City Council Minutes February 20, 2018

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

February 20, 2018

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Alan Stanaway, Steve Skogman, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.

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

1. Add the following items to the agenda:
   1. Labor Management Meeting 
2. Approve the minutes of the February 5, 2018, regular meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period February 1-15, totaling $232,218.90(a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period February 1-15, totaling $516,960.03 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

Public Forum:

• No one spoke during forum

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Labor Management meeting, Wednesday, February 28^th at 2:00pm, Councilor Tuomela volunteered to attend

The City Administrator reported on the following:

• Notice from MPCA-the City of Mountain Iron was one of the recipients for the 2017 Wastewater Treatment Facility Operation Award
  • Thanks to Mr. Satrang, Mr. Hebl and Mr. Bennett for their hard work at the Wastewater Plant last year
• Awarded the Shared Services Study Grant for $28,000
  • Perform shared services study for the Fire Department to work with other Fire Departments within the area
  • After paperwork is received from Department of Public Safety, execute grant agreement and moving ahead with issuing of the contracts for the proposals

Director of Public Works:

• Increase in billing system for bio-solids for the Minntac Wastewater Treatment Facilities on a cost per pound of contaminant
• City crews out moving and clearing snow, please be aware
• Water line break at apartment buildings
• Small electric service issue

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to approve the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and change the billing for the Minntac Wastewater treatment facilities to a simple $50.00 per 1000 gallons of bio-solids. This would reflect an increase similar to the residential rate increase over the same amount of time. The motion carried.

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• “Vintage Aprons,” Monday, February 26^th at 1:00pm
• Thank you to Cindy Kujula on the article in the paper regarding the local libraries
• Easter Egg hunt scheduled for Saturday, March 31^st at noon at the Merritt Elementary

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report

City Attorney:

• No formal report

City Engineer:

• No formal report

Councilor Skogman stated that he was approached with suggestions/improvements regarding West-Two Rivers campground, such as deadfalls being removed with wood possibly being sold as firewood. Additionally the possibility of a Bait Station located at the campground which would sell minnows, leeches, worms and other bait to campers. Suggestions were forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Board for follow-up.

It was moved by Tuomela and seconded by Skogman to donate $1,000 to the Summer Work Outreach Program (SWOP) to their Annual event, Thursday, March 22^nd at the Mountain Iron Community Center, monies to come from Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on roll call vote.

It was moved by Skogman and Stanaway to donate $200 to the Mesabi Family YMCA “Father-Daughter Dance,” Fundraiser, which was held Saturday, February 10^th at the Mountain Iron Community Center, monies to come from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on roll call vote.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to donate $6,000 to the Calvary Cemetery Association and to the Greenwood Cemetery for the 2018 operating year. The motion carried on roll call vote.

The council reviewed the list of communications.

At 6:51p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to recess the regular meeting and go into a closed session for performance evaluations for management staff following a brief recess. The motion carried.

Mayor Skalko called the closed City Council meeting to order at 7:01p.m. to discuss performance evaluations with the following members present: Joe Prebeg Jr., Alan Stanaway, Steve Skogman, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present was: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Sally Yuccas, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator and Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney.

The performance evaluations were discussed along with proposed wage increases for the Director of Public Works, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator, and the City Administrator.

No actions were taken in the closed meeting.

At 7:45p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to adjourn the closed meeting to discuss performance evaluations and open the regular meeting. The motion carried.

At 7:46p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

Communications:

1. 2018 Local Board of Appeal and Equalization is scheduled for April 19, 2018 from 5:00-6:00pm at the Mountain Iron Community Center.