Meeting Minutes for February 18, 2009

MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 18, 2009

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and John Backman, Sergeant.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Approve the minutes of the February 2, 2009, regular meeting as submitted.

2. 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.

3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period February 1-15, 2009, totaling $115,558.21, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period February 1-15, 2009, totaling $421,317.35, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

During the public forum, Councilor Roskoski addressed the Council regarding the letter received from the City Attorney regarding agenda items. 

Also during the public forum, Councilor Roskoski addressed the Council regarding scheduling a Long Range Planning Meeting to discuss budget reductions.

The Mayor updated the Council on the following:

– Carl Dagan. The Mayor offered his condolences to the family of Carl Dagan. He said that Mr. Dagan was an active member of the Community and also served on the City’s Utility Advisory Board. He said that his thoughts and prayers are with the family.
– Wind Energy Project. The Mayor said that there was an article in the Mesabi Daily News about the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority (EDA) Wind Energy Project. He said that the EDA is exploring creating new sources of revenue for the Authority as a long range project utilizing renewable energy.
– Lake Country Power. He said that the business opened February 17, 2009 in Mountain Iron. The Mayor welcomed them to Mountain Iron.
– Library Board Resignation. He advised the Council that Jill Kinney submitted her letter of resignation from the Library Board. The Mayor thanked her for her years of service.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to accept the letter of resignation from Jill Kinney from the Library Board. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to direct City Staff to advertise for applications for the Library Board vacancy in the usual and customary procedure. After further discussion, Stanaway amended the motion to also include the Utility Advisory Board. Skalko supported the amendment. The amended motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to direct City Staff to send a letter to the Dagan family for Carl Dagan’s service on the Utility Advisory Board. The motion carried.

The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:

– Public Hearing. He advised the Council that a public hearing would be held on March 16, 2009 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvement Project.
– Project Priority List. Representative Rukavina is attempting to get the Mountain Iron Project moved up on the State Project List.

During the meeting, Ted Tammaro, 5412 Mineral Avenue, appeared and asked some questions regarding access to the lots he owns that are adjacent to his property. The City Administrator advised him that he would need to have a petition signed by 35% of the adjacent property owners to make a request to the Council to have the street improved. The Director of Public Works thought that a portion of the road was already vacated. The Mayor advised Mr. Tammaro that City Staff would get back to him concerning his request. 

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number one for the Water Treatment Plant Project for the replacement of support gravel and media in the amount of $45,885.00 to Magney Construction Incorporated. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Public Safety and Health Board and direct City Staff to place an advertisement in the newspaper to request residents to “Adopt a Hydrant” in the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.

At 7:20 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Public Safety and Health Board and allow two Mountain Iron Volunteer Firemen to attend the Statewide IAAI Conference in Saint Cloud on March 25-27, 2009 at an estimated cost of $1,200 per firefighter. The motion carried with Roskoski absent.

At 7:21 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to allow the Mountain Iron Fire Department Personnel to attend the 2009 Fire Service Day at the Capital with the City paying for the registration fee of $30 and bus costs. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to check into options of building a new fire hall/emergency service center. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to reject the bids on the Quick Attack Wildland Fire Apparatus. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to form a Committee, consisting of two City Staff, two Fire Department Members, and two Safety and Health Board Members and review the Quick Attack Wildland Fire Apparatus for possible reductions in equipment to lower the costs to the budgeted amount. The motion carried.

During the Liaison Reports the following was discussed:

– Cable Commission. Councilor Roskoski questioned the number of Mountain Iron-Buhl sporting events put on Cable Channel 7. Steve Skogman, member of the Cable Commission, said he would follow up on this.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to adopt Ordinance Number 01-09, Renaming Streets within the Rock Ridge Development Plat, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 06-09, ordering preparation of report on improvement to Old Highway 169, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 07-09, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

The Council reviewed the proposed snow plowing proposal for the Range Recreation Civic Center received from the City of Eveleth. 

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to waive the rental fee for the 2009 Mountain Iron-Buhl Chemical Free All Night Graduation Party on Friday, May 22, 2009. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to allow B.G’s Bar and Grill to allow beer sales from the tent on their property on February 21, 2009, for a special event. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to allow the Sportspage Bar to serve alcoholic beverages at the Mountain Iron Community Center on March 14, 2009, for a fundraiser. The motion carried.

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

At 7:57 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried. 

Submitted by:

Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary

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