Meeting Minutes for April 19, 2010

MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
APRIL 19, 2010

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and John Backman, Sergeant.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Approve the minutes of the April 5, 2010, regular 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 April 1-15, 2010, totaling $202,096.59, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period April 1-15, 2010, totaling $379,655.02, (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 Mayor updated the Council on the following:

 Meetings. He stated that he wanted to change the tone of the meetings. He introduced everyone to his one month old granddaughter, Hayden Jaye Skalko, by showing her picture. He distributed gifts to the Council and audience members.
 Media. He said that there had been a lot of negativity in the paper regarding the City and he wanted to point out the positive things going on in the City. He said that the heart of any community is the residents. He said that there are seven advisory boards and committees in the City and a number of residents regularly volunteer their time to serve. He said he would be recognizing the various board and commission members over the next few months. He started the recognition with the Parks and Recreation Board. He said that the following members serve on the Board: 

Don Kleinschmidt, Staff Member Jerry D. Kujala, Chairperson
Brian Wilson Dennis Benz
Joe Prebeg Scott McDermid
Natalie Pankratz-Leff Gerry Golobich

This Board is currently working on the renovations of the Wolf and West Virginia ball fields, installation of new playground equipment in Ann’s Acres, and the renovation of Locomotive Park. 
 City Council Members. The Mayor advised the Council that at each meeting he would be asking them to recognize a group or individual of their choice and he would begin this at the May 3rd Council meeting with Councilor Roskoski starting the process.
 Laurentian Clinic. They had an Open House on April 14th; he said that a video of the open house would follow the Council meeting on the public access channel.
 South Forest Grove. Two lots have been sold. 

The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:

 Budget and Finance Committee. There would be a meeting held on April 26th, to beginning working on the Other Post Employment Benefits (OPEB) with the help of the financial advisors from Northland Securities.
 Mountain Manor. He said that the management company for the Manor has recommended that the City begin charging a payment in lieu of taxes because the facility is doing better financially.

The Council reviewed the Sheriff’s Department report for the month of March 2010. Councilor Roskoski asked the Sergeant if the deputies have first responder type of training. The Sergeant said due to the cost of the training, most of the department members are not currently certified, but have first aid training. 

It was moved by Roskoski to direct that either the Sergeant, the Fire Chief, or the City Administrator write a letter to Richard Strumbell stating that a fire of suspicious origin occurred on his land east of Ann’s Acres on April 18, 2010, between the hours of four and five o’clock. The Mayor would not allow the motion because it was not on the agenda, as per the Council meeting rules.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to accept the recommendation of the Fire Department Hiring Committee and hire Tabitha L’Allier, Aaron Buller, Tiffany Wolfe, Brook Marden, and William Copeland to the position of firefighters. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Fire Department Hiring Committee and hire the following:

Captain-Secretary Dustin Rabideaux Term Expires: 12/31/2012
Captain-Training Officer Greg Chad Term Expires: 12/31/2012
Captain Justin Kochar Term Expires: 12/31/2013

The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Fire Department Hiring Committee and hire the following:

Assistant Fire Chief Jeremy Waldron Term Expires: 12/31/2013

The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and award the bid for the Wolf and West Virginia baseball field reconstruction to Mesabi Bituminous in the amount of $126,526.50. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and authorize a Conditional Use Permit to construct a 30 foot by 48 foot by 12 foot high accessory building on property owned by Jeremy Lamourea, 8804 Grant Drive, Mountain Iron on parcels 175-0070-01572 and 01576. The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and authorize a Conditional Use Permit to add a 144 square foot addition to an 864 square foot accessory building on property owner by Timothy Peterson and Dorothy Grigg, 5624 Falcon Avenue, Mountain Iron, on parcel 175-0051-00620. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize City Staff to call for quotes for roadway crack sealing in the amount of $20,000. The motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Street Committee and authorize the installation of an additional street light on the southeast corner of Mesabi Avenue and Main Street in the Downtown area of Mountain Iron. The motion carried. 

The Council discussed the “Adopt a Roadway Program”. Staff would be preparing a draft program and presenting it to the Council at the May 3, 2010, meeting. 

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to publish two advertisements in the Mesabi Daily News, place information on the Public Access Channel 7, and inform the public that the “Adopt a Roadway Program” had been implemented. The motion carried.

During the Liaison Reports, the following reports were given:

 Street Committee. Councilor Roskoski advised the Council that the Committee was currently working on parking issues in the Downtown Mountain Iron area.
 Library Board. Councilor Stanaway said that the Library patrons and the amount of items checked out has been increasing monthly. 

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Prebeg to waive the building rental fees for the Mountain Iron Community Center for use by the Marquette Catholic School for a fundraiser to be held on April 30, 2010. The motion carried.

The Council reviewed the request of Laura Nieters, Assistant Librarian, regarding an extension on her medical leave. City Staff recommended that the City Council take no action at this time. 

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Ordinance Number 02-10, establishing a Special Zoning District Number Three within the City of Mountain Iron for the South Forest Grove Addition, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 02-10, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids for improvements to Old Highway 169, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to allow Mac’s Bar Incorporated to serve on-sale liquor at the Mountain Iron Community Center on Monday, May 3, 2010, for a bowling banquet. The motion carried.

The Council reviewed the list of communications.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to authorize a contribution of $250 to the Mountain Iron-Buhl Archery Team to assist with financing their trip to Louisville, Kentucky on May 6th through 9th, 2010, to attend the National Competition with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

At 7:28 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

COMMUNICATIONS

1. Minnesota Department of Health, a letter from Karla Peterson, the Supervisor for the Community Public Water Supply Unit informing the Council of its responsibility to distribute a Consumer Confidence Report for the City water supply.

2. St. Louis County Board, a letter from Steve Raukar and Keith Nelson reaffirming the County’s continued interest in exploring collaboration and sharing of services and responsibilities with the City.

3. Mountain Iron-Buhl Archery Club, a letter requesting a contribution towards their expenses to attend the National Archery Competition in Louisville, Kentucky on May 6th through 9th, 2010.

4. League of Minnesota Cities, a letter on the State legislature’s reductions in Market Value Homestead Credit and Local Government Aid.

5. Northern Natural Gas, information packet on their facilities in the area.