Meeting Minutes for June 17, 2002
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 17, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. H. Skate Jam/Mesabi Family YMCA Joint Project
2. Approve the minutes of the June 3, 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 June 1-15, 2002, totaling $234,298.75, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period June 1-15, 2002, totaling $68,741.75, (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 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the vacation of easement. The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public hearing and there were no communications received.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved Matanich and supported by Skogman to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution Number 25-02, to vacate an easement in the Stony Brook Park Addition, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public forum.
Gary Giroux, City Auditor, was present and reviewed the 2001 audit report with the City Council.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to accept the 2001 City of Mountain Iron audit report as presented. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to refer the Electric and Wastewater Enterprise Funds to the Utility Advisory Board for review for possible rate increases and make a recommendation to the City Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to direct City Staff to research the firms that may be available to complete the GASB 34 reporting requirements and submit the information at the next regular City Council agenda. The motion carried.
The Council discussed the Planning and Zoning recommendation regarding Ordinance number 07-02 regarding amending the zoning map for the area around Mashkenode Lake and Perch Lake from Mineral Mining (MM) to Urban Residential-Sewered (UR-S) for a potential housing development. Scott Seeley, representing Taylor Investment Corporation, outlined the project for the Council. He said that they have a signed purchase agreement with USX Corporation and they want to develop approximately 50 residential lots that would be a minimum of two and one-half acres in size.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to direct the City Engineer to develop a cost estimate to construct water and sewer lines to the Mashkenode Lake area by extending the water and sewer lines on Sainio Road. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to table Ordinance number 07-02 until further information on the infrastructure costs is available. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and set the wages for summer lifeguards at $8.00 per hour for regular lifeguards and $10.00 per hour for the head lifeguard. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of Staff and purchase the following maintenance equipment from the unallocated capital outlay budget for use at the parks and ball fields:
Ryan Renovaire $5,425.00
Landpride Overseeder $6,275.00
Turfco Edge-R-Rite $1,085.00
Red Max Reciprocating Edger $ 550.00
Turfco Mete-R-Matic III Top Dresser $7,500.00
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to authorize the Sergeant to seek bids on a new four-wheel drive vehicle for use in the Sheriffs Department. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the May 2002 Sheriff Department Activity Report. The Council discussed the staffing levels in the Mountain Iron Sheriff Department Office.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to authorize City Staff to re-quote the Community Center Sign and reject all the previous quotes. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to deny the request of the owners of the Plumbing and Heating Direct store to construct a parking lot that would encroach on the Enterprise Drive North right-of-way easement. The motion carried.
The Council tabled Resolution Number 26-02, awarding the bid for the water tower improvements.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to approve the catastrophic sick leave request of Mike Dundas and to send a letter to the city employees that donated sick leave time commending them for their generosity. The motion carried.
Mr. Joe Novak, representing Ferrellgas, was present and outlined the building permit application for the installation of three 30,000-gallon propane storage tanks at the Duluth, Winnipeg, and Pacific (DWP) Railroad property.
It was moved by Roskoski to approve the building permit for Ferrellgas to install three 30,000-gallon propane storage tanks. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski withdrew his motion.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to table the Ferrellgas building permit until the Council�s questions regarding setbacks from hydrants, residential areas and safety concerns are answered by the company. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to approve the 2002 allocation to the Virginia/Mountain Iron/Gilbert Chamber of Commerce in the amount of $10,000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to set a Committee-of-the-Whole Strategic Planning meeting for June 27, 2002 at 6:00 p.m. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to make a motion of support to explore the idea and options of a joint effort of the Skate Jam and the Mesabi YMCA. And further, to have the Mayor and Recreation Director involved in the discussions and process. The motion carried.
The Mayor did not have any additional information to report to the Council during his report.
During the open discussion the following Council members spoke:
Councilor Matanich- Commended City Staff for the good job on completing the collection of large trash in the City.
Councilor Prebeg- Questioned if there was going to be ditching work completed when the summer street projects were completed. The Director of Public Works advised the Council that most of the projects were for street overlay and there would be very little ditching work completed.
Councilor Prebeg- Thanked the Council and City Staff for the thoughtfulness expressed to his family following the passing of his brother.
Councilor Roskoski- Asked if the city overlooks were going to be cleaned up with the cutting of trees, mowing grass, and fence repairs.
Councilor Skogman- Questioned what was being done with the Otto residence on Mineral Avenue. The Blight Officer said that the city would be proceeding to the next step of the ordinance at the end of the month. He also asked what the status was of adding an access from Highway 169 into Kinross. The Director of Public Works said that he thought a letter was suppose to be coming from USX Corporation regarding letting emergency vehicles through when the roads are shut down for blasting. Councilor Skogman also questioned the safety concerns when the railroad blocks Old Highway 169 with a train stopped on the tracks. Councilor Prebeg said that he spoke with the Supervisor for the Drill and Blast Department and he wanted more information regarding what the city is looking for with regard to the safety concerns.
Councilor Prebeg- Requested that City Staff submit the information on the proposed golf course/green space area to the Recreation Board, the Planning and Zoning Commission, and the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for them to review. And further, to possibly hold a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting with the boards and commissions to brainstorm the ideas.
The Mayor announced that filings for Mayor and Councilor would be open on July 2nd.
The Chairman of the Planning and Zoning Commission asked if the zoning map could be put back into the Mountain Iron Room. The City Administrator said that he would do so.
At 8:31 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
