Meeting Minutes for July 19, 2004
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 19, 2004
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; Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation; Paul Cerkvenik, City Attorney; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:33 p.m.).
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Softball Fee-Girls 14 and under
2. Festival of Trees
B. Land Value Appraisals
E. 2. Engineering Studies
V. B. Library Tile Roofing Color
VI. D. ATV Club and Donation
Approve the minutes of the July 19, 2004, 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 July 1-15, 2004, totaling $760,854.52, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2004, totaling $350,247.53, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
At 6:32 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the Community Development Block Grant Application. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski expressed concern with the pit being labeled as a pond. The Administrator said that the people that review the grant live in Virginia and are aware of the pit.
There was no further discussion and no communications were received regarding the public hearing.
At 6:34 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize a payment of $240 for the Girls Softball Program, for girls 14 years and under. And further, to advise Mr. Taus to communicate with the City Staff during budget time so the appropriate funds can be allocated. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Festival of Trees to utilize the Community Center in November, 2004 charging them a total rental amount of $450. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; and Skalko, yes.
The Council review the letter received from Tara and Jeremy LaMourea regarding their concerns on the use of Grant Avenue and the odor from the Waste Water Treatment Plant.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct the Administrator to contact two different appraisers to obtain two appraisals on the following properties:
the Messiah Lutheran Church property, 11 acres parcel at the intersection of Mineral Avenue and Highway 169;
the tailing pond, USX property, 125+ acres, with the valuation of the old dump being there, as is. And also, what the valuation would be if the old garbage dump was removed.
After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski withdrew his motion and Councilor Irish withdrew his support.
Councilor Roskoski asked if the City had heard from the City of Virginia on the joint paving project for 16th Avenue. The Administrator said that the City of Virginia had been contacted, but they have not responded to the request.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of City Staff and authorize the purchase of electrical equipment for the substation upgrade to Border States Electric at their low quote of $10,566.78. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the Blight Officer to work with the Sheriff�s Department and the City Attorney to determine whether an imminent and serious hazard to human life or safety exists at the Parkville School, to serve notice to the property owner, and to post a notice at the property for the August 2, 2004, City Council meeting. The motion carried.
Councilor Irish questioned the Recreation Director regarding the location of the new bench at Nichols Hall. Councilor Irish also pointed out that the handicapped ramp is in need of maintenance, the basketball nets need replacing, the light shining on the flag is broken out, and the roof vent on the gabriel end of the roof is broken out and needs to be repaired. Also, the Parkville baseball field fencing is falling down and needs to be repaired.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and award the contract for the Water Treatment Plant backflush tank to the low bidder, Hibbing Excavating, Inc., in the amount of $35,362.00 with the funds to be expended from the Water Treatment Plant Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to have a study completed by Benchmark Engineering to supply the City Council with maps, charts, and any other necessary materials for the following area: the USX East tailing pond area. With the report to include build able area, various traffic access routes with projected costs, utility accessibility options with projected costs, a map indicating the wetland that are involved, and a topographic map of the specific tailing pond in relation to everything around there between Mineral Drive and the railroad tracks and General Electric and Slate Street. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; and Skalko, yes.
Councilor Roskoski asked how Benchmark was doing on analyzing the sewer plant noise problem. The City Engineer stated that there were no monitoring reports completed at this time, they just checked on the Wastewater Treatment Plant property.
Councilor Roskoski questioned why the Marion Drive cul-de-sac was not reclaimed and was just overlayed. The City Engineer said that a second coat would be applied soon.
Councilor Roskoski inquired when the North Court overlay was going to be completed. The Engineer stated that it was supposed to be completed already, so it would be done soon.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct the Recreation Director to contact Tom Cvar and advise him that the Council would be retaining the land until an alternative site could be found for the sliding hill and skating rink. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski withdrew his motion and Mayor Skalko withdrew his support.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to set a public hearing for the vacation of a portion of Missabe Avenue between Outlot A and Block 1 of Merritt�s First Addition to Mountain Iron for August 16, 2004. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Attorney whether they have made any progress on information to set up a Mountain Iron Endowment Fund. The City Attorney said that he was not clear as to what the Council wanted regarding the information on the Foundation.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to have the City of Mountain Iron work with the Library Architect, Erik Wedge, and Com Con Representatives to work out a change order and exchange the brown roof tiles for the historically correct pale orange color roof tiles with the City paying the difference for the change order. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Irish, no; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Nelson, yes; and Skalko, no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct the Librarian to notify any City Council Members that were interested in receiving a Library Board meeting packet, the Library Board City Council Liaison, and have the information sent out in advance of the meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 28-04, Community Development Block Grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Irish to adopt Ordinance Number 04-04, amending Chapter 22, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to authorize a donation of $300 to the ATV Club with City Staff maintaining the funds and tracking the expenditures. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
At 8:19 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, looking for assistance if a Special Session is called.
Minnesota Department of Health, forwarding information regarding the drinking water summary of detect monitoring in Mountain Iron.
Unique Screen Media, forwarding advertising information.
Tara & Jeremy LaMourea, a letter regarding concerns with regard to Grant Drive and the odors from the Wastewater Treatment Plant.
