January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
January 21, 2025
Mayor Anderson called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Ed Roskoski, Al Stanaway, Bradley Gustafson., Julia Buria and Mayor Peggy Anderson. 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; Sgt. Grant Toma, Sheriff’s Dept.; Al Johnson, City Engineer; and Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney.
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanway the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of January 6, 2025, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.
- Approve the minutes of January 6, 2025, regular meeting.
- 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.
- To acknowledge the receipts for the period January 1-15, totaling $307,450.46 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 1-15, totaling $634,584.80 (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 Parts City/Champion bills in the amount of $440.00, and the Napa Christenson bills in the amount of $188.00 from the consent agenda for separate consideration. The motion failed.
Public Forum:
- Justin Blazewicz, received disciplinary records from the Department of Administration, and wanted to know why certain individuals were not disciplined properly
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Requested COW meeting regarding transparency
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Gustafson to appoint the following:
- Reynold Renzaglia (I), Jacob Osell (I) and Julie Buria (Council Liaison) to the Utility Advisory Board for a 3-year term
- Casey Kitner (I) Brad Gustafson (member & Council Liaison) to the Parks and Recreation Board for a 3-year term
- Steve Giorgi and Julie Buria (Council Liaison) to the Economic Development Authority (EDA) for a 5-year term
- Lisa Richards, Candace Berg and Alan Stanaway (Council Liaison) to the Public Safety & Health Board for a 3-year term
- Barb Fivecoate (I), Steve Giorgi and Alan Stanaway (Council Liaison) to the Planning & Zoning Board for a 3-year term
- Janet Koski (I) and appoint Lisa Fredrickson and Ed Roskoski (Council Liaison) to the Library Board for a 3-year term
The motion carried as amended.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to amend the motion to remove Kristina Hawkins from the list of those appointed to the City Advisory Board/Commission from the Parks & recreation Board for separate consideration. The motion carried (Yes: Roskoski, Gustafson and Stanaway; No: Anderson, Buria).
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to appoint Kristina Hawkins to the Parks & Recreation for a 3-year term. The motion carried with Roskoski abstaining.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria for City Staff to go through and update the city website. The motion carried.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Roskoski to publish the City Council minutes, starting February 2025 in the Hometown Focus. The motion carried (Yes: Roskoski, Gustafson, Stanaway; No: Buria, Anderson).
City Administrator:
- No formal report
It was moved by Roskoski that the recently attached black exterior siding on the Nichols/Parkville Town Hall, be removed and then be resided with, as close as possible, to the original size, texture and color as the original siding. Because that is what people have told him they want the Town hall to be. The motion failed due to lack of support.
Director of Public Works:
- Frost lines not terribly deep – depth roughly 50 inches
It was moved by Buria and seconded by Roskoski to authorize City Staff to purchase a 3 Phase Pad Mount 75KA transformer from Sunbelt Solutions in the amount of $19,845ea, to replace a transformer at the City Garage. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Stanaway to authorize City Staff to purchase a 3Phase Pad Mount 150KA transformer from Sunbelt Solutions in the amount of $21.935ea, to replace the transformer at the lift station on Mud Lake Road. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Buria to approve the attached agreement between Veolia Water Technologies, Inc. (Dba Kruger) and the City of Mountain Iron, to complete a Hydrotech Discfilter Pilot Testing in the amount of $27,500. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to approve the enclosed Request for Reconsideration form, in accordance with Minnesota State Law (Statute 13.40) which gives a patron/resident of Mountain Iron the right to request a reconsideration of any library material in circulation at Mountain Iron. Requests for reconsideration must be in writing to include the item for review, the individual’s name and contact info, as well as the reason for the review. Individuals will be notified in writing within 90 days, regarding the outcome. The motion carried.
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- Mountain Iron Public Library Annual Meeting
- Monday, February 24th @ 6:30pm
- 2024 overview, 2025 goals and Public Forum
- Public welcome – Coffee an’ will be provided
- Thank you to Joe Peterson, Iron Range Engineering & Consulting Services
- Donated Science, Technology, Coding, Circuitry and Engineering kits
- Kits are available for checkout from the Maker’s Space at the Library
- Donation was in honor of his mother, who was a long-time educator in the area
- Interested in advancing STEM education on the Iron Range
Sheriff’s Dept.
- No formal report
City Engineering:
- No formal report
It was moved by Gustafson and seconded by Buria to approve the recommendation by Bolton & Menk and prepare a grant application to the League of MN Cities and approve Bolton & Menk to work with staff to develop scope and submit the grant application to MPCA. The motion carried.
City Attorney:
- No formal report
Liaison:
- Councilor Gustafson reported on the recent EDA meeting:
- discussed housing projects –50-unit Senior apartments (developer did not receive funding)
- another developer looking to build more apartments
- Councilor Gustafson recently attended the Minnesota Chamber Legislature Priorities Dinner at State Capital
- Priorities discussed – no new taxes, funding EMS across State, making some changes to paid leave and earned sick/safe time to make it more flexible, as well as tax incentives for small businesses and permitting reform
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Gustafson to approve Resolution #01-25; Ordering Preparation of Report of Improvement for Main Street between Mineral Ave and Slate Street (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion failed (Yes: Roskoski, Anderson; No: Gustafson, Buria, Stanaway).
Announcement:
- Mountain Iron Merritt Days Planning Committee meeting
- Tuesday, February 4th @ 5:30 pm
- Mountain Iron Senior Center
At 7:36p.m., it was moved by Buria and seconded by Stanaway the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried (No: Roskoski; Yes: Gustafson, Anderson, Stanaway, Buria).
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
Communication:
- Thank you from the St. Louis County Agricultural Society/Fair Association for supporting “The Five Best Days of Summer,” and donating to make the Fair successful.
