March 16, 2020 City Council Minutes

 MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

March 16, 2020

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:35p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Joe Prebeg Jr.; Alan Stanaway, Julie Buria, Steve Skogman, and Mayor Gary Skalko. 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; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.

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

1. Approve the minutes of the March 2, 2020, 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 March 1-15, totaling $183,063.97 (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 1-15, totaling $543,840.89 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried.

Public Forum:

• No one spoke during the forum

The Mayor reported on the following:

• Condolences to the family and friends of Tim Johnston
• Condolences to the family and friends of Jesse Giroux
• Condolences to the family and friends of Marion (Alto) Lind
• Congratulations to the MIB Girls’ and Boys’ Basketball teams on a wonderful season
• Congratulations to the Cromwell’s Girls Basketball team for a wonderful season
• Congratulations to the Northwood’s Boys Basketball team for a wonderful season
• Sexual Assault Awareness month is intended to bring awareness to the fact that sexual violence is widespread and is a public health concern:
  • Child sexual abuse/exploitation, rape and sexual harassment impact all communities
  • Within the past year, our local Sexual Assault Program has worked with more than 450 crime victims of sexual violence who reside in our communities. The Program has provided more than 15,500 trauma and victim-focused advocacy services with these crime victims.
  • The Sexual Assault Program of Northern St. Louis County encourages every person to speak out when witnessing acts of violence, however small; and to help survivors connect with community allies.

It was moved by Buria and seconded by Skogman to proclaim April 2020 as Sexual Assault Awareness Month and publish proclamation in the Hometown Focus and post on social media. The motion carried.

City Administrator:

• COVID-19 update, per Governor requests, City Hall office is open but CLOSED to the public until further notice
• Drop boxes located at Senior Center, in front of City Hall, Clark Station (Little Joe’s) Gas Station and American Bank, payments can also be made over the phone or online
• The City has suspended the credit/debit card processing fees until further notice to promote online/phone payments
• Tomorrow at 5:00pm, all facility rentals will be canceled-no gatherings at any City Buildings
  • City functions will continue as normal
  • Non-essential board and committee meetings suspended until further notice
• During this time the City has announced several measures to provide protections and enhance safety, which include:
• Immediate suspension of disconnection for residential customers having financial hardships
• Voluntary extension of Minnesota’s Cold Weather Rule through May 31^st
• Curb-side recycling suspended until further notice
• Suspension until further notice of all non-emergency site visits that would involve direct contact with a resident (emergency-related services only)

Director of Public Works:

• Remember that anything besides toilet paper clogs sewers and is NOT flushable
• Out of town training/travel canceled for all employees
• CIPP (slip-lining) lining continuing
• All utilities services will continue as planned

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

• The Mountain Iron Library will be closed at 6:00pm March 17^th – March 27^th
• Things could change and this could closure could be extended
• Winter reading program ending February 28^th, a total of 99,075 minutes read overall
• “35^th Annual Easter Egg Hunt” POSTPONED until further notice

Sheriff’s Department:

• No formal report

City Attorney:

• No formal report

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to accept the recommendation from the Utility Advisory Board to authorize a wastewater (sewer) rate adjustment, for both residential and commercial to the rates as presented, starting April 1^st. The motion carried on roll call vote.

During this time, it is recommended that everyone follow the guidelines put out by Governor Tim Walz, the CDC and the Minnesota Department of Health:

• Wash hands for 20 seconds
• Maintain social distancing (6 feet) and limit contact with others as much as possible
• No gatherings of 10 people or more
• Stay home if you are sick or feel unwell
• Avoid any unnecessary trips

At 7:25p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Buria that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

Communications:

1. Local Board of Appeals and Equalization (LBAE) scheduled for May 12, 2020 from 5:00pm to 6:00pm at the Mountain Iron City Hall