Meeting Minutes for July 02, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 2, 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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Rick Feiro, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
V. A. Salary Pay and Benefits
VI. H. Public Safety Committee Recommendation
I. Sign on Oriole/Deaf Child
J. Raise Procedure
K. West II Cancellations/Reservations
L. Flow of Information
M. Trash Problem at the Reservoir
2. Approve the minutes of the May 23, 2007, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the June 18, 2007, City Council meeting as submitted.
4. Approve the minutes of the June 18, 2007, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting as submitted.
5. 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.
6. To acknowledge the receipts for the period June 16-30, 2007, totaling $186,623.18, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
7. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period June 16-30, 2007, totaling $376,368.61, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the Mayor’s report, the Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Park Ridge Development. He advised the Council that the EDA closed on the project the previous week. He thanked numerous people for the work completed on the Project. The City Administrator advised the Council that the developer has 24 months to develop the site to have $7.5 million in taxable property.
– Mountain Manor. The Mayor commended Russell Dall, Caretaker at the Mountain Manor, for responding to the fire at the Manor and working to contain it to the one apartment and to Deputy Jill Yarick for getting the residents out of the building. The Mayor also thanked the Fire Department for their work.
– Unity Second Addition. The Mayor advised the Council that the projected costs of the addition are $1.2 million for the 35 lots or $34,300 per lot.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to schedule a public hearing for the July 16th regular City Council meeting to consider the Community Development Block Grant application for the proposed Mountain Manor remodeling. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Street Overlay Projects. The bids were scheduled to be opened on July 12th for the street overlays.
– Unity Second Addition. The bids were scheduled to be opened on July 19th for Unity Second Addition, due to a mistake by the Construction Bulletin, so a Special Meeting should be called for July 23rd.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the request of the Minnesota Border to Border Triathlon to allow them to set up two tents in the Park in West Virginia for Wednesday, July 25, 2007. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to call for bids for the Electrical Upgrade at the West Two Rivers Campground. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number two for the 2006 Street Improvement Projects for the work completed on Unity Drive in the amount of $130,531.47 to Ulland Brothers Incorporated. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to approve the barricading of the City Streets as needed for the Merritt Day’s Celebration on August 10th and 11th, 2007, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to authorize City Staff to seek quotes on carpeting for the Library. The motion carried.
During the Liaison Reports, the Council discussed the following:
– Downtown Park. The Park and Recreation Board to consider replacing the pavilion in the Park depending on the amount of use.
– Summer Up North publication in the Mesabi Daily News. Schedule of Summer activities. Advised residents to go to the Mesabi Daily News office to request additional copies.
Councilor Prebeg updated the Council regarding the employment agreements with the City Administrator and the Director of Public Works. He said that the Personnel Committee had developed the proposed agreements.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Ordinance Number 03-07, Establishing Special Zoning District Number Two within the City of Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 32-07, in support of a 2007 special legislative session to consider the omnibus tax bill, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 33-07, approving an amendment to the development agreement for Mountain Timber Properties, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 34-07, accepting the bid on the 16th Avenue Reconstruction Project, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, abstain; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the request of Steve Giorgi and authorize B.G.’s Bar and Grill to serve alcohol at the Giorgi’s wedding reception on August 4, 2007, at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to refer the request of extending the summer sewer rate policy from May through September to the Utility Advisory Board for review and possible implementation before the end of the year. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to refer the Public Safety and Health Board’s recommendation to the Utility Advisory Board with regard to new construction in the City to have 10 inch water mains installed and having new hydrants compatible with the fire department’s equipment. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the request for a “Deaf Child” sign on Oriole Avenue and referred the request to the Street and Alley Committee for a recommendation.
It was moved by Roskoski to have the Personnel Committee review the salary adjustment information, complete a fact finding of their own, consult with Russo Consulting, and converse, as necessary, with the Trenti Law Firm or Minton Law Firm attorneys. If this is completed in time, bring the information to a closed session during the July 16, 2007, City Council meeting. The motion died for lack of a second.
Mayor Skalko announced that he would be running for Mayor in 2008.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to have the West Two Rivers Campground reservation and cancellation policies and procedures be forwarded to the Park and Recreation Board to review and make a recommendation to the Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski that because of trash, graffiti, upkeep and vandalism problems occurring at Mountain Iron Overlooks, Parks, Playgrounds, Ball Field, and Recreation Areas that our City should make every effort to keep these places repaired, safe, clean, and inviting. Staff will review the policy on checking all areas for problems, at least one or twice per week. Law Enforcement will develop an appropriate schedule to patrol the sights mentioned at least once per day. Staff will look into the availability of fire proof, non-spill trash receptacles for all of the areas mentioned. Prices and installation costs will be prepared. This request will also be forwarded to the Parks and Recreation Board and the Public Safety and Health Board for review and additional suggestions. The motion died for lack of a second.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to direct Staff to prepare a letter of accommodation to Deputy Jill Yarick and Russell Dall for their actions during the apartment fire at Mountain Manor. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski that all street and alley issues, projects, and requests, other than small routine repairs, be forwarded for review by the Street and Alley Committee before implementation. The Mayor would not allow the motion because it was not on the agenda at the beginning of the meeting.
At 8:03 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Stanaway that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Forseen, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. City of Kinney, an invitation to the 30th Anniversary Celebration of the Kinney Secession from July 13th to the 15th.
2. Saint Louis County, a letter regarding the request for the County to accept control over Old Highway 169.
