Meeting Minutes for April 20, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the April 6, 1998, regular meeting as submitted.
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, 1998, totaling $165,703.85, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period April 1-15, 1998, totaling $54,430.51, (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.
During the public forum, Ed Roskoski made a comment to assist the Council in decisions regarding the Parkville Housing. He said that the City of Chisholm is working on a housing development in their town. He said the City of Chisholm is selling lots for housing for $7200.00 with no assessments for utilities or streets improvements. He further said that the City of Chisholm gives a rebate check back to the resident after their home is built for $7,199.00.
Also during the public forum, Jennifer Blevins made some comments regarding the proposed Tobacco Ordinance. She suggested that the Council consider changing two areas of the proposed Tobacco Ordinance as follows: 1) to not have cartons of cigarettes in the self service area, and; 2) to have vending machines totally banned in the city.
At 6:35 p.m., Sergeant Joe Stewart entered the meeting.
The City Attorney had nothing to report on.
The City Engineer informed the City Council that the following bids were received on the Sixteenth Avenue Improvement Project, Project No. MI 97-19:
Mesabi Bituminous $122,904.85 Hardrives, Inc. $135,543.82
Gilbert, Minnesota Zim, Minnesota
Ulland Brothers, Inc. $148,542.12
Cloquet, Minnesota
The City Engineer recommended the City Council award the bid for Project No. MI97-19 to the low bidder, Mesabi Bituminous, for $122,904.85.
The City Engineer asked for Council permission to coordinate the installation of the box culvert on Centennial Drive with Hammerlund Construction for the Ann’s Acres Water Main Project. The Director of Public Works recommended that a change order be negotiated with Hammerlund Construction to have the box culvert placed, using grant money, to complete the work. The City Administrator said that the City of Virginia authorized their portion of the funding for the drainage improvement project and the City of Mountain Iron’s portion is $15,000 based on a per capita basis.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to commit $15,000 to the box culvert installation project and to direct City staff to prepare a change order with Hammerlund Construction for the installation of the box culvert for the drainage improvement project on Centennial Drive. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Piri to approve the Mighty Kids Contract and to designate Larry Nanti as the Authorized Representative for the grant, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Skogman to approve the West II Rivers contract for services with Steve Nordby, an Independent Contractor, for compensation of $300 per week for a period of 19 weeks. The motion carried.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Piri to authorize the Park and Recreation Board to fill the part-time secretary position following the resignation of Rebecca Scinto and to send Ms. Scinto the usual and customary thank you for her service to the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
The Recreation Director informed the Council that he received one estimate for the work on the Merritt Statue.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to authorize the sale of the west 50.00 feet of the east 350.00 feet of the north 200.00 feet of the southeast quarter of the northeast quarter of section 15, township 58 north, range 18 west of the fourth principal meridian, in Mt. Iron, Minnesota, subject to a road easement on, over, and across the north 33.00 feet of described parcel, to Tara Scinto and Jeremy LaMourea for the sale price of $400.00. The motion carried.
The Director of Public Works said the following quotes were received on the installation of 100 water meters:
UNIT PRICE
1) U. S. Filter Distribution
100 each 5/8 X 3/4 Sensus SR II ECR meters with Touchpad $80.50/ea.
100 each Handi-horn for copper tubing $17.95/ea.
2) Hydro Supply Co.
100 each 5/8 X 3/4 Sensus SR II ECR meter with Touchpad $84.18/ea.
100 each McDonald Series 40 meter insetter $30.85/ea.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Piri to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and authorize the purchase of 100 water meters and installation horns from U. S. Filter distribution at their quoted price of $80.50 each and $17.95 each respectively. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and authorize a donation to the Mountain Iron D. A. R. E. program with $750.00 from the Electric Utility Fund and $750.00 from the Refuse/Recycling Funds. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council wanted it noted for the record that the City donates more to the Mountain Iron D. A. R. E. Fund than the Mountain Iron-Buhl School.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Piri to authorize the Director of Public Works to prepare bids and specifications for the following items:
1998 Budgeted Amount
Infrastructure – Crack Sealing $20,000
Street Dept. – Tandem dump truck $65,000
Street Dept. – Plow, wing sander $20,000
Refuse/Recycling-Single Axle Truck $65,000
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for L. W. Anderson Properties, Inc. to remodel store front for parcel 175-0071-01217. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve the Personnel Policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Olsen, yes; Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Piri, yes; and Brunfelt, abstain.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to authorize the City Administrator to contract with Maxfield Research, Inc. to provide research and consulting services to examine the need for single-family housing in Mountain Iron at an estimated cost of $6,500 with the costs to be split between the City of Mountain Iron and the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Brunfelt to adopt the Tamarack and Spruce Drive Assessment Roll, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to adopt Resolution #20-98, Adopting Assessments for Tamarack Drive, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Ordinance #12, Tobacco Ordinance, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt the IRRRB Final Accounting Report for the Ann’s Acres Water Main Extension Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Resolution #19-98, Receiving Report and Calling for Hearing for the Improvements to Eighth Street with water and sewer mains being installed, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Resolution #21-98, Determining the Necessity for and Authorizing the Acquisition of Certain Property by Proceedings in Eminent Domain, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council requested that the City Attorney provide a time table for acquisition of the land through eminent domain for the next meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Resolution #22-98, Accepting Bids on 16th Avenue West Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to authorize the payment of the 1998 second quarter appropriation to Tri Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority for $2,835.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Matanich and City Administrator Wainio said that they would attend the Quad Cities Area Alliance meeting on April 22, 1998.
Sergeant Stewart submitted his March activity report for the Sheriffs Department.
The Mayor spoke to the Council regarding the public perception or misconception that the City Council is trying to force the City Hall issue. He said that because of the timing of the construction of the community center building, the City Council is reviewing their options regarding upgrading the current City Hall concerning ADA compliance or building a new City Hall.
During the open discussion, Councilor Skogman said that he may not be able to attend the City Council meeting on April 28th. He said that he agrees that the City Hall should be moved to a more central location, but he does not think that this is the time to do it. He said that a five-year plan should be developed with plans for the present city hall and library.
Councilor Skogman said that a letter should be sent to the St. Louis County Fair Board advising them that the City of Mountain Iron is interested in having the fairgrounds located here. He said that a plan needs to be prepared for the project to locate the fairgrounds in Mountain Iron and lay it out in a package deal and sell this to the St. Louis County Board.
The Mayor requested that the City Administrator work with the City Engineer and the Director of Public Works and look for parcels of land that would be available in the City of Mountain Iron for the fairgrounds to locate on and contact the Fair Board to see how much acreage they need to relocate.
Councilor Matanich said that it was great how the politicians took care of Mountain Iron with the additional $0.04 per ton which could amount to about $110,000 in the year 2000.
Councilor Skogman questioned the Director of Public Works regarding the eight-inch pipe being proposed for the sewer line on Eighth Street. Councilor Skogman said that with buildings being constructed there, shouldn’t this be higher for fire protection? The Director of Public Works said that an eight inch pipe shouldn’t be a problem, but a ten inch pipe would be better. The Director of Public Works said that they will change the plans to reflect a change to a ten inch pipe.
At 7:32 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
