Meeting Minutes for August 18, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
AUGUST 18, 2008
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; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Waive Building Usage Fee
IV. F. 2. Unity Second Addition-Pay Request Number 8
V. C. Unity Second Addition Signage
Delete: IV. E. 2. Co-City Administrators
2. Approve the minutes of the August 4, 2008, City Council meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period August 1-15, 2008, totaling $126,454.64, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 16-31, 2008, totaling $470,672.49, (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:
– Merritt Days Celebration. He thanked Sally Peterangelo, Special Events Coordinator, the Merritt Days Committee, City Staff, and the Volunteers for the a job well done with all of the Celebration planning. It was the consensus of the council to have a thank you sent to the Merritt Days Committee. The Mayor also thanked to Nancy Driscoll for the use of her sports car for the Mayor and Deputy Mayor to ride in during the parade.
– Mason Union #613. He expressed gratitude to the cement masons for the nice job completed in the pavilions with the City logo.
– Nick Prebeg. Recognized Councilor Prebeg’s son who was recently appointed Chief, with only 51 appointments made in the Country. He has been in the Navy for 11 years.
– Andy Prebeg. Recognized Councilor Prebeg’s son for enlisting in the Navy.
– City Administrator. Recognized Mr. Wainio for celebrating his 40th birthday.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to direct City Staff to send a thank you to Mason Union #613 for the City Logo Cement Project completed at the South Grove and Downtown Pavilions. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to waive the building rental fee for the Messiah Lutheran Church on November 15, 2008, for a turkey bingo fundraiser with the proceeds going to the First Lutheran Mission Trip to New Orleans to assist Hurricane Katrina victims. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to accept the quote from Mesabi Sign for the Unity Second Addition sign per their quote of $1,126.50 for the sign and $920.00 for the installation. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Next City Council meeting. He advised the Council that they will need to set a preliminary levy by September 15, 2008. He said that he is putting together some projections for the Council to review at the next meeting.
– Merritt Days Celebration. He advised the Council that his son, Bryce, pulled 90 pounds for 23 feet in the Tractor Pull Event.
– Detailed Ledger. He distributed some detailed accounting information to the Council because it was requested by one Council member.
– Mountain Timber Project. He said that they did not have to submit an environmental impact statement. There is a property issue that has been resolved with regard to a railroad right-of-way, so everything should be progressing shortly.
– Cardinal Street. Councilor Roskoski questioned why the heavy equipment was hauling on the residential streets instead of the industrial roads. The Director of Public Works said that he attempted to speak to the construction foreman regarding the matter, but he had not heard back from him as of the meeting.
– Greater Minnesota Agency. The City’s health insurance will have a 12.1% increase effective January 1, 2009.
The Director of Public Works said that the Archery Range should be completed this week. He said that he should have fencing quotes for the next regular meeting.
The Mayor thanked the Sheriff’s Department for their visibility during the Merritt Days Celebration.
The City Attorney reported to the Council that the public hearing notices sent to residents of Mountain Iron are not required to be mailed through Certified Mail as per the City Ordinance and the State Statutes. He said that First Class mail is the only requirement through the State Statutes and the City.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number two to Mesabi Bituminous for the South Grove Tennis Court Reconstruction Project in the amount of $45,134.98. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number eight to Utility Systems of America for the Unity Addition Phase II Residential Development in the amount of $129,849.28. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Engineer advised the Council that the Contractor had fixed the shoulder area on Enterprise Drive North by L & M Supply, but residents were driving four feet off of the pavement. He also said that the Contractor also worked on the shoulder problems on Heather Avenue.
During the liaison reports, Councilor Zupancich, Economic Development Authority, updated the Council regarding the Lake Country Power Project, the Eichorn’s Mini Storage Project, and the EDA Comprehensive Plan.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to direct City Staff to offer the original Unity Second Addition residential lot purchasers a one year extension on the building requirements if the property owners’ request this. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko that as soon as the City of Mountain Iron receives the information on the IRR Culture and Tourism grant program that Staff place this item on the next City Council agenda with the same backup information that was provided for in the August 18, 2008, agenda packet. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 34-08, for the concurrent detachment and annexation of incorporated land by and between the City of Virginia and the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to waive the building rental fees for the Messiah Lutheran Church, October 4, 2008, fundraiser. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to reschedule the next meeting to Tuesday, September 2nd, 2008, at 6:30 p.m. because of the Labor Day holiday. The motion carried.
The following were discussed during the open discussion portion of the agenda:
– Stop sign at the Intersection of Emerald Avenue/Unity Drive. Councilor Stanaway suggested that a three-way stop be placed at this intersection. The Director of Public Works said that the Street Committee had discussed the intersection, but no formal action was taken. The Director said that he spoke with the Sergeant and they decided that a stop sign should be installed prior to school
starting.
– Downtown Park. Councilor Roskoski said that the park was being used until late during the Merritt Days Celebration.
– Fire Department Open House. Councilor Stanaway thanked the Fire Department Volunteers that conducted the Open House event at the Fire Hall during the Merritt Days Celebration.
At 7:32 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to recess the regular meeting and open the closed session to discuss the management employees’ evaluations. The motion carried.
At 7:32 p.m., the Mayor recessed the meeting.
At 7:50 p.m., the Mayor convened the closed session with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present was: Louis Russo, Negotiating Consultant to the Council.
At 8:03 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 8:26 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adjourn the closed meeting and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 8:27 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg 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 Finance & Employee Relations, a letter advising the City of Mountain Iron that we are in compliance with the Local Government Pay Equity Act.
2. Saint Louis County Board, an invitation to the Bobby Aro Memorial Highway Celebration on August 16, 2008.
(Communications continued)
3. Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, a letter advising the City of Mountain Iron that they have been chosen to serve as a pilot community for the Iron Range Community Development Initiative.
4. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency, a letter advising the City that the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Citizens’ Board has approved the Environmental Impact Statement for the proposed Mountain Timber Wood Products Fuel Pellet Facility.
5. MediaCom, a letter informing the City that they are providing additional programming to some customers.
