Meeting Minutes for February 02, 2009

MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
FEBUARY 2, 2009

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. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; and 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 items to the agenda: 

VI. D. 1. First Responder Hiring

2. Approve the minutes of the January 21, 2009, regular 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 January 16-31, 2009, totaling $220,312.48, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway that the following consent agenda be approved as follows:

5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 16-31, 2009, totaling $197,951.15, (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.

No one spoke during the public forum.

The Mayor updated the Council on the following:

– Fire Department. Informed the Council that the Fire Department received a compliment from Michael Easty, 5460 Bluebell Avenue. He had a fire at his home recently and there was smoke damage and he thanked the Department for the quick response and also, the care and concern given to him by the Fire Department Members. The Mayor thanked the Mountain Iron Fire Department.
– Quad Cities Meeting. Informed the Council that the Mayor of Virginia was trying to schedule a meeting of the Quad Cities Mayors to discuss issues. He said that he would bring any information back to the Council for further consideration.
– Local Government Aid. Advised the Council that the proposed reductions for the City of Mountain Iron are proposed at approximately $173,000 in 2009 and $188,000 for 2010, for a total loss of approximately $361,000 over two years.
– Mesaba Nugget. He informed the Council that he met with an official of the Mesaba Nugget project in Hoyt Lakes and they are scheduled to be open this Fall.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to authorize a contribution of $250 to the Virginia Regional Medical Center Diabetes Center for the Mark “Bush” Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. Skalko amended his motion to proclaim that “Mark “Bush” Prebeg Diabetes Awareness Day” for the day of the snowmobile ride, as long as the fundraiser is conducted, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). Zupancich supported the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to authorize the assistance of the Sheriffs Department for traffic control and the Public Works Department to assist with some snow removal along Highway 169 for the February 21, 2009, Snowmobile Ride. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the Municipal Services Secretary to attend the 2009 Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Association Conference at City expense. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:

– Range Association of Municipalities and Schools (RAMS). He received a message from Mr. Dicklich from RAMS requesting information from the Iron Range Communities for the proposed projects for the economic stimulus package. The Mountain Iron projects include: Wastewater Treatment Plant, Unity Drive extension from Emerald Avenue to South Grove, and the Energy Park.
– Economic Development Authority (EDA). He advised the Council that the EDA did authorize to apply to the loan program through Iron Range Resources for commercial rehabilitation. He said that he had received three loan requests from businesses.

During the Liaison Reports the following was discussed:

– Public Safety and Health Board. Councilor Stanaway said that the Board discussed the following: 1) handicapped parking area, lack of available parking, by the Mountain Iron-Buhl School to be sent to the Street and Alley Committee; 2) to consider designating a day for a City wide street and alley cleanup day; and 3) classes that are available for the fire department members if they were interested in attending. 

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to have the Director of Public Works review the handicapped parking places available by the Mountain Iron-Buhl High School and post some temporary parking places there. The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 04-09, receiving feasibility report and ordering improvement and preparation of plans for the Agate Street Storm Sewer Project, (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 Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 05-09, receiving feasibility report and ordering improvement and preparation of plans for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to authorize a $500 contribution to the Summer Work Outreach Project (SWOP) to be expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund and approve the Partnership Agreement for 2009, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to reschedule the next regular meeting to Wednesday, February 18, 2009, at 6:30 p.m. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to hire Tabitha L’Allien as a Mountain Iron First Responder contingent upon her passing the required background check. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to hire Don Dahl and Misty Newton as Mountain Iron First Responders upon completion and certification as a first responder and contingent upon their passing the required background checks. The motion carried.

The Personnel Committee advised the Council that there was no need for a closed meeting at this time.

At 7:23 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried. 

Submitted by:

Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary

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