Meeting Minutes for February 20, 2008

MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
FEBRUARY 20, 2008

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Paul Cerkvenik, City Attorney; 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:
IV. A. 3. Cable Commission Advertisement
VI. I. Library Remodeling Project

Delete the following item from the agenda:
VI. C. Resolution 10-08 Accepting Report

2. Approve the minutes of the February 4, 2008, City Council 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 February 1-15, 2008, totaling $145,717.73, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period February 1-15, 2008, totaling $164,910.98, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). 

The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to recess the City Council meeting and open the public hearing for Tax Increment Financing District Number 14. The motion carried.

The City Administrator said that the public hearing was to consider the establishment of Tax Increment District Number 14 for site improvements located in the Parkville Industrial Park to facilitate the development for Lake Country Power. He advised the Council that there was a resolution adopting the plan for the district in the Council packet. There were several representatives from Lake Country Power present to discuss the project with the Council. 

Richard Asleson, Northland Securities, was present and discussed TIF District Number 14 with the Council. He advised the Council that this District is a proposed Economic District with the increments off of the project, the increase in the taxes, to be capture for a period not to exceed eight years. The increments that are captured are the City’s, School District’s, and the County’s share of the taxes. He reviewed the finances of the project with the Council.

Councilor Zupancich advised the Council that the entire Economic Development Authority also supported the approval of TIF District Number 14.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to close the public hearing on Tax Increment Financing District Number 14 and reconvene the City Council meeting. The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 08-08, approving a tax increment financing plan for Tax Increment Financing District Number 14 as proposed by the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway that the City will send out a letter requesting that all businesses located within our City include Mountain Iron’s name in all of their advertisements; this letter would bring out, when appropriate, TIF’s or other incentives given by the City, including their length. It would also state that the City of Mountain Iron provides these businesses with their utilities and services. Also, when businesses are currently using the City of Mountain Iron in their advertising, a letter acknowledging that and thanking them for doing so should be sent out. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to contribute $500 to the Summer Work Outreach Project (SWOP) with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund and further to waive the Community Center rental fees for the April 10, 2008, fund raiser. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to direct City Staff to place two advertisements requesting applications for the Cable Commission. The motion carried. 

The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:

– MPCA’s Climate/Energy Citizen Partnership Grants. Ask the Council for ideas for a grant application for up to $10,000.
– Minnesota Power Contract. Advised the Council that the contract with MP would be expiring soon. They met with MMUA regarding the contracts.
– Fiber Network. Advised the Council that there is another group proposing to complete the project without any public investment.

The Director of Public Works advised the Council that the Utility Advisory Board reviewed the Saint Louis County Solid Waste Service Fee and were recommending no change at this point.

The Council reviewed the January 2008 Sheriff’s Department statistic report.

Councilor Prebeg thanked the Sheriff’s Department for their assistance with traffic control during the “Bush Prebeg Memorial Run”.

During the Liaison Reports, the following items were discussed:

– Personnel Committee. Councilor Roskoski asked where the Committee was with regard to the Management negotiations. Councilor Prebeg said that the Committee is status quo with the Administration.
– Personnel Committee. Councilor Roskoski asked where the Committee was with regard to the Foreman Position. He said that he heard that the Committee had narrowed the field to two and were conducting interviews. Councilor Prebeg said that they haven’t developed a package yet and they still have one more interview to conduct. He said that when a job offer is made, it would depend on the experience of the person that they are offering the position to.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 09-08, receiving report and calling hearing on improvement of Old Highway 169 from the Costin Plat to approximately one mile west, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 11-08, application for a grant for Morgan Park Estates, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to direct the City Administrator to prepare a Mineland Reclamation Grant application for Locomotive Park adding a canopy over the locomotive, securing of the track ballast and timbers, leveling the locomotive, and reiterate in the grant application that the site is a Registered National Historic Landmark. The motion carried.

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to waive the Library building rental fees for the Firearms Safety Training Class in March, 2008. The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway abstaining.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to direct the City Administrator to prepare a report showing the expenses made and the grants received for the Library Renovation Project. The motion carried.

During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg stated that he is aware of the amount of work that was completed by the City Administrator and the Director of Public Works for the time spent working on the Lake Country Power Project and he wanted to express his thanks. The Mayor also expressed his gratitude to Staff.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

Submitted by:

Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary

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