Meeting Minutes for March 06, 2006
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 6, 2005
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 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; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
The Mayor welcomed the audience and television viewing audience to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Move the following item on the agenda:
Move V. B. to IV. C.
Approve the minutes of the February 22, 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 February 16-28, 2006, totaling $724,516.42, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period February 16-28, 2006, totaling $391,924.34, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
No one spoke during the public forum.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor advised the Council that there was a public hearing held in St. Paul on February 23, 2006 and Mayor Skalko, Councilor Prebeg and Gary Cerkvenik attended the public hearing and spoke regarding the bonding for the renewable energy park. The Mayor stated that the City should be informed by mid May if the bonding is approved.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to seek quotes on landscaping the area around the Community Center/City Hall and for the purchase of picnic tables with one of the picnic tables being ADA compliant and remaining within the $10,000 budget. The motion carried with Councilor Irish and Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to approve the modified purchase agreement with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District by agreeing to the stipulation that if the City does not develop the property within 10 years, the property reverts back to the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to approve of the transfer of the Cigarette License from Little Joe�s to the Short Stop owner Phil Troutwine for 5537 Nichols Avenue, Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the purchase of two M100 voting machines at the discounted price of $4,426.00 plus tax per machine, also authorizing the trade in of the current voting machines along with budgeting for the new machines in 2007 and 2008. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Administrator if the Zoning Administrator had contact him regarding the need for P & H requiring a Conditional Use Permit. The City Administrator said that the Zoning Administrator had mentioned briefly the actions at the Planning and Zoning Commission. The City Administrator said that if the Planning and Zoning Commission directed the Zoning Administrator to contact P & H, then he should do so.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the proposal regarding the construction of a Walgreens and a bank at the intersection of Mountain Iron Drive and Highway 53. The Mayor advised Councilor Roskoski that this is private property and the private developer can do what they want with the property as long as they apply for a building permit. The Mayor said that as of this date, no permit application had been submitted.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Director of Public Works regarding the project plans for next Summer. The Director of Public Works said that he was not prepare to give a report on the Summer projects, but could at a future meeting if the Council desires this information.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Director of Public Works regarding the purchase of a plow truck. Councilor Roskoski said that he would discuss this further during open discussion.
The Mayor asked the Director of Public Works about the meeting with Virginia regarding the 16th Avenue upgrade. The Director of Public Works said that the Street Committee met and are seeking additional information regarding 16th Avenue. The Mayor said that this needs to be taken care of as soon as possible.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Prebeg to prepare specifications and seek quotes for electrical upgrades at the West Two Rivers Campground. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to seek quotes for materials and installation of new gates, fencing and lighting for the Wolf Park. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski to direct Benchmark Engineer to survey the sewer area in the intersection of Spruce Drive and Aspen Lane to see how much the sanitary sewer manhole would have to be raised to prevent inflow into the sanitary sewer. After further discussion, Councilor Roskoski withdrew the motion and requested that this be put on the next City Council agenda.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit for Gerald Claesson to construct a garage 1008 square feet on parcel 175-0055-01275. The motion carried.
During the Liaison Reports, the Mayor said that he spoke with the Librarian and asked her for the list of top priorities for additional improvements at the Library.
Councilor Nelson reported that the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed the garage recently constructed in the easement in the Downtown Mountain Iron area. He said that the Zoning Administrator was going to investigate the situation and report back to the City Council.
Councilor Roskoski thanked the City Engineer for submitting the information to the City Council regarding the proposed development in the Mountain Iron Drive and Highway 53 area. The Mayor said that he spoke with the developer regarding the City�s concerns with the street in that area.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 03-06, application for a grant for the Wastewater Treatment Plant maintenance, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 04-06, setting a hearing on vacation, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to adopt Resolution Number 05-06, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of requests for Mineland Reclamation funding.
Councilor Irish was looking for a report of outstanding indebtedness. The City Administrator said that he would contact Northland Securities to obtain an updated report. Councilor Roskoski requested the amount of bonding authority that is available to the City. The Mayor suggested that Council members go into the City Hall and speak with City Staff to request this information.
Councilor Prebeg asked when the City Auditor would be at the Council meeting to present the 2005 audit report. The City Administrator said that he did not have a date set at this time.
Councilor Irish was requesting a monthly breakdown of health insurance costs, including third party payments of all active and non-active employees for 2005. The City Administrator said that he would submit the information to the Council.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to approve change order number five for the library renovation project in the amount of $285.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to approve partial payment estimate number seven in the amount of $11,300.00 to Lenci Enterprises. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the building rental fees to be waived for a fundraiser dinner for the Mountain Iron-Buhl Baseball Team on April 9, 2006. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski reviewed the list of city owned plowing and sanding vehicles. The Mayor suggested that Councilor Roskoski come in to the City Hall and speak to City Staff personally regarding these issues.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Nelson spoke and clarified an article in the newspaper regarding the library renovation project; he said that he is not supportive of the project, but votes for the payments on the project because it is a legal obligation for the City to pay the bills for the projects.
At 7:42 p.m, it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting to go into a closed session to discuss and review contract strategies for contract negotiations with AFSCME Union #453. The motion carried.
At 7:50 p.m., the Mayor called the close session to order.
At 8:09 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
League of Minnesota Cities (LMC), a reminder of upcoming Spring and Summer LMC events that the City is invited to attend.
Quad Cities Gymnastics Team, a thank you for the City�s contribution towards new uniforms.
LMC, forwarding the February 24, 2006 Friday Fax.
Planning and Zoning Commission, forwarding a notice of a public hearing for rezoning on March 13th.
