Meeting Minutes for February 02, 2011
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 2, 2011
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Susan Tuomela, 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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following to the Agenda:
IV. A. Mayor’s Report 4. Temporary Appointment-Personnel Committee
5. Temporary Appointment-Planning & Zoning Liaison 6. Resolution Number 01-11, Local Government Aid
2. Approve the minutes of the January 18, 2011, regular meeting with the following additions (noted in italics) to the recognitions:
Page 3, “He recognized Ray Saari, Co-Chair; Bernadette Suomi, Treasurer; Kathy Irish, Secretary; Ted Newberg, member; Vi Newberg, Executive Committee Member; William Buria, Executive Committee Member; and Dale Irish, Executive Committee Member. Also, a thank you to Rod Flannigan of Benchmark Engineering for assisting with the expertise and planning for the canopy project. Also, a thank you to Mary Somnis of the Iron Range Resource Culture and Tourism Board for the funding.”
3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period January 15-31, 2011, totaling $294,887.61, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 16-31, 2011, totaling $180,063.03, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Mayor commented on the following items:
– Mesabi Daily News Editorial. He commented on the Mesabi Daily News Editorial regarding the Board and Commission appointments made at a recent City Council meeting. He said that Mr. Hanna, Editor at the Mesabi Daily News, did not complete any research to determine how the Mountain Iron City Council makes those appointments. He said that the Mayor makes nominations for appointments and the Council votes on those nominations for a formal appointment.
– Locomotive Park. He commented on the recent consideration of the Saint Louis County Community Development Block Grant Application for a grant for $50,000 for Locomotive Park. He expressed displeasure with Councilor Roskoski addressing the Saint Louis County Board and thanking them for not awarding the City the grant funds. He said that all the residents in Mountain Iron lose out when the City is not awarded grant funds. Councilor Roskoski responded with a historical overview of the grant funds that have been awarded to the City for Locomotive Park. Councilor Roskoski said that this Council has changed Locomotive Park from an historical site into a picnic area and he is not supportive to this change and does not support any grant funding being awarded to accomplish this. Councilor Prebeg also expressed his displeasure with Councilor Roskoski’s comments made to the St. Louis County Board.
At 6:55 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
Councilor Zupancich also expressed displeasure with Councilor Roskoski’s comments made to the St. Louis County Board. He said that Councilor Roskoski did not respect the majority decision of the Council and the Taxpayers of Mountain Iron. He thanked the St. Louis County Board for considering the City’s grant application.
Councilor Tuomela asked Mayor Skalko why he brought the issue to a public meeting rather than speaking with Councilor Roskoski privately. The Mayor said that the people of Mountain Iron have a right to know what Councilor Roskoski is doing against the City.
At 7:01 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela 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. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to adopt the Proclamation for the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride on February 19, 2011, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), and publish one time, in the February 18, 2011, edition of the Hometown Focus. It was moved by Roskoski to amend the motion and seconded by Prebeg to also publish the Proclamation in the Mesabi Daily News. The amendment for the motion carried with Mayor Skalko voting no. The amended motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the assistance of the Sheriff’s Department for traffic control along Highway 169 on February 19, 2011, for the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the assistance of the Public Works Department with some snow removal along Highway 169 on February 19, 2011, for the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride. The motion carried.
Councilor Prebeg personally thanked the Council for all of their assistance to the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to temporarily appoint Councilor Tuomela for the period February through April, 2011 and Mayor Skalko for the period May through July, 2011, to serve on the Personnel Committee in the absence of Councilor Zupancich. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to temporarily appoint Councilor Prebeg to the Planning and Zoning Commission in the absence of Councilor Zupancich, for approximately a six month period. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 01-11, Supporting Local Government Aid, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the Municipal Services Secretary to attend the Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association Annual Conference from March 15-18, 2011, at City expense. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator commented on the following:
– Maintenance Position. He said that there have been a large number of applicants and the Personnel Committee should have a recommendation for the Council to consider at the next regular meeting.
– Hydrants. He thanked the residents for cleaning the snow from around the hydrants in the City.
The Council reviewed the December 2010 Sheriff’s Department monthly statistics.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the purchase of a 2011 Ford Crown Victoria from Lundgren Motors at the state bid quoted price of $22,057.64. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Sergeant Backman wanted to recognize Deputy Shackman for his efforts in arresting a person that was involved in a theft in Mountain Iron. He said that the person that was arrested had committed 20 felonies in a one month period. Deputy Shackman’s initiative in this matter was what brought this person to justice and he wanted him to be recognized.
Sergeant Backman informed the public that the Saint Louis County Sheriff’s Department was accepting applications for qualified Deputy Sheriffs.
Sergeant Backman also advised the public that there are new waves of scams going around with phone calls requesting money for sweepstakes. He said that if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is.
It was moved by Roskoski that in regard to the water pressure situation at the Energy Park, that the City Council be reported to, in writing, what that problem is and at the same time, various options be explored by Benchmark Engineering along with associated costs on what can be done to rectify that low water pressure situation; with a deadline of March 1, 2011, so potential grant applications could be submitted. The Mayor would not allow the motion, as it was out of order and not placed on the agenda. The City Engineer informed the Council that Benchmark Engineering had completed a water analysis and that analysis should be submitted by March 1, 2011 to the City Council.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to allow City Staff to work with the Public Health and Safety Board to complete the research necessary and to look for an organization and consultants to develop a long range plan for the City. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to authorize Benchmark Engineering to prepare a Drainage and Improvement Plan for the Westgate/West Virginia and other areas deemed necessary, and if there is work that needs to be completed, to propose the completion of the work in three or four phases, at a cost not to exceed $15,000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the Liaison Reports, Councilor Roskoski questioned the proposed rental ordinance being reviewed by the Planning and Zoning Commission. He requested that affected property owners should be contacted for their input. Councilor Zupancich said that the Planning and Zoning Commission have not yet completed the review of the Ordinance. He said that once the review is completed, that other affected Boards and Commissions will also be able to review the Ordinance.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Ordinance Number 01-11, Amending Chapter 70 of the Mountain Iron City Code, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).
At 7:46 p.m., Mayor Skalko left the meeting.
At 7:47 p.m., Mayor Skalko returned to the meeting.
The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Ordinance Number 02-11, an ordinance authorizing the City of Mountain Iron to grant permission to holders of On-sale Wine and On-sale 3.2 Percent Malt Liquor Licenses whose gross receipts are at least 60% attributable to the sale of food to sell intoxicating malt liquor (strong beer) at on-sale without obtaining an additional license, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Librarian to authorize the continuation of employment for Kelly Belleville, Assistant Librarian, beyond her probation period. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to set a special closed meeting under Minnesota Statute Section 13D.05, Subdivision 2B for the preliminary consideration of allegations or charges against an individual subject to the public body’s authority for Tuesday, February 22, 2011, at 5:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously.
At 7:55 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC
Municipal Services Secretary
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