Meeting Minutes for July 19, 2010
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 19, 2010
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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Sam Aluni, City Attorney, Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add under New Business: C. Part-time Library Substitute
2. Remove the minutes of the July 6, 2010 meeting and the Bills and Payroll from the consent agenda.
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, 2010, totaling $950,976.23, (list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried with Prebeg voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Skalko to approve the minutes of the July 6, 2010 meeting. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Stanaway and supported by Prebeg to authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2010, totaling $479,411.78, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on a roll call vote: Prebeg, yes, Zupancich, yes, Stanaway, yes, Roskoski, no, Skalko, yes.
Bradley Peterson from the law firm of Flaherty & Hood was present for the public forum to discuss the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities activities. He presented a pamphlet to the Council showing the group’s work throughout the year. Through their lobbying efforts CGMC was able to prevent deeper cuts in aid to the Cities. The Mayor discussed the LGA and Taconite Production Tax lost to the City of Mountain Iron. Mr. Peterson discussed the projected state budget deficit and the upcoming election’s impact on local government aid. He also announced the CGMC summer conference is scheduled to be in Winona. The Mayor thanked Mr. Peterson for all the work that CGMC has done for the cities.
Minutes at City Council
July 19, 2010
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The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
• Cable Commission. This group has worked to get public access television for Mountain Iron and televising the Council meetings. He wanted to recognize the members of the Commission as follows:
Steve Skogman Tom Cvar
Peter Skogman Allen Nelson
• The Budget and Finance Committee. This group is to give preliminary input into the budget process. He wanted to recognize all the members and department heads that participate.
• Steve Skogman volunteers on four different boards and deserves special recognition for all the work he has done.
• Two more building permits have been applied for in the Unity II Addition, making a total of eight homes being built in the Addition
Councilor Roskoski wanted to make the announcement that this year’s Merritt Days Celebration will be for four days instead of two. He stated that it will start off with a brass band concert on Wednesday, August 11, 2010 and have events running through Saturday, August 14, 2010. The events schedule will be in the Mesabi Daily News.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
• The City received notice of a CDBG Committee vacancy for one representative for Small Cities from the St. Louis County Board. Councilor Stanaway has applied for the vacancy.
• The Public Works grants program for the IRR has opened with a short time period to apply. The City Administrator suggested applying for funds to upgrade the blowers at the wastewater treatment plant, unless the Council would have another idea. Councilor Roskoski stated that he would like to apply for funding for a phase 2 study of the storm water flow in the Westgate area. The deadline for applying for the grants is after the next meeting. The City Administrator asked for any further ideas for projects to fund and will get more information on whether a study would qualify for the grants for the next Council meeting.
Gary Giroux of Walker, Giroux & Hahne discussed the 2009 Audit Report for the City.
Discussion took place concerning the increased expense from Minnesota Power in the electric enterprise fund and the post-employment benefits expenses in all the enterprise funds along with the total amount of debt for the City and the amount of cash reserves for the City.
Minutes at City Council
July 19, 2010
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It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Skalko to accept the 2009 City Audit as presented by Gary Giroux of Walker, Giroux & Hahne (a copy of which is on file in the City Hall records). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Stanaway to authorize pay request #1 to Mesabi Bituminous in the amount of $93,706.10 for the 2010 street improvements. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to offer the Assistant Librarian position to Mrs. Kelly Belleville contingent on her passing the required physical and background check as recommended by the Personnel Committee. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Stanaway and supported by Roskoski to allow BG’s Bar & Grill to use their on-sale liquor license at the Community Center to provide a cash bar for the Kivela wedding on July 31, 2010 and the Paakkonen wedding on August 14, 2010. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Roskoski to authorize the appropriation of $2500.00 to the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce for the Mineview in the Sky Visitors Center, as allowed in the 2010 budget. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to advertise for applicants for the Library Substitute position. The motion carried unanimously.
At 8:06 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Stanaway to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Judy Seurer
Accounting Technician
www.mtniron.com
Minutes at City Council
July 19, 2010
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COMMUNICATIONS
1. SWOP, a thank you for supporting the program.
2. Mountain Iron-Buhl Archery, a thank you for the contribution for their program.
3. League of Minnesota Cities, notification of a dues increase for 2011.
4. High Impact 4th and 8th Grade Teams, a thank you for the contribution.
