December 17, 2018 City Council Minutes

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

December 17, 2018

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30pm with the following members present: Councilor Joe Prebeg Jr., Alan Stanaway, Sue Tuomela, Steve Skogman and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Anna Amundson, Library Director/Special Events Director; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.

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

1. Approve the minutes of the December 3, 2018, 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 December 1-15, totaling $130,730.62 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period December 1-15, totaling $643,927.48 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried unanimously.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the vacation of a portion of Retriever Drive upon petition of a majority of abutting Landowners. The motion carried.  

• Mark Gornak spoke regarding possibly closing off road due to traffic, abundance of garbage and individuals parking at end of the road (cul-d-sac) which is private property, bridge at end is gated
• City Administrator stated that it is a public right-away and the City is giving up its right-away, due to no possible use in the future
• SGT Backman stated they have had problems with the area for years (cul-d-sac), burglary related incidents near bridge

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adjourn the public hearing on the vacation of the portion of Retriever and resume the regular meeting. The motion carried.

Public Forum:

• No one spoke during the forum

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Friday, December 7^th the Holiday Concert at the Library was excellent, more people should advantage of the program, part of the Library’s Legacy Program

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to advertise in the Hometown Focus and the Mesabi Daily News, for two positions on the Utility Advisory Board, and one position for the Library Board, with applications due by Wednesday, January 16, 2019 by 4pm to the Mountain Iron City Hall. The motion carried.

Big thank you to Shirley Congdon for her time on the Library Board and to Bruce Peterson and Mike Downs for their help and support on the Utility Advisory Board.

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to restructure and reorganize the Cable Commission Board and have the City Council absorb the duties of the Board. The motion carried.

City Administrator:

• No formal report

Director of Public Works

• No formal report
• City Crews finishing up inventory of City Equipment throughout the City
• Digging to repair water main valve in the parking lot of Walgreens on Tuesday, December 18^th

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• Tuesday, December 18^th 10:30am, “Family Reading time”
  • Series starting in January
• January 2^nd – March 31^st Winter Reading program for Adults and children

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report
• Be aware of surroundings, credit card/internet scams and phone scams

City Attorney:

• No formal report

City Engineer:

• No formal report

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to approve Pay Request No. 1 – Downtown Sanitary Sewer Improvement project, in the amount of $84,196.41 to Insituform Technologies USA, Inc, Chesterfield, MO. This amount includes withholding of 5% retainage until final inspection can be completed. The motion carried on roll call vote unanimously.

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution 37-18; Vacating a portion of Retriever Drive upon petition of a majority of abutting Landowners (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize Sundberg Enterprises, LLC, DBA: The Sawmill Saloon and Restaurant to serve alcohol at the RAMS Annual Dinner, scheduled for January 10, 2019 as well as the United Way’s “Power of the Purse” scheduled for January 31, 2019 and the Virginia Co-op Credit Union Annual Meeting scheduled for March 28, 2019 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.

The council reviewed the list of communications.

Big thank you to Councilor Sue Tuomela for serving on the City Council for 8 years of service, you will be missed and it was a pleasure from fellow City Council members and the Mayor.

Councilor Sue Tuomela wanted to thank all those that voted for her throughout the years, a big congratulations to Julie Buria for replacing her as City Council member

• Been challenging and rewarding at times, learned some interesting things
• Encouraged Julie Buria to attend the League of MN Cities regional meetings and newly elected member conference and elected members conference
• Proudest moments
  • Murals which can be found in the Mountain Iron Library basement (group facilitator)
  • History murals from Merritt days which can be found at Mountain Iron City Hall
    • idea came from Mary Erickson
  • Thank you for everyone for their help over the years

Big thank you to City workers for taking the time to “Ring the Bell” on December 7^th for the Salvation Army at L&M Supply.

At 7:12pm, it was moved by Tuomela and seconded by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Thank you from Iron Range Tykes Learning Center for everything the City and its employees for everything they have done in helping build the new Childcare Facility.
2. Mediacom will be implementing rate adjustments as of January 1, 2019.
3. The 2018 Range Association of Municipalities & Schools (RAMS) annual meeting & dinner will be held on Thursday, January 10, 2019 at the Mountain Iron Community Center at 5:00 pm