Meeting Minutes for January 20, 2010
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 20, 2010
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member included: Alan Stanaway. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; 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 January 4, 2010, 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 January 1-15, 2010, totaling $261,430.07, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period January 1-15, 2010, totaling $407,710.93, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Councilor Stanaway absent.
No one spoke during the public forum.
At 6:34 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to open the public hearing on the Old Highway 169 Overlay Project and recess the regular meeting. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no and Stanaway absent.
Councilor Roskoski commented that the council and audience did not have any information on the project. The City Administrator said that the only property owner adjacent to the project was the State of Minnesota.
At 6:36 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to close the public hearing on the Old Highway 169 Overlay Project and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no and Stanaway absent.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– “State of the City” address summary:
1. The City is in excellent financial condition.
a. Reserves are solid with approximately $1.2 million.
b. The 2010 Budget is balanced.
c. Dealing appropriately, since 2008, with local government aid and state aid reductions.
2. Capital Improvements for 2010.
a. Overlay of Old Highway 169. This was set up originally as a three year project. Approximately two and one-half miles have been completed and the remaining portion, about seven tenths of a mile, will be completed this year.
b. Downtown Vintage Streetscape Project. The work should be completed this year. A majority of the funding for this project came from a federal grant.
c. South Forest Grove. A housing project completed by the Economic Development Authority. The 20 lots are for sale, with prices ranging from $10,000 to $16,000.
d. Renewable Energy Park. The 39 acres park was finance 100% by State and IRRR grants.
e. Wind Energy Project in White Township. The EDA is continuing work on this project.
3. 2009-2010 Private Development Projects that have been completed:
a. Northern Community Credit Union. Opened in January, 2009.
b. Holiday Inn Express. Opened in June of 2009.
c. Laurentian Clinic. Opened in August of 2009.
4. Miscellaneous Information:
a. Mountain Iron Public Library. Work is going to be completed in 2010 in the basement area.
b. Parks and Recreation.
1. West Virginia. Adding a ballfield by the playground area.
2. Wolf. Renovation of existing ballfield with a $100,000 grant from IRRR.
3. Ann’s Acres. Adding playground equipment.
4. Locomotive Park. Various improvements.
c. Renewable Energy Park. The City will be completing water and sewer work along with site grading.
5. Economic Development Improvements in 2010.
a. Perkins Restaurant. Under construction, scheduled to open in May 2010.
b. Convention Center located adjacent to the Holiday Inn Express. Construction may begin in 2010.
c. Mountain Timbers. The wood pellet plant is still scheduled and the owners are seeking financing.
d. Tentative Retail Development on the east side of Highway 53.
The Mayor concluded by saying that there is a global recession and the City of Mountain Iron is adding to their tax base. He said that the Council is moving forward with making Mountain Iron a better place to live and work.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the partnership agreement with the Summer Work Outreach Project (SWOP) for 2010 in the amount of $500 with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Account. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt the memo of understanding between the City of Mountain Iron and AFSCME Local #453 with regard to a provision regarding Long Term Disability Insurance, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– IRRR demolition program. Advising the public about the program for residential and commercial demolitions.
– Range Association of Municipalities and Schools. Announced a membership meeting on Friday, Feb. 19th in Hibbing.
The Council reviewed the December 2009 Statistic report from the Sheriff Department.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to direct Staff to publish two display advertisements, measuring two inch by two inch, in the January 24th and 31st editions of the Mesabi Daily News explaining Mountain Iron’s basic calendar parking regulations. And further, to also place the same calendar parking regulations on the Public Television, Channel 7. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski amended the motion to have staff decide on the advertisement size. The amended motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number four to Magney Construction Incorporated in the amount of $51,784.50 for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Roskoski, no; Skalko, yes; and Stanaway, absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to refer the Verizon Wireless unpaid ticket for erecting a sign without an off-site sign permit, in an area that is not permitted. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no and Stanaway absent.
No liaison reports were given.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to adopt Ordinance Number 01-10, regulating the conduct of peddlers, solicitors, and transient merchants within the City of Mountain Iron, Minnesota, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). After further discussion, Roskoski amended the motion to correct the reference numbers. Skalko supported the amendment. The amended motion carried with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 01-10, ordering improvement and preparation of plans for the Old Highway 169 improvements, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to set a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting with the City Council, the Public Safety and Health Board, and the Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss regulating rental properties for Monday, February 22, 2010, at 6:00 p.m. with Staff providing the current information and sample policies. The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize Sleeve’s Bar to provide the on-sale liquor at the benefit for the Penny Syversrud at the Mountain Iron Community Center on Saturday, January 30, 2010. The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to authorize the Temporary On-sale Liquor License for the Virginia Regional Medical Center, for the Festival of Trees fundraiser, at the Mountain Iron Community Center on November 17, 18, and 19, 2010. The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
At 7:11 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Stanaway absent.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Boundary Waters Drug Task Force, an invitation to an informational presentation on January 25th in Gilbert.
