Meeting Minutes for July 21, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JULY 21, 2008
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. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Two Temporary Liquor Licenses
V. C. Culture & Tourism Grant
Remove from the agenda:
III. B. Wetlands Rules Review
2. Approve the minutes of the July 7, 2008, 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, 2008, totaling $733,887.70, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to approve the following:
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 1-15, 2008, totaling $583,870.60, (a list 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.
At 6:46 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 Block Grant (CDBG) application for Agate Street. The motion carried.
The City Administrator outlined the CDBG grant application for $50,000 for the replacement of the storm sewer interceptor located along Agate Street.
At 6:47 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to close the public hearing on the CDBG Grant application and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor moved an unfinished business item on the agenda, Mesabi Trail Signage, to the Mayor’s Report.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to not place any additional signs to the Mesabi Trail in Mountain Iron. After further discussion, Prebeg amended the motion to not allow anyone to attend the Regional Rail Authority Meetings unless approved by the City Council. Zupancich seconded the amendment. The amended motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Northern Community Credit Union. There was a ground breaking on July 14, 2008, for the new credit union.
– Saint Louis County. He advised the Council that he met with Commissioner Nelson and he informed him that in 2008 County Road 7 will be upgraded from Highway 37 to the railroad tracks in Wolf and then to West Eveleth and in 2009 Highway 7 from the railroad tracks in Wolf north to Highway 169 would be upgraded.
– Recycling. He said that the County had made a profit of $600,000 with recycling. They are currently looking into another system that would further break down the garbage and increase the recycling.
– Business advertising using Mountain Iron in their advertisements. He said that six months ago the Council approved a a resolution to gain recognition from the businesses in Mountain Iron and the City has seen success in this area through a letter writing campaign.
– Street Improvement Projects. He said that the blacktop in Unity Second addition looks great. The City Engineer said that the base coat is down, but not the wear coarse.
– Harassment of a business by a Councilor as pointed out at the previous meeting. He said that this matter is being handled by the City Attorney because it is a private confidential matter.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize B.G.’s Bar and Grill to operate an on-sale bar at the Mountain Iron Community Center on August 2, 2008, for the Matanich Family wedding, and August 23, 2008, for the Savaloja Family wedding. The motion carried.
The Mayor gave a special thank you to Judy Seurer for the preparation of the wedding certificates from the City.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the Minnesota Border to Border Triathlon group to use the West Virginia Park on July 23, 2008 for their special event. The motion carried.
It was moved Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to allow the Range Retriever Club to use the West II Rivers Campground from September 12-29, 2008. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway that the Council appoint the following to serve as election judges for the September 9, 2008, Primary Election and the November 4, 2008, General Election:
Precinct #1-City Hall, Iroquois Room Precinct #2atCity Hall, Wacootah Room
Caroline Kujala, Head Judge Marilyn Perpich, Head Judge
Sheri Johnson Margaret Florip
June Ross Linda Strukel
Delanie Giorgi* Barb Fivecoate
* Denotes new judge, never having served before.
And further, authorize them to be paid $8.50 per hour for training and election hours and provide one hot meal to the election judges on election days. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Mountain Timber. On July 22, 2008, a hearing is scheduled for the air permit for Mountain Timber.
– Unity Second Addition. The first home is being constructed. He announced that there are still nice lots available for sale.
– Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. Councilor Roskoski asked if they had dropped off booklets on ATV and Water Safety. The Administrator said that no booklets have been dropped off.
– Public Access Channel. Councilor Roskoski asked if the City Council agenda was submitted. Staff said that the agendas have been submitted, but this particular one was not submitted do to an oversight.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the quote for 7500 feet of KVA I/O underground wire in the amount of $16,237.50 from Resco. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Director of Public Works updated the Council on the following:
– South Grove and Downtown Pavilions. He said that he is currently working with the Masons Union #633, he said that they want to pour a five foot circle of the City’s logo in the center of the pavilion and they should be completed before the Merritt Days Celebration. The Director of Public Works said that the pavilions were delayed because the company had sent the wrong pavilions to the City.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number three for the 2007 Street Improvement Projects to Ulland Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $172,748.38. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number seven for the Unity Addition Phase II Residential Development to Utility Systems of America Incorporated in the amount of $14,806.66. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to approve payment request number one for the South Grove Tennis Courts to Mesabi Bituminous in the amount of $41,161.12. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to approve payment request number two for the 2008 Street Improvements to Ulland Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $19,187.85. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the Liaison Reports the following reports were made:
– Street and Alley Committee. Councilor Roskoski thanked Benchmark Engineering for their fine job in designing the proper lane widths and striping along Unity Drive from County Road 7 east to the railroad tracks.
– Street and Alley Committee. Councilor Roskoski thanked the Minnesota Department of Transportation for upgrading the signage on Highway 169.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to authorize the payment of one half of the increase in costs for the 2007 Street Improvement Projects completed by Mesabi Bituminous Incorporated because the City of Mountain Iron had asked them to wait one year to complete the project for a total payment of $25,476.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
Councilor Roskoski said that the Mountain Iron Civic Association held a meeting July 15, 2008, to discuss the application for the Culture and Tourism grant application. He said that the Civic Association made a motion that they would apply for a Culture and Tourism grant for the maximum amount of $10,000 for a canopy over Locomotive 806, contingent on the City providing an equal match to the grant.
At 7:45 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
At 7:47 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was the consensus of the Council to inquire as to the deadline for the Culture and Tourism grant application, to consider an allocation in the 2009 budget, and work with the Parks and Recreation Board on how the canopy should look. Councilor Roskoski said that the Civic Association would require a resolution of support and contribution from the City of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 32-08, authorizing submission of a Community Development Block Grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to approve of barricading City streets as needed for the Merritt Days Celebration on August 14, 15, and 16, 2008. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the Deluxe Café/Harold’s Bar to operate an on-sale bar at the Mountain Iron Community Center on August 16, 2008, for the Fox wedding. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the water main breaks near the Star Homes area. The Director of Public Works said that Benchmark Engineering is preparing specifications on the project and there should be quotes presented to the Council at the next regular meeting.
The Council discussed the gravel conditions on Enterprise Drive North. The Director of Public Works said that this is Ulland Brothers problem to take care.
The Council reviewed the list of communications. The Mayor read the communication from Marion Giru regarding the City assisting her in obtaining a grant to demolish the Wayne Motor building.
During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg expressed displeasure regarding the proposed signs for the Mesabi Trail stating that they were not really factual.
The Mayor advised the Council that he would not be at the August 3, 2008, City Council meeting.
At 8:02 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Marion Giru, a thank you for the assistance in obtaining the grant to demolish the Wayne Motor building.
2. National Multiple Sclerosis Society, advising the City that the annual “The Ride Across Minnesota (TRAM)” will be passing through Mountain Iron on July 23rd.
3. League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding a follow up to the April 30, 2008, Loss Control Survey conducted on April 23, 2008.
4. Planning and Zoning Commission, a notice of a public hearing on July 28, 2008, for a Conditional Use Permit for R. Michael Grahek.
5. Planning and Zoning Commission, a notice of a public hearing on July 28, 2008, for a Conditional Use Permit for Justin Kochar.
