Meeting Minutes for July 05, 2005
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 5, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Chad Larson, Sheriff Deputy.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 2. Nordlund Property
Riccio Family Medical Leave
VI. H. Speed Limit Request � Ann�s Acres Area
South Grove Lot Sale Request
Moved to:
1. Ann�s Acres Street Lighting
2. Mountain Timber Development Agreement
3. Resolution Number 16-05 Bonding Request
VI. J. Communications
Approve the minutes of the June 20, 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 June 16-30, 2005, totaling $143,795.32, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period June 16-30, 2005, totaling $175,894.13, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Robert Voss, 8397 Tamarack Drive, Ann�s Acres, address the Council regarding the proposed Ann�s Acres lighting project. He submitted a petition with 17 signatures from the residents affected by the proposed lighting project on Aspen Lane stating that they do not want lighting erected in this area.
The Mayor updated the audience regarding the Mountain Timber Project. The audience asked questions regarding JOBZ credits, traffic issues, tax payments, noise issues, and job created for the project.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to approve the Mountain Timber Development Agreement as presented. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, yes; Irish, no; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
At 8:20 p.m., the Mayor recessed the meeting.
At 8:27 p.m., the Mayor reconvened the meeting with Councilor Prebeg absent.
At 8:28 p.m., Councilor Prebeg entered the meeting.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 16-05, preliminary capital bonding request of the State of Minnesota 2006 legislative session, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), contingent on the legality of the motion being reviewed by the City Attorney. The motion carried with Councilors Roskoski and Irish voting no.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor thanked the Recreation Director and his Staff for a job well done at the July 4th celebration.
The Mayor thanked Commissioner Nelson for assisting in the appropriation of an additional $170,000 to complete the overlay of Mineral Avenue from the Highway 169 Bridge to Mud Lake Road in South Grove. The Mayor said that this portion of the road was not originally slated for an overlay.
The Mayor requested that Community Development Block Grant be put on the July 18th City Council agenda. He said that a developer was looking into constructing townhouses in Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to direct the Blight Officer and/or the Zoning Administrator to contact the City Attorney and request, in writing, the procedure for taking care of the blight/zoning problems on the Nordlund property at 5619 Nichols Avenue. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to grant a Family Medical Leave to Dennis Riccio as requested. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to accept the resignation of Jeanne Schechinger from the Utility Advisory Board (UAB), direct City Staff to send a letter of thanks to Mrs. Schechinger for her years of services, and direct City Staff to advertise for the open UAB position in the Mesabi Daily News over the next two weeks and appoint someone to the position at the August 1st City Council meeting. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the crack in the brick on the front of the Community Center. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator obtain quotes to have it repaired and have this on the July 18th City Council agenda.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to authorize Petersen Well Drilling to complete the abandonment of the two wells contained inside the Ann�s Acres water company building for their low quote of $4,900.00. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to award the contract for the ventilation of the campground bathrooms to NorTemp for their low quoted price of $1,998.00. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff and Benchmark Engineering to halt any further work on the Ann�s Acres Lighting Project. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski abstaining.
During the Liaison reports, Councilor Roskoski reported that the Street and Alley Committee met and discussed the 2005 Street Improvement Projects. It was the consensus of the Committee that there was not sufficient time to complete the street improvement projects this year and to have Staff complete work for January, 2006 on the proposed projects and let bids in March, 2006. Councilor Roskoski also said that the Committee is still working on the different assessment rates for streets, but they were not categorized yet.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to notify Northwest Asphalt Maintenance, by letter, requesting that they come back to the City of Mountain Iron and complete the newly paved City streets that were not crack sealed when they were initially here. The motion carried with Nelson voting no.
At 9:29 p.m. Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
At 9:31 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to review the land records and determine who owns the property around and near the old Ann�s Acres Water Company to make sure the property is properly maintained as per the mowing policy. The motion carried.
At 9:41 p.m., Mayor Skalko left the meeting.
At 9:42 p.m., Mayor Skalko returned to the meeting.
It was moved Skalko to approve Resolution Number 17-05, accepting work, contingent on the North Court area problems being corrected. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko withdrew his motion.
It was moved Skalko and supported by Nelson to have Benchmark Engineering speak with the Contractor regarding the North Court Project and seek deductions for the items not used in the North Court Project. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to create a Labor/Management Committee with the Committee being composed of the Mayor, one Councilor (on a rotating basis), two Management Employees and two Union Employees. And further, unless a problem or emergency arises, the Committee will meet quarterly and will be chaired by the Mayor. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to amend the Street Lighting Policy to include that for all street lights provided for street traffic safety (public safety) that no special assessments shall be given the property owners for the cost and installation of a wooden light pole. However, in residential areas, if the property owners request an ornamental/metal type of light pole, the cost and installation of this type of pole will be assessed to the property owners within a 100 foot radius from the erected pole for the difference in cost between the ornamental/metal type and the cost of a wooden light pole. In non-residential areas, for example along Highway 169, the type of light pole erected will be at the discretion of the City Council. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to authorize the purchase of property from U. S. Steel Corporation as submitted at a cost of $42,574. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, no; Nelson, yes; Irish, no; Skalko, yes.
The Mayor requested that the property request with the Range Retriever Club be put on the July 18th City Council agenda because the Range Retriever Club is meeting to further discuss the issue.
The Council discussed the P & H operations in the Merritt Industrial Park with regard to noise in the area. City Staff had contacted P & H and they indicated that they would make every effort to limit noise levels prior to 8:00 a.m. The Council took no formal action.
The Council discussed the speed limit sign on the north end of Mineral Avenue in South Grove. The Mayor stated that he would contact Commissioner Nelson with regard to having the 45 mile per hour sign moved further north on Mineral Avenue pasted the residential area in South Grove.
Councilor Roskoski said that he was contacted by the adjacent property owners to the South Grove Park entrance and they expressed interested in purchasing a portion of the lot. Councilor Prebeg stated that the Parks and Recreation Board had discussed this several years ago and the consensus of the Board was to have the City continue to own and maintain the entrance to the South Grove Park.
At 10:38 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the June 24, 2005 Friday Fax.
