Meeting Minutes for July 18, 2005
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 18, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Karen Luoma, Librarian; Gary Giroux, City Auditor; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
The Mayor commented on the last City Council meeting. He said that it was a long emotional meeting and there were a few things said by Councilors and himself that should not have been said. The Mayor apologized for himself and the Council.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
Add:
III. B. Assistant Librarian Interviews
MS Bike Tour
VI. E. Agenda Staff Notes
F. Resolution Number 18-05
IV. B. 2. Temporary Liquor License
Move:
IV. G. 1. Conditional Use Permit to: III. C.
V. B. Request to Saint Louis County for Property to: III. D.
Approve the minutes of the July 5, 2005, City Council meeting with the following corrections:
Page 1, Agenda items: VI. H. Speed Limit Request-Ann�s Acres South Grove area
Page 2, Paragraph 10, “It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator obtain quotes to have it repaired inspected and have this�..”
Page 4, Paragraph 6, “Councilor Roskoski said that he was contacted by adjacent property owners to the north South Grove Park entrance and they expressed interested in purchasing a portion of the that 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 north entrance lot to the South Grove Park.”
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 July 1-15 2005, totaling $646,882.17, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2005, totaling $464,080.00, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
The Librarian was present and advised the Council that the Library Board had set up interviews for the Assistant Librarian Position for July 25, 26, and 27, 2005 beginning at 5:00 p.m. The Library Board requested that one Council Member sit in on the interviews. Councilor Prebeg said that he would attend the interviews. Councilor Roskoski questioned if the interviews were open to the public. The City Attorney advised the Council that the interviews were open to the public.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to send the Conditional Use Permit application of Crystal Yernatich back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further review and recommendation. The motion carried with Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the City Council request to purchase the property in Section 27, Township 58 North, Range 18 West from Saint Louis County as a pass through agent for the Retriever Club with the stipulation that the City maintain a 50 foot easement across the property for future use. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Dave Taus was present and said that the Girl�s Summer Softball Program had been completed and he thanked the City Council for their support of the program.
Also during the public forum, Bruce Cook spoke to the City Council regarding the City appointing him, a Vietnam Veteran, as an Ambassador for the City of Mountain Iron to attend the ceremonies in Las Vegas, Nevada on November 10-13, 2005, at no cost to the City. The Mayor said that the Council would be honored to appoint him and to submit the appropriate paperwork to the Council when he receives it.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to appoint Devin West to the Mountain Iron First Responders Group. The motion carried.
The City Auditor reviewed the 2004 audit with the City Council.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to accept the 2004 audit report as presented by Walker, Giroux, and Hahne, Ltd. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to forward all the documentation that had been supplied to the City Council regarding the P & H MinePro complaints to the Zoning Administrator to study and make a recommendation. The motion carried.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor thanked the area legislators for work completed to restore some of the Local Government Aid and Taconite Aid offsets.
The Mayor requested that a letter be sent to the Local Union #453 advising them of the formation of the Labor/Management Committee and request that they appoint two members to the Committee.
The Mayor advised the Council that there would be a preconstruction meeting for the renovation of the Library on Wednesday, July 20th at the Library at 1:00 p.m.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff to contact the Cities of Eveleth, Virginia, Chisholm, Hibbing and Hermantown to obtain a copy of their street assessment plan. The motion carried.
At 7:53 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to appoint Andrea Wilson to the Economic Development Authority to fill the unexpired term of Larry P. Johnson with the term expiring on December 31, 2009.
At 7:54 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; and Skalko, yes.
At 7:57 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
At 7:59 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
The Council discussed the request for an advertisement in the Mesabi Daily News for the Multiple Sclerosis Bike Tour July 24-29, 2005. It was the consensus of the Council that the request for the advertisement came in too late for Council consideration due to the allocation of an expenditure.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff to research the information requested by Councilor Irish on the Grant Street assessments. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Nelson, no; and Skalko, no.
The Council discussed changing the classification during an impending special assessment on a street. The City Administrator and the City Attorney will research the classification change. Councilor Irish requested that he be contacted as soon as possible when a conclusion is made regarding the classification change.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to approve the application for a temporary liquor license by the American Legion Post 220 for August 13, 2005 at the West II Rivers Campground pending the approval of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Administrator as to where the tire stand for Locomotive Park was located. The Council requested that the Recreation Director look into the matter. Mayor Skalko questioned whether the fountain for Locomotive Park had been delivered.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to contact Saint Louis County to request that a traffic study be conducted on Mineral Avenue to see if it warrants the speed limit sign being moved. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the purchase of 2,000 cubic yards of Class 5 from Ulland Brothers Incorporated at their low quoted price of $6.50 per cubic yard delivered to the City stock pile. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Roskoski questioned why all of the glass windows were removed from the Parkville School. The City Attorney said that there should not be a problem with the window removal issue.
The Director of Public Works updated the Council on the relocation of the Recycling Center. He said Recycling Center should be transferred to the new site in a couple of weeks.
Councilor Roskoski questioned when a gate was going to be installed at the Wolf Park. Councilor Prebeg said that the Parks and Recreation Board was reviewing the situation to see if the Wolf Park would remain open.
Councilor Roskoski commented on the possibility of the City receiving some grants from Saint Louis County. The Mayor said that the Saint Louis County Board would be voting on the grants for the South Grove Playground and the ATV Trails on July 27, 2005.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to contact the people that operate out of Unity Plaza to explain the Cities concerns regarding the City of Mountain Iron�s parking policy on Unity Drive. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and authorize payment of Pay Request Number 1 to Mesabi Bituminous for the Heather Avenue Class-6 overlay project in the amount of $5,750. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Engineer said that he had submitted the Ann�s Acres Water Building and Tank Demolition bids to the City Council. The Council requested that this be placed on the August 1, 2005 City Council agenda.
Councilor Nelson informed the City Council that that the Planning and Zoning Commission have been working on the blight issues.
The City Attorney advised the Council that a certified letter had been submitted to Dave Nordlund, 5619 Nichols Avenue, regarding the zoning violation on his property and he has ten days to comply.
Mayor Skalko stated concerns with hunting shacks, recreational vehicles, and outhouses being placed in the Mashkenode Lake area. The Council referred this issue to the Zoning Administrator.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the purchase of properties including Locomotive Park, a portion of Marble Avenue, a portion of Locomotive Street, and a partial interest of property by Mountain Manor and the City Garage for a purchase price of $42,574. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed Resolution Number 17-05, accepting work for street improvement projects. The City Engineer stated that he had not yet received information from Hardrives Incorporated regarding the quantities being reduced for the work completed on North Court.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to apply for a Community Development Block Grant for new carpeting and a screened in patio for the Mountain Manor Complex. The motion carried.
The City Administrator advised the City Council that he had contacted someone from Duluth and they will be forwarding an estimate and recommendation for the wall crack in the Community Center building.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to add the piece of property south of the Anns Acre�s Northern Natural Gas substation, which is City owned, to the mowing policy for the City to mow this property. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to amend the mowing policy regarding the mowing of the area around the Community Center/City Hall to have City Staff use their discretion as to the area that would be mowed to the intersection with Unity Drive. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Prebeg to waive the garbage fee of $10 for the Multiple Sclerosis Society bike tour in Mountain Iron on July 26, 2005 for the cost of a 300 gallon garbage receptacle be placed at Locomotive Park for the day. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of additional liability insurance in the amount of $3,000,000 for the West Two Rivers Campground at a cost of $6,897. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to purchase 21 Christmas Christmas lights pole decorations as follows:
4 Candle Wreaths $1,496
4 Noel Trees $ 920
4 Noel Candles $ 880
3 Christmas Bells $1,101
3 Joy Canes $ 597
3 Christmas Stockings $ 927
TOTAL $5,921
These decorations would be for Unity Drive from Marion Drive east to Duane�s Marine and the Unity/Highway 7 intersection south on Highway 7 to Tamarack Drive and for the three lights poles by the City Hall. Part II of this City-wide Christmas Lighting Project would be completed in 2006 with decorations for the following areas: entrance to Unity Addition leading to Highway 169, Nichols Avenue in Parkville and Mineral Avenue in Downtown Mountain Iron and South Grove. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff that when they give the Council information with comments that they identify themselves and what department they are from. The motion carried with Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 18-05, providing for the issuance, sale, and delivery of a $300,000 general obligation bond of 2005 of the City of Mountain Iron, Minnesota, to pay a part of the cost of public library improvements; establishing the terms and conditions therefore; and awarding the sale thereof, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski asked the Mayor why he didn�t have any backup information on the special assessement agenda item that he put in the City Council packet. The Mayor apologized and said he would supply background information the next time.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Irish question why a reduced speed zone ahead sign was installed in Parkville and a stop sign was removed in Ann�s Acres without Council direction. The Mayor stated that a traffic study was completed by the Sheriff�s Department regarding the stop sign in Ann�s Acres and they determined because of the usage of the road that a three way stop was unnecessary. The Director of Public Works stated that the reduced speed zone ahead sign was added in Parkville because of the additional traffic on Nichols Avenue because of the construction work being completed on Mineral Avenue.
At 9:26 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the July 8, 2005, Friday Fax.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding the Local Government Aid Budget Negotiations Update.
