Meeting Minutes for April 05, 2004

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

APRIL 5, 2004

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; and Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation.

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. C. 3. Heather Avenue

Approve the minutes of the March 15, 2004, City Council meeting as submitted.

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, 2004, totaling $109,347.49, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

To authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period March 16-31, 2004, totaling $229,703.29, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

During the public forum, Wilbert Johnson was present and addressed the Council regarding a blight issue at 5619 Nichols Avenue in Parkville. He submitted a number of complaints against the same property from the following property owners: Wilbert Johnson, Don Kleinschmidt, Annette Johnson, Daniel Hendrickson, Richard Paul, Lowell Jensen, Kevin Nelson, and Terry Johnson.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct the Blight Officer to contact the City Attorney and present him with the latest information regarding the blight issue at 5619 Nichols Avenue in Parkville and get advice if it is legal for the City to have a private hauler remove the illegal property. And further, to direct City Staff to proceed with the removal if it is legal to do it. The motion carried.

During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor reported that he and Councilor Prebeg met with some School Board Members to discuss the land exchange by Merritt Elementary School. Councilor Prebeg said that they advised the School Board Members that the City had two appraisals completed on the land. He said that both parties are going to speak to their Board/Council and a proposal would be worked on to submit to the Board/Council.

Councilor Irish asked if the City Administrator had resubmitted the Community Development Block Grant application for the library. The City Administrator said that it has not been resubmitted; he said that the deadline for the grant application is in August.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and approve a large trash collection for the first two weeks in June, 2004. The motion carried.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to purchase an electrical transformer from Resco, Inc. at their low quoted price of $4,094.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Councilor Roskoski asked the Director of Public Works if there would be some ditching work completed on Heather Avenue this Summer. The Director of Public Works stated that last Fall they reviewed the situation and the City would be completing some ditching work that the City Crew is capable of completing on Heather Avenue. 

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to request the Director of Public Works to calculate how much 3/8 mill feed or other material it would take to cover Heather Avenue to a depth of 2, 3, or 4 inches. And further, to calculate the cost per yard, cost for the City to haul the fill, or to have a private contractor haul and spread it. The motion carried.

Councilor Roskoski asked the Director of Public Works if he had gotten any further information for moving the brush pile by the City Garage. The Director of Public Works stated that he was obtaining quotes on a new scan/read gate to be located at the old dump site off of Mineral Avenue and he would be forwarding that information to the Utility Advisory Board. 

Councilor Roskoski asked the Director of Public Works if the City has a policy regarding damage to resident�s yards caused by the snow plow. The Director of Public Works stated that the City has a list of damage done by the snow plow that is in the City�s right-of-way and the City Crew would be repairing the damages this Spring when the ground thaws.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize one lineman to attend the Minnesota Power sponsored lineman training on April 13-14, 2004 with the City reimbursing for meals and mileage. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, no; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt the Administrative Offense Ticket as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.

The City Council reviewed the sump pump inspection proposal presented by Benchmark Engineering, Inc. No further action was taken.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct the City Administrator to contact Minnesota Power to see if they have any street lighting programs for within their service territories and supply this information to the City Council at the April 19, 2004 meeting. The motion carried.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Stephen Skogman to construct a 32�x 48� accessory building on Parcels 175-0020-00830 & 00820. The motion carried.

The Council discussed the Tim Anderson Conditional Use Permit. The Council requested that this item be placed on the April 19, 2004, City Council agenda when the City Attorney would be present.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to obtain some rough quotes on the installation quad gates or traffic barriers for the railroad crossings on Unity Drive and Old Highway 169. It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to amend the motion to include checking with the railroad on the 110 decibel maximum horn sound level. The amended motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and authorize City Staff to purchase park equipment for the Downtown Park, not to exceed $30,000, with the equipment being installed by Merritt Days of 2004 (June 25, 2004). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to direct City Staff to submit a grant application to the Minnesota Department of Trade and Economic Development (DTED) for the land excavation for the former City of Mountain Iron and U. S. Steel dump site at an estimated cost of $318,800. The motion carried with Irish voting no.

The Council discussed the Costin Street vacations from the public hearing held on August 18, 2003. The Council requested the Recreation Director to contact U. S. Steel Corporation regarding the placement of the tire stand that they fabricated for the City. 

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to adopt Ordinance 03-04, Amending Chapter 22 of the Mountain Iron City Code, Zoning Ordinance, by amending the official zoning map in and for the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

The Council discussed the ambulance sharing proposal from the City of Virginia.

At 8:25 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.

At 8:27 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to have the Director of Public Works and City Engineer prepare a plan and cost estimates to locate water, sewer, and electricity to the west end of Locomotive Park near the entrance of the Mesabi Trail Head and have the estimates prepared for the April 19, 2004 City Council meeting. The motion carried.

At 8:32 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution 13-04, calling a hearing for proposed assessments for May 3, 2004, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski absent.

At 8:34 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to adopt Resolution 14-04, adopting the GASB 34 Implementation Plan, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to approve of the application for Board, Committee, and Commission members, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize an advertisement to be placed in the Mesabi Daily News for the recognition of our law enforcement officers at a cost of $37.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize payment of the 2004 allocation to the Calvary Cemetery Association in the amount of $2500. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

The Council discussed the City of Mountain Iron snow plowing services completed at the cemetery in Virginia. The Council requested that the Director of Public Works contact the City of Virginia to see if a schedule for services could be developed for next year so the City of Mountain Iron is not completing the plowing services the majority of the time. 

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Municipal Services Secretary to attend the International Institute of Municipal Clerks Conference from May 22-28, 2004, in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on City time, with the Minnesota Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association paying for her travel expenses. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to get the Locomotive 806 plaque stored in the basement of the Library, cleaned it and hang it up in the Community Center, preferably in the Mountain Iron Room, with a deadline of July 1, 2004. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct the City Engineer and the Director of Public Works, when the frost leaves the ground, to look at various alternatives to getting a crown back on the Spruce and Aspen intersection in Ann�s Acres so the water flows properly with the deadline for this project being before any of the 2004 street improvement projects begins. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to develop a City Mowing Policy, for City Council review, to include what areas the City is responsible for mowing and what areas the residents are responsible for mowing, with a deadline of May 3, 2004. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg and Nelson voting no.

The Council discussed the Mountain Iron Drive dips. The Director of Public Works stated that the problem should be fixed when the frost comes out of the road. He said that the City will eventually have to improve the storm sewer to prevent the dips.

During the open discussion, Councilor Irish ask if the City Administrator would be attending the Community Development Block Grant meeting on April 7, 2004 at the Community Center to apply for a disability grant for the Mountain Iron library. The City Administrator said that he would be attending the meeting. 

Also during the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg asked if the Council should be attending the Library meeting on April 6, 2004. The Mayor stated that he would be attending the meeting, but it is not a requirement of the City Council to attend. 

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize City Staff to order a floral arrangement for City Attorney Sam Aluni�s father�s funeral at a cost not to exceed $50.00 and have the arrangement sent to the funeral home. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

At 9:10 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

COMMUNICATIONS

Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, a memo regarding the computation of LGA and Taconite Aids.

League of Minnesota Cities, the March 26, 2004, Friday Fax.