Meeting Minutes for November 18, 2013
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 18, 2013
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Susan Tuomela, Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Clark, Municipal Services Secretary; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; John Backman, Sergeant; and Brian Lindsay, City Attorney.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the November 4, 2013, special meeting as submitted.
- Approve the minutes of the November 4, 2013, regular meeting with the following correction on Page 2, Paragraph 1, “Rick Larry Gunderson finished 4th in his class.
- That the communications be accepted and 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, 2013, totaling $175,016.88, (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, 2013, totaling $408,620.79, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:32 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the proposed vacation of a portion of Garden Drive. The motion carried.
The Mayor explained that this request for vacation of a portion of Garden Drive came from Paul and Sue Kangas. The Mayor read a letter received from the Kangas Family because they were not available to attend the meeting. The Kangas Family stated that they requested the vacation to be in compliance with the City code and to construct a building to store their pontoon boat and camper.
Jody Mattila, representing John & Priscilla Erspamer, read a letter that they submitted opposing the vacation of Garden Drive.
Jill Kinney, owner of Lots 3 & 4, Block 10, South Grove Addition, opposed the vacation of Garden Drive as per State Statute 412.851, the road has also been used by the other land owners.
Tom Ebnet, owns Lot 8 and 9, Block 10, South Grove Addition, he lives on Arbor Lane, but has the land on Garden Drive. He felt the access and maintenance of the fire hydrant on Garden Drive would be impeded by the vacation. He also opposed the vacation.
Councilor Zupancich, spoke on behalf of the Planning and Zoning Commission, the map of the area that the P & Z reviewed appeared to reflect that the vacation area was totally owned by Kangas’s, but that was not the case. He stated that he would not support the vacation.
At 6:41 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Mesabi Daily News. He commented on the unsigned onions in the newspaper regarding hiking and bike trail on Unity Drive. He said that the trail was not a sidewalk and would not be paid for by local funds or assessed, but be paid for by a Department of Natural Resources grant.
- Acknowledgement. He offered condolences to the family of Janice Krueger who recently passed away.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to amend the public improvement policy by adding, “the special assessment/infrastructure interest rate will be set at two percent above the going prime rate. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to set a Labor/Management Meeting for Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at 2:00 p.m. with Mayor Skalko and Councilor Tuomela representing the Council at the meeting. The motion carried.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- County Road 102. The City did receive the Corp. of Engineer permit and the culvert will be placed across the creek this year.
- South Forest Grove. The gas line is being installed.
- Demolitions. The house demolitions are still being worked on.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Tuomela to authorize payment request number three to Ulland Brothers Incorporated in the amount of $29,450.00 for the County Road 102 Utility Extension Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 40-13, opting to join the voluntary statewide lump sum volunteer firefighter retirement plan, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The Mayor announced that a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting to discuss the 2014 budget would follow this meeting.
At 7:03 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Saint Louis County, forwarding updated recycling information.
