Meeting Minutes for November 04, 2002
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 4, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
VI. J. Additional communications:
6. Arrowhead Regional Development Commission
7. Don Stahl, Principal of Mountain Iron-Buhl School
K. Application for Temporary Liquor License for VRMC Foundation
2. Approve the minutes of the October 21, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. Acknowledge the receipts for the period October 16-31, 2002, totaling $92,777.71, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion to adopt the consent agenda carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period October 16-31, 2002, totaling $166,431.07, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, yes; Matanich, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Brunfelt, yes.
During the public forum, the Mayor noted that there was a number of volunteer firemen in attendance because of the line item on the agenda, “Sale of Mountain Iron Fire Department to Virginia”, placed by Councilor Roskoski. The Mayor asked Councilor Roskoski to explain. Councilor Roskoski said that he heard that the City of Mountain Iron had sent some sort of correspondence to the City of Virginia. The Mayor clarified to the Council Members and the public that there have never been any discussions or pending sale, since he was Mayor, regarding the sale of the Mountain Iron Fire Department to the City of Virginia.
Tom Cvar, Mountain Iron Fire Chief, stated that he had received information from Mr. Vandervoort regarding the City of Virginia contracting to provide Mountain Iron Fire Department services.
Also during the public forum, Jeff Teask, Virginia Fire Department, stated that Mr. Vandervoort advised the Virginia Department that someone had contacted them from the City of Mountain Iron regarding contracting the Mountain Iron fire fighting services.
Also during the public forum, Gary Skalko spoke regarding the Mountain Iron Fire Department issue, stating that he would never support the sale of the Mountain Iron Fire Department to the City of Virginia.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Roskoski, regarding the Mountain Iron Volunteer Fire Department, that if any conversations have taken place regarding contracting out this service that these stop and that a letter be sent to the City of Virginia that Mountain Iron is not interested in contracting or selling the Mountain Iron Fire Department to the City of Virginia. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Fire Department to advertise and hire up to two firemen to replace two volunteer fire department members that will be retiring in the next few months. The motion carried.
Also during the public forum, Mr. and Mrs. Tim Kovich were present and asked the City Council to explain the sump pump issue. The Mayor explained the reasons why the City was pursuing the issue. Mr. Kovich stated that to have a sump pump installed in their home would be a very costly installation because of their basement being tiled and sheet rocked.
Also during the public forum, Matt Kishel spoke stating that the City should allow additional time to complete the sump pump installation.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to grant a waiver to Mr. and Mrs. Tim Kovich, 8393 Tamarack Drive, regarding the sump pump ordinance requirements. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Matanich, no; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Skogman, no; and Brunfelt, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to refer the sump pump ordinance requirements issue to the Utility Advisory Board (UAB) to adopt a formal process, extend the completion date to November 1, 2003, and create a waiver process for the sump pump ordinance requirements; and, have the UAB make a recommendation to the City Council; and further, send another notice to the affected residents regarding the date extension and the appeal process being established to consider waivers; and further, to form a committee to deal with requests for waivers to the sump pump ordinance. The motion carried.
Lee Anderson, Gary Cerkvenik, and Eric Wedge were present and reviewed the various options for the Mountain Iron Library. They requested that the Council take action at the next regular meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct City Staff to negotiate an agreement with the developers for an attached Library facility to the Mountain Iron Community Center and come back to the City Council with a recommendation. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski and Prebeg voting no.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to appoint Dave Skalbeck to the Planning and Zoning Commission to complete the term of John Rioux, who is resigning due to health issues, with the term expiring on December 31, 2002; and further, direct the Administrator to send a letter to Mr. Rioux thanking him for his years of service to the City. The motion carried.
At 8:05 p.m., Councilor Skogman left the meeting.
At 8:07 p.m., Councilor Skogman returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Ordinance 08-02, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to authorize Benchmark Engineering to handle the sewer inspections for the City of Mountain Iron until appropriate City Staff is trained and certified. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to write a letter to the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources to change the designation of Mashkenode Lake to General Development. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the City Attorney and proceed with an Issuance of Order against the owners of the Bon Air according to State Statute 463.15. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution 48-02, Authorizing an Investment Account with BNY Clearing Services, LLC, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the City Administrator and approve the Unity Drive right-of-way issue with the Nikolanci Trust at a total cost of $5,100. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to accept the audit proposal received from Walker, Giroux, and Hahne, Ltd. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 8:20 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve position analysis for the Foreman, Lineman, Fire Chief, Assistant Fire Chief, Volunteer Firefighter Captain, Training Officer, Volunteer Firefighter, Emergency Medical Technician, (copies are attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no and Councilor Prebeg being absent.
At 8:22 p.m. Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt a new chain of command as follows: 1) City Administrator, 2) Director of Public Works, 3) Director of Parks and Recreation, 4) Foreman, and 5) Library Director. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to refer the Customer Service Standards to the Personnel Committee for a recommendation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to offer Anmarie McLaughlin a lease for the alley property adjacent to 5700 Mineral Avenue and make an agreement for any improvements that she makes to the property. The motion carried with Mayor Brunfelt voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the proposal submitted by Maximus for the assets valuation services. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct the City Administrator to submit a grant application to the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission for the trailhead facility. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to approve the request of Don Stahl, Mountain Iron-Buhl Principal regarding suspending the parking requirements adjacent to the school to allow for additional parking for the school to host a two-day seminar that is being conducted at the high school on November 7th and 8th. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Temporary Liquor License for the Virginia Foundation for November 21st and 23rd, 2002 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski requested that the City Staff review the repairs completed on Old Highway 169 in Kinross. The Director of Public Works stated that he is working with the contractors regarding this issue.
At 8:45 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
