Meeting Minutes for March 21, 2016

MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

March 21, 2016

 

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:34p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Susan Tuomela, Alan Stanaway, Tony Zupancich and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Michael Downs, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Sally Yuccas, Librarian Director/Special Events Director; John Backman Sheriff’s Department and Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney. Absent: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.

 

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

 

1. Approve the minutes of the March 7, 2016, regular meeting as submitted.

 

2. That the communications be accepted and placed on file and those requiring further action by the City Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.

 

3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period March 1-15, 2016 totaling $752,227.54 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

 

4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period March 1-15, 2016, totaling $264,207.49 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

 

The motion carried on a roll call vote with all members present.

 

Public Forum

 

At 6:35p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to recess the regular City Council meeting and enter into public forum hearing for Tax Increment District. Motion carried unanimously.

 

• Tax Increment District-to set up Tax Increment Financing for a Strip Mall, to help defray cost for infrastructure and site improvements within the area. Residents and those opposing had the opportunity to write in opposition, none received. This District would bring in roughly 50 jobs to the region.

 

At 6:37p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to close the public forum hearing and reconvene the regular City Council meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

 

Mayor’s Report:

 

• Condolences to Craig Thomas’ family.
• Condolences to Larry Moore’s family.
• Congratulations to Mountain Iron-Buhl Girls Basketball team on their season as well as at the Semi-finals, bringing home 3^rd place.
• Attended training conducted at Iron World “Recharging the Range.” Study completed in 2014; showed that $3.5 billion tons of Iron Ore was mined worldwide, with only 50 million mined domestically; but only 40 million tons of Iron ore mined in Minnesota, roughly 1.5% mined domestically within the United States.
• The City of Mountain Iron receives 1/3 of its money from Taconite production based on 3 year period of average tonnage; budget going to be effected due to a decrease in Iron Ore being mined domestically/locally, effecting not only Governments, but Cities School Districts and even IRRRB.  

 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to extend the position of Library Substitute position to Roxanne Reed, pending physical, drug test and background check. Motion carried unanimously.

 

The Director of Public Works reported on the following:

 

• Clear up miscommunication, the City of Mountain Iron is not charging residents the $1000 for AMR/AMI per meter installation, free of charge, the City has already paid for these.
• Also being said that a majority of residents would have to change their electric services to accommodate the new meters, not true, roughly 12-14 that may have to be changed. However roughly have may be able to retrofit these meters to work with upgrades. Those affected should be receiving letters soon that they will need to request an upgrade in their meters.

 

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator report. 

 

• March 23^rd  at 10:30-Mthyology interactive play
• March 26^th at noon-31^st Annual Easter Egg Hunt
• April 1^st Library Hours changed, M-F 11am-6pm and Friday and Saturday 10am-2pm

 

Sheriff’s department:

 

• No formal or informal report at this time

 

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to grant the Library Board permission to have three items removed from the Library basement room and disposed of through DoBid.com. The selected items for disposal are a trophy case, small wooden shelf and a record player stand. The motion carried unanimously.

 

It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 18-16; authorizing The City of Mountain Iron to modify the Development Program for Municipal Development District No. 1, establish Tax Increment Financing District No. 1-15; therein and approve and accept the proposed Tax increment Financing Plan (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes).  The motion carried unanimously.

 

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 19-16; authorizing the City of Mountain Iron to support the access agreement on State Lands in relation to Twin Metals MN (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously.

 

• Stanaway mentioned that the Range Association Municipalities and Schools has asked for a meeting with the governor of Minnesota in regards to not allowing, surveying or exploring of Minnesota’s Duluth Complex (Twin Metals Minnesota project)tentatively scheduled for April 1^st.

 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to table Contract of Agreement of Services between Jill Clark and Judy Seurer until next meeting until further information, numbers and data can be gathered. Motion carried unanimously that the City Attorney, Bryan Lindsey and City Administrator, Craig Wainio would discuss contract further.

 

The Council reviewed the list of communications.

 

Discussion in regards to International Organization for Standardization’s (ISO) rating was calculated, would like a representative to come and explain how ratings were calculated. Insurances rates are based on International Organization for Standardization rates, would like an individual to explain how they arrived at International Organization for Standardization rating, for most Insurers use International Organization for Standardization’s Public Protection Classification (PPC) survey results in regards to classifications for underwriting and calculating premiums for residential, commercial and industrial properties.

 

At 7:15 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned.  Motion carried with all members present.

 

Submitted by:                                                               

Amanda Inmon                                                 

Municipal Services Secretary                                         

www.mtniron.com

 

 

            COMMUNICATIONS

 

 

1. Thank you, from Mary Jo Glavan for the retirement Coffee’n cake, plaque and generous retirement gift.

 

2. Thank you to Mike Downs and Greg Chad for continued support from ISO’s Public Protection Classification Program.

 

3. Zoning Administrator, Jerry Kujala noted that there was a violation in regards to a structure on Slate Street being occupied, which was against the City of Mountain Iron’s Zoning ordinance.