Meeting Minutes for September 02, 2008
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 2, 2008
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; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and John Backman, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following item to the agenda:
V. A. Cable Commission Recommendations
2. Approve the minutes of the August 18, 2008, City Council meeting with the following additions in the appropriate area of Page 4:
At 7:53 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
At 8:00 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
3. 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.
4. To acknowledge the receipts for the period August 16-31, 2008, totaling $523,258.68, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to approve the following:
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period August 16-31, 2008, totaling $159,806.32, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Roskoski, no; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
No one spoke during the public forum.
The Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– Eagle Scout Project. He commended Dustin Leff regarding the work he completed at the Archery Range with a bow rack, table, and bench being installed for an Eagle Scout Project. It was the consensus of the Council to send a letter of thanks to Dustin Leff for completing the project.
– Duluth News Tribune. He read an article to the Council regarding renewable energy projects. He urged residents to contact the Minnesota Legislative Representatives to keep the renewable energy funding available.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Mountain Manor Remodeling. He advised the Council that bids for the project will be on the next City Council agenda.
– Holiday Inn Express. He advised the Council that the final plans have been submitted for the Project.
– CDBG Grant. He said that he made a presentation regarding the City’s CDBG application for the Storm Sewer Grant.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommendation of City Staff and authorize the purchase of fencing for the new Archery Range from Iron Oak Fencing at their quoted price of $7,488.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Stanaway to authorize City Staff to advertise four times, as a display advertisement, in the Mesabi Daily News, the Park and Recreation Board’s public information meeting to receive input on Locomotive Park on Wednesday, September 24, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mountain Iron Community Center. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to authorize a change order to the Enteprise Drive North Street Project for the shoulder repair in the amount of $29,761.08. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Stanaway, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to authorize the purchase and posting of signs requesting that people not smoke within 25 feet of all City owned buildings and public parks at any bleachers. After further discussion, the motion was amended to include all tobacco products. The amended motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Prebeg to direct City Staff to move forward and take care of all the recommendations made by the League of Minnesota Cities Loss Control Survey conducted on April 23, 2008. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to appropriate $2,100 from Charitable Gambling Funds to the Fire Department to purchase learning materials for Fire Prevention Week to be used for awareness programs conducted by the Mountain Iron Fire Department at the Merritt Elementary School. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skalko to allow City Staff, the Fire Department Members, and the Mountain Iron Sheriffs Deputies to attend the September 20, 2008 Training Event in Golden Valley with the City reimbursing for lunch and mileage. The motion carried.
The following were reported on during the liaison reports:
– Planning & Zoning Commission. Councilor Zupancich updated the Council regarding the land survey requirements. He said that the Zoning Administrator is currently researching the issue and will present information at the September 22, 2008, Planning and Zoning meeting.
– Mountain Iron Cable Commission. Mayor Skalko informed the Council that effective October 5, 2008, the City will have their own public access channel.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Skalko to authorize City Staff to enter into a one year agreement with the Virginia Cable Commission in the amount of $14,700 to get the Mountain Iron public access channel up and running and to manage said channel for the year effective October 5, 2008, Channel 7, to be managed by Terry Hartikka and to add funding to the 2009 budget. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to authorize City Staff to enter into an agreement with Terry Hartikka for the taping and broadcasting of 12 events for the price not to exceed $200 per event and direct the City Administrator to bill City of Buhl, Great Scott Township, Mountain Iron-Buhl School District, and the City of Kinney for their portion of the expense. The motion carried.
It as moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 35-08, approving the proposed 2008 tax levy, collectable 2009, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 36-08, approving the proposed 2009 market rate based referendum levy for the general obligation community center bonds and interest, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 37-08, concerning the 2009 Economic Development Authority tax levy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 38-08, concerning the 2009 Housing and Redevelopment Authority tax levy, (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 39-08, ordering preparation of report on improvement for the installation of water and wastewater mains between Mineral Avenue and the DM&IR Railroad tracks in the area north of General Electric, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt Resolution Number 40-08, accepting work to close out the Park Ridge Drive project through the Parkville Industrial Park, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 41-08, accepting work on 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 Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize a 4% pay increase for the Librarian retroactive to June 1, 2008, due to her excellent work performance. The motion carried with Roskoski voting no.
At 7:53 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to recess the regular meeting and open the closed meeting to consider strategy for labor negotiations. The motion carried.
At 7:54 p.m., the Mayor recessed the meeting.
At 8:16 p.m., the Mayor called the closed session to order with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Tony Zupancich, Alan Stanaway, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present was: Louis Russo, Negotiating Consultant to the Council.
The Mayor said that the purpose of the closed session was to discuss salary negotiations for the City Administrator and the Director of Public Works.
At 8:54 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adjourn the closed meeting and reopen the regular meeting. The motion carried.
At 8:55 p.m., it was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Roskoski that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Anderson, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. MediaCom, an informational letter regarding their services.
2. Minnesota Department of Transportation, a letter announcing an Enhancement Workshop.
