Meeting Minutes for June 20, 2005
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 20, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent: Allen Nelson. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director or Public Works; and Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 2. Wolf Park Playground
IV. D. 2. Parkville School
Approve the minutes of the June 3, 2005, City Council meeting with the following corrections:
Page 5, paragraph 3, sentence 2, “The City Administrator said that It was the consensus of the Council that the City Council and City Staff would review the situation and make a recommendations.”
Page 5, last motion, correct spelling of name to Grahbowski.
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, 2005, totaling $144,207.05, (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, 2005, totaling $260,430.75, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Richelle Irish, representing the Mountain Iron-Buhl Close-up Group, formally thanked the City Council for their donation to Close-up for helping to send 12 Mountain Iron-Buhl School students to Washington D.C. She also brought a picture display for the Council to review.
Also during the public forum, Wilbert Johnson, spoke asking if his neighbor, Dave Nordlund at 5619 Nichols Avenue, had applied for a variance and/or building permit for a structure he is putting in his front yard. The Mayor advised Mr. Johnson that Mr. Nordlund had been ticketed and had seven days to respond. Mr. Johnson also questioned whether Mr. Nordlund could cut branches off of a tree that is in his yard. The City Attorney said that Mr. Nordlund could cut the tree branches if they were hanging onto his property. The Council advised the Blight Officer to follow up on the situation.
Also during the public forum, Barb Fivecoate, representing the Economic Development Authority, spoke regarding the Mountain Timber Development Agreement. She said that herself, Tony Zupancich, and Craig Wainio have worked with the representatives of the Mountain Timber Properties on the development agreement since December, 2004. Ms. Fivecoate said that Mountain Timber Properties is a positive project for Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to accept the resignation of Larry P. Johnson from the Economic Development Authority (EDA), send him a letter thanking him for his years of service, and authorizing the City Administrator to advertise for the open EDA position until Friday, July 8, 2005. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize City Staff to install fencing and/or a gate to block the access to the Wolf Park, leaving a small area for parking, and refer the Wolf Park situation to the Park and Recreation Board for a recommendation. The motion carried.
The Mayor commented on the parking problems on Unity Drive by the Mesabi Family YMCA for activities going on at their facility. City Staff will look into the matter further with regard to signage and a request to have the YMCA add the no parking regulation on Unity Drive to their registration forms.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize City Staff to seek quotes on approximately 2,000 cubic yards of Class 5 gravel. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Director of Public Works regarding what type of utilities the City supplies to the Hoover shops area. The Director of Public Works said that the Hoover shops have sewer, water, and electricity. The Director of Public Works stated that he could not remember if the Marincel property had any sewer and water service.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to seek quotes for painting of the locomotive and authorize Councilor Roskoski to work with the Recreation Director to have the painting job completed so that it is historically correct. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to direct the Blight Officer to work with the City Attorney, by declaring an emergency situation and following the procedure set forth, and remedy the problem with the window glass at the Parkville School building. The motion carried.
Councilor Irish expressed concerns regarding the ditch by the Parkville Baseball Field. The Recreation Director said that the ditch is Saint Louis County property and the City had not received permission to install a culvert. Councilor Irish said that there is not enough benches for the spectators and players. Councilor Irish also said that home plate also needs fill. Councilor Irish said that he would like to see a letter written to Saint Louis County for the installation of the culvert. It was the consensus of the Council to allow the Director of Public Works to work with St. Louis County and if there is no action in the next two weeks that a letter be written to Saint Louis County.
The City Engineer was not present due to a family emergency and the Inflow and Infiltration Report would be available for the next regular meeting.
Councilor Irish questioned the Director of Public Works regarding the quality of the Class 6 gravel, which was purchased from Mesabi Bituminous, for use on Heather Avenue. He said that it may not be any better in quality than the mill feed that is currently on Heather Avenue.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Attorney regarding the required vote of four-fifths of the Council to initiate a project requiring assessments. The City Attorney confirmed that a four-fifths majority is required when there is not a petition received from the property owners.
Mayor Skalko introduced Gary Cerkvenik, representing Mountain Timber Properties, and gave an overview of the proposed project. Gary Cerkvenik reviewed the proposed project with the City Council and answered their questions.
At 8:23 p.m., Mayor Skalko called for a recess.
At 8:35 p.m., the Mayor reconvened the meeting.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to table the Development Agreement with Mountain Timber Properties until the next regular City Council meeting to allow the City Council to proceed with fact finding on the development and have any Councilors that have questions to submit their questions to the City Administrator or Gary Cerkvenik. And further, to request to have Barb Fivecoate and Tony Zupancich, representing the Economic Development Authority, to attend the next regular City Council meeting to assist with answering any additional questions. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to have a public meeting with the residents of Downtown Mountain Iron and South Grove and they be notified by letter through the mail to review the Mountain Timber Properties proposed project before the next regular City Council meeting. And further, that this proposed project be forwarded to the Planning and Zoning Commission and the Utility Advisory Board for their review, input, and questions that they may have. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Irish; yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; and Skalko, no.
Councilor Roskoski questioned whether the Director of Public Works had received quotations for the Ann�s Acres street lighting project. The Director of Public Works stated that the quotes would be available for the next regular City Council meeting. Councilor Roskoski requested that the City Administrator put the Ann�s Acres Street Lighting Project on the next regular meeting agenda.
Councilor Roskoski asked if the City Administrator had received any assessment policies from other communities. The City Administrator said that he had received several policies. Councilor Roskoski said that the Street and Alley Committee should meet and review the policies.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to table Resolution Number 13-05, receiving report and calling for a hearing on improvements, until the next regular City Council meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 14-05, accepting bids for the library improvement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 15-05, charitable gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 16-05, preliminary capital bonding request of the State of Minnesota 2006 legislative session. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko amended his motion to have the land location in the resolution indicated as any land north of Highway 169. Councilor Prebeg supported the amendment. The motion failed with Councilors Roskoski and Irish voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize Stephen Skogman to update the City of Mountain Iron�s Emergency Management Plan. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to add two areas, where the Quad City�s sign is located on Highway 169 and the entrance rock sign on County Road 102 and Highway 53, to the City�s grass cutting policy. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to reschedule the next regular City Council meeting until Tuesday, July 5, 2005 beginning at 6:30 p.m. because of the holiday. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski said that the Locomotive Park project was progressing well with the Trail Head development and the City improvements.
At 9:34 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Gary Skalko, submitting Mesabi Daily News article on the Excelsior Plant.
MediaCom, information regarding the expiration of the cable franchise agreement on January 15, 2008.
Range Association of Municipalities and Schools, announcing the Iron Range Economic Development Review and Update meeting scheduled for June 22nd in Eveleth.
League of Minnesota Cities, the June 10, 2005 Friday Fax.
