Meeting Minutes for June 07, 1999
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Curt Piri, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Absent member included: Joe Matanich. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. H. Building Maintenance Person
G. Communications
7. Mesabi Academy, requesting permission to work in the city to fulfill community service requirements.
8. League of Minnesota Cities, a letter requesting candidates for the LMC Board of Directors.
9. City of Virginia, a letter announcing a Y2K meeting on June 15, 1999, in Virginia.
2. Approve the minutes of the May 17, 1999, committee of the whole meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the May 17, 1999, regular meeting as submitted.
4. 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.
5. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period May 16-31, 1999, totaling $175,747.27, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
6. Acknowledge the receipts for the period May 16-31, 1999, totaling $55,997.80, (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.
At 6:32, it was moved Piri and supported by Olsen to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on Tax Increment Financing District 11. The motion carried.
During the public hearing Mr. Wilson and Mr. Koski, the developers for the facility, spoke and gave the Council some information regarding the building. They said that they would be constructing a 13,000 square foot retail establishment that will house Sherwin-Williams and Metz Bakery.
The Administrator stated that no written correspondence was received regarding the public hearing.
At 6:35 p.m., it was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to close the public hearing on Tax Increment Financing District 11 and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 6:35 p.m., it was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on Duluth Regional Care Center, Inc. (DRCC) project and bonds. The motion carried.
Steve Fenlon, representing Midwest Healthcare Capital, discussed the financing for the residential properties located in the area with one being located at 15 Arbor Lane in Mountain Iron. He said that the refinancing would change the interest rate from 9% to 5.15%.
The Administrator stated that no written correspondence was received regarding the public hearing.
At 6:37 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to close the public hearing on DRCC project and bonds and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor directed Brock Kangas to speak with the Director of Public Works to review the property situation further.
The Council discussed the Quad Cities Area Alliance resolution with Larry Johnson and Constance Jones. The Mayor said the Council discussed the resolution during the Committee of the Whole meeting with the consensus that the Council would pass the resolution if the third whereas clause was removed.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve Resolution #21-99, supporting the Joint Quad Cities Area Economic Development efforts, (a copy is attached and made a part of this record). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to authorize the $4,000 allocation to be transferred to the Merritt Days Committee for the August 6th, 7th, and 8th celebration. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve the DNR Fishing Dock Grant in the amount of $20,000 with the City�s participation being in-kind services amounting to about $2,000 which will be payable in the year 2000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Skogman to approve the position analysis for the Zoning Administrator/Building Inspector, Building Inspector, Custodian, Secretary, Limited Light Duty Personnel, City Engineer, and City Attorney, (copies are attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council discussed the findings of the Street and Alley Committee. The Mayor said that this was an update and additional information needs to be obtained for a formal recommendation. The Committee will be able to make a recommendation sometime in August or September.
Jerry Kujala, representing the Messiah Lutheran Church, was present and said that at the Church meeting the congregation gave overwhelming approval to proceed with the City on the project.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to authorize City Staff to proceed with the following:
1) Draft a formal written agreement with the Messiah Lutheran Church.
2) Authorize Benchmark Engineering to proceed with plans and specifications on site work, utility installation and road construction.
3) Prepare the necessary deeds and descriptions.
4) Authorize Benchmark Engineering to prepare a preliminary layout for a housing development on City owned land south of 8th Street, including elevations.
5) Proceed to obtain a right to construct permit from the Minnesota Department of Transportation to construct on the right-of-way.
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was the consensus of the Council to direct the City Attorney to provide the City with a written opinion on the separation of church and state issue with regard to entering into this agreement with the Messiah Lutheran Church.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Resolution #17-99, approving Tax Increment District 11, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, no; Piri, yes; Olsen, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Brunfelt to adopt Resolution #18-99, approving Modification to Tax Increment District 8, (a copy is a attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Piri, yes; Olsen, yes, Skogman, no; and Brunfelt, yes.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to adopt Resolution #19-99, giving approval to a project by DRCC, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to adopt Resolution #20-99, dedicating certain property for public road purposes, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the Glenn Steeves Tank prevailing wage issue. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Attorney investigate whether the business is a partnership and report back to the City Council.
It was the consensus of the Council to refer the Building Maintenance position to the Personnel Committee for a recommendation.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to authorize staff to propose selling the City lot in South Grove to Jason Goehring for fair market value. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to authorize the Summer Work Outreach Project (SWOP) and the Mesabi Academy to work in the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri to have the City Council go on record recognizing Gertrude Buria for her volunteer efforts and direct staff to send her a letter of congratulations. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the invitation from the City of Virginia for the June 15, 1999 meeting for Y2K at the Miners Memorial Building. It was the consensus of the Council to have Staff send a statement of the City of Mountain Iron�s position on the issue.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Olsen to accept the retirement of Michael Vidmar, with regrets, and to provide the appropriate show of appreciation for service as previously adopted. The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Skogman to direct the Personnel Committee to review various retirement provisions of the Contract, City personnel records and take appropriate action based upon the outcome with regard to Michael Vidmar. The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Brunfelt to abolish the Limited Light Duty Position as was occupied by Michael Vidmar. The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Olsen to authorize the Personnel Committee to proceed filling the vacancy as created by Michael Vidmar�s retirement. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Skogman asked Staff if they are still pursuing the relocation of the St. Louis County Fair Grounds. The City Administrator said that they are still in contact with the Fair Board officials. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator facilitate a meeting with Bryan Toivola and Conrad Jacobsen to see if the City is still being considered for the relocation of the fair grounds.
Also during the open discussion, the Council discussed the new access road into Merritt Industrial Park. The Council directed the City Administrator to communicate with the Planning and Zoning Commission advising them of the City Council action. The Mayor felt that the route on 9th Street is the dedicated truck traffic route. It was the consensus of the Council to refer the truck route back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for a recommendation.
It was the consensus of the Council to remove the Veterans Memorial Park from the City Council directive list because they are locating in Virginia.
The Council discussed the painting of the equipment in the Downtown Historic Park. The Recreation Director said that they have requested quotes to paint the equipment.
At 7:24 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
