Meeting Minutes for December 07, 2015
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 7, 2015
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, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Michael Downs, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Sally Yuccas, Librarian Director/Special Events Director.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the November 16, 2015, regular meeting as submitted.
- Approve the minutes of the November 30, 2015, committee of the whole meeting as submitted.
- That the communications be accepted and placed on file and those requiring further action by the City Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
- To acknowledge the receipts for the period November 16-30, 2015, totaling $164,738.03, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period November 16-30, 2015, totaling $289,891.46, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Tom Nikolanci spoke and expressed concern with the valuation of his property and the increase on his taxes. The City Administrator informed Mr. Nikolanci that he could only ask questions regarding the 2016 budget, not the valuation of his property. He was informed to contact the County Assessor to seek additional information regarding his valuation.
At 6:39 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to recess the regular meeting and convene the public hearing regarding the abatement. The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public hearing.
The City Administrator advised the Council that there was no correspondence received regarding the abatement.
At 6:40 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
There was no public comment on the 2016 budget.
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences. To the family of Burrell Schur Kubacki, Melissa Sather, Ben West, and Tim Kovich.
- County Road 102. He said that he contacted representatives at U. S. Steel Corporation and Saint Louis County. He was informed that the road could be opened by the first of the year.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Policy Number 2015-03, the Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the 2015 audit proposal received from Walker, Giroux, and Hahne, LLC, as presented. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- Table Top Exercise. A meeting was scheduled for next week for the orientation for the exercise.
- Comprehensive Plan. A meeting was scheduled for next week to begin working on the update on the comprehensive plan.
- Plans and Specifications. At the next Council meeting, there will be a request to prepare the plans and specifications for the new municipal well.
The Director of Public Works reported on the following:
- Christmas Decorations. There have been decorations installed on Enterprise Drive North and South and some will be installed on Rock Ridge Drive soon.
- Street Lighting. The City Crew has been working on the power for the entrance lights for U. S. Steel. The lights for County Road 102 should be delivered in January, 2016.
- Calendar Parking. There had been a correction to some of the signage placed.
- Water Main Breaks. The City had their first water line break this week.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt the following Library Policies:
- Intellectual Freedom
- Materials Selection Policy
- Circulation Policy
- Confidentiality of User Records Policy
- Fines and Recovery of Overdue Materials
- Policy of Use of Internet Access and Computer Terminals
(Copies are attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Library Director/Special Events Coordinator reported on the following:
- Monthly Report. She presented the November report to the Council.
- Story Time. The attendance was growing.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 29-15, approving property tax abatement for certain property located in the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the 2016 budget as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that, if the Merritt Days Committee wants to continue to utilize public funding, that they make a change to their by-laws allowing new members the right to vote immediately. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 30-15, approving the 2015 tax levy, collectable 2016, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 31-15, approving the 2016 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 Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution 32-15, approving the 2016 Economic Development Authority Tax Levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to approve the contract with the Mesabi Humane Society for 2016 at a contract price of $15,450, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize Mac’s Bar, Inc. to serve alcohol for the McGregor wedding reception on December 12, 2015, in the Community Center. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to accept the retirement of Judy Seurer effective February 12, 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the retirement of Mary Jo Glavan effective February 26, 2016. The motion carried.
At 7:14 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to recess the regular meeting and go into closed session for performance evaluations for management staff following a brief recess. The motion carried.
The Mayor Skalko called the closed City Council meeting to order with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko.
The performance evaluations were discussed and proposed wage increases for the Director of Public Works, the Library Director/Special Events Coordinator, and the City Administrator.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adjourn the closed meeting to discuss performance evaluations and open the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to approve the following salary increases for the management staff:
Craig J. Wainio 4%
Michael Downs 3.75%
Sally Yuccas 3.5%
with the increase being effective on January 1, 2016. The motion carried.
At 7:35 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Tuomela absent.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Judy Seurer, a letter of retirement effective February 12, 2016.
2. Mary Jo Glavan, a letter of retirement effective February 26, 2016.
3. Iron Range Tourism Bureau, a thank you for the use of the Community Center for the Governor’s Deer Opener celebration.
4. League of Minnesota Cities, a thank you for hosting the regional meeting.
5. U. S. Steel Corporation, forwarding information regarding historic resources of the Mountain Iron Mining Landscape.
