Meeting Minutes for May 06, 2002
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 6, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
A. Grant Writers
2. Approve the minutes of the April 15, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the April 23 2002, Local Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting as submitted.
4. Approve the minutes of the April 29, 2002, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting as submitted.
5. 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.
6. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period April 16-30, 2002, totaling $203,167.87, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
7. Acknowledge the receipts for the period April 16-30, 2002, totaling $106,813.30, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:31 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and reconvene the Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the St. Louis County Appraiser and reduce the improvement valuation on Calvin Johnson�s property, parcel code 175-0071-03960 by $500 making the total valuation $72,700. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the St. Louis County Appraiser for the property owned by Larry P. Johnson as follows:
175-12-840 Reduce land valuation from $7,900 to $5,000, due to the condition of the lot.
175-12-850 Reduce land valuation from $7,900 to $3,900, due to the condition of the lot.
175-12-860 No change on the land value, $8,300. Add $8,300 to improvement value because of construction of new garage.
The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the St. Louis County Appraiser and increase the improvement value on Lee Anderson�s property, parcel code 175-0012-00310 by $9,700. The motion carried.
At 6:34 p.m., it was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adjourn the board of appeal and equalization meeting and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 6:34 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the amendment to the floodplain management ordinance. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the floodplain management ordinance amendment.
At 6:35 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, the Mayor informed the City Council and the audience that he had initially proposed a motion for this meeting to construct a new public library and begin the process of bonding. However, he was not bringing that motion to the table because he now had a new idea that would need to be explored prior to making a decision on any library project. He said that he would like to look into a private/public partnership similar to the City Hall/Grocery Store concept in Biwabik. The Mayor said that he would like to see a new library (resource and information center) constructed with an office building of some sort (private sector), and retail outlets.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to have City Staff research and study the possibility of constructing a private/public project to include office space, retail outlets and a public library resource and information center. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Jackie Jenko asked what the city had done to explore grants for the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliance for the library remodeling or construction.
Councilor Roskoski presented information regarding Community Development Block Grant funding for ADA improvements.
Councilor Skogman commented that the City is running out of space at the present library facility.
Also during the public forum, Burrell Kubacki said that she was concerned with the preservation of the buildings in the original town site of Mountain Iron as a tourist attraction.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to direct Staff to invite either Connie Christenson or Nancy Larson, St. Louis County CDBG Representatives, 742-9565 and Harry Lampa, Representative from the Historical Society, to discuss possible grant funding at a City Council meeting and make them aware of what the City Council is looking for. The motion carried.
Also during the public forum, Matt Kishel spoke and added to Mrs. Kubacki comments that the current library should not be privatize, but the building should be kept public so people can still go inside of the building.
Also during the public forum, Carol Kostich spoke and asked why the Council has not acted on any of the Library Board recommendations. She felt that the Council needs a deadline to be made to make a decision on the future of the library.
Councilor Prebeg mentioned that the City should explore partnering with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District to develop a joint library with the School District to be located at the Merritt Elementary.
Karen Luoma, Librarian, said that she has checked with the Carnegie Foundation and they have no funds available for remodeling or construction. She also said that she has checked into the partnership of the City and School for a library and that system hasn�t been working.
Also during the public forum, Greg Chad, Director of the First Responders, was present and requested that the City Council authorize Carrie Oja to be appointed to the Mountain Iron First Responders.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize Carrie Oja to be appointed to the Mountain Iron First Responders group. The motion carried.
Also during the public forum, Dale Irish spoke and said that he is a new resident in South Grove by the Wastewater Treatment Plant and he said that there was a terrible smell coming from the wastewater treatment plant. The Director of Public Works said that he would check into the matter.
Also during the public forum, Burrell Kubacki spoke regarding an empty house located next to her home that had been empty for 20 years. She said there are blight problems and animal control issues there.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to direct the Blight Officer to review the property with the green house on Mesabi Avenue again under the new blight ordinance. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of proposed street improvement submitted by the City Engineer. The Council discussed the procedure for informing the residents of special assessment costs.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to have the City Engineer review the feasibility and estimated cost of adding sidewalks on Enterprise Drive South from Cinema 6 to Mud Lake Road. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize the Recreation Director to purchase the John Deere 1435 Diesel Front Mounted 2 Wheel Drive 62″ rear discharge mower at a state bid price of $13,997.75. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes and Brunfelt, yes.
It was moved Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Director of Public Works to purchase 200 sign posts and anchors from Newman Traffic Signs at their low quoted price of $3,550. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Skogman, yes and Brunfelt, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to authorize the sale of the surplus International Roadside Mower. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to develop a Surplus Equipment Policy. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and adopt Ordinance Number 06-02, Sump Pumps, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). It was moved by Skogman and supported Roskoski to amend Section 2, Subdivision 5, changing the surcharge amount from $75 to $25. The amendment to the motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no. The amended motion to adopt Ordinance Number 06-02 passed on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Skogman, no; Matanich, yes and Brunfelt, yes.
The Mayor said that he would like to see the City obtain the 43.14 acres adjacent to Unity Addition from the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District for additional housing development. Also, he said he was interested in proceeding with further housing development by the Wacootah and Iroquois Pits.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct the City Engineer to complete preliminary engineering on what a housing development would look like by the Wacootah and Iroquois pits, preliminary cost estimates for the infrastructure, possible grant funding available through CDBG, and to have this project broken up into several phases. The motion carried.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Skogman that the City of Mountain Iron proceed with the construction of an additional single-family residential housing development to the west of the current Unity Addition. And further, that the City of Mountain Iron and City Staff immediately proceed as follows:
That City Staff and the City Engineer begin preparing plans and specifications and cost estimates for the extension of the current Unity Addition;
That staff explore all grant monies, including any IRRRB grant monies that may be available to buy down the cost of said project;
That City Staff and Councilor Matanich immediately proceed with negotiations with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District to acquire the property, approximately 43.14 acres, to the west of the Unity Addition and to relocated the baseball field and other school district athletic and recreational facilities currently located on that property.
That City Staff working with Juran and Moody and the City�s bond counsel, make all necessary preparations and arrangements for the issuance of up to $1 million in public improvement bonds, with the total amount of the bonds issued to be determined by the total project costs as calculated through the development of plans and specifications;
That 100 percent of the revenues generated from the sale of lots in said development would be designated for and used to pay off the bonds.
The motion carried.
The Council discussed precinct locations.
At 9:10 p.m., Councilor Skogman left the meeting.
At 9:12 p.m., Councilor Skogman returned to the meeting
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adopt Ordinance Number 04-02, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
At 9:13 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
The City Council took no action on the USX Access/Use License Agreement.
At 9:15 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to adopt the City of Mountain Iron, statement of core values, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Matanich to amend the motion to remove the word “democratic” in the seventh statement. The amendment to the motion carried. The amended motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adopt Ordinance Number 05-02, Amending Chapter 23, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution Number 17-02, Receiving Report and Calling Hearing on Improvement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). It was moved by Roskoski to amend the resolution to have clarification on the estimated total amount of the proposed assessment included in the notification to the residents. The amendment to the motion died for lack of support. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski that for the 2003 Volunteer Recognition Banquet, also called the Appreciation Banquet:
that the Merritt Days Committee, Active Members, be invited with a list of active members supplied by the Recreation Director or the Merritt Days Committee Chairperson; and
that active Volunteer City Coaches be invited with a list of active coaches supplied by the Recreation Director and approved by the Park and Recreation Board.
At 9:52 p.m., Councilor Matanich left the meeting.
At 9:55 p.m., Councilor Matanich returned to the meeting.
The motion died for lack of support. Councilor Prebeg said that he would consider those people when the Volunteer Recognition Committee meets for the next banquet.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to direct the City Administrator to work on a grant application for the Wastewater Treatment Plant to the Water Resources Development Act Grant. The motion carried.
The Mayor reported that the Iron Range Fiscal Disparity Act was ruled constitutional and was upheld by the Supreme Court. The Mayor said that the City does not have a legal basis to pursue a lawsuit.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski questioned who is authorized to hire summer employment workers. The Director of Public Works advised the Council on the hiring procedure for the summer labor positions.
During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg questioned if the Community Center/City Hall will have a sign on the building for this summer. Also, Councilor Prebeg asked where the signs were for the restroom.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize the Committee that meets with U.S. Steel Corporation to address the Parkville driveway and ditching issues, West II Rivers area development, land sales, and hauling gravel on access roads. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize City Staff to move forward on obtaining the dedication plaque for the Community Center/City Hall building. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Prebeg requested that upgrade of the Wacootah and Downtown mine view points be put on the next City Council meeting agenda.
At 10:22 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
