Meeting Minutes for January 21, 2014
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JANUARY 21, 2014
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; and Brian Lindsay, City Attorney.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the January 6, 2014, 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 January 1-15, 2014, totaling $245,057.69, (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, 2014, totaling $542,621.47, (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.
The Mayor gave his “State of the City” address. The following is a summary:
1. The City is in excellent financial condition.
a. Reserves are solid.
b. The 2014 budget has been balanced and there was no levy increase.
2. New Housing Development.
a. Unity Second Addition. Three more lots have sold for a total of 17 and 15 houses have been constructed since 2008.
b. South Forest Grove, an EDA Development. Five lots have sold and four homes have been constructed.
3. Miscellaneous Information:
a. Library Yard. The City planted a veteran memorial garden.
b. Senior Center. The City purchased a new electronic bingo machine, which is available for all individuals to use.
c. New City Projects completed in 2013:
1. New sidewalks. New sidewalks were construction from Unity Drive to Mud Lake Road to Enterprise Drive South to the movie theatre. Also, sidewalks were repaired in the old Downtown area.
2. Unity Drive. This road was completed with a final overlay being completed in 2014. $350,000 of this project was covered by grant funding.
3. Demolitions. There were four homes demolished through the IRRRB Reclamation Program.
4. Economic Development Authority Projects to be completed in 2014:
a. Wal-Mart. The store should be opening in the summer of 2014 and will bring employment to the area along with increasing the City’s tax base by $11 million.
b. A T & T. They will be constructing a new business in Rock Ridge Development.
c. Town Houses. The EDA has purchased land from Calvary Cemetery Association on County Road 7 to construct town homes.
5. New Business:
a. Corner Spur in West Virginia. The property was purchased by K & L Auto Sales and they opened their used car sales lot there.
6. 2014 City Projects:
a. Sidewalks. Sidewalks will be repaired in the Downtown area by the Post Office.
b. Streets. Overlay projects include Fairview Lane, South Court, Mountain Iron Drive and Rock Ridge Drive.
c. Recreation Department. The South Grove tennis court will have an overlay.
7. Conclusion: The Mayor said he felt that he was speaking for the entire Council saying that in 2013 a lot has happened in the City and there are more plans for 2014. The Mountain Iron City Council likes to think outside of the box and think big. He said that the Council likes to move forward and make the City a better place to live and work in 2014.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to contribute $1,000 to the Summer Work Outreach Project (SWOP) with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, no; Tuomela, yes; Prebeg, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to contribute $100 to the Mountain Iron Senior Citizens Club for their 2013 Christmas Party. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the 2014 Pay Equity Report as presented. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to allow the Municipal Services Secretary to attend the 2014 Municipal Clerks and Finance Officers Association Conference at a cost not to exceed $829 in total expenses. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator reported that the Economic Development Authority closed on a portion of U. S. Steel property on the eastern portion of the property near County Road 102.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize Tyrel Hebl’s probation to expire and allow him to become a permanent employee effective January 24, 2014. The motion carried.
The Director of Public Works reported that there had been several water lines breaks.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 01-14, accepting the feasibility report, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
At 6:52 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to recess the regular City Council meeting and go into a closed session to discuss disciplinary measures with an employee. The motion carried.
At 6:58 p.m., the Mayor called the closed meeting to order 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; Mike Downs, Director of Public Works; Joe Pershern, Local #453 Representative; Craig Hultgren, Equipment Operator; and Brian Lindsay, City Attorney.
The Local #453 Representative and Mr. Hultgren waived the 7:30 p.m. start time.
At 7:25 p.m., Craig Hultgren and Joe Pershern stepped out of the meeting.
At 7:35 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela that the closed meeting be adjourned and the regular meeting reconvened. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and terminate the employment of Craig Hultgren effective immediately. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to post the Equipment Operator position internally. The motion carried.
At 7:42 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
