Meeting Minutes for March 21, 2011
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MARCH 21, 2011
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:34 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Susan Tuomela, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member: Joe Prebeg, Jr. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; John Backman, Sergeant; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as 8follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls’ Basketball Banquet Request to Waive Fees.
2. Approve the minutes of the March 7, 2011, regular meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the March 7, 2011, special meeting as submitted.
4. 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.
5. To acknowledge the receipts for the period March 1-15, 2011, totaling $143,136.63, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
6. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period March 1-15, 2011, totaling $337,980.79, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
It was moved by Roskoski to amend the March 7, 2011, regular meeting minutes to include Ed Roskoski’s concerns about the relocation of County Road 102 in Mountain Iron. The amendment to the motion died for lack of a second.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, no; Skalko, yes; and Prebeg, absent.
During the public forum, Jackie Jenko, was present and spoke to the Council regarding the following issues:
– Resignation of the Assistant Library. Speaking as a member of the Library Board, she said that would like to get the position posted and filled as quickly as possible.
– Dogs in the Downtown Mountain Iron area. She advised the Council of some safety and health issues regarding dogs in the Downtown area. She said that she had been attacked by several dogs, that residents are letting their dogs run at large, and the excrement is in the library and school yard creating a health hazard.
– Mesabi Trail. She requested that the City complete winter maintenance on the trail for people that are walking on the trail in the winter.
The Council discussed Ms. Jenko’s issues. The Mayor said that the Council would be posting the Assistant Librarian position as soon as possible. They also discussed different options to notify the residents and advise them that there is a lease law in Mountain Iron and to keep their animals restrained. They discussed City Staff placing a notice on the Public Access Television and to also place a notice on the utility bills. The Director of Public Works advised Ms. Jenko that City Staff only completes summer maintenance on the bike trail.
The Mayor commented on the following items:
– Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls’ Basketball. He congratulated the team for winning third place in the State Championship. He also thanked Coach Jeff Buffetta for all of his work with the team.
– Mountain Iron Fire Department. He thanked the department for providing Staff to have a caravan to welcome the girls’ basketball team home from the State Championship game.
– 2010 Census. He advised the residents that the City census for 2010 was 2,869, dropping by 130 residents from the 2000 census.
– Governor’s Award. He said that the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority received an award by Governor Dayton for the Silicon Energy Plant for the renewable energy project and the creation of jobs in the area.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela to waive the building rental fees for the Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls’ Basketball Banquet to be held on March 27, 2011, at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the resignation of Kelly Belleville, the Assistant Librarian, with an effective date of March 23, 2011. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to direct City Staff to post for the Assistant Librarian position in the Hometown Focus, on the City’s web site, and on the Public Television Access Channel. It was moved by Roskoski to amend the motion to include the Mesabi Daily News to advertise for the position. The amendment to the motion died for lack of second. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
The Administrator commented on the following:
– Northeast Service Cooperative. He advised the Council that they have been successful in being awarded a $250,000 grant for the middle mile fiber project.
– AFSCME. He advised the Council that, following the City Council recommendation on the grievance of Greg Jarvela, the union had appealed, and a mediation date of April 26, 2011 had been set.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to award the quote for the steel stairs at the Water Treatment Plant to Lakehead Constructors at their low quote of $11,900.00. The motion carried. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, absent; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Tuomela to authorize City Staff to seek quotes for the construction of a women’s locker room renovation through option number two, as recommended by Architectural Resources. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and authorize the final payment request for Locomotive Park to C & C Winter in the amount of $14,856.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, absent; Zupancich, yes; Tuomela, yes; and Skalko, yes.
During the Liaison Reports, Councilor Roskoski distributed the Merritt Days schedule for the period August 10-13, 2011. He recognized the Committee Members of Jessica Larsen, Marcia Gellerstedt, Peggy Anderson, Jeremy Jesch, Jodie Mattila, Sally Peterangelo, Ed Roskoski, Sharon Tabor, Dale Irish, Janis Squillace, Corrine Jordan, Kathy Witzman, Steve Morrisette, Annette Frericks, and Michelle Kailvola. He also announced that the Committee would be selling 500 tickets for a fundraiser to win a 2011 GMC SUV and other cash awards. He also reviewed the list of activities with the Council.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 04-11, supporting the grant application made to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources for the local trail connections program, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no and Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to waive the building rental fees for the following events:
– Senior Prom Volunteer Committee for May 19, 2011, at the Community Center
– Range Mental Health Center for October 8, 2011, at the Community Center
– Marquette Catholic School Parents Association for May 6, 2011 at the Community Center
The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to authorize Jeff & Greg Properties, Inc. to use their on-sale liquor license to serve alcohol at the Mountain Iron Community Center for the following events:
– YMCA Fundraiser on April 29, 2011
– United Way Flavor of the North Fundraiser on April 14, 2011
– Nelimark Wedding on April 2, 2011
The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for the Virginia Regional Medical Center Festival of Trees Event on November 16-19, 2011, and to forward the application to the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for final approval. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
At 7:26 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Prebeg absent.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Domino’s Pizza, a notification of a fundraiser for the Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls’ Basketball Team.
