew for all the help and work.

City Administrator:

• No current cost estimate for the repairs at Nichols Town Hall

Director of Public Works:

• Roughly 78% of Minnesota in severe drought condition currently
• No water restrictions/bans currently, asking residents to help conserve water
• Please limit lawn irrigation and vehicle washing

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• Summer Reading Program Winners
• Top Winners: Audrina Johnson, Amelia Niska, Kenton Johnson & Henry Niska
• Top winners read over 2500 minutes between them

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report

City Engineer:

• Peterson Well Drilling – test hole drilled, currently waiting on test pump to be completed

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Buria to approve Pay Request No. 3 – for the Well Project– Well Number 3, in the amount of $156,631.25, to Peterson Well Drilling, Inc., Mountain Iron, MN. This amount includes a 5% retainage. The motion carried on roll call vote with Councilor Skogman absent (4:0).

City Attorney:

• No formal report

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Buria to approve the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and hire Jordan Bissonette to the Mountain Iron Fire Department as a paid on call firefighter, contingent on physical and background check. The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Buria to accept the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Committee and approve the Conditional Use Permit for James Neault at 5707 Marble Avenue, Mountain Iron. The property is legally described as follows:

Parcel Code: 175-0020-00540LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PLAT NAME: MERRITTS 1ST ADDITION TO MOUNTAIN IRON; LOT 0011; BLOCK 004; DESCRIPTION: LOT: 0011 BLOCK: 004

            Address: 5708 Marble Avenue, Mountain Iron, MN 55768

The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Buria to accept the recommendation of the Planning & Zoning Committee and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Bruce Kochevar at Mountain Iron. The property is legally described as follows:

Parcel Code: 175-0070-01250

LEGAL DESCRIPTION: PLAT NAME: MT IRON; SECTION 10; TOWNSHIP 58; RANGE 18; DESCRIPTION: THAT PART OF NE1/4 OF NW1/4 COMM AT SW COR OF NE1/4 OF NW1/4 THENCE N00DEG06’37″W ALONG W LINE 766.60 FT TO PT OF BEG THENCE E 78 FT THENCE N00DEG06’37″W 50 FT THENCE W 78 FT TO W LINE THENCE S00DEG06’37″E ALONG W LINE 50 FT TO PT OF BEG

            Address: Mountain Iron, MN 55768

The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Buria to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and approve the recommended upgrades to the City of Mountain Iron’s distribution system as presented, with a cost of roughly $85,400. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Councilor Skogman absent (4:0).

Liaison:

• Councilor Roskoski spoke regarding the last Planning & Zoning, possibly modifying the canvas storage structures in Residential areas as well as water drainage issues between Residential properties. Specifically properties that have been established for 30-40 years with no drainage problems, however subsequently problems after a new home is built next to it.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation from Staff and approve the honorary street designation of Silicon Way to Senator David J. Tomassoni Drive; for all that, Senator Tomassoni has done for the community and City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Buria to reschedule the Monday, September 6, 2021 meeting due to the Labor Day Holiday to Tuesday, September 7, 2021 at 6:30pm in the Mountain Iron Room, at the Mountain Iron City Hall. The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

Announcements:

• Note to residents; recent activity on Spruce Drive into Ann’s Acres
• Contractors were working at the Natural Gas substation on the corner of Spruce Drive and County Road 7, new pumps are going to be installed as well as a fence enlargement
• All stakes are the marked out locations where the Contractors can and cannot go

At 7:12p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Councilor Skogman absent.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

Communications:

1. Minnesota Power is expanding homegrown solar energy on the Iron Range, building an approximately 5-megawatt solar array in Mountain Iron to deliver solar renewable solar power to municipal customers.