Meeting Minutes for June 03, 2002
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 3, 2002
Mayor Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Absent members: Stephen Skogman and Joe Prebeg, Jr. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; and Greg French, City Engineer.
At 6:31 p.m., Councilor Prebeg entered the meeting.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
VI. H. Liquor/Cigarette Licenses-Rezavor, Inc.
Resolution #24-02, Accepting Property
2. Approve the minutes of the May 20, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period May 16-31, 2002, totaling $186,072.01, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period May 16-31, 2002, totaling $105,933.70, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Councilor Matanich updated the City Council on the land negotiation meeting with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School district. The school indicated that their wish list included a new ball field with a sprinkler system, lights, possibly waive the future street assessments charges on Unity Drive (old Eighth Street) and snow plowing at Merritt Elementary. Councilor Matanich said that he expected an Official from the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District to appear at the City Council meeting.
Also during the public forum, Dale Irish, representing Mountain Manor, appeared and questioned the Council regarding the handicapped parking at the Mountain Manor. He said that when the parking lot was repaved last year the striping was not completed. He asked if the City would be striping this soon. The Mayor advised Mr. Irish to contact the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority regarding the issue since they manage the facility.
Also during the public forum, Frank Falkowski spoke and advised the Council that when he was in Minneapolis he said that he read an article regarding modernizing the public libraries in South Minneapolis. He said that they had tunneled to the basement level and installed an elevator to access the remaining portion of the building. The Mayor thanked Mr. Falkowski for his input and said that the Council needs to consider all options for the future of the library.
Also during the public forum, Dale Irish questioned the Director of Public Works regarding an odor coming from the wastewater treatment plant. The Director of Public Works advised Mr. Irish to contact him when he smells the odor and he would check on the situation.
At 6:37 p.m., Larry Nanti, Recreation Director, entered the meeting.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the liquor and cigarette license applications for the period July 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002, be approved and issued to the following business establishment pursuant to the approval, where necessary, of the Liquor Control Commission and pursuant to the payment of all outstanding license fees and charges:
John J. Gorsha On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Rezavor, Inc. Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5235 Campground Road Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron MN 55768 Cigarette
The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to accept the proposal with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission to conduct Planning Services in the amount of $2,240 with the Mountain Iron Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to authorize City Staff to solicit quotes for crack sealing of Main Street and Marble Avenue. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to authorize City Staff to advertise in the Iron Trail publication in the amount of $1,985 with the funds being paid from the Mining Effects Tax. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the nuisance violation at 5746 Mesabi Avenue, Mountain Iron. The Blight Officer advised the Council that the situation was now in compliance and no further action was needed at this time.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve City Staff to call for quotes on lawn maintenance equipment. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to approve the Joint Powers Agreement with the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) for $60,000 in grant funds to complete a Phase II Environmental Study of the two dumpsites located near the original town site. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to authorize the release of the 2002 Merritt Days allocation in the amount of $3,000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to refer the information requested by the Merritt Days Committee to the Volunteer Recognition Committee for further consideration. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 21-02, accepting work on the Marble Avenue and Garden Drive street improvement projects, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution Number 22-02, accepting work on the Highway 169 intersection and the reconstruction of Emerald Avenue, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 23-02, accepting work on the road improvements at the West Two Rivers Campground, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications. The Council discussed the IRRRB letter regarding the elimination of the summer youth program.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to refer the request of the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARCD) to the Street Committee to develop a list of potential projects to submit to Congressman Oberstar through the ARDC. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to make a motion to wait on the acceptance of property from USX Corporation pending the outcome of the Phase II Environmental Study on the property. The motion carried.
During the Mayor’s report, the Mayor apologized for not attending the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on May 30, 2002. He said that he had legal education credits to complete for his license to practice law.
During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg asked if Minntac was still hauling ballast on the City streets. The Director of Public Works said that he has not seen them hauling.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to direct City Staff to contact area greenhouses/landscapers and obtain quotes on shrubbery to be placed around the Community Center/City Hall building to make it more attractive. The motion carried.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski asked how the meeting with Minntac Officials went. The City Administrator said that there has not been a meeting with Minntac yet. Councilor Roskoski also asked if the Park and Recreation Commission had looked at the Overlooks. The Recreation Director said that the Commission would be meeting on June 10, 2002. Councilor Roskoski also asked the Director of Public Works what major projects were going to be completed this summer. The Director of Public Works said that there is an electrical project plan by the apartments in Parkville, the installation of street lights on Emerald Avenue, and the refurbishing and repainting of the water towers.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to send a letter to the Minnesota Department of Transportation regarding the reconstruction project on Highway 169 expressing the concerns of the City Council regarding safety during the completion of the project. The motion carried.
At 7:24 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried
