August 3, 2020 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
August 3, 2020
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Joe Prebeg Jr., Alan Stanaway, Julie Buria, Steve Skogman, and Mayor Gary Skalko. 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; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and SGT Backman, Sheriff’s Department.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Buria that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Add the following items to the agenda:
- A. 1. Facebook post by Council member
VII. C. Fire Department report
- Approve the minutes of the July 20, 2020, regular meeting as submitted.
- 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 July 16-31, totaling $1,870,399.26 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 16-31, totaling $292,145.81 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by to recess the City Council meeting and enter into the Public Hearing for the Tax Abatement. The motion carried.
Ed Roskoski spoke regarding the renewable energy location, if it would be affected by the Tax Abatement.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to close the Public hearing and reconvene the City Council meeting. The motion carried.
Public Forum:
- No one spoke during the forum
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences to the family and friends of Tom Peterson
- Condolences to the family and friends of Rick Erchul
- Condolences to the family and friends of Marty Kaivola
- Happy birthday to Helen Kaivonen-Sainio turning 96 years old August 7th
- Thank you to all those who are keeping the country moving forward!
Conversation regarding a Council member’s personal Facebook post regarding comparing the way the Governor is handling the current COVID-19 to Holocaust on her personal page. The Facebook post comparison commented in such a manner that it compared the Jewish population during the Holocaust being forced to relinquish their personal rights, liberties and freedom, which is what is occurring currently amidst the current pandemic, what happened during then should not be allowed to happen again. City Attorney and Mayor Skalko stated that Council members are elected public officials, which are a representation of the City and are Council members 24/7; personal statements can be viewed or perceived as related to the City, while they may not be. Discussion ensued regarding the comparison.
City Administrator:
- City received funding from the CARES Act
- Installing new window in front office
- Increasing infrastructure for possible work from home in the future
- PP equipment ordered and in place for now and the future
- Precautions and supplies ordered for the upcoming Elections
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to approve the update to the City of Mountain Iron’s COVID-19 Preparedness Plan as presented. The motion carried.
Director of Public Works:
- Many projects underway throughout the City of Mountain Iron:
- Mountain Iron Drive – curb work completed this week, paving to start shortly afterwards
- Water Tower – fabricating complete, new rail around top, more activity on outside of tower
- Kinross area – City crews are replacing old dilapidated culverts
- Down Sanitary sewer project – 3-4 areas determined that could collapse, repair work will begin before winter, recommend that these get lined in the future
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- No formal report
- Residents – any pictures taken of the Water Tower progress, please submit to the Library
- Working on creating a progress slide show of the Water Tower project
- Roughly 16,000 books, magazines, media, etc. have been circulated throughout the Iron Range
- Larry Nanti 5K/10K, “Pumpkin Run,” possibly virtual
City Attorney:
- No formal report
Sheriff’s Department:
- No formal report
City Engineer:
- Water Tower project,
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Buria to approve Change Order #2 for the Downtown Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project in the amount $3,217.70, to Insituform Technologies USA, Inc. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to approve Pay Request #2-Final Payment for the Downtown Sanitary Sewer Improvement Project in the amount of $19,103.32 to Insituform Technologies USA, Inc., Chesterfield, MO. Payment is contingent upon the City receiving the C315 Forms. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Change Order #1, which increase the amount by $1,462 to KGM Contractors for the Mountain Iron Drive Reconstruction Project. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to approve Pay Request #1 for the Mountain Iron Drive Reconstruction Project in the amount of $235,535.40 to KGM Contractors, Angora Township, MN. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to approve Change Order #1 for the amount of $4,800 to replace the door at the base of the tower, and Change Order #3 for the amount of $500 to replace a leaky condensate line in tower base for Water Tower Improvement Project, to Viking Painting LLC, Omaha, NE. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to approve Resolution #14-20; Approving Property Tax Abatement and Approving and Authorizing Execution of Related Documents as presented. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the Tax Abatement and Vacant Land Purchase Agreement between the City of Mountain Iron, Mountain Iron EDA and Lakeland Investors, Inc. as presented. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to have the Fire Department submit reports to the City Council on a quarterly basis or they have a representative from the Department attend at least one City Council meeting a month. The motion carried.
At 8:01p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Buria that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
Communications:
- Primary Election on August 11, 2020, polls will be open from 7:00am until 8:00pm
- Mountain Iron Community Center: Precinct #1: IROQUOIS ROOM;
Precinct #2: WACOOTAH ROOM.
- Absentee ballots are available at City Hall now through August 10, 2020 for those voters unable to vote on Election Day.
- City Hall will also be open for Absentee voting from 10am-3pm on Saturday, August 8th and until 5pm on Monday, August 10th.
- Shared Services Study Joint meeting, Tuesday, August 18, 2020 at 6:30pm at the Mountain Iron Community Center
- Mediacom’s contract to carry the NFL Network and NFL Redzone channels will expire on July 31st, a new agreement is still being worked on for these channels but as of August 1st the channels will be offered until further notice.
