August 5, 2019 City Council Minutes

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

August 5, 2019Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:33p.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; and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Skogman that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Approve the minutes of the July 15, 2019, 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 July 16-31, totaling $650,407.21 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 16-31, totaling $100,591.67 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried on roll call vote.  

Public Forum:

• Bradley Peterson, representative from Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities spoke about the recent Legislative session

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Mass shootings are an epidemic, with the first reported one being in 1966, however in the last 20years, the amount of shootings have escalated. It is time for a change, cannot sit as a nation and do nothing, Elected leaders must do something. It is happening everywhere, not only in larger cities but smaller ones as well with no environment or location being off limits
• Condolences to the family and friends of Irene Coleman
• Condolences to the family and friends of Edna Niskanen
• Condolences to the family and friends of Warren “Ernine” Smith
• Condolences to the family and friends of Mike Marincel
• Condolences to the family and friends of Lynn Suskovic
• Great work to Shirley Savela for the outstanding work done while working with Sand Lake Shuffle
• Spoke with a Representative who recently purchased Plaza 53
  • Total renovation to the location both inside and out

City Administrator:

• City of Mountain Iron achieved Step 2 in the Minnesota Green-Step Cities program
• Demolition of 5702 Mineral Avenue is ready, with the exception of the disconnection of services from Minnesota Energy
• Health Insurance premiums do not look to increase for the 2020 year

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to recommend that Matthew Cerkvenik be transferred from the position of Maintenance, Job Class 16, to the position of Journeyman Lineman, Job Class 22, as he has completed all the requirements as an apprentice lineman. The motion carried.

Director of Public Works:

• City Crews out jetting sewers and completing fall work, getting ready for winter season

Library Director/Special Events Director:

• Tuesday, August 6^th “1^st National Night Out,” at the Mountain Iron Community Center
• Summer reading program completed, with 84 kids reading 60,000 minutes

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report
• August 1^st – “Hands free Cell-phone use” policy enforced

City Engineer:

• No formal report

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to award the replacement of the water main from Dairy Queen entrance to American Bank Entrance along Unity Drive, along with the Alternative No. 1, which would replace from American Bank entrance to Enterprise Drive South intersection along Unity Drive to Bougalis Inc., Hibbing, MN in the amount of $128,495.  The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize BG’s Bar & Grill to provide alcohol for Kaylen Erchul wedding on August 17, 2019 to be held at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote. 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to authorize BG’s Bar & Grill to provide alcohol at the Mountain Iron (South Grove) Recreation Complex on August 10^th and August 11^th for the “Greg Peterson Memorial Wooden Bat Tournament.” The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.

At 7:32p.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

www.mtniron.com

Communications:

1. Thank you from the Merritt Elementary PTA for the continued support and recent donation to their “Annual Kid Fit Program,” held at Merritt Elementary School