Meeting Minutes for May 21, 2007

MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
MAY 21, 2007

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member included: Tony Zupancich. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.

It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

1. Add the following item to the agenda:

VI. H. Interim Parks and Recreation Director

2. Approve the minutes of the May 21, 2007, City Council meeting using Draft 2, the anecdotal minute format, but listing the movers, seconders, and how each Councilor votes.

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 1-15, 2007, totaling $200,162.97, (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 1-15, 2007, totaling $241,564.81, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to award the quote from Range Landscape for the landscaping materials to complete the landscaping at the Quad Cities entrance sign located on Highway 169 in an amount not to exceed $3,000.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to authorize City Staff to develop plans and specifications and seek quotes for playground equipment to be placed at the Mountain Manor Park with $15,000 coming from the Community Development Block Grant program and $5,000 coming from City funds. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

Councilor Roskoski asked the City Administrator if the monthly time off calendars from the Management Staff have been submitted to the Council members. The City Administrator said that he would check into the matter.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to award the quote for crack sealing services to Northwest Asphalt at their low quote of $1.20/unit price per pound installed. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.

The Council reviewed the April statistic report from the Sheriff’s Department.

The City Attorney advised the Council regarding the laws as they relate to personal financial interests and actions taken by the City Council. 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to hire Matt Mattson, Stacy Pontinen, and Connie Pearson as First Responders to work in the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 26-07, awarding the bid for the Park Ridge Drive construction to Louis Leustek and Sons in the amount of $220,437.80, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 27-07, approving plans and specifications and ordering advertisement for bids for the 16th Avenue Improvement Project, with the cooperation of the City of Virginia, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski abstaining.

It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to direct the City Administrator to write a letter to Representative Rukavina stating the City’s concerns regarding the distribution of any remaining State Grant funds for the 16th Avenue Project. The motion carried.

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to direct the City Administrator to seek cost information regarding providing identification badges and/or shirts to assist the public in identifying City Employees. The motion carried.

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko that the City does not waive the monetary limits on municipal tort liability established by Minnesota Statutes 466.04. The motion carried.

It was moved by Roskoski that, because of garbage, graffiti, and vandalism occurring at Mountain Iron overlooks, parks, playgrounds, and ball fields, our City should make every effort to make sure these places are repaired, safe, clean, and inviting; Staff will review the past policy on checking on the various sites mentioned for trash and repairs, at least once or twice per week; law enforcement will develop an appropriate schedule to patrol the various sites mentioned, at least once per day. Also, the Park and Recreation Board should look into the available, fireproof, and non-tip over trash cans, as to price and installation costs. The motion died for lack of a second.

The Council felt that Councilor Roskoski’s motion should be considered by the Public Safety and Health Board before being presented to the Council. 

The Council discussed the lot adjacent to 5366 Mineral Avenue. It was the consensus of the Council that this area is the access to the ball field and that the lot may be unbuildable because of the gas line on the property. It was the consensus of the City Council that the City Engineer check to see if the lot was buildable and Councilor Prebeg would bring the consideration to the next Park and Recreation Board meeting. 

It was the consensus of the Council to discuss the Interim Recreation Director’s position at a future Personnel Committee meeting.

At 7:37 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.