Meeting Minutes for December 20, 2004
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
DECEMBER 20, 2004
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, 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; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Rod Flannigan, City Engineering (entering at 7:20 p.m.); and Larry Nanti Director of Parks and Recreation (entering at 7:37 p.m.).
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add/move the following items on the agenda:
IV. A. 2. MIB Football Banquet-Waive Building Rental Fees
Move: IV. E. 1. Truck Quotes To: III. Public Forum B.
Approve the minutes of the December 1, 2004, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting as submitted.
Approve the minutes of the December 6, 2004, City Council meeting as submitted.
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.
To acknowledge the receipts for the period December 1-15, 2004, totaling $560,808.10, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period December 1-15, 2004, totaling $234,960.15, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of City Staff and purchase the 2005 Four Wheel Drive Chevrolet Tahoe for the Sheriff�s Department from Iron Trail Motors for their quoted price of $28,358.87. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
No one spoke during the public forum.
At 6:38 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the Tax Increment Financing District Number one and three modifications. The motion carried.
The City Administrator advised the Council that the modifications to the Tax Increment Districts were modifications to the budget in the plan. The modifications are made to remain in compliance with the plan.
At 6:41 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to waive the building rental fee for the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Football banquet held on December 12, 2004. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to reconsider the variance application for Becky Wilken to construct an accessory building on parcel 175-0057-00150. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to allow a minimum nineteen foot setback, keeping the accessory building even with the present front stairs of the single family dwelling maintaining six feet from the wall of the single family dwelling to the front of the garage for the Wilken�s Variance on parcel 175-0057-00150. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to accept the agreement with Taylor Investment Corporation for any repairs to the roads in the Mashkenode Lake Area regarding the acceptance of the streets in that area. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to allow the City Administrator to proceed with the possible advance refunding of the following City bonds:
$1,015,000 G.O. Community Center Bonds of 1998
$1,280,000 G.O. Improvement Bonds of 2000
The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Skalko to approve the Surface Lease No. 13304, for the signboards at the intersection of Highway 53 and Old Highway 169, with RGGS Land and Minerals at a cost of $78.00 for the period of one year. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of City Staff and authorize the purchase of the 2005 GMC Sierra from Nelson Dodge GMC, Fergus Falls, Minnesota, at the State Bid price of $21,930.75. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
Councilor Prebeg questioned the Director of Public Works regarding how the snow plowing equipment was holding up. The Director of Public Works stated that so far there have been no major problems, although the City�s Cat Grader is having a major problem right now, possibly with the transmission.
Councilor Irish question who is putting the mound at the entrance to Monkey Road in Parkville. The Director of Public Works stated that the Forestry Service opened the road for the loggers when they were logging down that road and then when they were done they put a mound at the entrance to prevent access to the road. Councilor Irish said that when he was researching the area for the ATV trail, he discovered that the road was still owned by the City. The Director of Public Works said that he would contact Tom Nikolanci at the Forestry Service regarding the matter. Councilor Roskoski suggested putting up a gate on Monkey Road to control the access.
Mayor Skalko asked the Director of Public Works if the snow plowing agreement was set up for the cemeteries. The Director of Public Works said that he spoke with the City of Virginia and it was agreed that Mountain Iron would be plowing this winter season and Virginia would plow the next winter season.
Councilor Irish questioned the City Administrator regarding a publication in the December 13th Mesabi Daily News regarding the Economic Development Authority meeting. He said that it was also listed as the Economic Development Association. The City Administrator said that this was a newspaper error.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to authorize payment request number one to Ulland Brothers, Inc. for the Heather Avenue Graveling Project in the amount of $7,500.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Roskoski suggested putting the Spring Park Road discussion on the agenda for the second meeting in January since the City Engineer was not present.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Attorney regarding the status of the Mountain Iron Foundation Plan. The City Attorney stated that his Associate Paul Cerkvenik was working on the plan.
The Council reviewed the proposed Blight Ordinance amendment. It was the consensus of the Council to have this item on the next regular meeting agenda for further review.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 46-04, Guaranteeing the Local Share of Construction Costs and On-going Maintenance for a grant for a Streetscape Enhancement Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 47-04, Authorizing the IRR grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 48-04, adopting the modifications to the tax increment financing plans for tax increment financing district numbers one and three, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt the 2005 budget as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously.
Councilor Irish questioned the City Administrator regarding the list of capital outlay items. He thought the first nine items on the list of capital improvements that have matching grants should be dedicated first from the capital outlay. The City Administrator said that the first nine line items in the capital improvements items are included in the budget.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 49-04, approving the 2004 tax levy collectable in 2005, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to adopt Resolution Number 50-04, approving the 2005 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 unanimously.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to forward the “Thank you” letter received from City of Virginia regarding the Mountain Iron Volunteer Fire Department assisting the Virginia Fire Department at two structure fires, be forwarded to the Fire Chief and the Fire Department. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski questioned the proposed changes to the Blight Ordinance. The Blight Officer said that this is just a proposal and can be discussed at a future City Council meeting.
Mayor Skalko wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. He said that it has been a good year and hopefully in 2005 good things will be happening in our town.
At 7:47 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
