Meeting Minutes for October 18, 2010
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 18, 2010
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30 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; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; John Bachman, Sergeant; and Michael Downs, Foreman.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the October 4, 2010, regular meeting as submitted.
2. To acknowledge the receipts for the period October 1-15, 2010, totaling $530,398.60, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
3. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period October 1-15, 2010, totaling $554,046.58, (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, Mountain Iron-Buhl School Superintendent John Klarich addressed the Council regarding the special school levy that is on the November 2, 2010, ballot. He said that the school district would like to expand and continue the levy that has been effect for the past nine years. He also said that he has meetings scheduled at the Mountain Iron Senior Center and the Mountain Iron-Buhl School Home Economic Room to have a question and answer session regarding the levy and the school district.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Power Outages. The Mayor said that there have been some comments regarding the recent power outages in the City. The Director of Public Works reviewed the power outages with the Council and explained the causes of the outages.
– Fire Department Auxiliary. The Mayor said that the Auxiliary raised $516 at their fundraiser at the Dairy Queen. The Mayor thanked Tim Van Soest for allowing them to conduct the fundraiser at his business.
– Council Recognition. The Mayor said that he was criticized for only recognizing athletes in Mountain Iron. He said that he had recognized all of the volunteers serving the City of Mountain Iron.
– Recognition. Councilor Stanaway said he wanted to recognize Tim Johnson on his birthday today and thanked him for regularly attending the City Council meetings.
– Domestic Violence Awareness Month. The Mayor said that he would be participating in an event in Chisholm on October 21, 2010.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to adopt the Domestic Violence Awareness Month Proclamation, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Silicon Energy Project. He said construction on the project was set to begin this week.
– Housing Lots. He said there are still good quality housing lots in Unity Second Addition and South Forest Grove Addition.
– Energy Park. He was looking for suggestions for a street name for the access road into the Energy Park.
– General Election. He said that absentee ballots were available at the City Hall and if there were election questions, he encouraged the residents to call the Staff at the City Hall.
The Director of Public Works advised the Council that current improvement projects for Locomotive Park, Wolf Park, and the West Virginia Park have been almost completed. There are a few minor items that still have to be completed and will be done soon. Councilor Roskoski asked if the three flag poles would still be installed. The Director of Public Works said that the flag poles, picnic tables, and benches still have to be installed and he said this would be completed depending on the weather.
The Sergeant advised the Council and Residents that Calendar Parking would be in effect as of November 1st. He also said that a notice would be published in the Mesabi Daily News and posted on the public television station.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Sergeant regarding an issue brought up at the Street and Alley Committee meeting to have the signage and ordinances matching in the City. The Sergeant said that the City Administrator had prepared a rough draft to address those issues and he is currently reviewing the document. After his review, the document would go back to the Public Safety and Health Safety Committee or the Street and Alley Committee for a recommendation.
Councilor Roskoski asked the City Attorney if he had an opportunity to review Ordinance Number 05-10. The City Attorney stated that he reviewed the ordinance and it was appropriate as adopted.
Councilor Roskoski also asked the City Attorney about Mountain Iron residents building on City’s right-of-way. The City Attorney said that he had never given an opinion of allowing residents to build in the City’s right-of-way.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number four for the Locomotive Park Landscape Improvement Project in the amount of $49,428.00 to C & C Winger Incorporated. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and approve the Utility Service Charge fees as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Utility Advisory Board and approve the Meter Estimating Policy as presented, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
Councilor Prebeg reported that the Personnel Committee had interviewed some of the applicants for the lineman position and the Committee determined that there were no applicants that met the minimum qualifications.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of the Personal Committee and re-evaluate the lineman position requirements and re-advertise. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the two year contract with the Mesabi Humane Society at an expense of $18,960 per year, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the Plans and Specifications for the Mountain Iron Wastewater Treatment Plant Aeration Improvements and call for bids. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to award the bid for the Gravel Road Improvements by Downtown Mountain Iron, Project Number MI10-07, to Mesabi Bituminous Incorporated for their low bid of $112,304.50. The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to waive the building rental fees for January 24-28, 2011 for the AARP Tax Aid Assistance training. The motion carried.
At 7:22 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC
Municipal Services Secretary
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