Meeting Minutes for April 15, 2013
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 15, 2013
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Susan Tuomela, Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Clark, Municipal Services Secretary; Michael Downs, Interim Public Works Director; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Jerry D. Kujala, Zoning Administrator; John Backman, Sergeant; and Brian Lindsay, City Attorney.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Add the following item to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Conditional Use Permit & Variance-Combined Application Fees
- Approve the minutes of the April 15, 2013, 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 April 1-15, 2013 totaling $229,736.46, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period April 1-15, 2013, totaling $483,486.14, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The following items were discussed during the Mayor’s report:
- Firearms Safety Class. Councilor Stanaway thanked Steve Skogman, Matt Mattson, and Jeremy Knapper for teaching the firearms safety program to approximately 20 individuals at the Mountain Iron Library. He also thanked the City for allowing them to conduct the classes at the Library.
- Boston. Councilor Zupancich acknowledged the people of Boston stating that our thoughts and prayers were with them following the bombing at the Boston Marathon.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Zoning Administrator to set a new policy that when both a Conditional Use Permit (CUP) and Variance Application are requested for the same project and the required public hearings are held on the same date, that a combined fee of $200 be charged for the CUP/Variance application. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the purchase of Lots 11, 12, and 13 of South Forest Grove at cost of $12,000 per lot to the original purchaser. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- Summer Programs. He advised the Council and residents that registrations were now open for the Summer Recreation Programs.
- Coaches. Applications were still needed for coaches for some of the Summer Programs. Applications could be obtained at the City Hall.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize City Staff to advertise for Summer Workers for Public Works, Parks and Recreation, the Library, and for Coaches until May 17th, 2013, and to continue advertising if the date needs to be extended. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize City Staff to seek quotes for transformers for the second phase of the voltage change in the City Hall area. The motion carried.
During the Sergeant’s report, he warned residents about Spring scams and fraudulent claims. He advised the public to be concerned about calls from area code 876, which is a Jamaican area code, because there is nothing that can be done to recover any funds submitted to this area. He said that you can gather additional information from the web site, “beware of 876” and AARP site.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Fire Department Hiring Committee and authorize the hiring of John Loeffen and Julie Carpenter pending background checks and physicals. The motion carried.
During the City Attorney’s report, he thanked Sergeant Backman and the other Deputies in the Mountain Iron Office for handling the criminal cases. He also had a special thank you for Deputy Shackman who took some personal time when he wasn’t feeling well and did some work for their office.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the purchase agreement for the purchase of wetland credits in the amount of $11,207.25 and the fee cost of $137.79, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council reviewed the list of communications. Councilor Prebeg once again thanked the Council for the assistance they were given during the Annual Prebeg Memorial Ride and he also thanked the Sheriff’s Department, the Donors, and the Riders.
The Mayor announced that the annual Local Board of Appeal and Equalization would be held on Tuesday, April 23, 2013, from 6:30 until 7:30 p.m.
At 7:01 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
1. MediaCom, a notice advising of a rate increase on May 1, 2013.
2. VRMC Foundation, a letter informing the City of the funds raised by the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride and the services funded by the income.
3. Minnesota Energy Resources, a letter regarding the 2013 construction season for natural gas service.
