Meeting Minutes for May 15, 2006
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 15, 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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Wade Rasch, Sergeant.
The Mayor welcomed the audience and the television viewing audience to 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:
IV. A. 4. Letter of Retirement-Gerald Claesson
IV. G. 2. Blight Problem in Parkville
Approve the minutes of the May 1, 2006, City Council meeting as submitted.
Page 5, paragraph 5�to obtain dial-a-ride service in all or part of the Mountain Iron�.
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 May 1-15, 2006, totaling $173,875.83, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period May 1-15, 2006, totaling $208,403.65, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The Mayor updated the Council regarding the following items:
South Grove Playground-will be setting up the equipment tentatively on June 21, 2006. There is a $20,000 land grant from Saint Louis County and the City appropriated $25,000 to the South Grove Playground Project.
Downtown area-the banners and flowers will be done shortly.
Downtown area-Locomotive Park-no bids were received on the painting of the locomotive, so the Recreation Director is negotiating with some contractors to paint the locomotive. The drinking fountain should be installed at Locomotive Park soon.
Library-exterior should be completed soon. City Staff will be obtaining estimates for the interior work to be presented at the second City Council meeting in June. There is approximately $100,000 left to be expended on the project.
Christmas Lighting-will be installed on Mineral Avenue in the Downtown and South Grove areas and along Nichols Drive and Parkville Road in the Parkville area.
TEA21 Federal Grant-will be available in October 2007, about $140,000 grant, with a 20% local match, for streetscape and vintage lighting projects.
Ordinance for recreation vehicles and big boats being parked on city streets-the city will be enforcing the ordinance.
Bonding Bill for the infrastructure for the renewable energy park-has made it through the conference committee and is still in the running.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to develop a feasibility study for the conceptual plan for the layout of Unity Second Addition. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to allocate $300 to be used to secure funding for the Highway 53 expansion project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson to set a Labor/Management meeting for Thursday, May 25, 2006, and direct the City Administrator to send meeting notices to Local Union #453 and the Union Representative. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to accept the retirement request of Gerald Claesson with an effective date of May 26, 2006. The motion carried.
During the Administrator�s report, Councilor Roskoski asked if the City Administrator had received the traffic counts from the City Engineer. The Administrator said that the City had completed the traffic counts. The City Engineer stated that he would forward this information on the traffic counts to the City Administrator.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Administrator if P & H MinePro had responded to the request for them to apply for a Conditional Use Permit. The City Administrator said that he had not received a response from P & H MinePro.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of a standby generator from Interstate Power Systems in the amount of $21,565.00 with the expense being funded through the Wastewater Treatment Plant Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to authorize City Staff to call for bids for the disposal of one (1) 1996 one ton dump body and snowplow, vehicle identification number 1GBJK34J8TE228701 and license number 138 973. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the purchase of the following power poles from Minnesota Power:
20 – 25 each — 35 foot Class 5 power poles at $193.00 each
TOTAL COST $3,860.00 to $4,825.00
20 – 25 each — 40 foot Class 5 power poles at $236.00 each
TOTAL COST $4,720.00 to $5,900.00
with the total cost between $8,580.00 and $10,725.00. This purchase would be funded from the 2006 Electric Department Enterprise Fund. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to accept the recommendation of the Mountain Iron Parks and Recreation Board and hired the following summer staff for 2006 as follows:
Maintenance – Travis Latvaaho
Summer coaches – Garrett Niska, Paige Mortaloni, Dustyn Leff, Chelsea Rubow, DJ Winfield, Andy Prebeg, Gage Rautio, Theresa Strukel, May Strukel
Adult coaches – Mike Rowe, James Gilbert, Raija Sarich
Umpire staff – Jim Bialczak, Marianne Nanti, Terry Niska, Zack Rowe, Jon Benz
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board and coaches that are 25 years and older at the rate of $300.00 per team per season for coaching in the 12 years and younger divisions in the summer ball program. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize City Staff to purchase the following tables for the veranda at the Community Center:
Four (4) tables at $750.00 = $3,000.00
One (1) table at $760.00 = $ 760.00
Shipping = $1,080.00
TOTAL = $4,840.00
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Prebeg asked the Recreation Director if any bids were received on the Community Center landscaping. The Recreation Director said they were seeking quotes.
Councilor Nelson asked the Recreation Director what the status of the West Virginia Skating rink was. The Recreation Director said that the Board would be reviewing this in the Fall.
During the Sheriff�s Department report, the Sergeant reported that the traffic stops were high for the small office. He said that the deputy�s have been making many custodial arrests during traffic stops. The Sergeant said that one new deputy has started work in the Mountain Iron office and two more would be starting in a few weeks.
The City Attorney reviewed the information sheet regarding donations to charitable organizations.
The Council reviewed the information received from the City Attorney regarding potential land exchanges.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Attorney if a Conditional use Permit application was received from P & H MinePro. The Attorney said that he was only aware of the letter sent by the Zoning Administrator to P & H MinePro.
It was moved by Roskoski to direct Mr. Aluni to work with the City Administrator and the Zoning Administrator��the Mayor stopped Councilor Roskoski from making a motion. Councilor Roskoski said that the P & H MinePro issue should be on the next regular meeting agenda.
Councilor Nelson stated that the blight situation in Parkville has not been taken care of and was wondering what the status of the situation was. The Sergeant stated that Mr. Nordlund had been cited and had attended a court date on May 1, 2006 and paid a fine at that time. The Sergeant said that the Judge gave Mr. Nordlund until June 1, 2006 to get into compliance for the items that he was cited for. The Sergeant said that he would be monitoring the progress completed on the property and issued further citations if they are applicable.
During the Liaison Reports, Councilor Nelson updated the Council regarding the EDA. He stated that the EDA did approve the development agreement for Park Ridge Development. He advised the Council that there is a new business that is looking at locating behind United Electric and the EDA is working on a development agreement for this project. He said that P & H MinePro is aware of where the EDA is on this project and any action would have to come from them.
The Mayor informed the Council that he had received a phone call from David Buria regarding a power outage from a storm that occurred after hours. Mr. Buria said that he appreciated the work completed by the City Staff, Jeff Marks and Steve Kottke and others that may have responded.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko, as per past practice, that the City offer this parcel of land, the former Ann�s Acres Water Company site, half to one adjacent property owners and the other half to the other property owner, and if either party on either side does not want the parcel, that one party can purchase the entire parcel, at a cost of $2000, and adopt Resolution Number 10-06, authorizing the sale of certain property, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 16-06, receiving report and calling hearing on improvement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko to direct the City Administrator and the City Attorney to investigate the request by Edward and Lynda Klimek to purchase land in Section 15, Township 58 North, Range 18 West and bring the information to the next regular meeting. The motion carried.
Councilor Prebeg stated that there was no need to have a closed meeting because the next negotiation sessions were scheduled for May 18th and 22nd, 2006.
At 7:43 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Skalko that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
City of Mountain Iron, Notice of Public Hearing Notice, conditional use permit to operate a home business at 4859 Butler Road.
Small Cities Update for May 5, 2006.
League of Minnesota Cities, forwarding the May 5, 2006 Friday Fax.
Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, forwarding the May 4, 2006 Brief.
Darwin Alar, an apology for missing the taping of May 1st City Council meeting.
