Meeting Minutes for February 05, 2001

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING

The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Service Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; and Larry Nanti, Recreation Director.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Add the following items to the agenda:

V. C. Joint Emergency Services Commission

VI. M. Internal Directional Signage

VIII. A. League of Minnesota Cities Fall Regional Meeting

2. Approve the minutes of the January 16, 2001, regular meeting as submitted.

3. 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.

4. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period January 16-31, 2001, totaling $351,669.04, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period January 16-31, 2001, totaling $183,345.35, (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, Andrea Zupancich, Range Recreation Civic Center (RRCC) General Manager, was present. She introduced herself to the City Council and presented information on the RRCC.

Otto Maki, Architectural Resources, was present to answer questions the City Council had regarding the City Hall/Community Center building construction.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to approve the final payment request to Hecimovich Mechanical Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $14,367.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve the Certificate of Substantial Completion for Sourlie Acoustics, Inc. for the Mountain Iron City Hall Community Center Project. The motion carried.

it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve payment request number three to KGM Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $39,700.31 for work completed on Highway 169 and 8th Street South Reconstruction Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to table action on the Marble Avenue options until the next regular meeting when the City Engineer would be present. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to authorize the purchase and installation of playground equipment at the West II Rivers Campground from Earl F. Anderson for a cost of $22,901.00 with the funds being expended from an IRRRB Mineland Grant. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

The Council reviewed the 2000-2001 Street Program Report.

The Council discussed the survey that the U.S. Postal Service would be conducting with residents who live in Mountain Iron but are serviced by the Virginia Post Office.

The Council discussed establishing a Joint Emergency Services Committee with the communities of Eveleth, Virginia and Mountain Iron. It was the consensus of the Council to appoint the Fire Chief, the Sheriff�s Sergeant, and the City Administrator to the Joint Emergency Services Committee.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the continued employment of Michael Dundas and Lenny Albrecht beyond their probation period. The motion carried.

Councilor Roskoski submitted some suggestions on improving the intersection of Highway 169 and County Road 7. It was the consensus of the Council to submit the suggestions to the Traffic Committee for further consideration.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to direct the City Administrator and the Recreation Director to seek costs to have City Council meetings taped and televised. The motion carried.

The Council discussed the Purchasing Policy. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Attorney research if there was wording that the city could put into the purchasing policy regarding “Buy American”.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 04-01, Requesting Enforcement of Anti-dumping Laws with Regard to Steel Imports, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Roskoski to send Resolution Number 04-01 to Senator Paul Wellstone, Senator Mark Dayton, Congressman Jim Oberstar, Senator Douglas Johnson, Senator David J. Tomassoni, Representative Tom Rukavina, Representative Anthony Sertich, Representative Thomas Bakk, and Governor Jesse Ventura, President George W. Bush and publish the resolution in the Mesabi Daily News, the Duluth News Tribune, and place on the City�s web site. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the Application to Conduct Excluded Bingo for the Sacred Heart Church. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to approve the contract with the Mesabi Humane Society, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was the consensus of the Council to direct the City Administrator to follow up on the procedure for vicious animal complaints with the Mesabi Humane Society.

The Mayor requested that the City Council attend the Taconite Tax Relief Association public hearings on March 3, 2001. He said that there would be a morning hearing in Aurora and an afternoon hearing in Grand Rapids.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for the Virginia Area Chamber of Commerce for February 29, 2001 at the Mountain Iron First State Bank. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 05-01, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Skogman voting no.

It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to re-schedule the next regular meeting for Tuesday, February 20, 2001 at 6:30 p.m because of the President�s Day Holiday. The motion carried.

The Council discussed the Board of Review meeting tentatively set for April 24, 2001. They requested additional information regarding procedures for the meeting.

The Council discussed Internal Directional Signage in the City. The signage was referred to the Traffic Committee for further review.

The Mayor reported that the Range Association of Municipalities and Schools Annual Meeting held at the Community Center was a great success. He said that there were a lot of compliments made on the facility. The Mayor also informed the Council that the City had been awarded the Rudy Perpich Innovative Services Award for the City Hall/Community Center Facility construction.

During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg said that he and Councilor Skogman attended the League of Minnesota Cities Elected Officials Seminar. He reported that the seminar was very helpful and informative.

Also during the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg said that Tom Thelen approached him from the League of Minnesota Cities and asked if the City of Mountain Iron would host one of the Fall Regional Meetings.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to authorize Staff to work with the League of Minnesota Cities to set up a meeting on October 9, 2001 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.

Also during the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg said that other cities have placed an additional fee on all bills produced by the City to be designated to certain projects.

At 8:25 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.