The Taconite Capital of the World

City of Mountain Iron, Minnesota



031025 UAB Minutes

Mountain Iron Utility Advisory Board

10 March 2025 Minutes

Meeting was called to order 5:02 PM by Chairperson Renzaglia

 

Members present:  Reynold Renzaglia, Sue Tuomela, Ron Ostman, Bret Renzaglia and Jacob Osell  Others present: Julie Buria, Council Liaison, Tim Satrang, Public Works Director

Members absent:  None

 

Chairman Renzaglia made a motion to approve the consent agenda Sue Tuomela second the motion.  Motion passed unanimously

 

Brief discussion on the two communications:

 

MPCA Transformer Storage Inspection.  The City was given less than a day notice of an inspection by MPCA staff, of the transformer storage area. The inspector notified Satrang the City should expect a response within three-months.  The information will be sent to the EPA.  Satrang was informed not to expect any feedback from the EPA for 2-3 years. 

 

Minnesota Department of Labor requested an apprentice review.  MDL will request information with a follow meeting.  Currently there is no active apprentice working with the City.  Most likely there will be some personal change this summer.

 

Chairman Renzaglia moved the New business item of the WWTP NPDES permit to the beginning of the agenda:

 

Satrang introduced Tom Dye with MSA Professional Services.  Tom discussed the new Mountain Iron NPDES Permit issued to Mountain Iron in 2024 that included a new very low phosphorus effluent limit and a low mercury limit.  The new permit requires Mountain Iron to be able to meet these limits by December of 2029.

 

Two-pilot studies have/will be done to determine a technology that will help meet the new stringent limits.  Both will be a fabric filter (each being a little different).  Also, need for competition. 

 

A Facility Plan needs to be completed.  Dye explained a facility plan is a detailed document that guides the planning, design, construction, and operation of a treatment plant.  The plan will demonstrate the need for the project and consider future growth, stricter water quality standards, and addressing aging infrastructure.

 

Next would be a design phase, construction, and training.  Two-year construction will be expected.  Dye said MSA has a funding team that will assist communities with attaining funding. 

 

Public Forum:

Brad Gustafson introduced himself as a new City Councilor.  Brad brought up discussion on where Mountain Iron’s electricity is generated.  Discussion took place on MISO

 

Outage Reports:

 

            Electrical: 

  1. 3 January 2025 Fuse cut out West of 8586 Rock Ridge Drive
  2. 16 January 2025 Fuse cut out lift station near 8480 Mud Lake Road

Water:

  1. 8 January 2025 8788 Greenwood Lane-circumference crack 8-inch ductile
  2. 8 February 2025 8788 Greenwood Lane-circumference crack 8-inch ductile
  3. 15 February 2025 8780 Greenwood Lane-circumference crack 8-inch ductile

Unfinished Business:

 

Electrical System Five Year Plan Review Progress:  A refocus on the Five-Year Electrical Plan.

A

 

Satrang updated the Board on the progress of the HWY 169 electrical project.  Project will resume when frost comes out most likely early May.  One apartment along with five commercial buildings on the North side of HWY 169 need the voltage conversion.  Work will also start on the South side of HWY 169 allowing the conversion of the remaining businesses and houses. 

 

EV charging.  Waiting on update from MP contractor

 

Discussed the Thermographic and Airborne ultrasound study.  Discussed problematic areas.

 

New Business

 

Refuse Rates:

Discussion took place on the differences of other communities and Mountain Iron is the vast territory the current garbage route is.  Another difference is other communities have multi-family refuse containers.  This allows for less time and fewer operations of equipment per routes.

 

Satrang proposes these changes:

 

First, the City has been required to collect a solid waste fee from property owners on behalf of Saint Louis County.  Staff is recommending a request to SLC that they start collecting the fee.  This currently shows up a $7.08 each Month. 

 

Second, curb side recycling be offered only one day/month.  Currently the curb side recycling follows the schedule of the garbage route, one week per month.  Because of fixed costs associated with scheduling and operation of equipment, a cost savings is anticipated in a schedule adjustment.  The City gives the citizens an opportunity to save by recycling.  The theory is if you recycle it’s possible to reduce the size of refuse container needed.

 

Thirdly, the possibility of adjusting the weekly refuse pick-up schedule from a current five-day schedule to a four-day schedule.  Again, fixed costs associated with operating equipment each day the City should see a cost savings. 

 

And Fourth, Satrang proposed two scenarios of cost adjustments:  First, a three percent increase and second a 5 percent increase.  The revenue increase would be minimal, but with the adjustments in scheduling and equipment use, the Refuse Enterprise should result in savings.  Re-evaluation is recommended in the first part of 2026.

 

Chairman Renzaglia made a motion to change the Curb Side Recycling schedule from the current five-day pick up per month to a one-day pick up.  Also, have staff work on and implement the current five-day Refuse pick up to a four-day pick up.  Seconded by Jacob Osell.  After discussion- the motion passed unanimously.

 

Bret Renzaglia made a motion to increase rates 3%.  Sue Tuomela seconded.  Chairman Renzaglia requested the motion be changed to 5% – it was not agreed to the change.  Motion passed 4-1

 

Open discussion:

                        Next meeting was set at 4:00 PM 22 April 2025

 

Announcements:

 

Meeting Adjourned at 6:31 PM

 

 

            Respectfully submitted,

Tim Satrang

Director of Public Works

 

040125 PR Agenda

SPECIAL MEETING

MOUNTAIN IRON PARKS & RECREATION BOARD

AT THE WEST VIRGINIA PARK

TUESDAY, APRIL 1, 2025 5:00 P.M.

A G E N D A

  1. Roll Call
  2. Park Tour
  3. Adjourn

032625 PR Minutes

The March 26, 2025, Parks and Recreation Meeting was called to order at 5:30 by Brad Gustafson. Members present: Brad Gustafson, Macy Saari-Nelson, Kristina Hawkins, Jason Inmon and Dan Lind.  Absent: Casey Kitner and Arin Marks. Also present Craig Wainio and Mayor Anderson. 

 

Lind moved and Saari-Nelson seconded to approve the February 26, 2025 meeting minutes.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Public forum: Roskoski commented on the need for tables or benched in the City parks.

 

New Business:

 

South Grove Recreation Complex open house was discussed and set for April 23rd at 5:30 to discuss the plan, funding and parking.

 

Open Discussion:

 

Park inventory, campground fees, campground information, ATV trails and the Northland Learning Center playground were discussed.

 

Motion was made by Lind and seconded by Hawkins Lind to adjourn at 6:15 p.m. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Submitted by:

 

 

Craig J. Wainio

City Administrator

 

040125 PR Minutes

The April 1, 2025, Parks and Recreation Meeting was called to order at 5:00 by Brad Gustafson. Members present: Dan Lind, Jason Inmon, Kristina Hawkins, Arin Marks, Macy Saari-Nelson, Brad Gustafson- Also present, Peggy Anderson and Ed Roskoski

Toured West Virginia, Ann’s Acres, Parkville, Downtown, Locomotive, South Grove Inner, and Wolf.  Decided not to tour South Grove Rec Complex as we are redesigning and West Two Rivers is closed.

Meeting adjourned 6:20 pm

042325 PR Agenda

REGULAR MEETING

MOUNTAIN IRON PARKS & RECREATION BOARD

AT THE MOUNTAIN IRON COMMUNITY CENTER

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2025 5:20 P.M.

A G E N D A

  1. Roll Call
  2. Consent Agenda
    1. Minutes of the March 26, 2025 Meeting
    2. Minutes of the April 1, 2025 Meeting
    3. Communications
  3. Public Forum 
  4. Unfinished Business
  5. New Business
  6. Open Discussion
  7. Announcements
  8. Adjourn

042225 UAB Agenda

MOUNTAIN IRON UTILITY ADVISORY BOARD

Mountain Iron Community Center

Monday 22 April 2025 at 4:00 P.M.

 

A G E N D A

 

  1. I. Roll Call
  2.            Consent Agenda
  3. Minutes of the 10 March 2025 Meeting
  4. Communications

                                  III.          Public Forum

  1.           Reports
  • Electrical Outages

 

  • Water Breaks/Repairs
    1. Ongoing leak on Mountain Iron Drive. Repairs starting 22 April 2025 and expected to last two-three days. 

 

  1. Unfinished Business
  • Electrical System Five Year Plan Review Progress
  • Electrical Project along HWY 169
  • EV charging units
  • Mountain Iron WWTP

NPDES permit- Council approval to move forward with a proposal from MSA to complete a Facility Plan

 

  1.            New Business
  • Large Trash Pick Up 2025 Recommendation
  • Water Rates

 

         VII.          Open Discussion

                                 VIII.         Announcements

  1.           Adjourn

 

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 2nd 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 23rd at 5:30pm at Community Center
  • March 20th and March 21st – 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 9th @ 5:00pm and the Mountain Iron Senior Center
  • Merritt Days Committee planning meeting
  • Tuesday, April 8th at 5:00pm at the Mountain Iron Library
  • 2025 Merritt days – August 4th – August 9th
  • EDA meeting rescheduled for Wednesday, April 16th 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

www.mtniron.com

April 21, 2025 City Council Agenda

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING

COMMUNITY CENTER

MOUNTAIN IRON ROOM

MONDAY, APRIL 21, 2025 – 6:30 P.M.

A G E N D A 

  1. Roll Call
  2. Pledge of Allegiance
  3. Consent Agenda
    1. Minutes of the April 7, 2025, Regular Meeting (#1-6)
    2. Receipts
    3. Bills and Payroll
    4. Communications
  4. Public Forum
  5. Committee and Staff Reports
    1. Mayor’s Report
      1. Employee Input Form
      2. Public Health and Safety Board Appointment – Margaret Soyring
    2. City Administrator’s Report
    3. Director of Public Work’s Report
      1. Professional Services Agreement (#7-16)
    4. Library Director/Special Events Coordinator’s Report (#17-18)
    5. Sheriff’s Department Report
    6. City Engineer’s Report
    7. City Attorney’s Report
    8. Fire Department’s Report
    9. Planning and Zoning Commission
      1. Conditional Use Permit – Brunfelt (#19-21)
    10. Liaison Reports
  6. Unfinished Business
  7. New Business
    1. Authorization to Serve Liquor (#22-24)
  8. Communications (#25-27)
  9. Announcements
    1. South Grove Rec Complex Meeting – April 23rd at 5:30PM
    2. LBAE Meeting – April 24th at 5:00PM
  10. Adjourn

                                                                                                            # Page Number in Packet

 

031125 EDA Minutes

Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority

Meeting Minutes

March 11, 2025

 

A meeting of the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority was called to order by Barb Fivecoate at 5:00 p.m. with the following members present: Corey Nelson, Steve Giorgi, Julie Buria, Barb Fivecoate and Alan Johnson.  Absent members: Peggy Anderson and Brad Gustafson. Also present: Executive Director, Craig Wainio.

 

Buria moved and Giorgi seconded to approve the consent agenda.  Motion carried 5-0 on a roll call vote.

 

Northland Learning Center and housing ads were discussed.

 

Kootasca were at the meeting and would like to move ahead.  The board requested that Tapestry be invited to a future meeting.

 

Open discussion included Woodland Estates Phase 2 and Enterprise Drive Northeast TEP where discussed.  Nelson moved and Giorgi seconded to put Woodland Estates on the next agenda.  Motion carried 5-0.

 

Giorgi moved and Buria seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:19 p.m.  Motion carried unanimously.

 

Respectfully submitted by:

 

 

Craig J. Wainio

Executive Director

041625 EDA Agenda

REGULAR MEETING

MOUNTAIN IRON ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY

COMMUNITY CENTER

Wednesday, April 16, 2025

 5:00 P.M.

A G E N D A

 

  1. Roll Call
  2. Consent Agenda
    1. Minutes of March 11, 2025 Meeting
    2. Communications
    3. Bills
  • Public Forum
  1. Committee
    1. Executive Director
  2. Unfinished Business
    1. Kootasca Proposal
    2. Tapestry Proposal
  3. New Business
    1. Tapestry – Tim Trimble
    2. Woodland Estates Phase 2
  • Open Discussion
  • Announcements
  1. Adjourn

 

 

* indicates enclosures

Quick Links

Event Insurance

Recent News

Campground Reservations

West 2 Rivers Reservations

218-735-8831

The campground office is open annually May-September. If you have any questions about reservations outside of these months, please call Mountain Iron City Hall at 218-748-7570.

Contact Us

    Copyright © 2019 City of Mountain Iron.
    Website maintained and hosted by Tech Bytes, LLC