Meeting Minutes for October 06, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 6, 2008
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:35 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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Tom Cvar, Fire Chief; Steve Norvitch, Assistant Fire Chief; Joe Buria, Mountain Iron Volunteer Fireman; and Jerry Knapper, Mountain Iron Volunteer Fireman.
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:
IV. E. 3. West Two Rivers Campground-Change Order No. 2
4. West Two Rivers Campground-Pay Request Number 3
VI. M. Unity Second Addition request
Refer the following to the Park and Recreation Board:
VI. I. Rink Closing
J. Handicap Swing Request
2. Approve the minutes of the September 12, 2008, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting as submitted.
3. Approve the minutes of the September 15, 2008, City Council 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 September 1-15, 2008, totaling $530,568.89, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the following:
6. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period September 1-15, 2008, totaling $471,001.48, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; and Skalko, yes.
During the public forum, Troy Martinson stated that he received the notice from Councilor Roskoski regarding the rink closings and he felt that the action taken by the Board was final. The Mayor said that there has been no formal action taken on the matter by the City Council.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Minnesota Steel Project. He said that there has been a formal ground breaking in Nashwauk. He said that they projected 2000 construction jobs, 750 permanent jobs, and up to 1,500 spin off jobs.
– Holiday Inn Express. There has been a formal announcement made for the development in Rock Ridge Development with a June 1st, 2009 opening date.
– IRRRA Grants. The City Administrator advised the Council that the City has received two grants, one for $350,000 for the Renewable Energy Park to help match other funding; and $100,000 for funding of the Morgan Park Estates housing development for construction of 19 homes. The Mayor thanked the City Administrator for writing the grant applications.
– Renewable Energy Tax Credit. The legislation passed through the House and Senate and the President did sign the bill. The Mayor advised the Council to contact Jerry Fallos at Amy Klobuchar’s office in Virginia at 741-9690 with Federal questions.
– Joint Meeting held on September 29, 2008. The Mountain Iron-Buhl School Board, the City of Kinney, the City of Buhl, and Great Scott Township would be submitting key contact information to the City Administrator.
– SWOP Meeting on October 7, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the Buhl Public Library. The Mayor said that he and Councilor Zupancich have already attended a meeting. Councilor Stanaway said that he would attend this meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko that the Council appoints the following to serve as student election judge trainees for the November 4, 2008, General Election:
Precinct #1-City Hall, Wacootah Room Precinct #2atCity Hall, Iroquois Room
Brianna Forseen Autumn McGregor
And further, authorize them to be paid minimum wage for training and election hours and provide one hot meal to the student election judge trainees on Election Day. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Annexation. He advised the Council that a letter was received from the City of Virginia denying the annexation of the 20 acre parcel. He said that Staff was continuing to review the issue.
– Capital Improvement Projects. He asked Council Members to submit suggestions for capital improvement projects. He said that a special meeting would be called in November to work on the 2009 budget.
– Unity Second Addition. The roads are scheduled to be completed on October 8, 2008. Also, another lot was sold in Unity Second Addition.
– City of Virginia. Councilor Roskoski asked if there was any contact from Virginia regarding a land swap. The Administrator said there had not been any contact made.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Parks and Recreation Board and award the quote for the installation of an RV Dump Station at the South Grove Wastewater Treatment Plant for their low quote of $7,000.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
The Director of Public Works said that there would be a scheduled power outage on Saturday, October 11, 2008, to change the overhead electrical utilities to underground utilities in the Rock Ridge Development area.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number one for the South Grove Park sidewalk to C & C Winger Incorporated in the amount of $10,241.95. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number one for the Mud Lake Road Waterline Project to Hibbing Excavating Incorporated in the amount of $19,878.75. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to authorize change order number two for the West Two Rivers Campground Electrical Project in the amount of $131.50. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number three for the West Two Rivers Campground Electrical Project in the amount of $24,037.85. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Public Safety and Health Board and authorize the Fire Department to prepare specifications for a brush/grass fire rig. The motion carried with Stanaway voting no.
Councilor Stanaway requested that the Mountain Iron Fire Department prepare a list of the fire call record for brush/grass fires for the previous five years to include the number of calls, number of personnel present, and the length of the incident.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to authorize up to two Fire Department Personnel to attend the Fire Chief’s Conference in Saint Cloud from October 15-18, 2008, at City expense. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Variance for F. P. Troutwine, Mountain Iron Short Stop, 5539 Nichols Avenue, Mountain Iron, to erect a sign closer to the lot line than allowed by the Zoning Ordinance on parcel 175-0071-00889. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and include the price of a survey with the lot sales in Unity Second Addition and also include the City paying for the costs of the survey for the lots that were already sold. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, no; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, no; Zupancich, no; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko that, for Unity Second Addition, the current lots that have been purchased will incur the cost of a survey and the remaining lots for sale, the lot price will be increased to include cost of a survey. And further, for future City housing developments that the cost of a survey will be included in the price of a lot.
At 7:38 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 7:40 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
Zupancich amended the motion that for new housing developments that are completed by the City of Mountain Iron that the property price includes the cost of the site drawing for the buildings on the property and this would also include Unity Second Addition. And further, to reimburse the two properties that have had a site survey prepared. And further, to add if the original survey pins are in place. Skalko seconded the amendments. The amended motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 45-08, declaring cost to be assessed, and ordering the preparation of the proposed assessment on improvements to Unity Drive between the Northwest corner of Section 14 to approximately 250 feet east, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski abstaining.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 46-08, calling for a hearing on the proposed assessments on improvements to Park Ridge Drive, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to adopt Resolution Number 47-08, calling for a hearing on proposed assessments on improvements to Unity Drive from Mud Lake Road to Diamond Lane, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 48-08, calling for a hearing on proposed assessments on improvements to Unity Drive between the Northwest corner of Section 14 to approximately 250 feet east, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski abstaining.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 49-08, approving the final plat of Nichols Park, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 50-08, approving the final plat of Rock Ridge Development, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the extension of natural gas lines by Minnesota Energy Resources into Unity Second Addition at a cost of $16,261.00. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, no; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, no; Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to authorize the extension of natural gas lines by Minnesota Energy Resources into Unity Second Addition at a cost of $16,261.00 and increase the sale price of the remaining lots to compensate the City for the cost. After further discussion, Zupancich amended the motion to divide the cost by the 35 lots and not recoup the costs from the nine lots that have already been sold. Skalko supported the amendment. The amended motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko to direct City Staff to contact MediaCom, Qwest, and any other phone service provider for quotes for the installation of phone service into Unity Second Addition. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to waive the Community Center rental fees for the AARP Tax Aide training to be conducted January 5-9, 2009. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to adopt Resolution Number 51-08, authorizing $10,000 in matching funds to the Civic Association for their application for a Culture and Tourism Grant for a canopy over the Locomotive, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to approve the request for an extension from Tim and Char Rice for one year for the lot that they purchased in Unity Second Addition. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Roskoski to waive the building rental fees for the Library meeting room for Thursdays from September 2008 through February 2009 for Webelos II Den from Pak 126 for Cub Scouts. The motion carried.
At 8:30 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Mesabi Humane Society, a letter advising the City that there will be an increase in contract fees for the 2009 season.
2. Iron Range Youth In Action, a letter thanking the City for the contribution enabling the local youth to travel to Mobile, Alabama to help rebuild homes for victims of Hurricane Katrina.
3. Mediacom, a letter advising the City about additional programming on the Digital Plus Tier.
4. Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, an update regarding funding for ARDC’s Planning and Zoning Toolbox Initiative for the Iron Range.
