Meeting Minutes for 06-05-17
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
June 5, 2017
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31p.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; Sally Yuccas, Librarian Director/Special Events Director; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Rhonda McConnell, Secretary.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Add the following items to the agenda:
- A. 2. Utility Advisory Board opening and appointment
- Approve the minutes of the May 15, 2017, regular meeting as submitted.
- 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 May 16-31, 2017, totaling $230,992.55 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period May 16-31, 2017, totaling $239,131.23 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
Public Forum:
- Gary Cerkvenik spoke in regards to several items pertaining to the City of Mountain Iron, updating Council members on the following items:
- Gary discussed the Resolution currently in the packet that states that the City reaffirms its 2016 commitment to establish a Tax Increment District (TIF) for the proposed work force housing development at Rock Ridge. Discussed that more land is available for the project as well as additional money has been added by one of the partners, Rockie Kavajecz from Rock Ridge, roughly 12 million dollar project with majority supported by Tax Credits
- Gary expressed that he was not solely responsible, but that Councilor Skogman testified so elegantly before the House Committee in regards to the money that was needed for the Highway 169/County 7/North Enterprise Drive Intersection project. Senator Tomassoni, Senator Bakk and Representative Metsa worked diligently during last few nights of session, collectively able to shift money from unexpired Bond from previous year for a different project in the region to help Mountain Iron partially make the goal to cover the project.
- Gary stated that IRRRB and Commission Phillips working with the City and EDA in relation to the workforce housing project, if approved and moved forward, roughly $300,000 infrastructure that would need to be completed, commitment from the agency to give a grant to complete the infrastructure.
- Gary mentioned that more production will be seen at the Solar Plant, as new solar company, Heliene USA, Inc. purchased the plant, expanding its production.
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences to the family and friends of DeAnna Sanders
- Condolences to the family and friends of Herman Hyvonen
- Condolences to the family and friends of Gerald and Carol Mattila
- Condolences to the family and friends of Joseph “Joe” Matanich
- Condolences to the family and friends of Victor “Vic” Buffetta
- Happy early Birthday to Lloyd Stanaway turning 90 on June 10th
- Special thank you to Senator Tomassoni, Senator Bakk, Representative Metsa and Gary Cerkvenik, for helping gain funds through a State Bonding Bill for the Highway 169/County Road 7/Enterprise Drive Intersection project.
- Commend and thank the Mesabi Daily News for changing and revamping the Orchids and Onions column, removing all unsigned Onions from the paper, making the column more positive
- One Orchid recently mentioned in the column regarded placing a “Mine-view in the Sky” overlooking the Costin area. While this would be a great location, however it is owned by US Steel and is within the blasting zone, thus it would not be feasible location.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to proclaim the month of June 2017 as “Finland 100 Month.” The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to advertise for the position available on the Utility Advisory Board, applications will be accepted at City Hall until Friday, June 30, 2017 at 4:00p.m. The motion carried.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- Local Government Aid (LGA) permanently increased, City of Mountain Iron’s portion to increase roughly 2.2%
- Complaints about long grass have been received, please take care of overgrown lawns, so the City does not have to contact homeowners
Director of Public Works:
- Summer employees start June 5th
- Large-trash pickup starts June 5th for certain areas of Mountain Iron with additional pickup for other areas the following week
- Difficult to repair streets as Asphalt Plants are intermittent at time due to rain and weather
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- Summer Library hours, Monday-Friday 10-5pm, closed on Saturdays
- Monday, June 5th, “Summer reading program” starts
City Engineer:
- No formal report
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #15-17; Accepting and closing out work which was completed in 2016 for the Mountain Iron Drive project, between Unity Drive and Highway 53 (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to approve Resolution #16-17; Authorizing the Transfer of Certain Properties, reservation of Utility and Sewer Easement over Lot 8, Block 7, Merritt’s First Addition to Mountain Iron and Quit Claim deeds for sale of portion of lots, as required by St. Louis County Recorder’s Office (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Skogman abstaining.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #17-17; Consenting to the Process for the Creation of Housing Tax Increment Financing District in Support of the Proposed Rock Ridge Multifamily Housing Project. The City reaffirms a 2016 commitment establishing a TIF District for the proposed housing development at Rock Ridge (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to send a letter of support to Minnesota Housing, endorsing the Rock Ridge Housing Development from the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to approve Resolution #18-17; Adopting Assessment as proposed for the Garden Drive project completed in 2016, between Arbor Lane and Fairview Lane (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #19-17; Entering into a Cooperative Construction Agreement with MNDoT and St. Louis County for the Highway 169/County Road 7/Enterprise Drive North project that is to begin in the Summer of 2017 (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to send a “Thank You,” letter to Senator to Tomassi, Senator Bakk and Representative Metsa for their help in gaining funds through a State Bonding Bill for the Highway 169/County Road 7/Enterprise Drive Intersection project. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize Flaimer’s Bar of Virginia, MN to serve alcohol at the Overbye/Belobaba wedding scheduled for Saturday, August 5, 2017 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize Jimmy Scruggs LLC Hydeway Bar of Buhl, MN to serve alcohol at the Brinker/Hill wedding scheduled for Saturday, July 22, 2017 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to establish a committee to review the City of Mountain Iron’s Codes and Ordinances, make possible revisions as needed and present revisions at later date to the City Council. Members of the board to make revisions consisting of existing members from current Committees, Boards and Commissions. Recommendation is that upgrading Codes and Ordinances deadline be no longer than one year. The motion carried.
The council reviewed the list of communications.
Councilor Stanaway announced that on Saturday, June 10, 2017, from 1-4pm there will be an Open House at Senior Center, to celebrate Lloyd Stanaway’s 90th Birthday.
At 7:14p.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
Communications:
The League of Minnesota Cities wrote to inform that the League Board of Directors voted at its May meeting to set a maximum member dues schedule increase of zero percent (or, no dues increase) for the League’s 2018 fiscal year. This would be the first time that the dues have been held flat since 2012
