Meeting Minutes for March 17, 2003
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 17, 2003
Mayor Skalko called the 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; Joe Stewart, Sergeant; and Greg French, City Engineer.
The Mayor commented to the City Council regarding all of the issues that they have had to deal with i.e., sump pumps, budget cuts, specifications for the commercial property, etc. He stated that it is not an easy job to be working in government right now. He said that it is healthy to have a split vote, but at times there is too much sarcasm and personal comments made with the Council votes. He requested that the Council be aware of this and to move forward in a positive manner.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
V. B. Coalition of Greater of MN Cities/MN Association of Small Cities
VI. K. Sentence to Serve Program
2. Approve the minutes of the March 3, 2003, City Council meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period March 1-15, 2003, totaling $181,698.60, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period March 1-15, 2003, totaling $192,457.98, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Jeff Lackner, Quad Cities Economic Development Authority (QCEDA) Director, reviewed the purpose of the authority with the City Council. He stated that the Authority is funded by the Quad Cities, by population, using funds from the mining effects tax. He stated that the purpose of the Authority is to enhance the image of our area, recruit new businesses, assist existing business expansion and deal with retention issues for existing businesses. The Council requested that Mr. Lackner report to the City Council bi-annually.
Also during the public forum, Brian Wilson, 5486 Diamond Lane, and Randy Rosandich, 5490 Diamond Lane, were present. They asked if the City Council would allow Terry Malmstrom to split his lot, that is located between them, so each neighbors could buy half of the parcel.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to submit the request of Mr. Wilson and Mr. Rosandich, to authorize Mr. Malmstrom to split his lot in Unity Addition and sell half to each of them, to the Planning and Zoning Commission for further consideration and a recommendation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to approve the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources Zoning Agreement for Mashkenode Lake, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to seek an opinion from the Planning and Zoning Commission and the City Attorney regarding changing the Firearms Ordinance. The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Nelson to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and request that H2 Ads look into the possibility of placing benches in our City following the $5.00 zoning permit fee per bench with the final building permit approval coming from the Planning and Zoning Commission. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the payment of the first quarter 2003 Relief Association payment in the amount of $2,700. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct Councilor Irish and Councilor Roskoski to meet with the City Administrator and the Director of Public Works to get all the information together for the Sump Pump Ordinance with changes and bring the information back to the City Council for further consideration at the next regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to table the discussion on the utility rate adjustments until the City Auditor, Gary Giroux, can review the city finances with the City Council, with special emphasis on the Enterprise Funds and depreciation. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the Recreation Director to advertise for the West Two Rivers Campground Caretaker contract position, unless he receives a response from the 2002 Caretaker to renew his contract. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize City Staff to advertise for all summer youth positions. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff�s Department activity report for February 2003.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Sheriffs Department to purchase a replacement computer for the squad car at an approximate cost of $9,000 with the funds coming from the capital improvement fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish to authorize City Staff to hire Damberg, Scott, Gerzina and Wagner Architects, at their rates specified, to obtain quotes on the remodeling of the library, request them to have a representative attend the April 7, 2003 City Council meeting, and decide how the City Council is going to move forward with the library improvements. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
At 8:40 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 8:42 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to join the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities for one year at their dues rate of $0.00 for the first year of membership. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 11-03, Declaring Adequacy of Petition and Ordering Preparation of Report, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the grant match payment to the City of Virginia for the drainage projects in the amount of $31,647.22. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to work with the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority to set up a plan, to assist with reduced land deals, work to establish new jobs, and try to attract new diversified businesses. The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct City Department Heads to advise the City Council members of any known, potentially important, unfinished city business pertaining to a prior resolution shall be immediately brought before the present Council Members as soon as possible in writing by the Department Heads involved. All Council Members shall be kept updated by Department Heads on or before the next scheduled Council meeting following; any and all inquiries by either a public or private parties pertaining to an existing expansion or a potentially new commercial or residential land development involving the City of Mountain Iron. The intent of the requested updated information is to prevent the recurrence of a recent situation involving land acquisitions in the City of Mountain Iron and the lack of shared information to Council Members. This would include all motions and resolutions. The motion carried with Nelson and Prebeg voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to obtain cost estimates to have business cards printed, a minimum order, for the City Council members. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to authorize clerical assistance from City Staff for the City Council Members with requests being forwarded through the City Administrator. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff to contact the Judge for the Proposed Land Annexation and request that he delay his decision for as long as possible. The motion carried with Councilor Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize a donation to the Annual Alzheimer�s Memory Walk in the amount of $250. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to send a letter of congratulations to Stephen Skogman for being awarded the �Minnesota Investigator of the Year. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to contact Staff at the City of Hoyt Lakes to see what potential there is to share an assessor. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Mayor Skalko said that he attended his first Range Recreation Center meeting. He supplied the Council with a list of Mesabi Curling Members showing that there are 27 members from the City of Mountain Iron. He advised the Council that the City is obligated for the next 16 years to the Range Recreation Center.
The Council discussed the possible use of the Sentence to Serve Program. The Mayor requested that the City Council develop a list of projects to be completed by the program and forward them to the City Administrator.
At 9:48 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
