Meeting Minutes for November 20, 2006
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
NOVEMBER 20, 2006
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; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; and Rick Feiro, Sergeant.
The Mayor welcomed the audience and the television viewing audience to the meeting.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following item to the Agenda:
IV. A. 3. Festival of Trees Building Rental Fee Reduction
VI. H. Quarterback Club Building Rental Fee Request
Move the following item on the agenda:
VI. F. to IV. H. 1. Mesabi Trail Signage
Approve the minutes of the November 6, 2006, City Council meeting as submitted.
Approve the minutes of the November 8, 2006, Special City Council meeting as submitted.
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, 2006, totaling $192,117.81, (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, 2006, totaling $283,828.46, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Public forum, Bruce Cook, 9350 Old Highway 169, Mountain Iron, questioned the fees he paid for a Conditional Use Permit and Building Permit. He also questioned what action has been taken regarding a complaint made about one year ago regarding tarps placed over some old building next door to him. The Blight Officer said that the property has been sold since the initial complaint was made and he would contact the new owners to get the property cleaned up.
During the Mayor�s report, the Mayor congratulated the two new Councilors elected to the City Council. He also updated the Council regarding a contest between the Cities of Virginia, Gilbert, Mountain Iron, and Chisholm regarding voter turnout. Chisholm won with highest voter turnout and Virginia had the lowest turnout.
The Mayor announced that the Library elevator inspection was scheduled for Thursday, November 30, 2006 at 10:00 a.m.
The Mayor stated that he had commented on some of the eating establishments in Mountain Iron at the last City Council meeting and inadvertently missed saying the American Legion downtown, the Dairy Queen, and Dominos Pizza. He apologized to the owners.
The Mayor congratulated the Mountain Iron-Buhl Football team, players, coaches, and managers for making it to the quarter finals this season.
The Mayor informed the Council that the Mesaba Nugget Project had been put on hold in the Hoyt Lakes area. Councilor Nelson mentioned that Mesaba Nugget may locate to Silver Bay.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff to apply for the Saint Louis County Recreation Grant in the amount of $20,000 to be used to complete the South Grove Playground Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported Prebeg to authorize a donation of $100 to the Senior Citizen�s Holiday Party. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to authorize a 50% reduction in building rental fees for the Festival of Trees Celebration for this year and for future years as long as they use the Mountain Iron facility. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to allow City Staff to proceed with the preparation of quotes to complete the library interior upgrades as approved by the Library Board. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff�s Department report for October 2006.
The City Attorney reviewed the memorandum regarding mailings. The City Attorney reminded Councilors to keep personal conduct separate from the proceedings of the Council.
Councilor Irish stated that, during the P & H Administrative Hearing that it was improper for the Mayor to ask a citizen to serve on the Administrative Hearing Board. Councilor Irish stated that the Mayor requested Councilor Roskoski to serve on the Board while he was attending the public hearing as a resident. The Mayor stated that this was proper and that Councilor Roskoski had served on the only other hearing that has been held since he was Mayor. Councilor Irish requested that the City Administrator look into who is authorized to sit on the Administrative Board.
The Mayor updated regarding the binding development agreement for the Park Ridge Development Area.
At 7:23 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
The City Attorney advised the City Council regarding the Park Ridge Development. The City Attorney said that it should be finalized soon.
At 7:25 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg to authorize the payment of pay request number one to Ulland Brothers in the amount of $5,497.65 for the 2006 Street Improvements Project. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
Councilor Roskoski reported that there are more interpretative signs being placed along the Mesabi Trail from the Canadian National Tracks to Spirit Lake Road. He said that there are about 12-14 signs being placed.
The City Administrator said that the proposal for the Phase II investigation of the property located adjacent to the City of Mountain Iron�s substation was for the Council�s consideration if they wish to pursue additional information to investigate the site and gather information for the 2007 budget and possibly a grant application.
It was moved by Skalko and supported by Prebeg to approve the renewal of the pipeline easement between Northern Natural Gas covering their current gas main located on the east side of Unity Addition. After further discussion, Mayor Skalko amended motion to increase the fee for the easement to $100. Councilor Prebeg would not support the amendment. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Irish, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Nelson, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Nelson and supported by Prebeg that the liquor and cigarette license applications for the period January 1, 2007 through December 31, 2007, 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 utility 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
F. P. Troutwine Cigarette
Short Stop
5537 Nichols Avenue
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
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 unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to authorize the payment of the following bills from the Charitable Gambling Funds because the items were purchased for the sole purpose of fire prevention and activities for the children in the community:
Peterson Candy and Supply – $ 266.53
Ross Industries – $1,299.22
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Fire Chief informed the Council that he spoke with Terry Leoni and the Laurentian Biomass site has had their hydrants fitted with the appropriate caps and adapters. The Fire Chief stated that Walgreens has not yet complied with the hydrant request. Councilor Prebeg questioned the recent fires at the Laurentian Biomass pellet. The Fire Chief said that he is working with the Laurentian Biomass officials regarding this issue.
At 7:50 p.m., Councilor Nelson left the meeting.
Councilor Roskoski suggested that the City contact Laurentian Biomass to monitor their stockpiles with regard to fires.
At 7:52 p.m., Councilor Nelson returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Irish that the City Council listen to the following presentation from Councilor Roskoski, thoroughly discuss the situation in question, but postpone a decision on this presentation until the December 18, 2006 City Council meeting. The rational for the vote postponement is so the City Council members can review the presented material, do their own research in regard to the scenario presented and make a better decision at that time. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Nelson, no; Irish, yes; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; and Skalko, no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skalko to waive the fees for the Quarterback Club Annual Awards Banquet on Sunday, December 3, 2006. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
During the open discussion, Councilor Nelson said that he would like to have the City Council put issues aside that do not require immediate action and wait to present them after January 1, 2007, to the new City Council.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski asked what the status of the management negotiations were. The Mayor said there would be a closed City Council meeting on December 4, 2006 to discuss management contract negotiations.
Also during the open discussion, Councilor Roskoski presented a copy of a Council motion made on June 5, 2006 and an information sheet that he prepared regarding the Heather Avenue waterline project.
At 8:17 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and supported by Nelson that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
