Meeting Minutes for December 03, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 3, 2007
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 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. Forseen, 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 item to the agenda:
VI. I. Reservoir Water Level Fluctuations
2. Approve the minutes of the November 19, 2007, 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 November 16-30, 2007, totaling $166,932.44, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to approve the following item from the consent agenda:
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period November 16-30, 2007, totaling $331,171.80, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
During the public forum, Paul Yelenich spoke regarding the increase in the rental rates in the City buildings. He said that their Cribbage Club Group has been using the Nichol Town Hall since the building was built. He said that with the recent increase it will now cost them a $100 building deposit and $20 per night to use the building.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to review the building rental rates for the Parkville Cribbage Club and the Mountain Iron Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5258 regarding the rates and bring the recommendation to the December 17, 2007, regular City Council meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Mesabi Daily News Editorial. The Mayor commented on an editorial that recently was published in the Mesabi Daily News regarding the Economic Development at Park Ridge. He thanked the current and prior Council Members who voted for the project, the Economic Development Authority, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the City Staff for all of the work completed to get the development going. He said that this was a nice article regarding the development in Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to set a Labor/Management Meeting for Wednesday, December 12, 2007, at 2:00 p.m. with Councilor Prebeg attending as the Council Representative. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to publish an advertisement for the following board and commission positions that are open:
One Position Park and Recreation Board
One Position Library Board
Two Positions Cable Commission
One Position Tennis for All Board
with the advertising closing date as Friday, December 28th, 2007. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg that the liquor and cigarette license applications for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008, be approved and issued to the following individuals and business establishments pursuant to the approval, where necessary, of the Liquor Control Commission and pursuant to the payment of all outstanding license fees and utility charges:
Jeff & Greg Properties, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: B. G.’s Saloon Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5494 Highway 7 Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
Silver Creek Liquor Company, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Silver Creek Liquor Cigarette
5489 Highway 7
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
Commander Club On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
American Legion Post #220 Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
5748 Mountain Avenue, PO Box 361 Cigarette
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Mac’s Bar, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Mac’s Bar On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
8881 Main Street, PO Box 313 Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 Cigarette
Bruce A. Carlsen Cigarette
Corner Spur
5499 Highway 7, Box 1207
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
F. P. Troutwine, C & B Warehouse Distr. Cigarette
Mountain Iron Short Stop
5537 Nichols Avenue
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Jay Ryan Moehlenbrock Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Jay Ryan Enterprise, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Sawmill Saloon & Restaurant Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5478 Mountain Iron Drive Cigarette
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
Adventures, Virginia, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Greg Hartnett On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5475 Mountain Iron Drive Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
Walgreen Company Cigarette
5474 Mountain Iron Drive
Virginia (Mountain Iron), MN 55792
The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to approve the Mesabi Humane Society Contract for the period January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008 at a cost of $1,000 per month, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
– Grants. He informed the Council that he had been working with Councilor Roskoski and had contacted the Northland Foundation with most of the grant requests not fitting their criteria. He said that maybe the refrigerator/freezer may be grant eligible. The Northland Foundation contact did advise them of other sources for funding that they will be contacting.
– Unity Second Addition. The Administrator said that the addition looks gorgeous and should be a very nice addition to the City. He said that the road base is in and the lots are really nice.
– Cable Commission. He said that this Commission was originally developed in 1997 with no structure or guidelines. The Administrator said that this Commission should have more structure to it and an ordinance would need to be developed. He said that he would work with the current Commission Members to develop the ordinance.
During the Sheriff’s Department Report the Sergeant advised the Council that the Calendar Parking is in effect from November 1st through April 30th and it is being enforced. He said that beginning at 6:00 p.m. you park for the next day with 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. being the grace period.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number one to Ulland Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $29,411.52 for the 2007 Street Improvement Projects. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number four to Utility Systems of America Incorporated in the amount of $134,336.58 for the Unity Addition Phase II Residential Development. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The following items were discussed during the Liaison Reports:
– Library Board. Councilor Stanaway advised the Council that there were 1,223 patrons in the Library in November checking out 2,377 items. There was 291 requests made and Staff added 154 new items to the Library Inventory.
It was moved by Roskoski to direct the City Administrator to work on both motion requests regarding the addresses through the phone book and the postal service made at the November 19, 2007 meeting, but nothing will be done with any of the addresses until the City Council reviews all of the issues involved with any address changes anticipated. The motion died for lack of a second.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to adopt the 2008 Budget as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 51-07, approving the 2007 tax levy, collectable in 2008, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 52-07, approving the proposed 2008 market rate based referendum levy for the General Obligation Community Center bonds and interest, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 53-07, concerning the 2008 Economic Development Authority tax levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 54-07, concerning the 2008 Housing and Redevelopment Authority tax levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to modify the building rental policy adopted November 5, 2007, by removing the word “rummage” from page 1, paragraph 2 (usage), Line 15. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to contribute $300 to the Highway 53 Long-Range Improvement Citizens’ Task Force for lobbyist services on the Highway 53 Four-Lane Project from January 1, 2008 through December 31, 2008. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to contact Minntac officials as soon as possible and request that they place some advertisements in the local newspaper regarding the West II Rivers Reservoir pumping activities and any potential dangers that could cause and also possibly post signs at the two access road areas to the Reservoir. The motion carried.
At 7:32 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to recess the regular meeting and open the closed session to discuss management negotiations. The motion carried.
At 7:47 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to go into closed session to discuss management negotiations. The motion carried.
All Council members were present during the closed session.
The Council discussed the status of the management negotiations in the closed session.
At 8:16 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway that the closed session be adjourned and the regular meeting be reconvened. The motion carried.
At 8:17 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko that the regular meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Forseen, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Northwoods Landscape & Recreation, Inc., a letter concerning maintenance or replacement of tennis courts and brochures.
2. MPCA Fall 2007 quarterly publication, an article about the letter of agreement to reduce global warming signed by Minnesota Mayors.
3. Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, a memo concerning 2008 and the upcoming legislative session.
4. St. Louis County, a memo concerning training for the Local Board of Appeal and Equalization.
5. League of Minnesota Cities, an action alert for conferences scheduled in 2008.
6. League of Minnesota Cities Ambassador’s Summary Report for November/December.
7. Iron Range Resources Mineland Reclamation, a letter declining the request for funding for the Historic Baldwin Locomotive Repair Project.
8. Mediacom, a letter concerning availability of high-definition products and rate adjustments.
9. Mountain Iron-Buhl Public School District No. 712, a thank you for the contribution to broadcast the school sporting events throughout the year.
10. Mountain Iron Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 5258, comments regarding the Council action to increase the building rent for their meetings and advising the Council they will no longer use the facility for their meetings do to the cost.
