Meeting Minutes for December 02, 2002

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

DECEMBER 2, 2002

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Karen Luoma, Librarian; and Greg French, City Engineer.

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

Add the following item to the agenda:

V. B. Negotiations with Mountain Iron-Buhl School Update

Approve the minutes of the November 4, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.

Approve the minutes of the November 18, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.

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.

Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period November 16-30, 2002, totaling $353,201.52, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

Acknowledge the receipts for the period November 16-30, 2002 totaling $57,658.84, (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.

The Mayor noted to the Council and the audience that the Truth-in-Taxation hearing set by the Council was set for December 2, 2002, and the County printed December 3rd on the statement that were mailed to the residents. He said that the hearing would start on December 2nd and would be reconvened on December 3rd at 6:30 p.m.

At 6:32 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the Truth-in-Taxation public hearing. The motion carried.

The Mayor advised the residents that the City Administrator had prepared a document explaining the proposed property tax statement and asked that the residents review it. He also said that there was only one area of the statement that the City Council has any control over. The Mayor also advised the residents that the Legislature had changed how the taconite aids are disbursed and this would result in an increase in the proposed taxes.

During the public hearing there were several comments and questions asked regarding the proposed increases in the City levy. One resident requested that the City Council adopt a resolution stating that the residents of the City of Mountain Iron do not like how the distribution of aids are being applied.

The Mayor said that if you did a comparison on other community taxes that the taxes in Mountain Iron would still be one of the lowest property taxes in the state.

At 7:13 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to recess the public hearing until 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, December 3, 2002, and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.

During the public forum, Larry Johnson was present and asked if the City Council would be conducting a hearing on the 2003 budget. The Mayor advised him that this was part of the Truth in Taxation public hearing. 

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to direct the City Administrator to draft a resolution regarding the loss of taconite aids in the City of Mountain Iron and submit the resolution to the City Council at the next regular meeting for consideration. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the Mountain Iron Park and Recreation Board and close the Kinross Park and cancel the lease with USX Corporation for the land used for the Kinross Park. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board and purchase dasher boards from Athletica at the quoted price of $27,870.61. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the agreement with Saint Louis County for the collection of recyclable materials, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of one (1) new 150 KVA dual voltage transformer and pad from Resco at their low quoted price of $4,312.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve pay request number one to Mesabi Bituminous for the paving of the Community Center parking lot in the amount of $7,626.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

The Council reviewed the draft of the development agreement for the public/private partnership for the library development.

It was the consensus of the City Council to allow Councilor Matanich to work with the City Engineer regarding to obtain cost estimates for the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District ballfield and attend the December 9th School Board meeting to discuss the matter further.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to adopt a preliminary 2003 budget reflecting a zero percent increase in the levy. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Skogman, no; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution Number 50-02, authorizing a grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; and Brunfelt, no.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution Number 51-02, guaranteeing local share of construction costs and ongoing maintenance for the Mesabi Trail project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the Bike Trail Lease Agreement with the State of Minnesota, Department of Natural Resources, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

At 8:17 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.

At 8:20 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort established by Minnesota Statute. The motion carried.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the application for an exempt permit for Muskies, Inc. to conduct a raffle to raise money. The motion carried.

During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski asked what the status on the demolition of the Bon Air was. The Blight Officer stated that the owner of the Bon Air received the City�s letter and is willing to work with the city to continue with the demolition. He also said that they are currently working with the IRRRB Building Demolition Program to obtain a price to have the building demolished.

At 8:22 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.