Meeting Minutes for September 04, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 4, 2007
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; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; and Rick Feiro, Sergeant.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. Add the following items on to the agenda:
IV. A. 1. Utility Advisory Board Vacancy
II. B. Communications: MN/DoT, Enhancement Workshop
2. Approve the minutes of the August 20, 2007, City Council meeting as submitted.
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, 2007, totaling $864,774.43, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period July 16-31, 2007, totaling $400,536.33, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
No one spoke during the public forum.
During the Mayor’s report, the Mayor updated the Council on the following:
– City of Tower. Reported that the City of Tower is proceeding with the development of the waterfront property and he wished them well on their endeavor.
– Hoyt Lakes PolyMet Project. He informed the Council that they seem to be proceeding forward with the project. He wished them well in their endeavor.
– South Grove Tennis Court. The Mayor requested that City Staff, Council Members, and the Park and Recreation Board review the tennis courts in South Grove for a possible upgrade of the courts with the 2008 budget.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Zupancich to accept the resignation of Scott Williams from the Utility Advisory Board because he has moved outside of Mountain Iron, direct City Staff to send him a letter thanking him for his service on the Board, and post/advertise in the newspaper the opening on the Utility Advisory Board with a deadline of September 28, 2007, for accepting applications. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the purchase of two 60 foot docks for the West Two Rivers Campground at the quotes price of $14,577.76 to be funded by the Mineland Reclamation Grant. The motion carried.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Unity 2nd Addition. He advised the Council that another lot was sold making the total sold go to seven. He also said that the final plat for the addition had been submitted to the County Recorder’s office.
– Downtown Park Swings. New swings have been ordered and are expected to cost approximately $1,700.
– Downtown Park Pavilion. The City has received payment from the insurance company on the damage claim for the pavilion in the amount of approximately $5,900.
– 16th Avenue. The pre-construction meeting has been held and the project should be underway soon.
Sergeant announced that he would be transferring soon to the Virginia Sheriff’s Department office, when a replacement has been found for the Mountain Iron office. The Mayor thanked him for his service for the City of Mountain Iron.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to authorize payment request number one to Utility Systems of America for the Unity Addition Phase II Residential Development Project in the amount of $143,456.14. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number two for the Industrial Park Road Extension Project in the amount of $66,357.26. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to authorize payment request number four for the 2006 Street Improvement Projects in the amount of $3,468.60. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to adopt the Foreman position analysis, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes) and authorize the posting for the foreman’s position. The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to authorize the purchase of a pavilion for the Downtown Park at a cost of $13,009.76, with approximately $6,000 being paid from the insurance claim. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 44-07, ordering preparation of report on improvement on the feasibility of paving the alleys in the Town of Grant Plat and the Merritt’s First Addition Plat, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 45-07, approving the proposed 2007 tax levy, collectable 2008, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to adopt Resolution Number 46-07, approving the proposed 2008 market rate based referendum levy for the General Obligation Community Center Bonds and Interests, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to adopt Resolution Number 47-07, supporting Laurentian Geographic Information System (GIS) Collaborative, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski that, what has worked so well for over 50 years, and is very public friendly remain in effect, in that anyone, of any five Council members may put any amount of items, of any topic, on the City Council meeting agenda with the related background information included. All agenda items will then be reviewed for consideration by the entire City Council that is present at any regular or special City Council meetings. The motion failed for lack of a second.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded Skalko to authorize one representative from each Board or Commission and anyone from the City Council to attend the League of Minnesota Cities Regional Meeting in Buhl on October 2, 2007, with the City paying the registration fee. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council discussed the Iron Range Resources Public Works Infrastructure Grants.
Council Roskoski presented some information regarding possible consideration of the Downtown Skating Rink being closed this winter. The Council felt that the Parks and Recreation Board should review the possible closure prior to the discussion at the Council level.
Councilor Roskoski said that at the last Utility Advisory Board they discussed summer sewer rates and he felt that the rates should be expanded to two more months. Councilor Prebeg said that the Utility Advisory Board did consider expanding the summer sewer rates, but they felt that it would be more economical to leave the sewer rates as they are.
At 7:45 p.m., it was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Forseen, CMC/MMCA
Municipal Services Secretary
www.mtniron.com
COMMUNICATIONS
1. League of Minnesota Cities, an invitation to attend the Regional Meeting in Buhl on October 2, 2007.
2. Iron Range Resources, a letter outlining the Public Works Infrastructure Grants and the Community Business Infrastructure Grants with grant applications due by October 19, 2007.
3. Moody’s Investors Service, a letter advising the City of being assigned a rating of A3 for the General Obligation Improvement Bonds, Series 2007A.
