Meeting Minutes for June 15, 1998
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. 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; Joe Stewart, Sergeant; and Karen Luoma, Librarian.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
V. B. City Hall Issue
VI. F. Planning and Zoning
1) Authorize City Engineer to work on Zoning Maps
2. Approve the minutes of the June 1, 1998, regular meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the June 9, 1998, special 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 June 1-15, 1998, totaling $205,180.22, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
6. Acknowledge the receipts for the period June 1-15, 1998, totaling $80,298.21, (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, the Council reviewed the suggestion box item regarding the cardboard storage problem by the recycling bins in Parkville. The Director of Public Works said that the City has a fenced cardboard storage area to put in Parkville.
During the public forum, Pete Cerkvenik asked if there would be any action taken regarding the City Hall upgrades or new construction. He said that he is opposed to the relocation of the City Hall. He said that he agrees with Councilor Olsen and Councilor Skogman that a chair lift could be used in the present City Hall and the Council should consider using the bank building for more office space. He said that the newspaper article presented the issue of moving the City Hall as a “done” deal. He said that he does not agree with the idea of using some electric utility funds to pay for a new city hall. He said that the electric utility customers would be paying double through their electric charges and taxes for a new City Hall. He also said that he did not feel that the present City Hall would cost $500,000 to upgrade for Americans with Disability Act compliance (ADA).
Also during the public forum, John Rappuchi and Barb Peterson were present to discuss the 9th Street Truck route. Mayor Brunfelt reviewed the options for truck traffic servicing the Merritt Industrial Park. The Mayor said that the options would not be eliminating the problem, only rerouting the truck traffic to other residential neighborhoods. The Mayor said that he would not vote for any changes to the truck traffic route for expenses proposed in the list of options, but he would be willing to look into other solutions to the problem. Councilor Olsen asked if anyone had spoken with the business owners regarding the truck traffic problem. Councilor Olsen also asked if the Housing and Redevelopment Authority would look into the truck traffic solutions by the addition of more businesses in the area and the construction of a new access road. Councilor Olsen also asked if the City could install stop signs at every intersection to slow traffic and have the Sheriff’s Department have increased enforcement in the area.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to have the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Executive Director bring the truck traffic route situation and suggestions for additional development in the area back to the HRA for consideration and further, to look into some highway funding to work on the construction of a new street to accommodate the truck traffic and have a cooperative effort between the HRA and the City Council to work on the truck traffic problem. The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to have Sergeant Stewart pursue increased traffic enforcement for the West Virginia area. The Mayor requested the Director of Public Works keep Mr. John Rappuchi briefed on the truck traffic route improvements in the area.
The City Attorney informed the Council that he would be going to court on June 16, 1998 for the friendly condemnation for the Parkville Housing land acquisition. He said that the City will be using the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources appraiser to keep the costs down on the acquisition. The City could possess the property by September 1, 1998.
The Mayor requested the City Attorney to have the houses owned by McGregor House Movers located in South Grove moved by July 1, 1998. The City Attorney said that he would contact McGregor House Movers to advise them of the deadline.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to authorize payment request number one on the 16th Avenue Reconstruction Project to Mesabi Bituminous for $69,280.65. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and award the bid on the Merritt Statute to Range Monument for approximately $2,000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the Library Board and hire Miss Kelly Rubow as the seasonal worker for the Library. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and hire Mr. Scott Chandler for the Labor Position. The motion carried with Mayor Brunfelt abstaining.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Olsen to authorize the payment of the 1998 appropriation to the Merritt Days Committee for $4,000.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the City Hall ADA issue.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Piri that the City Council not consider moving the City Hall at this time. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Matanich, no; Piri, yes; Olsen, yes; Skogman, no; and Brunfelt, no.
The Mayor appointed Councilor Skogman, Councilor Olsen, the City Administrator, the Director of Public Works, and the City Engineer to an Ad Hoc Committee to further review upgrading the City Hall for ADA compliance or the construction of a new city hall by having cost comparisons prepared by an architect. The Mayor said that a time line for an informal deadline should be set at the 1st meeting of the Ad Hoc Committee.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the Certification of Local Performance Measures. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve Resolution #26-98, IRRRB grant application for infrastructure, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve Resolution #27-98, IRRRB grant application for the extension of Eighth Street, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Olsen to approve Resolution #28-98, IRRRB Summer Youth Program, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich to approve Resolution #29-98, IRRRB Summer Youth Program, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to allow the City Engineer to work with the Planning and Zoning Commission regarding the discrepancy on the zoning maps.
The City Council reviewed the list of communications.
The Mayor thanked Larry P. Johnson and the Quad Cities Group for the Quad Cities pamphlets that were prepared.
During the open discussion, Councilor Matanich updated the City Council on the meeting that was held to discuss the St. Louis County Fair.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Olsen asked the Recreation Director about the issue regarding the bucket being put on the stone in the Mountain Iron-Buhl School yard. It was the consensus of the Council to have the Recreation Director work with Ed Roskoski to have the bucket placed on the stone in the school yard.
Sergeant Stewart said that the St. Louis County Emergency Response Team has requested to use the Parkville School for training.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Brunfelt to allow the St. Louis County Emergency Response Team to have City Staff give them permission to use the Parkville School when they need it and when it is available. The motion carried.
At 7:41 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
