Meeting Minutes for July 16, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 16, 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; Tom Cvar, Fire Chief; and Jill Yarick, Deputy.
The Mayor advised the Council Members that, from this date on, each Council Member would be limited to adding only one new item to the agenda per meeting. He said that he had consulted with the City Attorney regarding the addition of items to the agenda and he said that it was allowable to do this.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
IV. C. 2. Replacement Street Light Standards
2. Approve the minutes of the July 2, 2007, City Council meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period July 1-15, 2007, totaling $787,113.43, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2007, totaling $336,508.99, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the Community Development Grant Application. The motion carried.
The Mayor explained that the grant application was to convert some apartments at the Mountain Manor Apartment Complex from one bedroom to two bedroom apartments.
No comments were made and there was no correspondence received regarding the proposed grant application.
At 6:36 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Mike Determan, 5741 Mesabi Avenue, Mountain Iron, asked the Council if he could remodel his house by painting it to make it look livable rather than demolishing the house. It was the consensus of the Council to discuss the matter further and take action at the August 6, 2007, City Council meeting.
During the Mayor’s report, the Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Library Program. The Mayor commended the Staff at the Mountain Iron Library for their work on the Summer Reading Program. He said that there was about 60-80 children in attendance during the “Wacky Wednesday Activities” of tie dying. He also thanked Barry Rosier for volunteering to assist the Library Staff during the Wednesday programs.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to direct the City Administrator to fax a letter to the IRRRA encouraging the Board to support reinstating the Demolition Program. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to purchase and install a cedar tree line to block the cement block baseball dugout behind 8778 Mud Lake Road by the South Grove ball field with the funds coming from the capital outlay budget. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, no; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to set a special meeting for Monday, July 23, 2007, at 6:30 p.m. to award the bid and establish pricing for the lots in Unity Second Addition. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Unity Second Addition. The bonds will be award during the first or second meeting in August. The plat is at the County office for the final review. The sale of the lots should begin during the end of July or the beginning of August.
– Mineland Reclamation Project. The brush has been removed in the Locomotive Park area and Staff is looking into a “no climb” fence, with the approval of the mining company, to have installed on the site. If there is any funding remaining after the fence has been installed, the sidewalk in the park would be upgraded.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the sale of the 1990 Ford Van, VIN #1FTEE14N1LHB58937, to Dennis Riccio at the bid price of $1,600 and authorize Staff to have the other three vehicles, 1997 Chevrolet pickup VIN #1GCGK24R3VZ112775, 1998 Ford 4W, VIN #1FMRU18W4WLB48861 and the 1997 Chevrolet pickup, VIN #1GCGKZ4R5VZ113149, sold at the Saint Louis County Fall auction. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of ten (10) stainless light standards along with the mounting hardware under the State bid price of $1,083.50 a piece for a total of $10,535.00, with shipping included. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupanich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number one to Louis Leustek & Sons Incorporated in the amount of $57,536.18 for the Industrial Park Road Extension Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the Liaison reports, the Council discussed the following:
– Public Safety and Health Board. Councilor Stanaway advised the Council that the Board would have several items for the Council to consider at the August 6th meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 35-07, awarding the bid for the 2007 street improvement projects, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to adopt Resolution Number 36-07, authorizing the submission of the Community Development Block Grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski that the City Council waits with awarding of the bid for the proposed Unity Second Addition Project until specifics are known about the proposed IRRRB Public Works Grant Project Program. As soon as the particulars of the IRRRB Grant Project are known, this City would hopefully submit a grant application for whatever maximum is allowed. The motion died for lack of a second.
The Mayor said that he met with IRRRA Representatives today and he said they suggested continuing moving forward with the Unity Second Addition Project as planned.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway that Mountain Iron, make it a policy, except where bidding is required, to spread around the purchase of goods and services the City needs whenever possible. If quotes are a preferred way to go, all should be given the opportunity to quote. The motion failed with Mayor Skalko and Councilors Prebeg, Zupancich, and Stanaway voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich that in regard to the Downtown Playground pavilion, that was removed because of storm damage, that:
1. City Staff work with Benchmark Engineering to draw up plans for a replacement pavilion, similar in style to the original one, and the plans be detailed enough for construction purposes.
2. A complete list of materials for all items need for construction will be compiled.
3. Specifications will be put together, to the standard necessary, to go out for quote with.
4. All the requested information will be included in the August 6, 2007, City Council meeting packet.
After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski amended his motion to include if City Staff and Benchmark Engineering felt that a prefabricated pavilion was appropriate that this information could be supplied to the City Council no later than August 20, 2007. Councilor Zupancich supported the amendment. The motion carried with Councilor Stanaway voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko that with regard to the two removed porch type swings that were at the Downtown Park, that as soon as possible:
1. The swings be removed from storage, assessed for damaged, be repaired if economically feasible, and installed as before.
2. If the swings are beyond economical repair, then Staff would seek quotes for two new swings.
The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg and Stanaway voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski that, from this date on, all street and alley issues, projects, and requests, other than small routine repairs, be forwarded for review and final recommendation by the Street and Alley Committee before implementation. The motion failed for lack of a second.
Nancy Larson and Mike Flaherty, representatives from the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, were in attendance and updated the Council regarding new and proposed legislation.
At 7:48 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 7:50 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
During the open discussion, the following items were discussed:
– Mesabi Trail. Councilor Roskoski commented that the Mesabi Trail at the east end of the Downtown area looks nice since the City Summer Crew cleaned up the rubbish and mowed the grass.
– Iron Range Brochure. Councilor Roskoski pointed out that Mountain Iron was mentioned ten times in the new guide.
– Mesabi Daily News on July 8th. Councilor Roskoski mentioned an article on the City’s West Two Rivers Campground.
– West Two Rivers Water Level. Several area people had contacted Councilor Roskoski and felt that the water level at the reservoir has remained the same over the past 20 years.
– Conflict of Interest. Councilor Roskoski pointed out some information from a League of Minnesota Cities Attorney regarding conflicts of interest.
At 8:18 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Forseen, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
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