Meeting Minutes for November 17, 2003
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17, 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, Dale Irish, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. 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:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
IV. B. 2. Special Assessment Letter
IV. A. 3. State Library ADA Grant
Bids for a New Library Roof
Library Attic Insulation
VI. C. USDA Grants
2. Approve the minutes of the September 29, 2003, Joint meeting with the Housing and Redevelopment Authority.
Approve the minutes of the November 3, 2003, City Council meeting with the following correction:
Page 3, Paragraph 2, “It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Director of Parks and Recreation Board to have a skating���”
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 November 1-15, 2003, totaling $99,650.85, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period November 1-15, 2003, totaling $152,013.49, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously 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 for the Right-of-Way Vacation. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski said that there is currently in negotiations with U. S. Steel regarding vacating this right-of-way. Councilor Roskoski said that the City should get something in exchange for vacating the right-of-way. Also, he said some of the streets proposed for vacation could be used for recreation purposes.
Councilor Irish said that he is the process of working on the ATV trails with the Department of Natural Resources. He said that the City would need to use the road under the bridge to cross under the tracks to get to Costin and eventually to the West II Rivers Reservoir. Councilor Irish also stated that the Mining Avenue road should be blocked off so people do not drive on the bike trail.
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, Darrin Alto was present and spoke to the Council regarding the purchase of property, the Great Northern Railroad right-of-way access, in Parkville, from the Regional Rail Authority.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg moved to indicate that the City of Mountain Iron is not interested in acquiring the property in Parkville from the Regional Rail Authority. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Nelson, yes; Irish, no; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to contact Bob Manzoline, Regional Rail Authority, regarding the Great Northern Railroad right-of-way access in Parkville, and have the City acquire the property and set up a procedure to transfer the land to the adjoining property owners with the City retaining 20 feet. And further, that the City only charge the adjoining property owners the costs incurred for the City to acquire and transfer the property. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; and Skalko, yes.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor stated that residents have notified him that they are not happy with Mediacom Cable Company regarding costs and services for cable connections. The Mayor requested that City Staff contact other cable companies to see if they could service the City of Mountain Iron.
The Mayor requested that City Staff invite all City Staff, including the Sheriff Department, the Fire Department, and Union Members to the City Council Budget Meeting on Monday, November 24th. He said that if the budget is going to work it would have to be a team effort.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski that if the City does not have all the information necessary, by the deadline, for the application for the State Library ADA Grant, that the grant application be withdrawn. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that it is the Mountain Iron City Administrator�s responsibility to contact Mr. Bruce Pomerantz, at various times, to make sure that all requested and necessary items/information have been supplied for the State Library ADA Grant application before the final deadline of November 25, 2003. The motion carried with Councilors Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to direct City Staff to prepare plans and specifications for roofing the Mountain Iron Library with traditional asphalt or simulated tile. And further, to have the City Administrator include the roofing in the State Library ADA Grant application. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko to add to the preparation of the plans and specifications the roof insulation, ceiling insulation, rain gutters, and cornice work. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
The Mayor requested that the Quad City Joint Economic Development Authority be discussed at the November 24, 2003 budget meeting.
The Mayor presented a sample banners for the Downtown Mountain Iron area. He said that the estimated costs for the banners and brackets would be approximately $1,900. The Mayor requested that this item be put on the next regular meeting agenda.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to direct City Staff to obtain a second appraisal for the Mountain Iron-Buhl School land adjacent to Merritt Elementary and request that Larry Sokoloski, School Board Member, attend the next regular City Council meeting. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson to direct City Staff to post the editorial written by Mr. Techar at the City Garage. The motion carried.
The Mayor commented that it is nice to see the Festival of Trees being held at the Mountain Iron Community Center.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Nelson that the liquor and cigarette license applications for the period January 1, 2004 through December 31, 2004, 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
5494 Highway 7 Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55792 Cigarette
Mike Lambert Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: Silver Creek Liquor Company Cigarette
5489 Highway 7
Mountain Iron, MN 55792
Commander Club On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
American Legion Post #220 Off-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
Bruce A. Carlsen Cigarette
Corner Spur
5499 Highway 7, Box 1207
Mountain Iron, MN 55792
Joseph Giru Off-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Little Joe�s Cigarette
5537 Nichols Avenue, 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
5478 Mountain Iron Drive Cigarette
Mountain Iron, MN 55792
Rezavor, Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
John Gorsha On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5235 Campground Road Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron MN 55768 Cigarette
Adventures, Va., Inc. Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Greg Hartnett On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5475 Mountain Iron Drive Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron MN 55792
The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that a new assessment letter be drafted to include the following:
similar format and necessary information as the previous letter;
any payments to be made will be to the City of Mountain Iron;
any specific dates are to include the year;
the total amount of the assessment for the individual should be noted in the letter;
the deadline for any non interest payments also should be noted in this letter; and
the deadline for this project is as soon as City Staff can complete the letter and mail it out again.
The motion carried with Prebeg and Nelson voting no.
The Council discussed the USDA Rural Development Grants. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator put this item on the next regular meeting agenda.
Councilor Irish asked City Staff if they got a response from U. S. Steel and the City Attorney regarding having a public bon fire on the land leased from U. S. Steel. The City Administrator stated that the City Attorney said to seek permission from U. S. Steel. The Director of Public Works said that he had contacted the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Superintendent regarding the public bon fire and he stated that the school district had no desire to have the public bon fire because of the liability issues and not having the activity on school property.
The Council discussed the lowering of the age limit for renters at the Mountain Manor facility. The City Administrator said that he has not receive a response on the request.
Councilor Roskoski asked if Mr. Schlotec had permits for all of the buildings that he has located by the Sawmill Saloon. The City Administrator said that he would refer the matter to the Zoning Administrator for an opinion regarding the issue.
The Recreation Director updated the Council regarding the Downtown area skating rink. He said that a rental building was ordered and would be placed by Tom Cvar�s house and the water line was going to be dug on November 18th or 19th.
The Mayor said that he spoke with Val Carpenter regarding her term expiring on December 31,2003 on the Park and Recreation Board. He said that she did not want to be reappointed. The Mayor said that he would like to appoint someone from the Parkville area.
The Council reviewed the City Engineer�s 2003 project summary report.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to continue with assessing services through the St. Louis County Assessor�s office for 2004, with the funding coming from the mining effects taxes. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, no; Nelson, no; Irish, no; Roskoski, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize the payment of the dues for 2003-2004 for the Minnesota Association of Small Cities in the amount of $1,086.30. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to direct the City Administrator to prepare a “Request for Proposals” for professional services for City Engineer, City Auditor, and City Attorney for the December 1, 2003, City Council meeting. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
At 8:31 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Irish to authorize the following change orders for the library renovations:
R.F.P. No. 1- in the amount of $2,782.00;
R.F.P. No. 2 – in the amount of $470.00;
R.F.P. No. 3 � in the amount of $442.00;
R.F.P. No. 4 � in the amount of $570.00;
R.F.P. No. 5 � in the amount of $0.00; and
R.F.P. No. 6 � in the amount of $1,695.00.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, absent; Nelson, no; and Skalko, yes.
At 8:33 p.m., Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Irish and supported by Skalko to authorize payment request number one to Lenci Enterprises, Inc. for the Library Renovation in the amount of $20,330.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, no; Irish, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skalko that the original motion regarding the Mountain Avenue parking change project, that the completion date of the project be changed to read, the completion date of the project will be 30 working days after the City Architect authorizes the library project parking space sizes and location. The motion carried with Councilor Nelson voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that with regard to the suggestion box labels on the utility payment boxes, that the original motion be changed to read the completion date on this project would be December 31, 2003. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that, with regard to the brush pile by the City Garage, the City Administrator and the Director of Public Works review a new sight/procedure/plan. And further, when a plan is completed, it will be presented to the City Council with a deadline for this project being April 1, 2004 or sooner. The motion carried.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 38-03, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that no snow, from street snow removal activities, be deposited in the Locomotive Park area. But, if extreme weather conditions warrant such that the accumulated snow that may be dumped there, be removed before any Spring thaw, and this policy will remain in place until rescinded by specific Council action. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski passed out an article from the November 9, 2003, Mesabi Daily News with guest columnist, Patricia Awada, State Auditor regarding administrative penalties.
At 8:53 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
COMMUNICATIONS
James R. Techar, Superintendent of Mountain Iron-Buhl Public Schools, a letter thanking the City for assistance for the State football playoff game.
John Sundvor, Senior Media Consultant for Flaherty & Hood, P.A., a memo from Tim Flaherty concerning guest columns written by Rep. William Kuisle, R-District 30B and Austin Mayor Bonnie Rietz, CGMC president. The guest columns are also included.
Gary Skalko, Downtown Renovation Committee Chairperson, a letter in support of seeking ADA monies under the Public Library Accessibility Grant.
Gary Skalko, Downtown Renovation Committee Chairperson, a letter in support of seeking the TEA-21 Grant.
