Meeting Minutes for October 19, 2009
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
OCTOBER 19, 2009
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; John Backman, Sergeant; and Rod Flannigan, City Engineer (entering at 6:39 p.m.).
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Approve the minutes of the October 6, 2009, regular meeting as submitted.
2. 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.
3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period October 1-15, 2009, totaling $102,474.13, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period October 1-15, 2009, totaling $272,341.75, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
At 6:31 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on the 2007 street improvement proposed assessments. The motion carried.
The following property owners spoke during the public hearing:
– Tammy Peterson, 5482 Heather Avenue, stated that her property was already charged a full 10% special assessment on Unity Drive and she questioned whether there would be a reduction for her corner property with the assessment for Heather Avenue. The City Administrator explained the corner lot policy to the public. The City Administrator said he would review the calculations and the policy and make any necessary corrections.
– Larry Lindholm, 8430 Centennial Drive, submitted a letter and also spoke to the Council and stated that his assessment on his corner lot was calculated appropriately as outlined by the City Administrator. He questioned the difference between the assessments charged on North Heather Avenue (at 50%) and Centennial Drive (at 75%). He felt that North Heather Avenue should be in the same category as Centennial Drive.
At 6:50 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adjourn the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Condolences. He offered his condolences to the family of William “Bud” Mattila, past Mayor.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to adopt the following:
WHEREAS, Councilor Roskoski’s independent, repeated actions over the past 2 ½ years on the Strumbell property had brought forth two trespassing convictions within the past six months. Consequently, we the members of the Mountain Iron City Council, find Mr. Roskoski’s behavior totally inappropriate and improper for an elected official representing our City and its citizens.
WHEREAS, the legal and law enforcement costs incurred by the City, in its on-going prosecution of Councilor Roskoski, now total $11,222.10 of taxpayer’s money. As required by state law, the City is fully responsible to pay such prosecution fees.
THEREFORE, for the reasons just stated, I strongly recommend that this Council censure Councilor Roskoski. This official reprimand sternly condemns his harassing actions on the Strumbell property which houses P & H MinePro 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 Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to set a Committee-of-the-Whole meeting for 5:30 p.m. on November 16, 2009, to review the Other Post-Employment Benefits (OPEB) report with the City Auditor. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 46-09, adopting the 2007 special assessments. (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes), with the City Administrator making the appropriate adjustments for the corner lot calculations. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Mountain Iron Public Health and Safety Board. He advised the public that there would be a Seasonal Flu Vaccine Clinic at the Mountain Iron Community Center on October 29th and 30th from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m. at a cost of $30 per shot if not covered by insurance.
– Mountain Iron Assistant Librarian. He advised the Council that the City had not received a firm determination of the length of time that the Assistant Librarian would be out of work. He advised the Council that the Library will be advertising for the position soon. He said that the retired Librarian, Karen Luoma, had been filling in the position temporarily.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to authorize payment request number one for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project in the amount of $13,851.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number three for the Energy Park Utility Extension Project in the amount of $23,505.37. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to authorize staff to order two additional light standards for use in the Downtown Main Street Project; placing one on the corner of Mesabi Avenue and Main Street, and to have one spare light standard for future use. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission to approve the variance for John Ahola, 4742 Majestic Lake Road, Mountain Iron, Parcel Code 175-0019-00020, to construct a building closer to the lot line than allowed by the Ordinance. The motion carried.
Liaison Reports:
– Public Health and Safety Board. Councilor Stanaway thanked Staff for setting up the flu shot clinic.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 47-09 entitled “authorizing the Issuance and Sale of a $599,250 General Obligation Revenue Note, Series 2009, and Providing for Its Payment”, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to authorize the contract with Mesabi Humane Society for the year 2010, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski to authorize the 2009 appropriation to be paid to the Laurentian Chamber of Commerce for the Mineview in the Sky in the amount of $2,500. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to waive the building rental fee for the United Way Fundraiser on April 29, 2009. The motion carried.
At 7:30 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Range Association of Municipalities and School, a memo concerning the upcoming legislative session.
