Meeting Minutes for November 03, 2003
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
.NOVEMBER 3, 2003
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Allen Nelson, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member: Dale Irish. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following the following items to the agenda:
IV. A. 3. Temporary Liquor License for VRMC Foundation
Mountain Iron-Buhl Football
Approve the minutes of the October 20, 2003, 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, 2003, totaling $198,555.84, (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, 2003, totaling $231,618.06, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on a roll call vote.
At 6:33 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on street assessments. The motion carried.
The Director of Public Works outlined the street improvement projects for the audience and City Council.
Steve Morrisette, 8366 Gardenia Street, was present and said that there was a low spot by his driveway that collects water. The Director of Public Works said that he would review the situation further.
At 6:42 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Wilbert Johnson, 5621 Nichols Avenue, inquired about the revisions to the blight ordinance. Mr. Johnson also inquired about the meter reading procedures. The Director of Public Works outlined the procedure that is followed for reading utility meters.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor commended the City Administrator for his work on the grant for the Mountain Iron Public Library. He also said that the Administrator had faxed in the mailing address corrections to the phone company.
The Mayor requested that the Minnesota Association of Small Cities membership be placed on the next meeting agenda.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to approve the temporary on-sale liquor license for the Virginia Foundation for November 19 & 22, 2003, for the Festival of Trees event. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to authorize advertising for the Mountain Iron-Buhl Football Team for radio time on October 31, 2003, at a cost of $40.00, on November 7, 2003 at a cost of $40.00, and a congratulation advertisement in the Mesabi Daily News at a cost of $15.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko motion to allow the Director of Public Works to coordinate with Mountain Iron-Buhl School Staff to work out an agreement or use of any equipment necessary to remove snow from the school football field before the November 7, 2003, football game. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the updated fee list. The City Administrator advised the Council that they could consider the fee list at budget time.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Director of Public Works regarding the fees for electrical connection and culvert installation. The Director of Public Works explained the process. Councilor Roskoski asked that these two items be incorporated into the fee list.
Mayor Skalko asked what the status of the Bon Air clean up costs were. The Administrator said that the City Attorney is working on this. He said that the costs would be certified onto the special assessment list in November if the bill is not paid.
The Mayor questioned the City Administrator regarding the adjustment by age for renters at the Mountain Manor facility was. The City Administrator said that the market study that was requested had been submitted.
Councilor Roskoski asked the Director of Public Works if the City was looking into purchasing automatic meter readers. The Director of Public Works said that this is in the preliminary discussion stage because the utility account does not have any funds to expend at this time.
Councilor Roskoski asked the Director of Public Works about water lines by the Northwoods Mall by Highway 53. The Director of Public Works stated that the City Employees have been working on installing a valve on the water line by there. He also stated that the City of Virginia had also installed a shut-off valve on their side.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Director of Parks and Recreation to have a skating rink in Downtown Mountain Iron, preferably in the Mountain Iron-Buhl School yard or adjacent to Cvar�s house, and to authorize any other expenditures associated with the skating rink in Downtown Mountain Iron. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; and Skalko, yes.
The Council discussed the vandalism done at the South Grove Recreation Area. The Recreation Director said that it was being investigated.
Councilor Roskoski requested that the Administrator place “Mountain Avenue Angle Parking” and the “Payment/Suggestion Box Labels” on the next meeting agenda.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to, if Terry Malmstrom�s lot in Unity Addition does not sell my March 2004, have the City purchase the lot back from Mr. Malmstrom for the price that Mr. Malmstrom paid for it. And further, if he does not want to sell the lot back to the City in March of 2004 that Mr. Malmstrom be allowed to request a one year extension to construct a single family dwelling on the lot. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Administrator about the $45,000 CDBG grant for inflow. The City Administrator said that this funding would be designated to assist low and moderate income families in the city to comply with the sump pump ordinance.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 36-03, Adopting Assessments, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 37-03, authorizing grant application, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to adopt Ordinance Number 03-03, Administrative Penalties, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to table the 2004 audit agreement. The Mayor would like to have a request for proposals for City Auditor, City Engineer, and City Attorney on the next regular meeting agenda.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the brush drop off pile by the City Garage be put on the next City Council meeting agenda for further discussion.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the Director of Public Works to check with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District to see if they are considering having a public bon fire and if they are not, have the City Crew burn the brush pile at the old dump site off of Mineral Avenue.
It was the consensus of the Council to have City Staff review the Anderson Conditional Use Permit with regard to the number of vehicles on their property and employees working there to see if there is a violation.
During the open discussion, the Mayor stated that Larry Sokoloski, Mountain Iron-Buhl School Board, would be at the next regular city council meeting to discuss the land exchange.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the requests for proposals for the Mountain Iron Library project to be on the next meeting agenda.
At 7:54 p.m., it was moved by Nelson and supported by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
