Meeting Minutes for March 05, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 5, 2007
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Rick Feiro, Sergeant (entering at 6:31 p.m.).
The Mayor welcomed the audience and the television viewing audience to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
IV. C. 1. Smaller Refuse Containers
2. Approve the minutes of the February 20, 2007, City Council meeting with the following corrections:
Page 4, paragraph 4, line 11, “…..paid living wages. Page 5. Business Subsidy Requirement.”
Page 4, paragraph 7, line 2, “….systems that could be designed for the City of Mountain Iron, …….”
Page 5, paragraph 5, line 3, “….less government aid and possibly place some type of cap on rate increases.”
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period February 16-28, 2007, totaling $658,384.92, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period February 16-28, 2007, totaling $280,906.98, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Mayor made another plea to the area residents to apply to be an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) for the City of Mountain Iron. The Mayor advised interested candidates to come to the City Hall and speak with the City Administrator regarding the positions.
The Mayor clarified an “Onion” that was listed in the Mesabi Daily News regarding City donations. He said that the City donates funds from two basic areas. The first being the 10% contribution received from the Charitable Gambling being conducted in the City and those contributions can only be used for allowable expenditures as outlined in the State Statutes. The second source for contributions is the Mining Effects Tax and by law those funds have to be used through a cooperative project with other Cities or Governmental Entities. The Mayor said that the City also waives the rental fees for Mountain Iron Youth for school functions and fundraising benefits for area residents. Most contributions do not come from the General Fund.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Stanaway to adopt the Investment Policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), as presented. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski asked if the City was contributing to filming Mountain Iron sporting events. The City Administrator said that the City is presently only paying for City Council meeting to be televised. It was suggested that if the Council was interested in filming local sporting events that this request go to the Cable Commission and have them consider purchasing video cameras and schedule someone to film sporting events and get the video footage to the Public TV Personnel.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Zupancich that the possibility of a smaller trash can or the modification of the present small trash can into something of smaller capacity, along with any possible rate decrease, be forwarded to the Utility Advisory Board (UAB) for study; and further have the UAB make a recommendation to the City Council regarding the matter. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to allow the Great River Energy/Mesabi Trail Tour of 2007 to use Locomotive Park on August 11, 2007 for their event. The motion carried.
Councilor Stanaway said there was is a stand of poplar trees on the west end of Locomotive Park that are starting to die. The Recreation Director said that he would look into the matter.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) and approve the amendments to Ordinance 154 and set a public hearing for March 26, 2007 during the P & Z meeting. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to run four more advertisements for Emergency Medical Technicians, two per week, with the same content and size as previously printed and run the advertisements on Saturday and Sunday for two weeks. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 12-07, Receiving Report and Calling a Hearing for Street Improvements, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and supported by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 13-07, Ordering Preparation of Report on Improvements for Unity Second Addition, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and supported by Stanaway to approve the Mutual Aid Agreement with the Pike Sandy Britt Fire Department to cover those citizens located on Reid Road in Mountain Iron, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski pointed out that the last time a close session for management negotiations occurred was December of 2006. He requested that another closed session be held to bring the new Council members up to date on the management negotiations. Councilor Prebeg said that the Personnel Committee has met and a closed session should be held after the next regular meeting.
The Mayor announced that the “Public Visioning Session” was scheduled for March 7, 2007 at 6:30 p.m. at the Community Center.
Councilor Stanaway offered a big thank you to the Director of Public Works and his crew for the assistance provided at the benefit for the Gary Stanaway Family, he said that the family really appreciated it.
At 7:19 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Respectfully submitted:
Jill M. Forseen, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
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