Meeting Minutes for July 16, 2001
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. 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; Karen Luoma, Librarian; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
V. C. Railroad Crossing Meeting on Eighth Street and Mountain Iron Drive
II. B. Remove Bills and Payroll from the Consent Agenda
2. Approve the minutes of the July 2, 2001, regular meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period July 1-15, 2001, totaling $669,379.41, (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.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2001, totaling $285,209.96, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to recess the regular meeting and open the Public Hearing on Improvement. The motion carried.
Don and Katherine Niska were present for the public hearing. They questioned if there were any other property owners that would benefit by this improvement.
The Director of Public Works said that the only other property owner that may be affected would be U.S. Steel Corporation. If it were determine that U. S. Steel would benefit from this improvement, they would be assessed. The total improvement costs would be approximately $11,000-$12,000 with a 90% assessment.
Councilor Prebeg asked how this improvement would relate to the gas line. The Director of Public Works said that the improvement would not cross the gas line.
The City Administrator advised the Council that there were no written correspondence received regarding the public hearing. The City Administrator said that the assessment could be paid all at once or assessed on the property taxes for a period of ten years.
At 6:38 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution number 20-01, ordering improvement and preparation of plans, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to allow the Park and Recreation Department to block city streets for the Merritt Days Celebration, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The City Engineer reported that the Unity Drive striping was completed according to specifications with a 12-foot driving lane and a 12-foot turning lane.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize payment request number one to Mesabi Bituminous in the amount of $120,318.59 for the 2001 Street Improvement Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the two Old Town proposals.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Roskoski to proceed and contract with Klaers, Power, and Associates, Carduus Consulting, Architectural Resources, Inc. and Benchmark Engineering and direct the City Administrator to review the budget aspects for the project and report back to the City Council. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed Independent School District #712 with regard to the improper fill material used adjacent to Merritt Elementary and the parking issue by Merritt Elementary. The Mayor said that there is a meeting set for the Street Committee and the School Representative to discuss these issues.
Councilor Matanich updated the Council regarding the meeting held with the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DoT) official regarding the possible closure of the Eighth Street and Mountain Iron Drive crossing. The Administrator advised the Council that the MN/DoT official would be at the second Council meeting in September.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution number 19-01, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution number 21-01, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Roskoski to acknowledge and execute the $16,155.00 grant from Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation for computers for the Mountain Iron Public Library. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve payment request number seven to Hecimovich Mechanical Contracting, Inc. in the amount of $5,059 for work completed on the Mountain Iron City Hall and Community Center. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve the Staff recommendations, as presented, to the building policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), and to review the entire building policy in six months. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to begin the condemnation proceedings for the acquisition of right-of-way for the extension of Eighth Street (Unity Drive). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Skogman, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.
Mayor Brunfelt questioned Staff regarding the collection of pictures to be displayed at the City Hall/Community Center building. The Recreation Director advised the Council that Staff had met with a representative from Ben Franklin to select framing and matting for the approximately 50 pictures to be displayed.
During the open discussion the following items were discussed:
Councilor Skogman questioned whether the sign for the City Hall/Community Center had been order. The City Administrator said that he had not heard back from the Mesabi Sign Company.
Councilor Matanich asked who was supposed to maintain the site by the Quad City sign. The Director of Public Works stated that the Minnesota Department of Transportation should be maintaining the entrance sign site.
Councilor Prebeg reported that he had contacted Maureen Sauter from U. S. Steel Corporation regarding painting the sign that indicates where iron ore was discovered and the clearing of the brush for better viewing.
The Council discussed the ball field by Merritt Elementary. Councilor Matanich asked if he could bring the issue back to the table at the meeting with the school. It was the consensus of the Council to allow Councilor Matanich to bring this up.
The Mayor announced that the Merritt Days celebration was set for August 10th and 11th.
At 8:17 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
