Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2003

JANUARY 21, 2003

Mayor Skalko called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, and Ed Roskoski. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Joe Stewart, Sergeant; Tom Cvar, Fire Chief; and Karen Luoma, Librarian.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

Approve the minutes of the January 6, 2003, City Council meeting as submitted.

That the communications be accepted, placed on file and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda. 

To acknowledge the receipts for the period January 1-15, 2003, totaling $221,163.64, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

To authorize the payment of the bill and payroll for the period January 1-15, 2003, totaling $265,272.45, (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. Mayor Skalko reminded the audience that he would acknowledge the audience during the meeting.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to re-appointment Michael Lambert to the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority with his term expiring on December 31, 2006. The motion carried

The Council discussed the request of the Fire Chief asking that the Council consider bidding on the fire trucks that the City of Virginia will have up for bids. It was the consensus of the Council to take action on this request at the second City Council meeting in February. 

The Council reviewed the Sheriff�s Department activity report for the month of December 2002.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to accept the quote of $9,975.00 from Mesabi Bituminous for the demolition of the Bon Air. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to add the sump pump issue and present ordinance to the January 29, 2003, Committee of the Whole meeting agenda. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to adopt the pay equity report as submitted and forward the report to the state. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to approve the animal control contract for the period February 1, 2003 through January 31, 2004, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Irish and supported by Prebeg to approve the Transportation Contract with the Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency (AEOA). After further discussion, Councilor Irish withdrew his motion and Councilor Prebeg withdrew his support. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator contact AEOA and see how many Mountain Iron residents are currently using the service and to reconsider the contract at the next regular meeting.

It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to authorize the payment of the 2003 appropriation to the Biosolids Disposal Site Authority in the amount of $5,010.10. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the payment of the first quarter 2003 appropriation to the Tri-Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority in the amount of $4,835.70. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to advertise a request for proposals from architectural and engineering firms to complete the ADA compliance work and for any other work that the City Council and Library Board may deem necessary as options for the Mountain Iron Public Library by March 17, 2003. It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to amend the motion to have staff prepare a proposal and resubmit that information to the City Council for the next regular meeting. The motion with the amendment carried with Councilor Prebeg and Nelson voting no.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to prepare, at their convenience, a Unity Addition Extension proposal/package to be available for businesses that come into the City expressing interest in projects such as this. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to submit a letter of support to the St. Louis County Commissioner�s office to rename the highway passing the Eveleth-Virginia Airport to “Sen. Wellstone Mem. Dr.” The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to go on record opposing the taking of any funds from the 21st Century Fund through Governor Pawlenty�s proposal. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to authorize a $100 donation to the 2003 Mountain Iron-Buhl All-Night Graduation Party and direct City Staff to waive the rental fee of the Community Center for the party. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to submit the following items to the IRRRB Mineland Reclamation Fund for consideration:

Cleanup the area behind 5738 Mineral Avenue, a triangle piece of property that is State land where the street car depot used to be, at a cost of approximately $2,000.

Locomotive Street by the corner of Marble Avenue and Locomotive Street, repair the fence that runs parallel to Locomotive Street as a cost of approximately $5,000.

Wacootah Overlook, the sample box needs painting at a cost of approximately $100, viewing stand needs new signage and new fencing that goes around the area at a cost of approximately $2,000.

Build a sliding hill across the road from water tower where the road to the wells is located.

Improve the pioneer cemetery.

The motion carried.

During the open discussion the following items were discussed:

Councilor Nelson-informed the Council that one member of Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority volunteered to be on the Entrepreneur Fund Board.

Mayor Skalko-asked the Director of Public Works regarding the snowplows going out on Saturday when only one inch of snow fell. He asked whether there was a snow plowing policy regarding this matter. The Director of Public Works stated that there is no snow plowing policy in effect and the City Crew was called out because of the drifts and ice. 

At 8:25 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.