Meeting Minutes for November 20, 2000
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Matanich, Stephen Skogman, Carolyn Olsen and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Absent member: Curt Piri. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Director of Parks and Recreation; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Judy Seurer, Accounting Technician and Bob Manzoline from the Regional Rail Authority.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the November 6, 2000 regular meeting as submitted.
2. Approve the minutes of the November 8, 2000 special 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 November 1-15, 2000, totaling $111,429.44, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period November 1-15, 2000, totaling $104,231.42, (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.
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Olsen to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on annexation. The motion carried.
The Mayor asked for any comment from those in attendance. There was none. The Mayor asked if any correspondence had been received. None was received.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Bob Manzoline was present to ask for Council approval of the construction plan for the Mountain Iron to Kinney multi-use trail.
Discussion on the trail took place concerning snowmobile access and the route chosen. Wainio, Kleinschmidt and Nanti recommended approval of the resolution presented by Mr. Manzoline.
The Mayor read the resolution presented by Mr. Manzoline into the record. It was moved by Olsen and supported by Matanich to approve the resolution as read (a copy of which is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
Kleinschmidt presented information to the Council on the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association safety training contract. The Safety Committee recommended approval of the contract without the JTS charges at its November 16, 2000 meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve the MMUA Amendment to Services agreement to extend the safety compliance group training services through December 31, 2001. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize the Parks and Recreation Director to hire seasonal employees. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Discussion took place concerning the Berglund conditional use permit. Councilor Olsen suggested that the permit could be issued with additional conditions such as: no signs advertising the business, must have a fenced in area for cars to be worked on, the business must be strictly a service business with no retail sales and there must be reasonable hours of operation.
She stated that the Planning and Zoning Commission discussed these concerns.
Councilor Olson also stated that the there were no objections from the close neighbors to the property. She stated that Planning and Zoning was concerned that the area remain residential. Further discussion took place between the Mayor, the City Attorney, Mr. Berglund and the rest of the City Council. Kleinschmidt stated that the garage would be charged at the commercial rate for utilities.
It was moved by Olson and supported by Skogman to approve the conditional use permit with the following conditions: there must be no signs advertising the business, except for the mail box; there must be a fenced in area for cars waiting to be worked on; the business must be strictly a service business with no retail sales and the hours of operation shall be from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman supported by Matanich to adopt Ordinance No. 03-00, Annexing Certain Lands (a copy of which is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
Discussion of 2001 budget took place. Wainio proposed that all revenues and expenditures go through general fund and then be transferred to the other funds.
Wainio requested input on the proposed levy increase. The Council requested information on a 4� – 5% increase for the next meeting. The budget will be discussed at the December 4, 2000 meeting concerning the levy and the operating funds. Capital improvements will be discussed and the budget finalized at the December 20, 2000 meeting.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Matanich to approve Registered Land Survey Number 22. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Wainio recommended not approving the 2000 Audit Contract with Walker, Giroux & Hahne. He felt the City should use a different auditor for 2001 to get a different point of view.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to approve the contract with Walker, Giroux & Hahne for 2000 Audit. The motion carried unanimously on roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the USX Lease Amendment pertaining to site A on Old Highway 169 and Highway 53. The motion carried.
Discussion took place concerning the land purchase negotiations with the Niskas.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize City staff to negotiate with the Johnson’s on their property. The motion carried. Wainio was asked to bring recommendations and/or information back to Council.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to approve the 2001 cigarette and liquor licenses as follows:
Jeff & Greg Properties, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
DBA: B. G.�s Saloon Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating
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 Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
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
5748 Mountain Avenue, PO Box 361 On-Sale Non-Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron, MN 55768 Cigarette
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
Food-n-Fuel
903 West 23rd Avenue, PO Box 1207
(Mountain Iron, MN)
Virginia, MN 55792
Hughes Mountain Iron Properties Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Northern Lights Steak & Grill On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5475 Mountain Iron Dr., 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
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
5478 Mountain Iron Drive Cigarette
Mountain Iron, MN 55792
The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
The Council asked for clarification on what year the appropriation for the Greenwood Cemetery Association is for. The Administrator will provide the information at the next Council meeting.
The Council discussed ideas for projects to submit for the Rudy Perpich Innovative Services Award. It was suggested that the City submit the community center/city hall, frontage road and church projects.
The Mayor announced that the RAMS annual meeting will be held on January 25, 2001 at the Community Center, with the City of Mountain Iron hosting. He suggested that the Council members attend.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor updated the Council on the tax lawsuit. He stated that the on appeal process was continuing. He was grateful for the area cities� support. He also reported that Tom Rukavina will be pushing legislation to shrink taconite tax relief area from Nashwauk to Babbitt/Hoyt Lakes.
During the open discussion, Councilor Olsen asked if there were plans to put up lights on the corner by the new church or by the turnoff from Highway 53. Kleinschmidt reported that MNDot will not be putting up lights at this time. Mayor Brunfelt requested staff to look into installing lights and discuss the issue with MNDot.
Councilor Matanich reported that he attended the last IRRRB meeting on November 13, 2000. He also attended the open house at the new facility in Parkville for the Mesabi Range Technical and Community College.
The Mayor announced that there will be a Truth in Taxation Hearing on December 4, 2000 at 6:30 p.m..
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adjourn the meeting at 8:10 p.m.. The motion carried.
