Meeting Minutes for June 21, 2010
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
JUNE 21, 2010
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Alan Stanaway was absent. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Sam Aluni, City Attorney, Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Remove the minutes of the June 7, 2010 meeting and the Receipts from the consent agenda.
2. 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.
3. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period June 1-15, 2010, totaling $126,375.51, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes, Zupancich, yes, Roskoski, yes, Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Prebeg to approve the minutes of the June 7, 2010 meeting as submitted. Discussion took place on charging the public for information requests, such as assessment searches. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Prebeg to acknowledge the receipts for the period June 1-15, 2010, totaling $661,396.65, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
No one spoke during the public forum
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
>Economic Development Authority. He wanted to recognize the EDA members as follows:
Anthony Zupancich, President Barb Fivecoate, VP/Treasurer
Robert Voss Allen Nelson
Alan Stanaway Andrea Wilson
Mary Jacobsen, Secretary Craig Wainio, Executive Director
Minutes at City Council
June 21, 2010
Page 2
>Corrected information on the City of Roseau:
They have 25 Employees. Their population is 2756. Roseau covers 2.4
square miles.
>The City prevailed in the lawsuit filed by Councilor Roskoski over a street
assessment on 16th Avenue.
>The City Administrator will provide an update on the solar panel factory.
>Council Recognition. Councilor Zupancich chose to recognize the Merritt Days
Committee. The Committee is made up of volunteers from the City and Events
Coordinator, Sally Peterangelo. The group does a tremendous job each year
on an event that people look forward to each year.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the Community Business Partnership Grant Program Report. None of the funds have been expended as of this date.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Zupancich to adopt the Community Business Partnership Grant Program report through the Iron Range Resources to help businesses in the community and to have the City run some advertising in the Mesabi Daily News and the Hometown Focus informing businesses located in Mountain Iron that there is this program available to help with local economic development projects. The motion carried unanimously.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the solar panel plant. The project was approved by the Iron Range Resources at their meeting on June 17, 2010. The EDA will be receiving a loan from the IRR for $3.6 million to construct a building to house Silicon Energy Minnesota for manufacturing solar panels to be sold primarily in the Excel Energy service territory. They hope to be operational by March, 2011 with 15-20 jobs created.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the City Attorney on the legality of refunding zoning permit fees charged to building permit recipients for projects costing less that $2000. Discussion took place on whether the fees should be charged and the matter was referred to Planning and Zoning.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to authorize payment request number 6 to Magney Construction, Inc. in the amount of $4,306.50 for the Wastewater Treatment Plant project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to approve the variance application for Mr. Don Salin as recommended by the Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
Minutes at City Council
June 21, 2010
Page 3
Councilor Zupancich questioned when the Planning and Zoning Commission Ordinance updates for their manuals would be received. The City Administrator said they will be done as time permits.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Prebeg to approve Resolution Number 05-10, authorizing City Absentee Ballot Board. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to reschedule the July 5, 2010 meeting to July 6, 2010 at 6:30 p.m.. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to recess the regular City Council meeting and open the closed meeting. The regular meeting will be adjourned when the closed meeting is adjourned. The motion carried unanimously.
Submitted by:
Judy Seurer
Accounting Technician
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Thank you note from Perkins owners through the EDA.
