Meeting Minutes for May 19, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 19, 2008
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; John Backman, Sergeant; Sally Peterangelo, Librarian; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. C. 1. Gulbranson Excavating-Unity Second Addition
V. A. 16th Avenue Standing Water
Move the following item on the agenda:
VI. F. Merritt Days Funding to IV. A. 1.
2. Approve the minutes of the May 5, 2008, City Council meeting as submitted.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period May 16-31, 2008, totaling $95,829.09, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period May 16-31, 2008, totaling $221,175.20, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
No one was present for the FiberNet presentation during the public forum.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to discontinue the support of the City of Mountain Iron for the FiberNet Project. The motion carried.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following items:
– State Legislature. He said that there was good news for the Range Cities with regard to the Local Government Aid. He said that the City of Mountain Iron should receive an additional $400,000. Also, there is a three year commitment that the Cities would not levy in excess of a 3.9% tax levy. He publicly thanked all of the State Legislators for their efforts in getting this legislation passed.
– Fire Department. He announced that there would be an “Open House” at the Fire Hall on Thursday, June 5, 2008, from 4:00 to 8:00 p.m.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to authorize an expenditure of up to $10,000 for the Merritt Days Celebration during August 15, 16, and 17, 2008. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council thanked Jeremy Jesch, owner of Mac’s Bar, for his involvement with the Merritt Days Celebration.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– League of Minnesota Cities. He said that he was providing the Loss Control Survey conducted on April 23, 2008, for the Council’s review and recommendations.
– Local Government Aid. He said that the actual amount the City would be receiving in 2009 was $381,000.
– Unity Second Addition. He said that the Council directed him to look into advertising the lots in the new addition. He said that he contacted the billboard owner who previous advertised Unity Addition and he would be willing to place advertisements on five different billboards for a couple of months at each one for $500 per month. The Council directed the Administrator to look into the billboard signs and to research putting up our own sign for the sale of the lots in Unity Second Addition and the costs that the City would incur doing this.
– Library Roof. He informed the Council that the Bonding Company had requested quite a packet of information on the library roofing project and Staff was currently putting that information together.
– Library Pictures. He said that Staff was working with Architectural Resources to hang the pictures at the library. He said that there was no value to the pictures at the Library, they were mass produced and widely available prints.
– City Council Agenda. Staff did forward the City Council agenda to the public access channel and they were now available for viewing.
– 2007 Audit. He said that the City Auditor would be providing a draft of the audit for Staff to review and the Auditor’s would more than likely be available to review the 2007 Audit with the Council at the second meeting in June.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to award the power cable project to Gulbranson Excavating Company in the amount of $9,210.00 for the Unity Second Addition electrical service. The motion carried unanimously.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff’s Department report for April 2008. The Sergeant stated that Saint Louis County is the fifth deadliest County in the State of Minnesota for traffic accident deaths and serious injury. He said that Mountain Iron is listed fifth in the non-seatbelt death and injuries reported. He informed the Council and the Public that the Sheriffs Department would be participating in the “Click-it or Ticket” State Campaign through the Office of Traffic Safety to promote seatbelt use. He said that there are no warnings issued for non-seatbelt use; a citation would be issued immediately.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Ordinance Number 01-08, amending Chapters 151 and 154 of the Mountain Iron City Code, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the Zoning Administrator to send an informative letter to the Mountain Iron residents regarding the current building requirements. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
The City Engineer informed the Council that the following bids were received for the Locomotive Park Fence Construction Project:
Mesabi Bituminous $27,570.00
Range Landscape $28,400.00
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the City Engineer and award the bid to Mesabi Bituminous for the Locomotive Park Fence Construction Project in the amount of $27,570.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Park and Recreation Board and hire William Haapala to work as the West II Rivers Campground for the 2008 Season. The motion carried.
There were no liaison reports made.
It was moved by Roskoski that either the City of Mountain Iron or the Contractor working on 16th Avenue Project, Hammerlund Construction, ditch or pump out the water in question until a permanent solution is found. This project will commence and be completed one week from today. The motion died for lack of support.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 24-08, approving a release of a utility easement, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 25-08, accepting bids for the Old Highway 169 from the Costin Plat to approximately one mile west of the Costin Plat, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 26-08, supporting Iron Range Rural Community Development Initiative Application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize B.G.’s Bar to sell liquor at a wedding reception for Ryan Simetkosky and Teresa Savaloja at the Mountain Iron Community Center on August 23, 2008. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the communication.
During the open discussion the following items were discussed:
– Deed Covenants. Zoning Administrator Kujala asked if the deed covenants would be implements at the Morgan Park Estates. The City Administrator said that there was discussion with the developers and there would be some restrictions placed in the development agreement.
– 16th Avenue Standing Water. Councilor Roskoski said that he made a motion to try to eliminate the standing water problem. Councilor Prebeg said that the City Engineer is working on the problem and it should be taken care of soon.
At 7:57 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Larry and Sherry Wiitala, a thank you for the use of the Community Center for their fundraising/benefit held.
