Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2001
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The meeting was called to order at 6:30 p.m. by Mayor Brunfelt with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Stephen Skogman, Joe Matanich, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Mitchell Brunfelt. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; 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 Prebeg and supported by Matanich that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
1. The following items were added to the agenda:
IV. A. 3. Authorization to Seek Quotes
VIII. Donation to the Red Cross.
VI. B. Communications-City of Biwabik
2. Approve the minutes of the September 4, 2001, regular meeting as submitted.
3. That the communications be accepted, placed on file, and those requiring further action by the Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
4. Authorize the payment of the bills and payroll for the period September 1-15, 2001, totaling $216,846.27, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. Acknowledge the receipts for the period September 1-15, 2001, totaling $89,785.42, (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 6:32 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to recess the regular meeting and open the public hearing on street assessments. The motion carried.
The following property owners spoke during the public hearing:
1. Kevin Squillace, 5758 Mesabi Avenue-questioned what the City contribution to the street project was and where the funding came from. The Mayor advised him that the City Bonded for funds to complete the projects. The City Administrator said that the homeowner pays 75% of the assessment with the City paying the remaining 25% as a collector street. Mr. Squillace said that the city should be paying 50% of the street project.
2. Greg Brownell, 5450 Mineral Avenue-said that he has a corner lot on Mineral Avenue and Greenwood Lane. He said that he does not use Greenwood Lane, his driveway access is on Mineral Avenue. He requested that he be given a reduction. The Mayor said that he would take Mr. Brownell�s request under consideration.
3. Rick Buffetta, 105 Spruce Drive- objects to the assessment because he has water collecting at the end of his driveway whenever it rains. He said that he did not have this problem prior to the street being resurfaced. Councilor Roskoski said that this issue was brought up earlier. The City Engineer said that the only answer to the problem would be to mill the entire edge of the street and this would be very costly. Councilor Skogman said that if there is a problem with the whole street the Street Committee should review the situation and possibly reduce the assessments on the entire street.
4. Bob Wickholm, representing Carriage Homes-ask what the correct assessment amount was and if this is the total assessment for Carriage Homes. The Administrator clarified the amount for him and advised him that this is the total assessment amount for Carriage Homes.
5. Sandra Pulis, 104 Spruce Drive-said she also has a water problem and lives on a corner lot. The City Administrator was directed to review the situation to see if she is being charged appropriately on her corner lot.
6. Brenda Nylund, 12 Merritt Place-said that she also has a water problem. The Engineer was directed to review the situation.
7. Earl Wilkins, 2408 Dottie Lane-questioned whether the job was complete regarding the shouldering the road. The Engineer said that they did not have the shouldering work in the project, just the street overlay. The Director of Public Works said that he would review the shouldering situation. Mr. Wilkins asked if his primary street frontage could be Centennial Drive and get a reduction on the Dottie Lane assessment.
8. Frank Judnick, 921 21st Avenue West-questioned what the total cost of the street overlay was. The Engineer said that the total cost of the project was $12,504. Mr. Judnick said that when the YMCA was built the street was used more and the street deteriorated faster than 20th and 22nd Avenue. The Engineer said that 21st Avenue was last re-constructed in 1976 and 20th Avenue was overlaid in 1987 and 22nd Avenue was overlaid in 1988.
9. William Buria, 5753 Mesabi Avenue and Sacred Heart Church, 8861 Main Street- questioned why the Main Street is assessed at 50% and the Mesabi Avenue is assessed at 75%. The Administrator explained the different classifications for the streets being assessed.
At 7:20 p.m., it was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to close the public hearing and reconvene the regular meeting. The motion carried.
The Council took no action on Kevin Squillace�s request; they said that they have to follow the policy.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Roskoski to direct City Staff review the policy for special assessments regarding Greg Brownell�s request regarding the corner lot situation with the overlay completed on Greenwood Lane because his driveway does not access onto Greenwood Lane and act on this at the next regular meeting. The motion carried.
It was moved by Matanich and supported by Roskoski to have City Staff review the policy for special assessments regarding the corner lot situation for Sandra Pulis. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Roskoski to direct Staff to make a recommendation regarding the special assessments for areas that are having water ponding problems after the street improvements were completed. The motion carried with Mayor Brunfelt voting no.
It was moved by Prebeg and supported by Matanich to direct the City Engineer to review the Brenda Nylund property at 12 Merritt Place for water ponding problems and make a recommendation to the City Council. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman to have the Director of Public Works review the street shouldering problem by Earl Wilkin�s property at 2408 Dottie Lane and make a recommendation. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski to have Staff review the life expectancy of 21st Avenue and see if there was a negative impact on the road with trucks hauling. The motion failed for lack of support.
It was moved by Roskoski to obtain the weight records for trucks hauling on 21st Avenue for Frank Judnick and send them to his house. The motion failed for lack of support.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize the Park and Recreation Department to seek quotes for bleachers for the new ball fields. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Prebeg to authorize the Park and Recreation Department to seek quotes for pre-constructed dugouts for the new ball fields. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to direct the Recreation Director to look through his catalog of materials, see what is available, and seek quotes on picnic table benches to use for various activities. The motion carried with Mayor Brunfelt voting no.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to adopt Resolution Number 38-01, Setting a Public Hearing on Proposed Assessments, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to authorize City Staff to negotiate for the acquisition of Marble Avenue, Locomotive Street and the Locomotive Park. The motion carried.
It was the consensus of the City Council to direct City Staff to advise Jerry Kujala that the land adjacent to his property on Marble Avenue is available for purchase through USX Corporation.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to pledge $1,000 to the City of Biwabik in support of the U.S. Forest Service Grant Program for displaced miners. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
The Council reviewed the memo received from the Trenti Law Firm regarding the procedure followed for the hiring of the Building and Ground Maintenance Person.
At 8:05 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
The Mayor discussed the September 11, 2001, “Attack on America. He commended the people of the area for all of their expressions of patriotism.
At 8:07 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
It was moved by Roskoski and supported by Prebeg to make a resolution and donation to the American Red Cross in the amount of $1,000 specifically for relief efforts for the disaster in New York and Washington. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skogman and supported by Matanich to direct City Staff to prepare letters and resolutions of support to the Mayor of New York and President Bush. The motion carried.
At 8:17 p.m., it was moved by Roskoski and supported by Skogman that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
