Meeting Minutes for July 06, 1999
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; and Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following to the agenda:
V. B. Resolution #30-99
VI. E. Civic Association mailings
2. 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.
3. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period June 16-30, 1999, totaling $268,231.49, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period June 16-30, 1999, totaling $74,289.69, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Mike Vidmar spoke to the Council regarding his retirement under disability. He said that he has applied for PERA, which takes about two weeks to receive benefits, and Social Security disability benefits, which should begin August 11, 1999. He said that he received a letter from the City that he must pay for his own health insurance benefits. He said that his doctor told him that he was disabled in March and the Workers Compensation Judge ruled that he was disabled. Mr. Vidmar said that according to the union contract he should be receiving retirement benefits and having the City pay for his health insurance benefits. The City Administrator said that the Personnel Committee met and they interpret the contract differently. The City Administrator said that the union had filed a grievance and is now going directly to arbitration on the situation. The Personnel Committee believes that Mr. Vidmar is not entitled to receive the insurance benefits according to the union contract language.
Mr. Vidmar informed the Council that there would be another administrative conference to get his workers compensation benefits reinstated. He also said that there would be a pretrial and trial to have his benefits continued indefinitely. Mr. Vidmar said that this was not a very nice way to leave the city, being forced out by City Staff. The Mayor said that City Staff were acting on certain legal requirements and manpower issues to deal with. The Mayor said that the arbitrator will make the final decision on the matter unless the City and the Union meet prior to the arbitration and reach a settlement agreement. The Mayor apologized to Mr. Vidmar for the way he was treated by Staff. City Staff made no comments regarding the situation.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and place Mr. Scott Chandler into the operator position effective June 22, 1999 with a 30 day probationary period. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the variance from the setback requirement to 15 feet from the side lot for Perpich TV & Music, Inc. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for Perpich TV & Music, Inc. to build an addition to the existing building on parcel 175-32-125. The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to have Staff send a letter to Perpich TV & Music, Inc. to encourage them to complete more landscaping on their property.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for the Northeast Service Cooperative to construct an office building. The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for Minntex Investments to install signage on their property. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to adopt Resolution #29-99, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids. After some discussion, Councilor Skogman withdrew his motion and Councilor Piri withdrew his support.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Skogman to approve amended Resolution #29-99, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Olsen voting no.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Matanich to set a Committee of the Whole meeting for Thursday, July 15th, 1999, at 3:30 p.m. to discuss the plans and specifications for the Community Center/City Hall building. The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to invite the members of the Community Center Committee to the July 15th, 1999 Committee of the Whole meeting.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to approve Resolution #30-99, Authorizing Execution of a Development Agreement in Connection with a Project in Redevelopment project Number One, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Olsen to authorize City Staff to seek bids for health insurance and encourage city employees to complete the census that is necessary to obtain bids. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve Resolution #28-99, Application for Construction and Acceptance of Right-of-Way Revision, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Mayor advised the Council that Trina Niska had approached him to inquire whether the City would be interested in purchasing their property. It was the consensus of the Council to authorize staff to meet with Mr. & Mrs. Don Niska to discuss the property.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
The Council discussed the Civic Association mailings with city postage being used along with staff time to prepare them. The City did donate funds left from the previous Civic Association, but did not authorize the use of City postage and staff time. The Mayor said that the Civic Association is not part of the City, but is a private non-profit corporation.
Councilor Olsen stated that the Civic Association mailings have been completed and mailed from the City Hall since Miriam Kailanen was the Recreation Director. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Attorney prepare an opinion regarding the issue.
At 7:27 p.m., Larry Nanti, Recreation Director, entered the meeting.
The Mayor reported that he and the City Administrator had discussions concerning the development of a golf course possibly between Old Town Mountain Iron and Parkville between Old Highway 169 and New Highway 169 or at the West II Rivers Reservoir. He said that he would like to see a committee formed to look into this idea and the feasibility of completing the project. It was the consensus of the Council to accept the Mayor�s recommendation and form the Committee. The Committee would consist of the following representatives: the City Administrator, the Chairperson of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the Mayor, the Recreation Director, and a Representative from the Parks and Recreation Board. The Council also discussed the Iron Range Racing Association track relocation, the Brainerd International Raceway relocation and a possible mountain bike trail as other possible projects to be discussed by this Committee.
During the open discussion, Councilor Skogman asked the Recreation Director if he had sent a notice to William Otto regarding cleaning up his yard. The Recreation Director said that he would send a letter to Mr. Otto tomorrow.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Olsen asked what the Park and Recreation Board was doing about the Kinross playground. The Recreation Director said that he was putting in one new standard and taking the swings downs. He said that next year new swings would be put up.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Piri said that the Lumber Building needs repairs. The City Staff will review the situation and make a recommendation on what to do with the Lumber Building.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Skogman said that with the improvements made for the Mesabi Trail and the previously engineered road improvements the Parkville Road was not under water very long. He said congratulations to City crew and the Mesabi Trail engineers for all of the improvements in that area.
At 7:44 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted:
