Meeting Minutes for October 07, 2002
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 7, 2002
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Karen Luoma, Librarian; and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
Add the following item to the agenda:
VI. O. Resolution #45-02, Buhl Fire Relief Association Charitable Gambling
Approve the minutes of the September 16, 2002, regular meeting as submitted.
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.
Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period September 16-30, 2002, totaling $214,117.88, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
Acknowledge the receipts for the period September 16-30, 2002, totaling $415,430.30, (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.
At 6:31 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing regarding the infrastructure on Mineral Avenue. The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public hearing and no written correspondence was received.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to adopt Resolution #44-02, adopting the assessment roll, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the public forum, Lee Anderson, Eric Wedge, and Gary Cerkvenik presented the Council with a proposal for public/private partnership that would combine the City Library with office space.
The Librarian informed the Council that the Library Board voted unanimously to approve the proposed public/private partnership for the library.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct the City Administrator and the Librarian to meet with Mr. Anderson, Mr. Wedge and Mr. Cerkvenik and develop the public/private partnership concept further. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct the City Administrator and the City Attorney to meet with Kurt and Lisa Schneider and discuss their concerns regarding their property, Lot 8, Block 2, Unity Addition, with regard to fibrous material on their lot and bring a recommendation back to the next city council meeting. The motion carried.
The Mayor requested that Kurt and Lisa Schneider�s documents be made a part of the official city record.
Also during the public forum, Tom Nikolanci questioned what the status of their negotiations regarding the Unity Drive easement were. The City Administrator said that he and the Director of Public Works would be meeting with Mr. Nikolanci soon.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to adopt the Street Lighting Policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilors Roskoski and Prebeg voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg that the island at the intersection of Enterprise Drive South and Unity Drive be narrowed by three feet along the south edge of said island and all costs of said narrowing would be paid 100% by the city. The narrowing project would be accomplished through a change order attached to the upcoming street paving project. The motion failed on the following roll call vote: Skogman, no; Matanich, no; Roskoski, yes; Prebeg, no; and Brunfelt, no.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg that the liquor license applications for the period November 1, 2002 through December 31, 2002, be approved and issued to the following business establishment pursuant to the approval, where necessary, of the Liquor Control Commission and pursuant to the payment of all outstanding license fees and charges:
Adventures, Virginia, Inc. On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
5475 Mountain Iron Drive Sunday On-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
Mountain Iron MN 55792 Off-Sale Intoxicating Liquor
The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Skogman to approve the Joint Drainage Project with the City of Virginia in the amount of $38,968.33 for use with the Mountain Iron/Virginia Drainage Improvement Grant. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The City Administrator advised the Council that there was no action on the transformer quotes.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the Virginia Regional Medical Center Foundation�s request to have the building rental fee for the 2002 Festival of Trees Event scheduled for the Mountain Iron Community Center in November 2002 taken from the 2003 capital campaign contribution in the amount of $1,000 making the 2003 contribution $2,000. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Brunfelt to approve the payment of the 2002 allocation to the Quad Cities Economic Development Authority in the amount of $30,102.00.
At 8:05 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 8:07 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Skogman, yes; Matanich, no; and Brunfelt, yes
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to approve the payment of the fourth quarter 2002 appropriation to the Tri-Cities Biosolids Disposal Authority in the amount of $5,050.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 8:10 p.m., Councilor Prebeg left the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski that the right turn lane off of County Road 7 onto Highway 169 going west was in existence for over 20 years as, technically, a substandard lane, before it was upgraded by the Minnesota Department of Transportation (MN/DoT). And, have MN/DoT be notified to stripe a right turn lane off of County Road 7 onto Unity Drive going west. With said right turn lane being brought to compliance at a later date. The motion died for lack of support.
The Council reviewed the list of facility usage rate schedule.
At 8:12, Councilor Prebeg returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski that Carriage Homes was a City/Housing and Redevelopment Authority Project under City Staff supervision with over $160,000 of public money invested with City sewer, water, and electrical service provided for 16 families in occupancy. And, that the City Administrator, the Director of Public Works, the City Engineer and the City Attorney coordinate a plan to contact Carriage Home Owners so plans can be draw up for public street right-of-way dedication along the south and east borders of the Carriage Homes areas. In the meantime, the City will plow and sand the streets in question like any other City street. The motion failed for lack of support.
The Mayor clarified to the Council that the City Administrator had notified the Carriage Homes Association on the process that would need to be completed to have the Carriage Homes streets dedicated to the City. The City would deal with a petition from the Carriage Homes Owners to dedicate the streets to public use, if one is submitted.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to designate Northland Securities as an official depository for the City of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to approve the Temporary Liquor License for the American Legion Post 220 for October 16, 2002 at the Mountain Iron Community Center pending approval from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety, Alcohol and Gambling Enforcement Department. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg that the Council appoint Sarah Forseen to serve as an election judges in Precinct #2 for the November 5, 2002 General Election. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Prebeg to table the closed session to discuss pending litigation until the next regular meeting when the City Attorney would be present. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution Number 45-02, Charitable Gambling, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The following items were brought up during the open discussion:
Councilor Matanich said he felt that the City should have a “Welcome Wagon” for when people moved into the City. It was the consensus of the Council to have Councilor Matanich work with the Mountain Iron-Buhl School District to establish a Joint Committee to develop some sort of public relations group to greet new residents.
Councilor Roskoski asked what the status of Bon Air demolition was. The Recreation Director stated that a registered letter had been sent to the owner of the Bon Air, but had not been picked up. The Recreation Director also said that the owners were obtaining quotes on the demolition of the building.
Councilor Prebeg said that he saw that the City received a letter from IRRRB denying the grant request for funds for new housing infrastructure. It was the consensus of the council to have IRRRB funding request on the next City Council meeting agenda.
The Council discussed the Quad Cities Joint Powers Board information regarding the status Range Recreation Civic Center. The Mayor informed the Council that Councilor Skogman had resigned from the Board and a new board member would need to be appointed at the next regular meeting.
At 8:42 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
