Meeting Minutes for April 16, 2001

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING

Mayor Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Absent member included: Stephen Skogman. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Joe Stewart, Sheriff Sergeant; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Greg French, City Engineer.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Add the following item to the agenda:

V. C. Ann�s Acres paving

2. 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.

3. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period April 1-15, 2001, totaling $193,224.50, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period April 1-15, 2001, totaling $90,453.81, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to approve the April 2, 2001 minutes with the following amendment:

Page 2, paragraph 1, “�. to schedule a meeting with the interested parties concerning the blowing of train whistles, i.e. City Council Representatives, Duluth Winnipeg and Pacific/ Canadian National Railway, Burlington Northern/Santa Fe Railway, the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range Railway, Business Owners�”

The motion carried.

No one was present for the public forum.

The Council discussed the Lushine Road. The Director of Public Works said that a meeting was being set up with the County to discuss the road further.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to direct the City Administrator to formally contact the Minnesota Department of Transportation to ask that a study be made at the County Road 7 and Highway 169 intersection for an upgraded especially the right turn lane off of County Road 7. The motion carried.

The Council discussed extending the sidewalk on the Marble Avenue update project. It was the recommendation of the City Engineer and the Director of Public Works to not add the sidewalk extension to the project.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve the contract between the City of Mountain Iron and Wilbur Ball to manage the West II Rivers Campground for the 2001 season at a cost of $450.00 per week. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Recreation Director to rent the City�s bleachers for a cost of $25 per set, to place the City�s name on them, and have the renter provide the city with the appropriate liability insurance so the city would not be liable. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution 09-01, awarding bids, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to approve the Old Town Request for Proposals and authorize the City Administrator to advertise for proposals. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to authorize Staff to send a letter, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes) to all Mountain Iron residents with a Virginia zip code. The motion carried.

Councilor Roskoski presented the Council with an information sheet regarding the 2000 Ann�s Acres street paving project. He requested that the City Engineer oversee the projects being completed this summer so they are completed well.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve the 2001 appropriation to the Virginia/Mountain Iron/Gilbert Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $10,000. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Matanich, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 08-01, ordering plans and specifications, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 10-01, authorizing grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to approve the Special Event Permit for the YMCA 5K Race. The motion carried.

The Council reviewed the list of communications. The Council directed the City Administrator to forward the letter received from the Virginia Fire Department to the Mountain Iron Fire Chief.

During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski said that Ms Muir attended the last Civic Association meeting and advised them that a movie trailer would be filmed in town during the end of April.

Also during the open discussion, Councilor Matanich said that he might be available to attend the DWP Safety/ARDC meeting in Orr. The City Administrator said that the Director of Public Works would be attending the meeting in Virginia.

Also during the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg said that he read an article in the Ely Echo regarding funding for Ely�s Water Tower Painting Project from Section 569 Northeast Minnesota Assistance Program and funding from the St. Louis County Community Development Block Grant. It was the consensus of the Council to have the Director of Public Works look into the loans or grants for the funding.

Councilor Roskoski asked the Sergeant if there was a full complement of deputies in Mountain Iron yet. The Sergeant said that the Sheriff�s Department was still short staffed and paying for overtime. Sergeant Stewart said that the County is still in the hiring process.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to direct the City Administrator to send a letter on behalf of the Council to the Saint Louis County Sheriff Department expressing the concerns of the Council regarding the overtime and the impact on budget. The motion carried.

The Mayor reminded the Council of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting with the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority on April 17th and the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting with the Library Board on April 18th.

The Council discussed the procedures for the Board of Review meeting.

The Mayor advised the Council that he would not be able to attend the Volunteer Recognition Dinner.

At 7:37 p.m., it was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.