Meeting Minutes for April 04, 2005
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 4, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. South Grove Playground Committee
2. South Grove Park-Benches
3. Proclamation for Sexual Assault
4. Barricades on Nichols Avenue & Falcon Street
Land Grant for South Grove Park
Request for Land Appraisal for the Retriever Club
IV. B. 2. American Legion-Temporary On-Sale Liquor License
VI. E. West II Rivers Campground Rate Increase
Approve the minutes of the March 21, 2005, City Council meeting with the following corrections:
Page 3, paragraph 6, “..�.Erik Wedge to review the final tuck pointing, lentils, lintels, drain tile�..”
Page 3, paragraph 8, “�..to discuss the installation of two cul de sacs along the west area of the Mashkenode Lake Development.”
That the communications be accepted, 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 March 16-31, 2005, totaling $163,986.12, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period March 16-31, 2005, totaling $284,273.38, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Steve Skogman spoke regarding the property that the City recently acquired from U. S. Steel Corporation south of the City Garage. He said that there are motorcycles and 4-wheelers riding on the City�s property and they are noisy. He requested that the City knocked down the moguls that the motorcycles are using for a track.
Mr. Skogman advised the Council that at the next regular meeting someone will be filming the City Council meeting.
During the Mayor�s report, he reported that Annette Frericks had declined filling the remainder of her late husband�s term on the Utility Advisory Board.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to appoint Dori Bergman to fill the term of the late Roman Frericks on the Utility Advisory Board with the term expiring on December 31, 2006. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to direct the Recreation Director and the City Administrator to apply for a Saint Louis County Outdoor Recreation Grant for the South Grove Playground area. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize a South Grove Playground Committee to be formed and appoint Natalie Pankratz-Leff as the Chairperson. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to order two park benches for the South Grove Playground area, at a cost of no more than $1,000, so the benches are available when the park committee designates where they should go. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko amended his motion to obtain two inexpensive park benches, from L & M Supply, and use picnic tables that the City already has, which could be temporarily anchored down, for the South Grove Playground area. Councilor Prebeg supported the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Mayor read a Quad Cities� Proclamation to the City Council concerning sexual assault awareness, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to direct City Staff to prepare a plan for different barricades ideas, cost estimates, and signage for Falcon Avenue and Nichols Avenue to keep ATVs off of the street and forward the information to the City Council for further consideration. After further discussion, Councilor Prebeg amended his motion to have City Staff obtain information from the Sheriff�s office regarding any complaints in the area. Councilor Nelson supported the amendment. The amended motion carried with Councilor Irish voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to have the Director of Public Works have City Staff knock down the moguls on the City land south of the City Garage. The motion carried with Councilor Irish voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to place a half page advertisement with H. R. Graphics, Inc. for a planner for the Mountain Iron-Buhl High School students for 2005-2006 at a cost of $759. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko amended his motion to have the funds expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. Councilor Prebeg supported the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to authorize Saint Louis County to complete an appraisal of 40 acres of land for the Retriever Club at no cost to the City. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize three City Employees to attend the League of Minnesota Cities Safety and Loss Control Workshop in Biwabik on April 19, 2005 at a cost of $20.00 per person. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to approve the application and permit for a temporary on-sale liquor license for the American Legion Post 220 on April 29, 2005, at the Mountain Iron Community Center contingent on the approval of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski asked when the 2004 City audit would be completed. The City Administrator said that the auditor usually presents the audit report to the City Council in June.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize payment request number seven to Rajala Construction Company for the Mountain Iron Commercial Forty Project in the amount of $23,331.20. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, no; and Skalko, yes.
The City Engineer reported to the Council on the Heather Avenue ditching. He said that ditching is not feasible in that area, the only way to fix the drainage problems would be to install storm pipe.
The City Engineer advised the Council that he was contacted by Mark Hudson, Saint Louis County, concerning the right of way on Monkey Road. He said that he found some documentation that shows the area being vacated in the 1930�s, although they have not seen the documents.
Councilor Roskoski informed the Council that the work that was completed in North Court last year had made a difference and the area is draining properly now.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendations from the Mountain Iron Fire Department and appoint Devin West, Jason Gellerstedt, and Kevin Mattila as Mountain Iron Volunteer Fireman. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize the Mountain Iron Fire Department to advertise for three more volunteer fire positions in 2005. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to direct City Staff to send a thank you to Lehman Fabricating for their generosity to the City for designing and fabricating a new discharge chute to use on the new fire truck. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to forward the position analysis for the Assistant Library to the Library Board to make a recommendation to the Personnel Committee on minimum qualifications and then the Personnel Committee can meet with the Union and make a recommendation to the City Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of the Street Committee and authorize City Staff to call for quotes on the purchase of $10,000 worth of crack sealing material. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski said that the Street Committee reviewed Unity Drive from County Road 7 to the Canadian National tracks. The Committee felt that there was some wear on the road, but the consensus was to not have any major upgrading or repairs completed on it.
Councilor Roskoski said that the Street Committee reviewed Enterprise Drive North and Northeast starting at 8497 Enterprise Drive North to 5559 Enterprise Drive Northeast and he said that there was some surfaces that need to be repaired. He stated that a portion, the entire width and the length to be determined by Eric Fallstrom, Benchmark Engineering, of the road by 8409 Enterprise Drive North that need repairs. He also said that a portion of Enterprise Drive North entering onto Nichols Avenue needs to be repaired. Mr. Fallstrom advised the Street Committee that the City should install traffic containment curbs in the area by Enterprise Drive North and Nichols Avenue.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to authorize Benchmark Engineering to proceed with the necessary engineering and put together all specifications needed for bidding associated with the Enterprise Drive North, two repairs by 8409 Enterprise Drive North, and a repair at the intersection of Enterprise Drive North and Nichols Avenue. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski amended the motion to take out bidding and add seek cost estimates. Councilor Irish supported the amendment. The amended motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to authorize Benchmark Engineering to proceed with the necessary engineering to put together the specifications needed for Unity Drive from Mud Lake Road to where the new pavement is by the Arrowhead Library System. And further, to have an option to add a sidewalk on the south side of Unity Drive to the last lot in Unity and another add on option to have the sidewalk extended for the length of Unity Drive from Emerald Avenue to Mud Lake Road. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski amended his motion to change specifications to cost estimates. Mayor Skalko supported the amendment. The amended motion carried.
At 8:18 p.m., Councilor Nelson left the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to prepare a letter to the Virginia City Council regarding the water problem by 5473 Mountain Iron Drive and request a response. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson absent.
During the Liaison Reports, Councilor Irish said that the Park and Recreation Board met on March 31, 2005, questioned a motion that was made a the meeting regarding the “Movies in the Park”. He questioned if the movies were being paid for out of the Recreation budget and how much the expenditures would be and if the City was seeking any contributions to assist in funding the movies.
At 8:21 p.m., Councilor Nelson returned to the meeting.
The Director of Public Works said that the Utility Advisory Board would be reviewing the Street Light Policy at their meeting on April 11, 2005, and the Policy would be on the April 18th City Council agenda.
Councilor Roskoski advised the Council that the Spruce Drive and Aspen Lane intersection is not draining properly.
At 8:22 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
At 8:25 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
The City Engineer said that he would review the situation at the intersection of Spruce Drive and Aspen Lane.
The Mayor said that he would like to table the Ann�s Acres Street Light Project until the April 18th City Council meeting.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 08-05, designating the national incident management system (NIMS) as the basis for all incident management in the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to purchase the necessary signs correcting the spelling of “Messaba” Room to “Mesabi”, mount the signs, and have the project completed by 30 working days or so. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Nelson to request that Barb Politano, Virginia City Council member, and William Buria, Calvary Cemetery Association Board, be invited back to the next regular Mountain Iron City Council meeting, if possible, to review the proposed building expansion at Calvary Cemetery. And further, the topic of discussion will be per capita funding versus 50/50 sharing of the project costs. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to authorize one City representative, using the City vehicle, to attend the April 18, 2005, meeting at the Northland Foundation Office in Duluth concerning the Minnesota Beautiful Picture-It-Painted grant. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and increase the campground rates effective April 1, 2005 as follows:
Daily Rates $15.00 including tax
Weekly Rates $65.00 including tax
Pavilion rental (for all three) $25.00 per day
The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct the City Administrator, working with Councilor Irish, to prepare a grant application to Saint Louis County for the Outdoor Recreation Grant Program in the amount of $25,000 for the ATV trail. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski that any non-essential and non-emergency items added for discussion to the agenda during the Council meeting, with a monetary value, will be placed on the next Council meeting agenda. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to send a sympathy card to Darlene Anderson from the City Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to prepare of certificate for Andrea Nichols for her participation on the University of Minnesota Women�s Hockey Team for winning the 2005 Division 1 Hockey Championship, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
At 9:03 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Northland Foundation, a letter advising the City that our project has been awarded a Minnesota Beautiful Picture-it-Painted Grant.
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the March 24, 2005 Friday Fax.
Small Cities Update, an e-mail with the March 28, 2005 update.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding a memorandum regarding legislative priorities.
Saint Louis County, forwarding information for the 2006 CDBG Program kickoff scheduled for April 13th at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
