December 3, 2018 City Council Minutes

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

December 3, 2018

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor 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; Al Johnson, City Engineer; and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department. Absent: Councilor Joe Prebeg Jr.

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

1. Approve the minutes of the November 19, 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 November 16-30, totaling $254,912.41 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period November 16-30, totaling $193,974.01 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the vacation of a portion of Eagle Ave. and Falcon Ave. the motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

• Ed Roskoski spoke in regards to the vacation of Eagle Ave and Falcon Ave, comparing the cost of establishing Housing additions, and thus vacating them for no price. Mr. Roskoski stated that the City should try to recoup some money lost, get something out of vacating property/parcels, not give them for free, negotiations should take place
• Mayor Skalko, housing additions, to make money you have to spend money, roughly $9million tax base for the City with the Housing Additions, brings in new people, grow and develop
• Councilor Skogman stated that street assessments are assessed to property owner, as are water and sewer repairs (streets/sewers and water lines are part of property sold) the City is just giving up the right-of-way, no one spoke in regards to vacation during P&Z meeting
• Wainio commented that negotiating with US Steel is not negotiating with RGGs as Mr. Roskoski stated, as they are two separate entities. The City has negotiated other land sale deals in the past for land or cash, however right-of-ways are a different concept

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to recess the public hearing on vacation of a portion of Eagle Ave. and Falcon Ave and resume the regular meeting. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

Public Forum:

• Ed Roskoski commented that a couple of the City Council minutes, lacked the voting preference of the Council during a roll call vote
  • In meeting in Washington D.C. all votes are recorded, the County, Cities, and School Board meetings are supposed to record who votes yes or no
  • States votes are being recorded without actually stating who said yes or no, believes in his opinion that is should be there, could of been a mistake, maybe when you go “plucky, plucky” something gets mistyped, votes should be recorded for posterity

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Condolences to the family of the 41^st President George H.W. Bush
• For all Business applying for Liquor/Cigarette Licenses, County property taxes, Utility Accounts, and all fees must be paid by the end of the year, according to State statute in order to receive licenses
• MIB Basketball Hall of Fame inductees on Saturday, December 1^st:
  • Bryan Cvar – Class of 1990
  • Mary Cerkvenik – Class of 1979
  • Dave Lundquist – Class of 1968
  • Dick Lundquist – Coach 1955-1983
  • Dan Pecarina – Class of 1978
  • Mary Pervenanze – Class of 1978
  • Sid Simonson – Class of 1966

City Administrator:

• Working with McGrath Consulting on Fire Study presentation
• Received Grant to purchase an extractor for the Fire Department
  • Washer & dryer help remove possible carcinogens that could be in equipment
• December 17^th at 2pm at City Hall, Shared Services Study presentation

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to approve the following individuals, Amanda Inmon, Lisa Stevens and Rhonda McConnell be designated as Authorized Signers for Petty Cash at the American Bank. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to approve the recommendation of the Parks & Recreation board and hire the following individuals to work as winter seasonal workers and rink attendants for the 2018/2019 season:

            Jordan Aho                               Nicholas Altobelli                     McKinley Kvas            

            Skylar Mattila                           Connie Murphy                         Samantha Murrer

            Bryce Wainio                            Benjamin Wilson

Director of Public Works

• Applying to the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency for bio-solids on the property of the State of Minnesota located at SW quarter of the SE quarter, T58N R18W, Section 14, Mountain Iron, MN, St. Louis County, Minnesota, the site is the former Nichols Wastewater Pond. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• Tuesday, December 4^th, Family reading time in honor of “National Roof over your Head” day
• Friday, December 7^th 10:30am, Holiday Music Concert

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report

City Engineer:

• Slip-lining project, almost complete

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to approve the 2019 proposed budget as presented. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 33-18; approving the 2018 Tax Levy, Collectable 2019, reflects a 3% increase (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).  The motion carried on roll call vote (3:2) with Councilor Prebeg absent. (No-Skalko; Yes-Skogman, Stanaway & Tuomela)

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 34-18; approving the 2019 market rate based referendum levy for the General Obligation Community Center Bonds and Interest (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).  The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 35-18; approving the 2018 Economic Development Authority (EDA) Tax Levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).  The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 36-18; Vacating a portion of Eagle Avenue and Falcon Avenue upon petition of a majority of abutting landowners. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

Councilor Skogman asked to pass the purchase of a Fire Truck back to Public Health and Safety for further discussion and information.

The council reviewed the list of communications.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to accept the letter of resignation from Stephanie and Jeff Cielocha. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg absent.

Amanda Inmon from Team 2/22 Infantry, Tough Ruck 2019, is requesting a donation to help raise money for the Military Friends Foundation. It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to donate $500 to support the Tough Ruck 2019, monies to come out of the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Councilor Prebeg absent.

At 7:22p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Thank you from Habitat for Humanity for the donation to their “Annual Building the Future with Habitat,” fundraiser.