Meeting Minutes for February 02, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Deputy Mayor Carolyn Olsen with the following members present: Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri, and Deputy Mayor Carolyn Olsen. Absent member included: Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the January 20, 1998, regular meeting as submitted.
2. 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.
3. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period January 16-31, 1998, totaling $168,797.05, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period January 16-31, 1998, totaling $94,782.98, (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.
During the public forum, the Council reviewed the suggestion box item received regarding the street department activities with no snow to plow or remove. The Director of Public Works made no comment, he said that it was an opinion of a resident and required no further action.
During the public forum, Larry Herzog, Director of the Mountain Iron Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), requesting approval to have another member added to the Mountain Iron First Responder Group. He said that with members working shift work and day shift, the responses to emergencies are down. The Deputy Mayor said that the Council would act on the request during the review of communications. Mr. Herzog said that the EMT Group has had up to eight members working and now there are six members. He said that the EMT Group has the equipment necessary for the new member and would be waiving the $400 payment from the City.
During the public forum, Dan Doolittle and Melissa Lamphier were present and asked the Council if they can purchase the two lots in South Grove to construct a house and garage.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to have the City Administrator contact Craig Merten, giving him 30 days to respond, to see if he is still interested in purchasing one of the lots in South Grove to construct a house and report back to the City Council at the March 2, 1998, City Council meeting. The motion carried.
The City Engineer had nothing to report.
The Recreation Director reported that the City was awarded a $2500 grant from the Mighty Kids. He said that the grant will be used to hold a day camp at the West II Rivers Campground this summer.
The Recreation Director informed the Council that a Winter Fun Day is being planned for February 21, 1998 in South Grove.
The Director of Public Works had nothing to report.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for Glacier State Distribution Services to construct a storage building pending the Building Inspector’s approval. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to adopt Resolution #03-98, Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of Proposed Assessment List, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich to approve the Mountain Iron Fire Department Relief Association pension increase to $1300 per year of service retroactive to January 1, 1997. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Piri, yes; Skogman, abstain; Matanich, yes; Olsen, yes.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to set a Special City Council Meeting for Wednesday, February 11, 1998, at 4:00 p.m., to canvass the election results. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to re-schedule the next regular City Council meeting to Tuesday, February 17, 1998, at 6:30 p.m. because of the President’s Day holiday. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve the Saint Louis County Uniform Violation Bureau Agreement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve Resolution #04-98, Ordering Preparation of Report on Improvement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to authorize the Mountain Iron First Responders to allow Stacy Ellis to join the Mountain Iron First Responders Group. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Olsen to authorize a donation of $50.00 to the Mountain Iron-Buhl Class of 1998 Eleventh Annual All-Night Chemical Free Graduation Party. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to support the recycled materials processing facility grant application being submitted by St. Louis County. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the letter received from the United States Postal Service regarding changes to the ZIP Code Boundary in Mountain Iron. The Deputy Mayor reported that the Mayor said that he was very disappointed with this letter. He has an appointment with Wellstone to discuss the situation further. The City Administrator said that he forwarded a copy of the letter from the United States Postal Service to both Senators and Representative Oberstar and requested their assistance to the City on the matter. The City Administrator also said that the cost would be about $5,000 per year by adding personnel to the Mountain Iron route and taking away from the Virginia route. No action was required at this time.
Councilor Matanich reported that he and the Mayor went to the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools meeting. Councilor Matanich said that Representative Oberstar spoke to the group regarding the Iron Range needing more education, training students to work for the mining companies. Councilor Matanich also said that Representative Thomas Rukavina informed all the municipalities and schools that they will not get their IRRRB funding until Mountain Iron gets their IRRRB funding.
At 7:22 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
