Meeting Minutes for June 19, 2006
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 19, 2006
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. 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; Wade Rasch, Sergeant; Gary Giroux, City Auditor; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:35 p.m.).
The Mayor welcomed the audience and the television viewing audience to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 2. Letter of retirement from Anthony Scinto
Request to waive rental fee for Nichols Hall
Request for DSL service for the Mountain Iron telephone exchanges
Move the following item on the agenda:
IV. H. 1. to Before the Mayor�s report
Approve the minutes of the June 5, 2006, City Council meeting as submitted.
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.
To acknowledge the receipts for the period June 1-15, 2006, totaling $116,449.75, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period June 1-15, 2006, totaling $349,171.77, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Father Doyle was present and requested that the Council install a light at the Downtown Park for playing basketball in the evenings. The Recreation Director said that he would bring the request to the Parks and Recreation Board for a recommendation.
The City Auditor submitted excerpts of the 2005 audit report and reviewed them with the Council.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize a $300 contribution to the Summer Work Outreach Project using Charitable Gambling Funds. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to accept the retirement of Anthony Scinto effective June 30, 2006. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to waive the rental fees for the Nichols Town Hall fundraiser for August 4, 2006. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to make a request to Qwest to bring in DSL service for the 735, 741, and 749 telephone service areas of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to have a thank you letter sent to Representative Rukavina and Senator Tomassoni for getting the City funds to upgrade 16th Avenue (Hoover Road) in the amount of approximately $280,000. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski amended his motion to also thank the City of Virginia and Councilor Irish supported the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to direct City Staff to inquire with the City of Virginia regarding adding some additional routes that the dial-a-ride service could service in Mountain Iron; i.e. Carriage Homes, Senior Center, and Mountain Manor, and inquire how much the service would cost. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council regarding the concerns of the Library Board regarding the progress of the restoration. The Mayor said that a construction meeting was scheduled for Wednesday, June 21, 2006 at 1:00 p.m.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Dale Erickson, 5165 Chesapeake Court, Mountain Iron, parcel code 175-0067-00240 to construct an accessory building 24 feet by 40 feet to be used for personal storage. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Todd Signs for the United Parcel Services on property owned by Reynold Pettinelli, 818 16th Avenue South, Mountain Iron, parcel code 175-0065-00760, to erect an off site sign. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to accept the high bid of Duncan McGregor for the 1996 Chevrolet one ton with dump body and plow, vehicle identification number 1GBJK34J8TE228701 in the amount of $8,618.00. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
Councilor Prebeg updated the Council regarding the landscaping project for the Community Center area.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to forward a report to the City Council by the first meeting in July on this Spring�s large trash pickup, income coming in versus the expenses of completing it. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the $100 advertisement on Mesabi Trail website and on the 13 different kiosks physically on the trail. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Recreation Director announced that the construction work was scheduled to begin at the South Grove Park on June 20, 2006; the 4th of July Celebration schedule was posted; and the Merritt Days Celebration was being finalized.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Recreation Director regarding the gate/traffic control at the Wolf Park. The Recreation Director said that the fence company had this project on their Summer schedule and the security light should also be taken care of this Summer.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff�s Department Activity Report for the month of May, 2006.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Engineer regarding the Valvoline sump pump connection. The City Engineer advised the Council that Valvoline would be connecting to the line at their expense.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Attorney regarding the P & H MinePro Administrative hearing. The City Attorney said that he would work with the Zoning Administrator regarding the P & H MinePro matter.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to refer the weight and load restriction information to the Street and Alley Committee for further discussion and a recommendation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to grant the tax abatement on the new addition of the L & M Supply building for a period of ten years on the City�s portion of the taxes. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko withdrew his motion.
Councilor Roskoski updated the Council regarding a meeting held on June 12, 2006 regarding the Quite Zone. He said that a representative from the Federal Rail Administration advised the group attending the meeting that County Road 657 currently meets the Quiet Zone requirements.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to adopt Ordinance 03-06, amending Section 154.084 of the Mountain Iron City Code, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilors Irish and Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to approve the Library Renovation RFP #13, providing for conduit for a telephone line, in the amount of $1,370. Mayor Skalko amended his motion to have the RFP #13 contested and reviewed at the June 21, 2006 construction meeting. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize payment request number nine to Lenci Enterprises for the Library Renovation Project in the amount of $9,500.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to re-schedule the July 3, 2006, City Council meeting to Wednesday, July 5, 2006, at 6:30 p.m. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications. Councilor Roskoski asked if City Staff would be attending the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development Workshop in Aitkin on June 21, 2006. The City Administrator said that he had attended a workshop previously held in Virginia and he would review the website to see if any of the criteria for the grants had changed.
Councilor Roskoski questioned a page missing in the communications regarding the letter from the State Auditor. The City Administrator said that he would forward the information to the Council.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski commented that the Mesabi Trail is being used frequently by cyclists and walkers.
At 8:27 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Small Cities Update, forwarding the June 5, 2006 update.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding information regarding the 2006 Legislative Session.
Patricia Anderson, Minnesota State Auditor, a letter addressing the 2004 City audit.
