Meeting Minutes for January 18, 2005
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 18, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member included: Joe Prebeg, Jr. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Sam Aluni, City Attorney.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
V. C. Four Mile Lake-Streets on the West Side
Approve the minutes of the January 3, 2005, 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, 2005, totaling $203,762.19, (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, 2005, totaling $247,008.75, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
No one spoke during the public forum.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor requested that the Council consider projects for the Annual Mineland Reclamation Grant Applications that is due by February 25, 2005. The Mayor requested that this item be placed on the next regular meeting agenda.
The Mayor extended an invitation from the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce to attend the Annual Banquet and Awards Presentation on January 21, 2005, at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
During the Administrator�s report, Councilor Roskoski questioned the Administrator regarding a list of employees listing Tim at Benchmark Engineering regarding sewer system inspections. The City Administrator said that he is listed because he completes the sewer system inspections within the City of Mountain Iron.
Councilor Roskoski brought some information forward regarding the Virginia Fire Department being short staffed and having the City of Mountain Iron being put on standby. He questioned how much this is costing the City. The City Administrator said that he found out about the situation a week or two ago and hasn�t had time to speak with the Fire Chief regarding the matter. The City Administrator said that he would be developing a response from the City Council to be reviewed at a future meeting. The Fire Chief said that he is aware of ten times that Mountain Iron has been put on standby, but have not been paged out. He said that he had been assured that if there was a fire in Virginia, the Virginia Fire Department would respond. The Fire Chief said that he was setting up a meeting with the Virginia Public Safety Director to discuss the matter further.
Councilor Roskoski questioned who would act in the Director of Public Works absence. The Director of Public Works said that the City Administrator would advise the Council in his absence and if the City Administrator was not present, the Recreation Director would advise the Council.
Councilor Irish forwarded some correspondence to the City Administrator for the next meeting agenda.
The City Engineer announced that Nick Stewart had successfully completed his Registered Land Survey exam and is now a Professional Land Surveyor.
During the City Attorney�s report, the City Attorney updated the Council regarding the charitable foundation, he said that before the next regular meeting they would submit an outline to the Council and then Paul Cerkvenik would be at the second meeting in February to answer any questions.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff�s Department activity report for the month of December, 2004.
At 6:51 p.m., Larry Nanti, Recreation Director, entered the meeting.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and adopt the Mountain Iron Parks and Recreation Policies, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and approve the following list of West II Rivers Campground Improvements to be funded through a grant from Mineland Reclamation in the amount of $30,000:
1. Air handlers for bathrooms $ 2,000 – $5,000
2. Half court basketball $ 5,000 – $7,000
3. Dock $ 4,000
4. Bathroom Stalls $ 5,000
5. Water to remotes $ 3,000
6. Shower Controls $ 1,500
The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to seek quotes for the cost of labor to erect the new pavilion at the West Two Rivers Campground. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
The Blight Officers stated that he had sent a letter to the LaPatka�s regarding their blight issues and he advised the City Council that they have not responded to the letter. The City Attorney stated that he would contact them and ask them to return the letter to the City or the City would have to proceed with the agreement.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to approve of the following slate of officers for the Mountain Iron Volunteer Fire Department:
Fire Chief Tom Cvar
Assistant Fire Chief Steve Norvitch
Training Officer/Captain Justin Kochar
Captain Joe Buria
Captain Rory King
Secretary Joe Buria
The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Fire Chief regarding the advertisements placed in the newspaper requesting applications for volunteer firefighters. The Fire Chief said that one of the applicants that were previously authorized to be hired did not pass his physical and there are a number of vacancies being created with retirements.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct the City Engineer, where necessary, the City Administrator, where necessary, and the Director of Public Works, where necessary, to prepare a packet of improvement information, with special assessment amounts, to be submitted to the Spring Park Road property owners, with the information first being presented to the City Council for review and corrections, and schedule a public meeting with the property owners. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
The Council discussed the 16th Avenue Street Improvement Project. Mr. Pettinelli and Mr. Klabunde, property owners on 16th Avenue, were present to discuss the street improvement project. The Council discussed the possibility of having only a portion of 16th Avenue upgraded to a nine ton street. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator request another meeting with the City of Virginia Street Committee to discuss the 16th Avenue street improvements further.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to have the City Administrator, the Director of Public Works, the City Attorney and the City Engineer to request Taylor Investments to have three additional cul de sacs built on Mashkenode Lake at the end of Shorthair Lane, Springer Drive, and Retriever Drive. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to adopt Ordinance Number 01-05, providing for the salaries of the Mayor and Councilmembers of the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 03-05, approving the refinancing of certain city bonds, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the new Board of Review requirements. Councilor Irish volunteered to attend the required training session, for the Local Board of Review meetings requirements, scheduled for February 24, 2005, in Virginia.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to authorize the Municipal Services Secretary to attend the Minnesota Clerks and Finance Officers Annual Conference in St. Cloud from March 16-18, 2005, with the City paying for expenses not to exceed $301.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to direct Benchmark Engineering to prepare a conceptual plan for the South Grove Park, located in the center of South Grove, to layout the area for residential building lots. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the Call-out Policy and Procedure. Councilor Irish questioned the form referred to in the Union Contract regarding tasks completed by the person that is called out. It was the consensus of the Council to have this item on the next meeting agenda along with the form that is used.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to schedule a Housing and Redevelopment Authority meeting at 6:00 p.m. prior to the City Council meeting scheduled for the second meeting in February, 2005. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to have the Recreation Director obtain quotes from people that do video recording of City Council meetings, for playback at a later date, and have these quotes obtained by mid March. The motion carried.
At 8:02 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, forwarding information regarding the 2005 Legislative Session.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding an update on activities.
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the January 7, 2005, Friday Fax.
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the 2005 City Policies.
Minnesota Association of Small Cities, advising the City that there is a vacancy on their Board of Directors for Region #4 and looking for applications.
An Uninformed Senior, a letter questioning why Mountain Iron�s City Council meetings are not televised.
Laurentian Chamber of Commerce, an invitation to the Annual Banquet and Awards Presentation on January 21, 2005, at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
