Meeting Minutes for April 07, 2003
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 7, 2003
Mayor Skalko called the meeting to order at 6:33 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; Judy Seurer, Accounting Technician; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. K. Special Library Commission Meeting
Approve the minutes of the March 17, 2003, City Council meeting as submitted.
That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
To acknowledge the receipts for the period March 16-31, 2003, totaling $102,755.52, (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, 2003, totaling $300,489.06, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Erik Wedge, architect from Damberg, Scott, Gerzina and Wagner spoke concerning the library renovations. Mr. Wedge reported on 2003 estimated construction costs and answered questions from the.
Rick Vidmar also spoke during the public forum, concerning a proposal to the Council to perform the duties of assessor for the City. He is retiring from St. Louis County and would like to perform the duties of assessor of residential and commercial properties for the City on a contractual basis. Discussion took place concerning Mr. Vidmar�s proposed starting date and the present costs to the City.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to put Mr. Vidmar�s proposal on the agenda for the April 21, 2003 meeting. Discussion took place concerning any other fees that may be involved and if a joint venture with other cities was possible. The motion carried.
Tom Schlotec spoke during the public forum concerning the development he has on Park Drive. Mr. Schlotec is requesting that a gravel road maintained by the City be put in and wants help putting it in. Skalko stated that all past developments have been done by private developers, and then taken over by City. Roskoski suggested Mr. Schlotec pay for it and then have the City pay to upgrade the road after all development is done. The Director of Public Works reminded the Council that the local improvement policy needs to be followed. He explained that Mr. Schlotec is asking for an improved right-of-way. The City should hold a public hearing. If the majority of property owners are in support, the City should then prepare plans, go out for bids, complete construction and then proceed with assessment of the property owners. Discussion took place concerning the estimated cost of the road. Roskoski asked if this is a continuation of Park Drive or Unity Drive to Mud Lake Road, what would the assessment percentage be, because of classification. Skalko suggested referring this to Planning and Zoning for road classification and any other ideas. The Director of Public Works suggested that it be referred to the Streets Committee for clarification. It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to refer the matter to the Streets Committee. Discussion took place. The motion carried.
The Director of Public Works stated that the next Streets Committee meeting is on Tuesday, April 16, 2003 at 4:00 p.m.
After discussion, the Park Ridge Development Final Plat matter was tabled pending further study.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to approve the West Expressway Addition Final Plat. During discussion Roskoski questioned if the proposed Park Ridge Drive will connect with the current Park Ridge Drive. The City Administrator stated that it would connect through the Industrial Park. The motion carried.
No action was taken on the Firearms Ordinance.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to refer the Unity Addition Lot Subdivision to the City Attorney for legal review. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to authorize the purchase of 20 radios from Duluth Superior Communications for the quoted price of $898.25 each. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
Discussion took place concerning a possible exchange of a Virginia fire truck for the adjustment of Mountain Iron city limits. It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to table this matter and send a letter to Virginia stating that the City is not interested in trading boundaries for a fire truck. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the campground rates be raised to $14.00 and be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Board for implementation. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Nelson, no; Skalko, no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize an informational advertisement in the Mesabi Daily News to alert the water customers that hydrant flushing will occur April 28-May 9, 2003. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to adopt Ordinance Number 01-03, The Installation of Sump Pumps and Regulating the Discharge of Surface Waters, Draintile Installation, Prohibiting Discharges into the Sanitary Sewer System onto Streets or Adjoining Properties and Providing Penalties for Violations Thereof, eliminating the phrase “pertains to a permanent year round discharge into the sanitary sewer system” from Subdivision 5 and with the condition that it meets City Attorney approval (a copy of which is hereby attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on a roll call vote with Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to purchase business cards, for those City Council members who wish them, from W.A. Fisher at their quoted price of $39.00 per 500. The orders are to be placed through the City Administrator. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
Mayor Skalko commented on the policy to provide background information for items that are requested to be put on agenda. He did not realize there was a policy on providing background information for agenda items and will provide the information from now on. He was informed that the policy has been adhered to since it was adopted.
Skalko stated that the Bon-Air Cleanup needs to be taken care of. It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to contact the City Attorney and ask the County Attorney for 3 items as follows:
Written verification of work being done on investigation
Written statement of who is liable if someone gets hurt in Bon Air area.
A date in writing on when the investigation will be completed.
and ask for a response by the next City Council meeting. The motion was amended to also ask for additional costs incurred because of the delay from County. The motion carried.
It was the concensus of the Council to have the City Administrator submit this list of items to be completed by Sentence to Serve crews:
1) Clean up and paint the Wacoota Mine View site
2) Clean off the sidewalk area from Ken Jacobsen�s corner alley east to the end of the sidewalk
3) Scrape and paint library fence
4) Paint playground equipment and repair if necessary (check with the Recreation Director for regulations involved)
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to approve Resolution Number 12-03, Setting Hearing on Vacation amending the resolution to call for the hearing on May 5, 2003 (a copy of which is hereby attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Irish voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to hold a public hearing on the I/I Grant Proposal on May 5, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to approve the request from the Calvary Cemetery Association for the budgeted amount of $2500. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Nelson voting.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to approve the request from the Tri-Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority for the second quarter appropriation in the amount of $4,840.00. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
The Director of Public Works reported that he had contacted Brownie Furniture and asked them to clean up the cardboard and packing material outside of their building. He informed them that this was their last chance or there could be a possible citation. He recommended having staff monitor the situation and then turn the matter over to the City Attorney.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to refer the Brownie Furniture cardboard situation to the City Attorney to start the required procedures to solve the situation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish to require all boards and commissions to require that minutes of the meeting be recorded by a seated member of the board or commission and distributed to all other boards and commissions. The HRA and other committees are also encouraged to also follow this policy. The motion died for lack of support. It was stated that this policy was already in effect. The concensus of the Council was to make sure the Library Board minutes were included in this policy.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to request emergency management personnel from St. Louis County and the Fire Chief to come before the Council to discuss the issue of townland security. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the following titles become a regular part of the Council meeting agenda format: Public Forum; Mayor�s Report; under Committee and Staff Reports: Director of Public Works, City Administrator, Director of Parks & Recreation/Blight Director. The motion carried with Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
No action was taken on the communications.
A special Library Board meeting was set for Monday, April 14, at 5:00 p.m. at the library clubrooms to discuss the proposed library renovations.
During open discussion Councilor Prebeg reported on discussions with school officials on the proposed land swap with the school. The school will wish to renovate the baseball field and move the practice field over by Merritt Elementary School. There was also talk of a possible concession stand with bathrooms. Another meeting is scheduled in a few weeks. Irish asked if the school would be assessed for the road improvements should Unity Drive be extended. He was informed that $25,000 was added to the land swap agreement to cover assessment costs.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Irish stated that the City should go for grants for ATV trails. He stated that he was willing to look into grant monies available.
Councilor Roskoski asked what the power pole by the logging operation off of Highway 169 was for. The Public Works Director informed him that it is part of the wireless system and was put up in 2002. Councilor Roskoski also questioned why the City grader was coming down Highway 7 with no lights on. He wanted to know if the switch was broken or did someone forget
to put the lights on? The Public Works Director will investigate.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that all copies of papers and correspondence concerning the IRRRB grant of $300,000 and money required to match it, that are available, be forwarded to all City Councilors as soon as possible. During discussion, the City Administrator gave more information that there will be no correspondence on the development of a road. The motion carried with Prebeg voting no.
Discussion took place concerning the City Council calling the City Attorney as individual councilors.
It was moved by Skalko to allow City Councilors to call the City Attorney with the stipulation that they will pay for the call out of their own pocket. The motion died for lack of support.
At 10:03 pm it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried.
