Meeting Minutes for November 15, 1999
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Curt Piri and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation; Judy Seurer, Accounting Technician; and Sgt. Joe Stewart, Sheriffs’ Department.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. New Business
I. City Hall Payment Request
2. Approve the minutes of the November 1, 1999, regular meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period November 1-15, 1999, totaling $291,968.74, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period November 1-15, 1999, totaling $85,800.74, (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, Ed Roskoski requested that because of the All-Class Reunion next summer, the locomotive in Locomotive Park be painted. The Mayor requested Larry Nanti to look into the project.
Mr. Roskoski also reported that the sidewalk by the Corner Spur was torn up by the gas company and needs repair. The Mayor requested Don Kleinschmidt to look into the problem.
Mr. Roskoski also reported that the corner by Enterprise Drive North and County Road #109 by Little Joe�s and Raintree Apartments has a lot of class 5 material on it and is in need of clean-up. Don Kleinschmidt will get the street sweeper out to clean it off.
Ed Roskoski questioned the Council on the appropriate timeline and procedures for the proposed assessments for the Ann�s Acres water extension. He suggested the City Attorney be consulted.
Jim Johnson and Steve Jarvi from the Fire Department Relief Association were present to request an increase of the pension benefit the volunteer firemen receive, from $1400 per year of service to $1500. This would be effective as of 1-1-2000. No additional City funds will be needed.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich to approve the increase in pension benefit from the Fire Department Relief Association from $1400 to $1500 per year of service. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Skogman, abstain; Matanich, yes; Piri, yes; Olsen, yes; Brunfelt, yes.
No action was taken on the building permit for the Mountain Iron 1st State Bank, as no site plans have been submitted.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve the building permit for Floor to Ceiling to construct an addition to an existing warehouse. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve the building permit for Solid Properties to renovate their building at Plaza 53 West to accommodate a new Unicel outlet. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the building permit for L & M Supply to construct three storage buildings. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve the building permit for L.W. Anderson Properties to construct a new commercial building. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Piri to approve the building permit for Solid Properties to renovate their building at Plaza 53 West to accommodate a new Domino�s Pizza business. The motion carried.
It was moved by Piri and supported by Matanich to approve the conditional use permit requested by Art Ostman to construct a garage larger than 900 square feet. The motion carried.
Bob Brown was present and questioned the process for approving building permits. He recommended streamlining the process by having Jerry Kujala approve the zoning permit and himself approve each part of the building permit as construction progresses. Discussion on the issue took place. The Mayor formed a committee comprised of the City Administrator, the City Attorney, the Zoning Administrator, the Building Inspector and the Chairman of Planning and Zoning Commission to discuss the procedure and make a recommendation to the City Council.
Councilor Skogman reported on what the Mountain Iron�s sheriffs response to Buhl would be, now that they don’t have police department. Hibbing�s sheriffs will be first to respond,
Virginia�s sheriffs will be second and Mountain Iron�s sheriffs will be third.
Sgt. Stewart of the Sheriffs Department had nothing to report.
Tom Oberstar, a resident of Costin, had requested that the City repair the street lighting under the overpass in the Costin area.
The Public Works Director reviewed the status of the lights in Costin with the Council. There are presently nine street lights in Costin. Only six are working. The four lights under the bridge are not working. The graffiti under the bridge was repainted at one time but, because the bridge does not belong to the City, the DWP informed the City crew not to go on it. The Public Works Director sees no reason to add lighting in the area, as it now has more per household than anywhere else in City. He will ask the DWP to repair the bridge lighting if the City Council wishes.
Councilor Olsen felt that the 90 degree corner on Old Highway 169 needs a street light. The Public Works Director reported that the pole and light are there. It is not working because there has been no power to it since Costin was abandoned. Sgt. Stewart felt that it would not be a large impact on public safety to put a light there. Mayor Brunfelt felt that the costs outweigh the benefits of putting additional lighting in. Councilor Matanich asked if the railroad would allow the City to install lights under the bridge. The Public Works Director felt they would allow it, but the City would have to maintain them. Councilor Olsen stated that if the Mesabi Trail goes along the proposed route, funding for decorative lighting in the area may become available. No action was taken.
The Mayor reviewed the street maintenance financing report. He stated that there are basically two choices for the Council. The first would be to allocate funds for whatever projects the City wanted to do on a yearly basis. The second would be to look at general obligation bonds to do all of the street projects at once. Discussion took place on the possible increase in property taxes and individual assessments. The Mayor requested the City Administrator to analyze the information further, and report back to the Council on what the debt payments per year would be and also the financial impact on individual property owners.
Discussion took place concerning the Ann’s Acres water extension assessments. It was the consensus of the Council that there be no assessments. No further action was taken.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution #55-99, Accepting Work on the Ann�s Acres Water System. The motion carried.
The Mayor reported that Bob Manzoline and Jerry Kujala will be at the next regular meeting to discuss the Mesabi Trail Alignment. A public hearing was held on November 9, 1999
concerning the trail. A lengthy discussion took place on whether the trail should be motorized or non-motorized and also whether there should be a separate snowmobile trail.
An ad hoc committee was appointed by the Mayor consisting of Councilor Skogman, the City Administrator, Councilor Piri and Sgt. Stewart to come up with a plan for the trail by the second meeting in December. Delyle Pankratz and Jerry Kujala will be invited to attend meetings with the committee.
The City of Chisholm forwarded information on a proposed range-wide millennium party at the Ironworld Discovery Center in Chisholm. No action was taken.
No action was taken on the City of Virginia Youth Center�s request for funding.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the 2000 Audit proposal submitted by Walker, Giroux and Hahne. The motion carried on unanimously on a roll call vote.
Discussion took place concerning boundary re-alignments for municipal service areas to possibly incorporate Kinney and Great Scott Township. The Council did not want any adverse takeover situations. It was suggested that the City Administrator look into the willingness of neighboring townships to enter into discussions on incorporating their areas. It was the consensus of Council to have the City Administrator send letters to the Kinney City Council and the Great Scott Township Board to inquire on their interest in incorporating their townships into the City of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve Resolution #54-99, Setting Hearing on Vacation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri that the liquor and cigarette license applications for the period January 1, 2000 through December 31, 2000, be approved and issued to the following individuals and business establishments pursuant to the approval, where necessary, of the Liquor Control Commission and pursuant to the payment of all outstanding license fees and charges:
Jeff & Greg Properties, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: B. G.�s Saloon Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
910 West 23rd Avenue On-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
(Mountain Iron, MN) Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Virginia, MN 55792 Cigarette
Harry�s Bar of Mountain Iron, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Bon Air Bar On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
8890 Main Street, PO Box 231 Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 Cigarette
Mike Lambert
DBA: Silver Creek Liquor Company Cigarette
915 West 23rd Avenue
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Virginia, MN 55792
Commander Club On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
American Legion Post #220 On-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
5748 Mountain Avenue, PO Box 361 Cigarette
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Mac�s Bar, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Mac�s Bar On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
8881 Main Street, PO Box 313 Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 Cigarette
Kathleen Carlsen Cigarette
Corner Spur
903 West 23rd Avenue, PO Box 1207
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Virginia, MN 55792
Joni Stutzman Cigarette
DBA: Joni�s Foods
8874 Main Street, PO Box 107
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Hoyt Lakes, MN 55750
Hughes Mountain Iron Properties Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Northern Lights Steak & Grill On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
8311 South 13th Street, PO Box 393 Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 Cigarette
Joseph Giru Cigarette
Wayne Motor and Oil Company
8904 Main Street, PO Box 356
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Edward Turenne Cigarette
Country Kitchen
8310 South 13th Street
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Virginia, MN 55792
Joseph Giru Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Little Joe�s Cigarette
5537 McInnes Road, PO Box 356
Mountain Iron, MN 55768
Jay Ryan Moehlenbrock Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Jay Ryan Enterprise, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Sawmill Saloon & Restaurant Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
8313 South 13th Street Cigarette
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Virginia, MN 55792
The motion carried unanimously.
During the Mayor’s Report, it was reported that due to a conflict of interest with Councilor Piri, a new member to the Personnel Committee would have to be appointed for the new laborer hiring. The Mayor appointed Joe Matanich.
Discussion took place concerning the payment request for the City Hall/Community Center project. There were concerns that Kraus-Anderson was charging the City and NECSU for each separate project and not double billing. There were also concerns on some of the miscellaneous costs listed.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Matanich to approve payment to Harbor City Masonry for $51,964.00 The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Brunfelt and supported by Skogman to approve payment to Duncan Concrete, Inc. in the amount of $61,541.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was the consensus of the Council to table payments to Kraus-Anderson Construction and Louis Leustek & Sons until the questions raised during the discussion are answered.
During the open discussion, Councilor Matanich reported that the housing development was progressing nicely. Councilor Piri stated that there will be more interest in the lots. The Director of Public Works reported that it is possible to have major completion by the first of the year of all the water and sewer extensions and the road base.
It was announced that there will be a Committee of the Whole meeting on November 23, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the 2000 budget.
At 7:50 p.m. it was moved by Piri and supported by Olsen to adjourn the meeting. The motion carried.
