Meeting Minutes for June 01, 2009
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 1, 2009
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 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; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the following consent agenda items be approved as follows:
Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. D. 1. Resolution Number 25-09
A. Approve the minutes of the May 18, 2009, regular meeting as submitted.
B. 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.
C. To acknowledge the receipts for the period April 16-30, 2009, totaling $195,620.45, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the following consent agenda items be approved as follows:
D. To authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period May 16-31, 2009, totaling $227,213.58, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). NOTE: Excluding the bill from Colosimo, Patchin, Kearney, and Brunfelt, Ltd.
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment of the bill to the Colosimo, Patchin, Kearney, and Brunfelt, Ltd., in the amount of $1,998.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, abstain; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
During the public forum, Matthew Kishel, 5483 Bluebell Avenue, Mountain Iron, asked Councilor Roskoski why he felt that the citizens of Mountain Iron should pay for the legal expenses incurred because of his trespassing charges. Councilor Roskoski said that he had done this to protect his family and show everyone in Mountain Iron the politics involved in the City. Mr. Kishel also asked what the procedure for a recall vote would be. The City Administrator said that he would contact the City Attorney to seek this information.
The Zoning Administrator was present and asked who would make the determination on what would be considered a muted color for single family dwellings in Unity Second Addition as per the covenants. The City Administrator said that this should be referred back to the Planning and Zoning Commission or City Staff for a recommendation.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– City Council procedures. He advised the Council that he is the presiding officer of the Council and he would follow the agenda at the meeting and not allow a question and answer period for items that can be discussed with City Staff outside of the meetings.
– Tour of Holiday Inn Express. He reported that several members of the City Council and EDA had toured the facility and it would be opened on June 2, 2009. He said that the facility would provide 25 jobs and added $9 million dollars of value to the City. He also said that there was no tax increment financing used for the construction of the project and there were no tax abatements approved.
Gary Cerkvenik and Jeff Buffetta made a presentation regarding the proposed Arrowhead Amateur Sports Complex. Mr. Cerkvenik said that the 2010 Minnesota Legislature was going to start the next session in February 2010 and every other year they approve a major bonding and construction bill of approximately $1.2-$1.5 billion dollars. He said that he would like the support of the City Council to proceed with a request to locate a Sports Complex within the City of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to authorize the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority (EDA) to apply, by the June 25th deadline, to the State Department of Management and Budget for an Arrowhead Amateur Sports Complex subject to EDA approval and the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District participation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 25-09, approving laws of Minnesota 2009, Chapter 110, Section 34, permitting the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority to form a limited liability company, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg that the liquor license applications for the period June 1, 2009 through December 31, 2009, be approved and issued to the following individual and business establishment pursuant to the approval, where necessary, of the Liquor Control Commission and pursuant to the payment of all outstanding license fees and utility charges:
Home on the Range LLC 3.2 Beer License
DBA: Holiday Inn Express & Suites Wine License
8570 Rock Ridge Drive
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– GIS Project. He advised the Council that there may still be workers in the City with GPS Units working on the GIS Project in the City.
– Unity Drive Railroad Crossing. This project should be completed now.
It was moved by Roskoski to have the Mountain Iron Sheriffs Department notify Mr. Strumbell, in writing, about the fire that took place on his property, east of Ann’s Acres, on May 13, 2009, with the City Council Members copied on the correspondence. The motion died for lack of support.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize Benchmark Engineering, working with the Director of Public Works, to represent the City of Mountain Iron at the East Range Water Sewer District meetings. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number one to Mesabi Bituminous in the amount of $50,825.00 for the Agate Street Storm Sewer Improvements. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Summit Signs and Home on the Range LLC, to place an off-site sign on Lots 13 and 14, Block 8, West Virginia Addition to Mountain Iron, parcels 175-0065-01590 and 01600. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the Sheriffs Department to purchase a Ford F150 Crew Cab pickup truck at a cost of $24,465.55 from Lundgren Motor. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to forward the specifications for bids for the purchase of the Quick Attack Wildland Fire Apparatus with one correction changing the 100 foot to 200 foot reel. The motion carried.
The following were discussed during the Liaison Reports:
– Library Board. Councilor Stanaway advised the Council that the Regional Library System had been conducting Community Focus Groups. He said that when the meetings are completed, a good community vision report should be submitted to the City. Councilor Prebeg commented on the usage at the Library and commended the Library Staff for all that they do at the Library to increase usage.
– Planning and Zoning Commission. Councilor Zupancich said that the Commission was currently reviewing the covenants of Unity Addition because of a request to construct a storage building on the property. He said that the City Attorney was currently reviewing the situation.
– Public Health and Safety Board. Councilor Roskoski said that the Board is reviewing having peddlers in Mountain Iron obtaining official identification from the City before being able to work in the City.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 22-09, authorizing the City Administrator to make application to the Iron Range Resources Public Works (FY10) Grant Program for the Mountain Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant Upgrade, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to send a letter of thanks to Representative Rukavina and Senator Tomassoni for the work they completed to get the Iron Range Resources Public Works Grant funding for the City.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 23-09, applying to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Clean Water Revolving Fund/Drinking Water Revolving Fund, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 24-09, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
At 8:06 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to recess the regular meeting and go into a closed session to discuss negotiations strategies with AFSCME Local Union #453. The motion carried.
The Council took a brief recess.
At 8:20 p.m., the Mayor convened the closed session 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; and Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works.
The Mayor said that the purpose of the closed session was to discuss contract negotiations strategies with AFSCME Local Union #453.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to adjourn the closed session and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 8:28 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. Mountain Iron-Buhl Archery Team, a thank you.
2. Tom Rukavina, State Representative, Minnesota House of Representatives, a letter advising the City of the funding from Taconite Area Environmental Protection Fund.
