Meeting Minutes for May 07, 2012
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 7, 2012
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Susan Tuomela, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Michael Downs, Interim Public Works Director; John Backman, Sergeant; Sally Peterangelo, Librarian; Mike Harvey, Real Estate Appraiser II for Saint Louis County (left the meeting at 6:36 p.m.).
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the April 16, 2012, regular meeting as submitted.
2. Approve the minutes of the April 24, 2012, Board of Appeal and Equalization meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period April 16-30, 2012, totaling $195,824.27, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period April 16-30, 2012, totaling $245,686.63, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, abstain; and Skalko, yes.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to recess the regular meeting and reconvene the April 24, 2012, Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Saint Louis County Real Estate Appraiser and not change the valuation of Duncan McGregor’s property at 5266 Spirit Lake Road, Parcel 175-0071-02492; and to reduce building valuation of Joan McGregor’s property at 4860 Butler Road, Parcel 175-0071-05023 by $2,900 for a total valuation of $164,200. The motion carried.
At 6:36 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg that the Board of Appeals and Equalization meeting be adjourned and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Acknowledgements. The Mayor congratulated Paul Fischer on his 92nd birthday celebrated on April 26th, and Gladys Johnson on her 93rd birthday on May 5th.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize the contract with Parson Technologies to terminate the fiber optic cable at the Community Center, City Garage, and Library at a total expense of $6,044.00 (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- Summer Workers. He said that the deadline for applicants had closed, but the City would still accept applications for coaches for the Minors and T-ball Programs. If there is anyone interested, please apply at the City Hall or download the application on the City’s web site.
- Summer Programs. He said that the participation rate was low for the Majors and Babe Ruth programs. If anyone would like to participate, please sign up at the City Hall as soon as possible.
The Library Director reported on the following:
- Library Statistics. Distributed a written report for the month of April, 2012.
- Photography for Everyone. Sponsored by the Minnesota Art and Cultural Heritage Fund, this is class on tips and tricks on photography of people and nature being held on May 9, 2012, at 6:30 p.m. at the Library.
- Mixi, Makesi, Musica! Also sponsored by the Minnesota Art and Cultural Heritage Fund, this is a free music program for the kids being held on May 16, 2012, at 6:00 p.m. at the Library.
- Merritt Days Committee. A rigatoni dinner fundraiser will be held from 3-7 p.m. on May 16, 2012, for $7.00 at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to award the City Hall and Senior Center Sidewalk, Curb, and Step Improvement Project to C & C Winger in the amount of $16,662.50. After further discussion, Zupancich amended the motion to also include the award contingent upon receiving a current insurance certificate and a signed project labor agreement from C & C Winger. The amended motion carried on the following roll call vote: Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and adopt the Three Year Voltage Modification Plan, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), for Central Mountain Iron as presented and authorize City Staff to begin the implementation of the 2012 portion of the plan by seeking quotes for the identified transformers. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Tuomela and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Library Board and the Building and Grounds Committee and adopt the Library Yard Plan and Priority List, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), and to authorize the request of City Staff to dispose of the remaining library fence that is not being utilized as part of the plan. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to formally request that Saint Louis County overlay County Road 103 from Mineral Avenue to Highway 169. The motion carried.
It was move by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Street and Alley Committee and authorize City Staff to solicit quotes for up to $20,000 worth of crack sealing to be placed on the streets during 2012. The motion carried.
The following reports were given during the liaison reports:
- Street and Alley Committee. Councilor Roskoski updated the Council on the following from the May 2, 2012 meeting:
- Calendar Parking on Main Street
- Overflow Parking at the Senior Center parking lot
- Handicapped parking at the Library and the Post Office
- Mountain Iron Drive road conditions
- Traffic flow issue traveling behind Adventure’s Restaurant
- Garden Drive-to add signage
- Wooden light poles to possibly upgrade to metal poles
- Street lights in South Forest Grove
- Unity Drive – 8522 Unity Drive – to possibly add a metal light pole
- Rock Ridge Drive-Benchmark Engineering to review road conditions
- Sidewalk by Cinema 6 to the Fairview Clinic-apply for grant funding
- Diamond Lane – add signage
- Call for quotes on crack sealing
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 11-12, to approve the plans and specifications and authorization to seek bids for the installation of the proposed water main along the west side of County Road 7, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to adopt Resolution Number 12-12, authorizing the City of Mountain Iron to participate in the Minnesota Greenstep Cities Program, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize a contribution of $100 to the Mountain Iron-Buhl Softball Association with the contribution being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize a contribution of $1,000 to the Iron Range Youth in Action with the contribution being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Mayor announced that filings for City office will open on May 22, 2012, for the offices of Mayor and two positions on the Council, and the filings would close on June 5, 2012.
At 7:36 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
- Bush Memorial Fundraiser, a letter informing the City that they raised $50,627.82 on February 18, 2012, and a thank you for contributing.
- MediaCom, a letter advising that they will be relocating WGN channel from 15 to 17.
- Marlene Kauppinen, a thank you for the contribution.
