Meeting Minutes for November 05, 2001
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Absent member included: Joseph Prebeg, Jr. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. D. Report of Street Maintenance Committee on the parking issue
2. Approve the minutes of the October 15, 2001, 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. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period October 16-31, 2001, totaling $213,736.50, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period October 16-31, 2001, totaling $87,969.96, (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.
During the public forum, members of the Carriage Homes of Mountain Iron Association were present and presented a letter to the Council requesting that the City of Mountain Iron plow snow the two perimeter streets at the Carriage Homes Property. The City Administrator said that this issue was discussed about two years ago, and the Council went on record, at that time, saying that the streets were considered to be private streets and the City does not plow private streets. The Carriage Home Association group came before the Council before and the homeowners were advised that the street would have to be brought up to City standards to become a City street.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to have the City Engineer, the City Attorney and the City Administrator work together with the Street Committee to work out the details and prepare a recommendation of how the Carriage Homes Streets should be handled. The motion carried.
Also during the public forum, Alison Wiitala, representing the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Sport Boosters Club, requesting that the City waive the fees for use of the City Buildings 4-6 times per year to hold banquets. She also said that the Sports Boosters Club has troubling scheduling their events two weeks in advance.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Brunfelt, in keeping with the past practice that has already been set with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Sport Boosters Club, that the fees for the use of the city buildings be waived. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Matt Kishel, 919 20th Avenue West, expressed his displeasure with the new addressing in the West Virginia area.
The Mayor updated the Council and the audience on the addressing questions and problems that have come up. He said that he and the Administrator have met with the postal services officials. The Mayor said that he had a phone conversation on October 12, 2001 with Hal Otto of the U.S. Postal Services and he advised him that the City of Mountain Iron would be listed as a place name under the 55792 zip code. On October 19, 2001, Hal Otto’s Supervisor called him and advised him that the U.S. Postal Services were not adding Mountain Iron as a place name under the 55792 zip code. The Mayor further advised the Council that there was a meeting held on October 25, 2001 with the Virginia and Mountain Iron Postmasters, the City Administrator, the Mayor and Hal Otto, U. S. Postal Services and nothing was resolved at this time with regard to this issue.
At 7:17 p.m., Mayor Brunfelt left the meeting.
At 7:19 p.m., Mayor Brunfelt returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to reject all of the bids on the 1957 Pumper Truck and donate the 1957 Pumper Truck to the Camp Five Township. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the report on the 2001 street improvement projects regarding questions on Garden Drive and Marble Avenue Assessment Report prepared by the City Engineer. The City Engineer will present a pay request on the street improvement projects at the next meeting reflecting the retainage on the landscaping.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of City Staff and adopt Resolution number 42-01, adopting assessments, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of City Staff and purchase 119 Engineer grade signs, posts, and accessories from Gopher Sign at their quoted price of $5,325.70. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed parking problems on Marble Avenue regarding calendar parking, no parking in the early mornings for snowplowing, driveway blocking problems, resident only parking, and possible further painting of curbs by driveways.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to direct Staff to have Law Enforcement Staff look at the parking problems on Marble Avenue, expressing the concerns of the Council, and report back to the City Council at the next regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to set a Committee-of-the-Whole City Council meeting to have a budget working session to include the Capital Improvement Plan for Tuesday, November 27, 2001 at 6:30 p.m. in the Mountain Iron Room of the Community Center with all Department Heads present. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adopt resolution number 43-01, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Ordinance number 05-01, House Numbering, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski to not enforce Ordinance number 05-01 until all of the street signs get put up and all the dialogue with post office is completed. The motion died for lack of support.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to Roskoski to not send out any letters to the residents until the street signs have been installed. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt the IRRRB Final Accounting Report for the West Two Rivers Recreation Area Campground Grant, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the City of Mountain Iron does not waive the monetary limits on the municipal tort liability established by Minnesota Statutes 466.06. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to accept the proposal from Walker, Giroux, and Hahne, Ltd. to conduct the 2001 Audit for the City General Fund and Enterprise Funds. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski, that due to the high cost, the Community Center Sign be tabled. The motion died for lack of support.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the sign quote from Mesabi Sign Company in the amount of $23,835 and proceed with the sign. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Skogman, yes; Matanich, no; and Brunfelt, no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to have City Staff seek additional quotes, in addition to the quote from Mesabi Sign, with the same sign layout. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for the Virginia/Mountain Iron/Gilbert Chamber of Commerce for November 15, 2001 at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the 2001 Arrowhead Economic Opportunity Agency, Transportation Department, contract for services. The motion carried.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Roskoski to set the fee for a Massage Parlor License at $150.00. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the Grant Agreement with Molitor Fields for Kids. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to direct the City Administrator to file a letter of commendation to the personal file of Larry Nanti for taking the initiative to obtain the Molitor Grant. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the communication received.
It was the consensus of the Council to have the Fire Chief review the property at 5744 Mesabi Avenue for a potential fire hazard.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to ask the Street Committee to review the condition of the sidewalks in town, have the City Council considered the sidewalks when reviewing the capital improvements, and have the City Administrator send a letter to Mrs. Kubacki advising her of the Council�s action. The motion carried.
During the Mayor’s report, the Mayor said that he had advised the Council earlier on the U. S. Postal Service discussions. He said that he is also concerned about the Census counts with the addressing area with the zip code 55792.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct City Staff to work with the City Attorney to investigate the Census issue and look at other options to find a resolution to the addressing problem in the City and bring a recommendation back to the Council at the 1st meeting in December, 2001. The motion carried.
During the open discussion the following Councilors spoke:
Councilor Matanich said that he attends the Planning and Zoning meetings and they expressed some concerns with regard to items that they refer back to the City Council or City Staff, for example, the Blight Ordinance and the Comprehensive Land Use Plan. The City Administrator said that he spoke with the Recreation Director and with the changes that the Planning and Zoning requested, the City would be better off just keeping the ordinance that we have.
Councilor Matanich updated the Council regarding the railroad-crossing meeting on Mountain Iron Drive. He said that representatives from the Railroad, MN/DoT and ARDC were there, the City Administrator, and Councilor Roskoski. Councilor Matanich said that the railroad recommends closing the crossing on Mountain Iron Drive. He said that the City Council has the final say on the matter.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski advised the Council that there would be another showing of the premiere of the trailer for the movie “Two Harbors” on Thursday, November 8, 2001 at 7:00 p.m.
The Mayor announcement that tomorrow is an important day with the school referendum. He encouraged everyone to get out and vote.
At 8:13 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
