Meeting Minutes for April 06, 2009
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 6, 2009
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; John Backman, Sergeant; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:53 p.m.).
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the March 19, 2009, special meeting as submitted.
2. 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.
3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period March 16-31, 2009, totaling $182,507.70, (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 16-31, 2009, totaling $313,721.08, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Stanaway to approve the minutes of the March 16, 2009, regular meeting as submitted. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
At 6:36 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the Old Highway 169 overlay. The motion carried.
The Mayor explained to the public that the Old Highway 169 project was initially set up as a three year project, but the Council was making the project into a two year project. The potential cost savings would be with a one time set up fee, oil prices are down, and with the economy right now, there should be competitive bids.
Ron Kutsi, parcel 175-0071-01985, said that his father also owns a parcel in Kinross, parcel 175-0071-01980, and his property is 3.95 acres and his own parcel is 0.65 acres. He questioned why the smaller parcel had a larger assessment. The City Administrator said that the assessments were calculated by street frontage.
The Mayor informed the public that the special assessment costs to the property owners on Old Highway 169 were 10% with the City paying 90% of the costs.
Jill Aubin, representing her father, Arnold Suihkonen, who owns parcel 175-0071-01990, questioned who is paying for the maintenance on the road with the logging trucks and U. S. Steel Corporation vehicles using the road. City Staff advised her that the road is rated as a nine ton road and is open to all types of vehicles and the maintenance is covered on an annual basis through the City’s general fund with no assessments on the maintenance.
Beverly Forstrom, parcel code 175-0071-01850, said that she was concerned with the contractors using a crushed taconite product that is causing problems with flat tires. The Director of Public Works said that he would review the bids specifications to make sure that they call for Class 5.
At 6:53 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Recreation Department. He said that the Events Director said that the 1st Annual Skating Party was a success. He commended Sally Peterangelo for coordinating the event.
– Congratulations. He congratulated various area athletic teams for their accomplishments in the 2008-2009 season.
– Eagle Scouts. He said that he attended the ceremony for Sam Paakkonen and Dustin Leff.
– Wind Energy. He stated that the tax forfeited land was transferred to the City for the wind energy project in the Giants Ridge area.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to appoint Kevin Squillace to the Utility Advisory Board to fill a vacancy with the term expiring on December 31, 2009. The motion carried with Roskoski abstaining.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to appoint Carolyn Olsen to the Library Board to fill a vacancy with the term expiring on December 31, 2010. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to set a Labor Management Meeting for Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 2:00 p.m. with Councilor Zupancich and Mayor Skalko agreeing to attend. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to proclaim April 29th Care Partners Day and waive the building rental fees for the fundraiser on April 29, 2009. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to accept the retirement of William Otto effective April 1, 2009. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Wind Project. He informed the Council that Gary Cerkvenik was looking for a Council Member to travel to Saint Paul with him on April 14th regarding a hearing on a bill for the project.
– Economic Development Authority. He said that at the last EDA meeting, he briefed the Authority on the Morgan Park Estates Project, with the EDA taking the project back. He said that this project should move forward this Spring.
– Business North paper. He said that he left a copy of an article that appeared in the paper regarding the Rock Ridge Development. He said that this was good publicity for the community.
– Perkins Family Restaurant. The Council was informed that Perkins would be building a restaurant in the Rock Ridge Development. It was noted that this was one of six that would be built in the Country this year.
– Taconite Ridge Windmills. He advised the Council that approximately $10,000 was collected and paid to the City for production tax on the windmills.
– Unity Drive Railroad Crossing. He said that he had not heard back from them yet.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to authorize change order number one for the replacement of support gravel and media in the Water Treatment Plant in the amount of $16,000, decreasing the project to $48,300.00. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number two for the replacement of support gravel and media in the Water Treatment plant in the amount of $2,415.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to set a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting for Tuesday, April 28, 2009 to hold an informational meeting for the residents of the Westgate Neighborhood to discuss drainage issues. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Ordinance Number 02-09, amending the zoning map, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Ordinance Number 03-09, amending chapters 151 and 154 of the Mountain Iron City Code, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to adopt Resolution Number 13-09, ordering improvement and preparation of plans for the Old Highway 169 Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 14-09, ordering preparation of report on improvement for an overlay of Mill Avenue, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number three for the Mountain Manor Apartment remodel in the amount of $24,035.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to authorize B.G.’s Bar to serve alcohol at the Muck wedding reception on May 2, 2009 in the Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to waive the building rental fees for the following events:
– Mesabi Academy School for a benefit on April 16, 2009, at the Community Center, for Deanne Schaefbauer on April 16, 2009.
– Messiah Lutheran Church for a benefit on April 17, 18, and 19, 2009, at the Nichols Town Hall, for a mission trip.
– Mesabi Family YMCA for a benefit on April 24, 2009, at the Community Center, for their annual Strong Kids’ Auction.
– Iron Range Partnership for Sustainability for the first annual Iron Range Earth Fest on April 18, 2009, at the Community Center.
It was moved by Roskoski to amend the motion to include the amount of the rental fees waived in the amount of $50 to $200. The amendment to the motion died for lack of a second. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to set a closed meeting for Wednesday, April 15, 2009, at 4:00 p.m., to discuss labor negotiation strategy with regard to the AFSCME Union contract and Russo Consulting will be assisting the Council. The motion carried.
At 7:44 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATION
1. Mediacom, forwarding information regarding an improvement on their programming choices for the digital customers.
