Meeting Minutes for January 04, 2016
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 4, 2016
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Susan Tuomela, Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Clark, Municipal Services Secretary; Michael Downs, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sally Yuccas, Librarian Director/Special Events Director; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the December 21, 2015, regular meeting as submitted.
- That the communications be accepted and placed on file and those requiring further action by the City Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
- To acknowledge the receipts for the period December 16-31, 2015, totaling $897,682.33, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period December 16-31, 2015, totaling $485,270.87, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, the Merritt Days Committee, consisting of Jason Gellerstedt, Jeremy Jesch, Peggy Anderson, Steve Morrisette, and Kurt Schneider were in attendance and spoke to the City Council. They thanked the Council for the contribution for the successful event held last year. The Committee questioned a motion that was made regarding the Merritt Days Committee changing their by-laws. There was a lengthy discussion, no formal action was taken.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 01-16, concurring with change in CSAH designation, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences. To the families of Duane “Munty” Pernu and Thomas Gobats.
- Congratulations. To the Mountain Iron-Buhl School athletes with their participation in the Boys and Girls Basketball Christmas Tournaments.
- County Road 102. Ribbon Cutting Ceremony would be on Wednesday, January 6, 2016, at 1:00 p.m.
- Skating Rinks. The South Grove rink are now open and the West Virginia rink should be opening soon.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to appoint Joseph Prebeg as Deputy Mayor for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to designate the Trenti Law Firm as the City Attorneys for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to designate Benchmark Engineering as the City Engineers for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to appoint the Hometown Focus as the official newspaper for the City of Mountain Iron for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to set the regular meetings for the first and third Mondays at 6:30 p.m. for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to designate the City’s official depositories as the American Bank, Frandsen Bank, Wells Fargo Bank, US Bank, Twin City Federal, League of Minnesota Cities 4M Fund, Miller Johnson Steichen Kinnard, Inc., Morgan Stanley, Northland Securities, Northland Securities, First National Bank of Buhl, and Federal Home Loan Bank, for 2016. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to re-appoint Steve Skogman to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to re-appoint Barbara Fivecoate to serve on the Planning and Zoning Commission with her term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to re-appoint Bruce Peterson to serve on the Utility Advisory Board with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to re-appoint Harvey Hellyer to serve on the Utility Advisory Board with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to re-appoint Steve Hunter, Jr. to the Park and Recreation Board with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to re-appoint Natalie Pankratz-Leff, to the Parks and Recreation Board with her term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to re-appoint Mary Jacobsen to the Economic Development Authority with her term expiring on December 31, 2020. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to re-appoint Kathy Witzman to the Library Board with her term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to re-appoint Shirley Congdon to the Library Board with her term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to re-appoint Steve Skogman to the Public Safety and Health Board with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to re-appoint Steve Skogman to the Cable Commission with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to re-appoint Peter Skogman to the Cable Commission with his term expiring on December 31, 2018. The motion carried.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- Internal Postings. The posting have expired for the Accounting Technician and the Secretary positions. There was one internal applicant for the Secretary position. He said he would be advertising for the Accounting Technician.
The Director of Public Works reported on the following:
- Christmas Decorations. Would be removed after January 6th.
- Meter Installations. Residents in the West Virginia area need to call for appointments to install new meters.
The Library Director/Special Events Director reported on the following:
- Monthly Report. Submitted the December 2015 report to the Council.
- Duluth Art Institute. Offering a felting class on Wednesday, January 13th at 6:00 p.m.
- Reading Club. An Adult Reading Club would be starting soon.
The City Engineer thanked the Council for the re-appointment.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to extend an offer of the position to Amanda Inmon for Municipal Services Secretary pending a physical, drug testing and a background check. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to update the Joint Powers Agreement with the Northeast Service Cooperative, (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 a contribution to the Mountain Iron-Buhl High School Class of 2016 for their Chemical-free Graduation Party in the amount of $500 with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 7:30 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
- Northeast Service Cooperative, a notice accepting nominations to fill one vacant position representing City, County and Other Government Agency membership.
- Mountain Iron-Buhl High School Class of 2016, a request for the contribution to their All Night Grad Party.
- Mediacom, forwarding a notice of rate adjustments.
- Tri-Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority, requesting payment of the first quarter 2016 appropriation in the amount of $6,132.00.
- Biosolids Disposal Site Authority, requesting the annual appropriation in the amount of $5,940.02.
