Meeting Minutes for January 17, 2007
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; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:40 p.m.); and Rick Feiro, Sergeant.
The Mayor welcomed the audience and the television viewing audience to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
V. A. 1. Proclamation for Carmella Charmoli
VI. C. Park Ridge Grant
Approve the minutes of the January 2, 2007, City Council meeting as submitted.
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.
To acknowledge the receipts for the period January 1-15, 2007, totaling $109,321.76, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 1-15, , totaling $163,526.70, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing for the JOBZ benefits for Mountain Timber. The motion carried.
There were no public comments made or communications received regarding the Mountain Timber JOBZ benefits.
At 6:35 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to closed the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 6:36 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and supported by Stanaway to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing for the tax abatement for L & M Supply. The motion carried.
The Mayor informed the Council that the tax abatement would only be for the new expansion of the L & M Supply facility.
There were no public comments made or communications received regarding the L & M tax abatement.
At 6:37 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Darwin Alar advised the Council that he had filmed the Mountain Iron-Buhl versus Virginia basketball game on Tuesday, January 16, , and he advised that it would be telecast on the public television station. He also congratulated the Mountain Iron-Buhl Basketball Team for their win.
During the public forum, Barry Rosier, representing the American Legion Post 220, requested that the Council approve a resolution to conduct charitable gambling for the Kinney Fire Department in the American Legion. Mr. Rosier stated that there were currently no charitable gambling activities being conducted at the American Legion. Dan Violette, Gambling Manager for the Kinney Fireman?s Relief Association, said that he had a signed lease with the American Legion to conduct charitable gambling at their site.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 09-07, to allow a premise permit for the Kinney Fire Department to conduct charitable gambling at the American Legion contingent on the review of the City Administrator and City Attorney, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the Mayor?s report, the Mayor said that he was contacted by Merten Sedgeman, Commander from the VFW Eighth District, and he said that the flags placed in the Mountain Iron Room were not placed appropriately. The Mayor said that he switched the American Flag with the Minnesota Flag and they should now be properly placed.
The Mayor advised the Council that the TEA-21 Federal Enhancement Grant funding would not be available until October and the work would be completed in the Spring of 2008.
The Mayor commented on the past City Council Reorganizational Meeting held on January 2, regarding the appointments made. The Mayor advised the Council that the Economic Development Authority was a new authority being established on April 19, 2004, by Resolution Number 18-04. The Mayor read section 2.02 of Resolution Number 18-04 regarding the member appointments and terms. He said that there is no part of this resolution stating that the Council members shall be rotated. The Mayor said that he can nominate members to Boards and Commissions subject to the approval of the City Council.
The Mayor informed the Council that he had received an invitation to a fundraiser dinner and silent auction on February 9th for Habitat for Humanity at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
The Mayor said that a meeting should be set up with the Street and Alley Committee to discuss various issues and the Personnel Committee to discuss Management negotiations that are currently pending.
The Mayor advised the Council that he attended the Local Board of Review training held in Cotton on January 17, . He stated that the City of Mountain Iron must have at least one person trained on the Council to have the meeting remain in control of the City otherwise the County would take over the Local Board of Review. He suggested that another member of the Council go through the training next year when it becomes available, to maintain City control over the Local Board of Review meeting.
The Mayor also commented that he had received many compliments on the Christmas Decorations placed this year. The Mayor thanked the Director of Public Works and the City Crew for all of the work completed to make the City look more festive.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to approve a Proclamation for Carmella Charmoli?s 100th Birthday Celebration. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Roskoski to direct Sergeant Feiro to seek additional quotes on the Sheriff?s Department SUV purchase to include Iron Trail Motors, Ken Waschke Auto Plaza, and Lundgren Motors. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the monthly statistics for the Sheriff?s Department for the month of December 2006.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Attorney if is was all right to not follow the procedure established in 2004 by the City Council to advertise for people that would be interested on serving on Boards and Commissions. The City Attorney asked if there was any formal action by the Council to change the procedure. The Mayor stated that he was contacted by a qualified person that wanted to apply for an open position on a Board and the Mayor accepted the application. The Mayor said that in the past the Council did not have any applicants and that is why they would advertise for the open positions.
It was moved by Stanaway and supported by Prebeg to authorize a refund of the $150.00 variance application fee paid by Kevin Friebe because he was not aware of the required criteria for a variance. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Stanaway that since the motion dated April 3, 2006, authorizing the hiring of the new Library Director, and the motion dated January 2, , authorizing the employment agreement of the new Library Director, do not state any wage rate, that the base hourly wage of the current Library Director be set at $20.50, at the time of hiring on April 3, 2006. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 03-07, approving a business subsidy agreement by and between the City of Mountain Iron, Minnesota, and Mountain Timber Wood Products, LLC, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 04-07, authorizing the abatement of taxes pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 469.1812 through 469.1815, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 05-07, ordering improvement and preparation of plans for Park Ridge Drive, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 08-07, authorizing IRRRB grant for the construction of Park Ridge Drive from Nichols Avenue to the east edge of Park Ridge Plat, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 06-07, ordering improvements and preparation of plans for the reconstruction of all of 16th Avenue, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 07-07, ordering improvement and preparation of plans for Unity Second Addition, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of approximately 4.3 acres of wetlands credits from Douglas County and authorize the payment of the BOSWR fee at a total cost of $29,922.52 and further authorize the use of the $8,000 in escrow to pay a portion of the costs for the purchase. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the continuation of employment for Laura Nieters to a permanent part-time employee at the Mountain Iron Library. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Stanaway to set a Labor/Management meeting for Wednesday, January 24, , at 2:00 p.m. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to contact the area cities to see what their minimum purchasing amounts were, without requiring Council approval, and bring the information back to the City Council for further consideration. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Zupancich to authorize the final actual payment of $2,000 of the initial pledge amount to the Virginia Regional Medical Center Foundation. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to cover training, books, and a mileage fee of $10.00 for each callout for the Mountain Iron First Responders Group. And further, to advertise in the Mesabi Daily News for additional Emergency Medical Technician to work in the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
Councilor Prebeg requested that the Emergency Medical Technicians periodically submit an activity report to the City Council.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Zupancich to set a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting for Wednesday, February 7, , and invite all board and commission members to attend and discuss various city issues and concerns. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to waive the building rental fee for the Gary Stanaway fundraiser scheduled for February 22, , at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to waive the building rental fee for the Karlie Spurlin Benefit scheduled for February 10, , at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Administrator for some clarification regarding a memorandum received from the State Auditor. He asked if this was a generic letter sent to all Cities or is there something specifically that the City of Mountain Iron is not doing correctly. The City Administrator said that this information was sent to all Cities.
At 8:10 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
State of Minnesota, Office of the State Auditor, comments regarding the 2005 audit and related documents.
Notice of public hearing for a Conditional Use Permit for Ed Klimek at 5366 Mineral Avenue, Mountain Iron.
Notice of public hearing for a Variance for Five Star Living of Mountain Iron at 8583 Unity Drive, Mountain Iron.
