Meeting Minutes for October 18, 1999
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
Deputy Mayor Piri called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. with the following members present: Carolyn Olsen, Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, and Deputy Mayor Curt Piri. Absent member: Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Deputy Clerk; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Larry Nanti, Recreation Director; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Joe Stewart, Sergeant and Greg French, City Engineer.
It was moved by Olsen and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the October 4, 1999, regular meeting as submitted.
2. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period September 16-30, 1999, totaling $175,262.20, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
3. Acknowledge the receipts for the period September 16-30 1999, totaling $81,062.81, (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 Matanich to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on annexing certain lands. The motion carried.
The City Administrator said that the public hearing was for the property owned by Craig Salo. The City Administrator said that there had been no written communication received regarding the public hearing.
During the public hearing, Ray Svatos, Chairman of the Clinton Town Board, spoke and presented information to the City Council. He said that the Clinton Town Board was concerned about the loss of the tax base. Mr. Svatos said that the reasons for annexation and annexation criteria are not there, i.e. adding water service, sewer services, etc. The Clinton Town Board asked that the Council deny the annexation request. The Clerk of Clinton Township, Debra Jagunich, said she spoke to the State of Minnesota Attorney and he said that the City would have to offer Mr. Salo services that the township could not provide.
The City Attorney said that this annexation does not fall under the statute similar to the situation with Eveleth and Fayal Township. The City Attorney said that the City could do this, even if the township does not want to have the property annexed. The City Attorney said that there is a maximum amount of 60 acres or less that the municipality can annex if petitioned by the property owner without permission from the Township.
At 6:42 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
During the public forum, Bob Manzoline, representing the Regional Rail Authority, was present to discuss the Mesabi Trail. He distributed a map of the Mesabi Trail to the Council members. He discussed how the trail might pass through the City of Mountain Iron. He said that the proposed route would have the least effect on the residents located close to the trail. He also stated that the Mountain Iron City Council currently has the trail as a non-motorized trail. He requested the City Council to hold a public hearing on November 9, 1999 at 6:30 p.m.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to set a public hearing at the City Hall, Council Chambers on November 9, 1999 at 6:30 p.m. to discuss the route of the Mesabi Trail as it leaves the Downtown portion of the trail to the western boundary of Mountain Iron. The motion carried.
Also during the public forum, the Council discussed the land transfer requests from the residents that live on Mineral Avenue in the Downtown Mountain Iron area. The City Administrator said that he reviewed the area that they are interested in and he said that there is a Minnesota Power easement and an alley easement.
The Administrator said that there are very few parcels that the residents would be able to construct buildings on with regard to the setback requirements and the easements. The Administrator recommended that if the residents are interested in acquiring the property that the City charge them the cost of deeding the property.
Hans Hansen spoke and said that he would like to buy the property so they have a place to park and so that the Mesabi Trail does not go on that property adjacent to the Mineral Avenue alley.
Barry Rosier also spoke and said that he also is concerned with the parking restrictions beginning October 1st and the Mesabi Trail locating on that property.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize Staff to proceed with land transfers for the interested parties and charge them the engineering and legal fees involved with the transfer of the property. The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the Council to allow the City Engineer and City Attorney to contact the affected property owners and work out the details.
Also during the public forum, Karen Luoma spoke and asked if she could address the Council when they discussed the Capital Improvement Plan. Deputy Piri said that she could.
Also during the public forum, Ed Roskoski requested the Council to place a larger public hearing notice in the Mesabi Daily News regarding the public hearing scheduled for October 25, 1999 for the street name changes. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator place a larger ad in the Mesabi Daily News for the public hearing. Mr. Roskoski said that at the last meeting the Council discussed the sale of the lumber building in Downtown Mountain Iron. He said that the Council had previously voted on having the Downtown Mountain Iron area maintained as a historic neighborhood. He said that he was concerned that someone would purchase it and tear the building down and it is one of the oldest buildings in the area.
Councilor Skogman felt that a structural engineer should review the building and come up with a recommendation for the City regarding the condition of the building. Councilor Olsen said that Bob Brown should review the building because his job is the Commercial Building Inspector.
The City Attorney reviewed the proposed settlement regarding the pending grievance with Mike Vidmar. He said that the only thing that would change the agreement would be if social security would revoke his disability status.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to accept the recommendation of the City Attorney and authorize the effective date of disability on February 11, 1999, and his disability retirement effective as of June 4, 1999. And further that the agreement would state that if social security revokes his disability status this agreement would change. Also, authorize reimbursement of the insurance payments that he has made from July through October, 1999 in the amount of $4,875.24. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Olsen to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for L & M Supply for an addition to their building on parcel 175-0071-01075, contingent on the approval of the Commercial Building Inspector. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for the Community Center/City Hall building on parcel 175-0071-00900, contingent on the approval of the Commercial Building Inspector. The motion carried with Councilor Olsen voting no.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the building permit for the Messiah Lutheran Church, contingent on the approval of the Commercial Building Inspector. The motion carried.
The Council took no action on the Variance for Borden Chemical, Incorporated.
Councilor Skogman questioned Sergeant Stewart regarding calls to Buhl for services when their Police force is eliminated on October 31, 1999. Councilor Skogman said that he does not want to see the Mountain Iron Deputies going over to Buhl. Sergeant Stewart said that they are trying to be very careful not to do that. He said that they are required to respond to emergency calls that are of a priority nature for backup.
The Director of Public Works said that the Street Maintenance Committee has been conducting traffic counts in various areas of the City and are currently prioritizing streets projects and preparing preliminary costs estimates to complete streets improvement projects. He said that the information should available for the next regular meeting.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Olsen to adopt Ordinance 05-99, Annexing Certain Lands, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman to adopt Resolution Number 50-99, Granting Final Approval of the Planned Unit Development for the Community Center/City Hall and Messiah Lutheran Church property, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution Number 51-99, transferring the Parkville School property to the Mountain Iron Housing and Redevelopment Authority, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution Number 52-99, Awarding Bids, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried on a roll call vote.
The Council reviewed the 2000-2004 proposed capital improvement plan. The City Administrator advised the Council that this is just a proposed plan. Karen Luoma, Librarian, asked if the library would be included in the 2000-2004 plan regarding a new building or improvements to the present building. Councilor Skogman requested Staff to look for available grants for the library building.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Piri to approve the 2000-2004 proposed capital improvement plan and add $200,000 to the 2002 proposed capital improvement plan for the library building, (a copy is attached a made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
During the open discussion, Councilor Matanich questioned the City Attorney on whether the City will have any problems with annexing the Salo property into the community. The City Attorney said that the Clinton Township could not contest the action.
During the open discussion, Councilor Skogman said that there was a Quad Cities Alliance group meeting today at noon. He said that the Quad Cities Alliance group should come to the cities that they are setting up activities in. It was the consensus of the Council to have the City Administrator seek more information from the group when they are proposing projects in Mountain Iron.
Also during the public forum, Councilor Matanich questioned the Planning and Zoning Meeting minutes regarding the Speedy Delivery building. Councilor Olsen explained that Lee Anderson made a presentation to the Planning and Zoning Commission. Mr. Anderson is planning on constructing a building and leasing it to Speedy Delivery.
The Deputy Mayor reported that he is receiving a lot of complaints that the Mesabi Trail is designated non-motorized. He requested that the Council consider making it a motorized trail. This can be discussed at the public hearing on November 9, 1999.
At 7:44 p.m., it was moved by Matanich and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
