Meeting Minutes for May 01, 2006
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 1, 2006
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; Wade Rasch, Sergeant; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:52 p.m.).
The Mayor welcomed the audience to the meeting. He said that he could not welcome the television viewers because the television personal was not in attendance at the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following items to the agenda:
D. Resolution 15-06, Approving Amendments to Transfer Agreement
IV. I. 2. Street & Alley Committee � Street Assessment Policy
Move the following items on the agenda:
VI. B. Resolution 13-06 to IV. H. 3.
VI. D. Locomotive Park Sign to IV. A. 2.
Approve the minutes of the April 17, 2006, City Council meeting with the following corrections:
“Page 5, Paragraph 4, �behind the Bbrunt dumps�.
“Page 5, Paragraph 5, �.on the table for discussion regarding the former Ann�s Acres Water Company parcel �
Page 6, Paragraph 2, �..looks worst worse with all of ��
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 April 16-30, 2006, totaling $97,528.81, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period April 16-30, 2006, totaling $301,971.50, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
At 6:38 p.m., the Mayor Skalko left the meeting.
At 6:40 p.m., the Mayor Skalko returned to the meeting.
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:41 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing regarding the street vacations in the North Parkville area. The motion carried.
The City Administrator stated that a petition was received from Great Northern Iron Ore Properties for the vacation of Streets and Avenues in the plat of Parkville Second and Third Addition. He further stated that none of the Streets or Avenues were ever developed or built.
At 6:42 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor stated that a list was distributed indicating the Library Board�s priority list for work to be completed at the Library. The list is as follows:
wiring/electrical update
interior painting on both levels
air conditioning
computer upgrades/work station furniture
heating system
library furniture
carpeting
The Mayor advised the Council that he received a letter from Saint Louis County regarding a railroad car traveling through Saint Louis County. He said that the deadline for submitting information was Friday, May 5, 2006. The Recreation Director said that he would seek additional information regarding the matter.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to negotiate to get a contractor to paint the locomotive. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to direct Bob Manzoline, Director of the Saint Louis County Regional Rail Authority, to remove the sign currently placed on the Mesabi Trail and replace the sign with a new one stating, “that the first lynching in Saint Louis County occurred in Mountain Iron on May 5, 1893, and state that for more specific information the public can go to the City�s web page www.mtniron.com or go to the Mountain Iron Public Library”. The motion carried.
The Mayor advised the Council that Ed Roskoski, William Buria, and Ted Newberg had volunteered to work with Mr. Manzoline to add more historic signs to the Mesabi Trail.
Councilor Nelson requested that the Assistant Library position be moved up on the agenda.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Library Board and to hire Laura Nieters for the temporary position of Assistant Librarian and authorize the execution of the memorandum of understanding between the City of Mountain Iron, Mountain Iron Library Board, and AFSCME Local 453, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff to prepare a pre-application for a Community Development Block Grant for carpeting and playground equipment for the Mountain Manor for a total grant application of $50,000. After further discussion, Councilor Irish amended the motion to also include air conditioning in the application. Councilor Roskoski supported the amendment. The amended motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to increase the 2006 appropriation for the Calvary Cemetery Association to $3,000 and the Greenwood Cemetery Association to $3,000. After further discussion, Skalko amended his motion to include contacting the City Attorney to seek his recommendation, in writing, whether the increased contribution was legal. Prebeg supported the amendment. The amended motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Director of Public Works advised the Council that the Inflow/Infiltration Plan was in a large book and he did not copy it for the Council due to the length. He said if anyone wanted to review the plan that it was available at the Mountain Iron City Hall. Councilor Roskoski took the plan to review.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to authorize City Staff to seek quotes for the replacement of one 85 Kw standby emergency generator to be installed at the Mud Lake Lift Station. The motion carried.
Councilor Irish felt that the generator should go to the Utility Advisory Board for a recommendation to the Council.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Recreation Director to seek quotes for two new docks at the West Two Rivers Campground. The motion carried.
The Recreation Director advised the Council that the South Grove Park equipment was delivered in February and was currently in storage and would be installed the first week of June.
At 7:45 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Engineer if he had the traffic count that was completed on Unity Drive. The City Engineer said that he would forward the traffic counts completed on Unity Drive and Southern Drive to the City Council to review.
At 7:48 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Skalko to seek quotes on asphalt crack sealing for 2006 in the amount of $10,000. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 13-06, Ordering Preparation of Report of Improvement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the liaison reports, Councilor Roskoski expressed concern with notification of meetings for the Library Board. The Mayor advised Councilor Roskoski to personally contact the new Librarian with regard to the issue.
During the liaison reports, Councilor Roskoski reported from the Street and Alley Committee and said that the Committee reviewed the City�s current street assessment policy. Councilor Roskoski said that it was unanimous with the Committee to leave the present street assessment policy in place.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to seek discussion talks with the City of Virginia regarding a possible land exchange of the 16th Avenue area for the Briarwood Estate area. The motion carried with Councilors Irish and Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the following information regarding the 16th Avenue South area, also called Hopper, becomes part of the public record and be taken into consideration in regard to any land sale, swap or exchange:
there are presently six businesses in that area, employing over 65 people;
one business in that area has been granted Jobz Zone status with a potential of 12 additional new jobs;
at today�s tax rate, which is lower than it used to be in the past, this area has paid over a 30 year period $163,500 to the City of Mountain Iron;
there is over three acres of undeveloped highway frontage land available for development in that area;
specific services rendered to that area by the City of Mountain Iron include: once a year street sweeping which takes two hours; once a year curb painting which takes one hour; snow plowing which takes approximately 15 minutes each time; and
that the City Attorney review all necessary statutes as to the procedures that the City has to follow to sell, swap, exchange, annex, or give away land within its corporate boundaries. Such information will be made available to all Councilors before the City goes forward with any 16th Avenue South area proceedings. The clarification is that we, as Councilors and City Staff, should have all of the statutes and information that we would need and what the procedures are potentially from the start to the finish.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; and Skalko, no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to adopt Resolution Number 15-06, Approving Amendment to Transfer Agreement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilors Irish and Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 12-06, Vacating Streets in Parkville 2nd and 3rd Additions, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilors Roskoski voting no and Councilor Irish not voting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to adopt Resolution Number 14-06, Application for a Grant for Unity Drive, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilors Roskoski and Irish voting no.
At 8:31 p.m., Councilor Nelson left the meeting.
At 8:33 p.m., Councilor Nelson returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct the City Engineer to begin a feasibility report to look at developing a simple layout for Unity Second Addition. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko withdrew his motion and requested that this item be placed on the May 15th City Council agenda under Mayor�s Report, Feasibility Report for Unity Second Addition.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to secure the necessary information for the City Council to obtain dial-a-ride service in the Mountain Iron area. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that now, that Minntac has made its long range plans for the Parkville area for the years 2035 through 2055 available to the public, that the Mountain Iron City Council put together a neighborhood meeting for the Parkville residents. Invited and ask to attend, Representatives from the Minerals Division of the Department of Natural Resources, St. Louis County Officials, Minntac Officials, and the City Council members. The motion failed with Mayor Skalko and Councilors Nelson and Prebeg voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to direct City Staff to send a letter to Parkville residents to notify them that the Department of Natural Resources map would be available to review at the Mountain Iron City Hall showing the long range mining plans for the Parkville area. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
At 8:48 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the closed meeting to discuss contract negotiations strategies with AFSCME Local Union #453. The motion carried.
At 8:48 p.m., the Mayor recessed the meeting
At 9:00 p.m., the Mayor convened the closed session.
At 10:00 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Nelson that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding the April 20, 2006 brief.
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the April 21, 2006, Friday Fax.
Minnesota Department of Transportation, advising the City that the Mountain Iron-Buhl High School to Merritt Elementary School Trail Project was not recommended for Transportation Enhancement funding for fiscal year 2009.
Minnesota Department of Transportation, advising the City that the Merritt Elementary School to the Mesabi Family YMCA and Beyond Trail Project was not recommended for Transportation Enhancement funding for fiscal year 2010.
