Meeting Minutes for November 01, 2004
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 1, 2004
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; and Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Approve the minutes of the October 18, 2004, City Council meeting as submitted.
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 October 16-31, 2004, totaling $120,071.96, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period October 16-31, 2004, totaling $196,127.71, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the public forum, Tom Cvar, Fire Chief, advised the Council that the City of Mountain Iron, Volunteer Fire Department, was awarded a FEMA grant for safety equipment in the amount of $88,682 with the City contributing a 10% match. The Fire Chief advised the Council that the City accepted delivery of the 2004 Fire Truck on October 19, 2004.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor advised the Council that he had spoke with Rod Flannigan, the City Engineer, and he assured him that Heather Avenue would be upgraded before winter.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to submit a request to Saint Louis County to order the appropriate street signs for the Mashkenode Lake area and request that the County erect the signs as soon as possible. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Irish to approve the Temporary On-sale Liquor License for the Virginia Regional Medical Center for their “Festival of Trees” event on November 17, 19, & 20, 2004, subject to the final approval of the Minnesota Department of Public Safety. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski requested that the Mountain Iron Street and Alley Committee meet with the Virginia Street and Alley Committee regarding the 16th Avenue Improvement Project. Councilor Roskoski felt that the City of Virginia uses the road more that the City of Mountain Iron does and the road costs should be divided differently than 50% for each City. Councilor Roskoski also stated that the assessment rate for 16th Avenue should be reviewed and determined. Councilor Prebeg felt that Mr. Renzaglia from the Utility Advisory Board should also attend the joint meeting because there are utilities involved in the project. The City Administrator was directed to set up a meeting with the City of Virginia.
Councilor Irish asked who was responsible for removing the burnt trailer in the Desert Area by the City Garage. The City Administrator stated that the trailer was owned by the Mesabi Range College and they are responsible for disposing of the debris. The Fire Chief said that he would follow up on the trailer removal.
Councilor Irish questioned the City Administrator regarding providing maps for the recent land acquisition with U. S. Steel Corporation. The City Administrator advised the Council that the maps were still being prepared by Benchmark Engineering and he had not received them as of this meeting.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the purchase of tires for the loader from Pomp�s Tire Service, Virginia, Minnesota in the amount of $5,314.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, yes; Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
The Director of Parks and Recreation advised the Council that he received signed blight complaints on 8537 Mud Lake Road and 8539 Mud Lake Road. He further advised the Council that there is more that just blight problems at these properties. He stated that there are fire problems with the old buildings, hazardous materials present, building problems that would involve the Zoning Administrator, legal and law enforcement issues.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize a meeting to be set up with the Fire Chief, the Zoning Administrator, the Building Inspector, the City Attorney, the Sheriff Sergeant, Councilor Prebeg, and the Blight Officer to review severe blight problems. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to authorize the Blight Officer to proceed with enforcing our blight ordinance and begin towing vehicles that are out of compliance with the ordinance. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize the Library Director to allow the Library Substitute Worker to work an additional 30 hours so the Library Director and the Assistant Librarian have time to weed out the library collection, with the City Administrator outlining the procedure for this additional time. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to accept the resignations of the following Housing and Redevelopment Authority members: Larry P. Johnson, John Filander, Michael E. Lambert, Mary Jacobsen, Jason Goehring. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 41-04, calling for a public hearing on the proposal of the Mountain Iron Economic Development Authority to establish a redevelopment Project and adopt a Redevelopment Plan therefor and establish a Development District and adopt a Development Program therefor, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 42-04, calling for a public hearing on a modification to the Redevelopment Plan for Redevelopment Project No. 1 and the modifications to the Tax Increment Financing Plans for Tax Increment Financing Districts Numbers 1 and 3 therein and the adoption of the modifications therefor, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Labor and Employee Relations Program. No formal action was taken on the matter.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to authorize the firm of Walker, Giroux, and Hahne, Ltd. to prepare the 2004 audit as per the proposal submitted and the rates specified. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to change the next regular meeting date to Wednesday, November 17, 2004 at 6:30 p.m. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to direct the City Administrator to apply for a grant from IRRRA in the amount of $85,000 for the Dump Cleanup Project because it is part of the JOBZ Zone area, with the application being completed this year. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the letter received from the Department of Education regarding the Library. It was the consensus of the Council to forward the letter to the Library Board and the Architect.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Roskoski to authorize the remaining balance of the $300 donation to the Wacootah Wheelers to be released to the Wacootah Wheelers ATV Club. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Skalko to direct the City Administrator to go on the JOBZ Zone web site and print out the information sheets and provide copies to the City Council and the Economic Development Authority members. The motion carried with Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to direct the Building Custodian to work with City Staff and put the pictures on the walls in the Community Center with a deadline for this project as April 1, 2005. The motion carried with Nelson voting no.
At 7:58 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
MediaCom, advising the City of Mountain Iron of a change in fees for late payments.
Erik Wedge, DSGW, forwarding a fax received on October 21, 2004 from Chesley and Sons, Inc. for tuckpointing the Mountain Iron Library.
