Meeting Minutes for May 03, 2010
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 3, 2010
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:37 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; John Backman, Sergeant; Joseph Buria, Fire Chief; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering the meeting at 6:42 p.m.)
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
V. B. 4. EMS Assistant Director Position
5. Hiring of Firefighter and First Responder
V. C. 2. City Garage Addition
2. Approve the minutes of the April 19, 2010, regular meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the April 27, 2010, board of review meeting with the following correction: “At 7:30 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to recess the Board of Review…”
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 April 16-30, 2010, totaling $278,894.08, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
6. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period April 16-30, 2010, totaling $175,083.87, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). Note: The Mayor stated that the bill for prosecution costs from Bruce Williams was included in the payment of bills in the amount of $4,904 for the City’s defense for the case with Councilor Roskoski case against the City for his special assessment charges. The Mayor said that the City is required to pay this bill.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, abstain; and Skalko, yes.
During the public forum, Commissioner Keith Nelson spoke to the Council regarding a recent grant award for site development on the Canadian National Project. Commissioner Nelson thanked the Council for all of the help that was given to his office by City Staff to work to secure the $190,000 grant. He said that by securing this grant, this would insure year round access to the site to increase the amount of timber transported from the site. He said that the Land Department works to offset the property taxes and part of the formula is the timber sales.
Councilor Roskoski questioned Commissioner Nelson regarding the County Road 7 upgrade slated for 2013. Commissioner Nelson said that with bids coming in lower than expected, the County may have more funding available and he said that he would try to get the County Road 7 project moved up. Councilor Roskoski also questioned the installation of a right turn lane on County Road 7 and Unity Drive. Commissioner Nelson said that requests have been submitted to the Minnesota Department of Transportation by the City of Mountain Iron and the Laurentian Clinic for the installation of the right turn lanes and/or a controlled intersection.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
Utility Advisory Board (UAB). He wanted to recognize the UAB Members as follows:
Don Kleinschmidt, Staff Member Reynold Renzaglia, Chairman
Joe Matanich Sue Tuomela
Bruce Peterson Kevin Squillace
Joe Prebeg, Council Liaison
Fire Department. He said that this has been a controversial issue by the media and the Mayor felt that the residents of Mountain Iron have a right to know what the status of the department was. He said that tonight the Council would be voting on the 20th member of the Department making the roster for the Department full. He said that the City had 17 applications in the last five weeks and 11 have been hired and there were four applicants on a waiting list to serve on the Department. The Mayor said that the Fire Chief advised him that they have had an average of 14 firefighters per call and the firemen that are not reporting to the fire calls are at work and are not able to leave. The Mayor thanked the Fire Chief and the Fire Department Selection Committee for all of the work that they have had to complete in the past few months.
South Forest Grove. Three lots have been sold.
Unity Second Addition. Another lot had been sold, making a total of 13 lots sold.
Perkin Family Restaurant. The opening has been delayed until May 24, 2010.
Mayor’s request for Councilor Member to make their own recognition. Councilor Roskoski was the first member of the Council to choose and recognize a group or individual. He read a prepared statement with some of the history of Mountain Iron and he recognized all of the residents of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to change the Council agenda deadline from Wednesday at noon to Thursday at noon. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to terminate Mrs. Laura Neiter as the Assistant Librarian and direct City Staff to post and advertise for the position of Assistant Librarian. The motion carried.
The City Administrator advised the Council that the City of Virginia had invited the City Council, Boards, Commissions, and Staff to a League of Minnesota Cities presentation on the Minnesota Open Meeting Law, Data Practices Act, Conflicts of Interest, Gift Law and Liability Issues on May 18, 2010.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to appoint Daniel L’Allier to the position of Assistant EMS Director with the term expiring on December 31, 2013 with a monthly stipend of $175 per month. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to hire Keith Nyman as a firefighter and Brooke Marden to the Mountain Iron EMS Group. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
South Forest Grove signage. He informed the Council that he submitted the information to a sign company and they would be preparing a sign to advertise the development.
Rock Ridge Development. He said that he had two meetings with regard to development in the area and he was informed that there are several projects currently being considered that could lead to some substantial development in the City of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the purchase of ten stainless steel light standards for Unity Second Addition and South Forest Grove Addition from United Electric for their low quote of $10,431.80 with the funds being expended from the project accounts. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
Mark Wirtanen, Architectural Resources, presented the plans for the addition and modifications to the City Garage. The City Administrator said that the funding would be through the USDA in the form of a low interest loan.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to accept the plans and specifications for the City Garage Addition and call for bids. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number four to Utility Systems of America for the Energy Park Utility Extension Project in the amount of $23,897.88. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to direct the Personal Committee to review the Rental Property Inspector position responsibilities and consider establishing compensation for the position and make a recommendation to the City Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and award the quote on the West Two Rivers Campground and Wolf Park dugouts to Midwest Playscapes Incorporated at their low quote of $15,713.32. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to authorize City Staff to have the City listed as a sponsorship advertiser with the Mesabi Trail at a cost of $100. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the plans and specifications and advertise for bids for Locomotive Park. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to award the Interpretative Sign Project to Frizzel and Winters at their low quote of $12,000.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no. Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Prebeg to award the Locomotive Canopy quote to Midwest Playscapes Incorporated for their quoted price of $35,517.68. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to award the Locomotive Park Overlook Pavilion quote to Midwest Playscapes Incorporated at their quoted price of $12,374.82. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and authorize the Large Trash collection for a cost of $10 per resident for one collection with the collection being completed from June 8-18, 2010. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Ordinance Number 03-10, Amending Chapter 154 and 52 of the Mountain Iron City Code, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the 2010 contribution to Calvary Cemetery Association in the amount of $3,000. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Prebeg to waive the building rental fee for the Mountain Iron-Buhl Prom on May 1, 2010. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Prebeg to authorize a contribution to the Mountain Iron-Buhl Softball Association in the amount of $100 with the contribution expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. After further discussion, Roskoski amended the motion and Prebeg seconded it, to included that a request be submitted requesting that Kinney, Great Scott Township, and Buhl match the City’s contribution. The amended motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Mayor announced that the filings would be May 18, 2010 through June 1, 2010.
Councilor Prebeg said that in the Council packet there was a thank you from the Prebeg Family for the contribution to the Bush Memorial Snowmobile Ride, he said that a total of $42,786 was raised and the entire amount goes to the Virginia Regional Medical Center Diabetes Center. He said that in the eight years that the memorial ride had been conducted they have raised over $175,000.
At 8:26 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. David Taus, Softball Coach, Mountain Iron-Buhl Softball, requesting a donation.
2. Prebeg Family, a thank you and information regarding the funds raised for the Prebeg Memorial Snowmobile Ride.
