Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2007
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 17, 2007
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:32 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. Forseen, Municipal Services Secretary; Don Kleinschmidt, Director of Public Works; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Sam Aluni, City Attorney; 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 to the agenda :
IV. H. Safety and Health Board Requests.
V. G. Board/Commission meeting Dates/Times
2. Approve the minutes of the September 4, 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 September 1-15, 2007, totaling $98,049.72, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
5. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period September 1-15, 2007, totaling $253,184.31, (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.
The Mayor advised the Council that the Park and Recreation Commission should look at the South Grove Tennis Courts for a reconstruction project. Councilor Prebeg said that he would bring proposed tennis court reconstruction project before the Park and Recreation Board for consideration.
The Mayor announced that the next Labor/Management meeting would be held on Thursday, September 27, 2007 at 2:00 p.m. Councilor Roskoski said that he would attend the meeting with the Mayor.
The City Administrator updated the Council on the following:
– Iron Range Resources Demolition Program. He said that he attended a meeting today regarding the start up of the Demolition Program. He said that the residential and commercial program would be starting again. He said that if there were any properties that would need to be submitted, to contact City Staff especially on the residential side. The residential party requesting would be responsible for the tipping fees and any hazardous cleanup. The commercial properties could qualify for a grant up to $50,000 with matching funds.
– City Levy. He advised the Council that the information that was listed in the newspaper recently was inaccurate. The levy is projected on the high end at 4.3% and the overall budget increase was 7%, before any Council reductions.
– Library Roof Tile. He said that he met with Erik Wedge, the Architect, and he advised the Administrator that the company that installed the roof is in the process of going bankrupt, but the City is still retaining some funds on the project.
– Northland Entrepreneur Grants. The Administrator said that the grants they have are for youth programs, aging projects, and economic development.
– Wind Energy Farms. The Administrator said that he did not know if the City would receive tax from the properties. He said that there may be some tax credits that would be due to the City.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Stanaway to award the quote to Gulbranson Excavating to install 3 phase underground electric feed under Highway 169 for 300 feet by horizontal boring and plow in 1,000 feet of electrical cable for the Unity Second Addition at the quoted price of $7,950.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Roskoski to have City Council approval of any maintenance type work completed at Locomotive Park. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to have a copy of the League of Minnesota Cities recommendations for loss control be forwarded to the Council, put on the next agenda, and reviewed. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to approve the 2007-2008 Safety Management Program for the period October 1, 2007 until September 30, 2008 for the annual amount of $7,400.00. The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote.
The Council reviewed the August 2007 Sheriff’s Department report.
At 6:50 p.m., Councilor Roskoski left the meeting.
The City Attorney updated the Council on the following:
– Anderson Conditional Use Permit. The City Attorney said that he would need to get an investigative report from the Zoning Administrator. He was hoping that additional information would be available for the next regular meeting.
At 6:52 p.m., Councilor Roskoski returned to the meeting.
The City Engineer updated the Council on the following:
– Unity Drive. He said that the street work was progressing well.
– Street Overlay Projects. He said that the blacktop overlay projects could be started the week of September 24, 2007.
– Heather Avenue. Mrs. Peterson from Heather Avenue was present and asked if there would be something done about the flooding problem by her home at 5482 Heather Avenue. The City Engineer said that he reviewed the area and when he was there the ditches were draining. The Director of Public Works said that the City Crew would clean out the vegetation in the ditch and the City Engineer would monitor the situation.
The following items were discussed during the Liaison Reports:
– Management Contracts. Councilor Prebeg advised the Council that the Personnel Committee was still working on the management contracts.
– Library Renovations. Councilor Stanaway said that the new furniture was here and would be installed once the carpet installation was complete.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to allow the Safety and Health Board to meet with the City Attorney, the Sergeant, and the Fire Chief to discuss enforcement of certain things. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Zupancich to accept the recommended changes to the Surplus Property Policy, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried with Councilor Roskoski voting no.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Zupancich to direct City Staff to reapply for a grant for the proposed paved pedestrian path from the high school to South Grove to Merritt Elementary School and present the grant, as submitted before, unless Staff needs to update quantities and/or amounts on the current application on file. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize the final pay request to KGM Contractors, Incorporated on the Mountain Iron Voluntary Remedial Action Plan in the amount of $3,000.00. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes; Zupancich, yes; Stanaway, yes; and Skalko, yes.
It was moved by Zupancich and seconded by Prebeg to waive the rental fees for training of the AARP Tax Aide Volunteer Counselors the week of January 14-18, 2008 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., but they would still be required to pay the damage deposit. The motion carried unanimously.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Zupancich to allow City Staff to complete in-kind services at Merritt Elementary to auger two holes for the installation of tetherballs. The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skalko to direct City Staff to write a letter to Cornerstone Villa explaining why the City can not approve a contribution for the medical equipment because there is no allowable funding source. The motion carried.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Skalko that it be policy that when any City, Board, Committee, or Commission meeting is cancelled, at the last minute, that a notice be posted on the front door of the meeting place, and this would be done by whomever is in charge of the meeting. The motion carried.
The Council reviewed the list of communications.
The following items were discussed during the open discussion:
– Board/Commission-Meeting Time/Dates. The City Administrator said that Staff would do the best they can to stagger the meetings so they do not overlap.
– League of Minnesota Cities Workshop. Councilor Stanaway said that he would like to attend the October 2nd meeting in Buhl.
– Downtown Skating Rink. Councilor Roskoski expressed concern with the possibility of the Downtown Skating Rink being closed. Councilor Prebeg said that the Parks and Recreation Board have always monitored the attendance at all of the rinks to see if any rink is feasible to be open.
At 7:31 p.m., it was moved by Skalko 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. Marianne Nanti, a thank you for the flowers for her husband, Larry Nanti’s, funeral.
