Meeting Minutes for November 17, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 17, 2008
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Anderson, Municipal Services Secretary; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and John Backman, Sergeant.
Mayor Skalko congratulated Councilor Prebeg and Roskoski on winning the election. He also said that he was very humbled in being re-elected as Mayor and serving for another two years.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items to the agenda:
VI. F. Class 5 Quotes
G. Festival of Trees Liquor License
H. Donation to the Mountain Iron Senior Citizens
I. United Way Presentation to City Employees
J. Downtown Area Calendar Parking
2. Approve the minutes of the November 3, 2008, City Council meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the November 6, 2008, City Council special meeting as submitted.
4. 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.
5. To acknowledge the receipts for the period November 1-15, 2008, totaling $124,025.17, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
6. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period November 1-15, 2008, totaling $319,841.98, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, abstain; and Skalko, yes.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Street and Alley Committee. He said that he would like the Committee to discuss the area east of Highway 53 with all of the new development in the area that signage should be placed identifying this as part of Mountain Iron. Also, signage should be added by Mountain Iron Drive indicating that this area is also located in the Mountain Iron city limits.
– ROCC Board. He said that the Board would be asking the Quad Cities to contribute to the building by plowing at the facility.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– 2009 City Budgets. Staff has begun preparing the preliminary 2009 budgets worksheets.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize the quote for the replacement of a 60 inch range and dishwasher for the Senior Center to Upper Lakes Foods for the price of $10,733.00, with the following funding: AEOA, $2,500; Northland Foundation Grant, $3,500; and the City of Mountain Iron, $4,733. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize Staff to purchase one inch Class Five Crushing at a cost of $3.41 per short ton from Ulland Brothers. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Director of Public Works updated the Council on the installation of the boilers in the Community Center Building.
Councilor Roskoski asked how the RV Dump Station at the Wastewater Treatment Plant was going to be monitored. The Director of Public Works said that the Park and Recreation Board would be reviewing the situation and setting up the necessary policy for the use of the RV Station.
Councilor Roskoski questioned who should be maintaining the gravel portion of Cardinal Street. The Director of Public Works said that the Council would have to authorize the upgrade of that portion of the Street. The Council suggested that this go before the Street and Alley Committee.
Councilor Roskoski questioned a letter sent to Jeff Tiedeman regarding zoning violations. The Mayor advised the Council that an appeals hearing was held with the Board of Appeals. He said that this was a very positive meeting with guidelines for the necessary upgrades to be completed by Mr. Tiedeman to comply with the State Building Code.
The City Engineer reviewed the 2009 Wastewater Treatment Plant Improvements. The Director of Public Works said that they are currently looking at different sources of financing the Project, including possible bonding.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to award the quote for the replacement of support gravel and filtration media for the Wastewater Treatment Plant to Gridor Construction in the amount of $64,680. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Safety Committee and approve the Hot Work Program. The motion carried.
The following items were discussed during the Liaison Reports:
– Library Board. Councilor Stanaway advised the Council that the Board was now considering improvements to modernize the basement of the library, to clean the area and replace the furniture as possible considerations for the 2009 budget.
– Parks and Recreation Board. Councilor Prebeg advised the Council that the Board had been reviewing the usage numbers and considering tentative proposals to close or limit the usage of any rinks, and also consider adding another rink to the South Grove area. The Mayor asked that participation records be made available to the City Council if there is consideration of closing any of the Mountain Iron rinks.
– Economic Development Authority. Councilor Zupancich said that the Authority was preparing to start work on the Comprehensive Plan in January.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 58-08, accepting the offer of dedication of street right-of-way easements as shown on the final plat for Rock Ridge Development, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to award the communication quote for Unity Second Addition to MediaCom in the amount of $11,500. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to approve the request of Tim VanSoest for a one year extension for Lot 13, Block 2, Unity Second Addition. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich that Saint Louis County be notified of the worsening dip in the southbound lane on County Road 102 by the LEA driveway area. Necessary repairs could be made next year after the Spring thaw, with City Staff forwarding this in letter form to the County. After further discussion, Roskoski amended his motion to send either a letter and/or make a phone call, whichever City Staff feels is the best and to indicate both north and south bound lanes. Zupancich supported the amendment. The amended motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize a temporary on-sale liquor license to Jeff and Greg Properties, Inc. for the Festival of Trees Event from November 18-23, 2008. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to donate $100 for the annual holiday Senior Citizen’s party with the stipulation that the donation go to prizes. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to authorize the United Way of Northeastern Minnesota to make a presentation to City workers, for a time not to exceed 30 minutes. The motion carried.
Councilor Roskoski requested that the parking situation on Marble Avenue be put on the Street and Alley Committee agenda.
At 7:43 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Minnesota Association of Small Cities, an invitation to a gathering on November 21st in Chisholm.
