Meeting Minutes for September 17, 2012
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
SEPTEMBER 17, 2012
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. with the following members present: Joe Prebeg, Jr., Susan Tuomela, Ed Roskoski, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Absent member included: Tony Zupancich. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Jill M. Clark, Municipal Services Secretary; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; Michael Downs, Interim Public Works Director; John Backman, Sergeant; and Brian Lindsay, City Attorney.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the September 4, 2012, regular meeting as submitted.
- That the communications be accepted and placed on file and those requiring further action by the City Council be acted upon during their proper sequence on the agenda.
- To acknowledge the receipts for the period September 1-15, 2012 totaling $133,184.58, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
- To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period September 1-15, 2012, totaling $535,547.01, (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Prebeg, yes; Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, no; Skalko, yes; and Zupancich, absent.
At 6:33 p.m., Councilor Roskoski vacated his chair and approached the podium for the public forum. Councilor Roskoski made a presentation of a historic picture of Steam Locomotive 806 that is currently located in Locomotive Park in Downtown Mountain Iron to the City. Councilor Roskoski stated that the picture was taken October 5, 1943, and found in the University of Minnesota Archives by Marvin Saari. He also thanked Barb Tucker from Andrews Camera for retouching the photo, enlarging it, and framing it. The Mayor thanked those involved with the donation of the picture.
The City Administrator reported on the following:
- AFSCME Local Union #453. He advised the Council that the Negotiating Committee met with AFSCME Local Union #453 and had come to a tentative agreement. He advised the Council that the union did meet and approved the tentative contract. The tentative agreement would be presented to the City Council at the next regular meeting.
Councilor Roskoski questioned the Sergeant and the City Administrator regarding a directional issue going east on Highway 169. The Mayor asked the City Administrator and the Interim Director of Public Works to contact the Minnesota Department of Transportation to inquire about adding some directional signage.
The Council reviewed the Sheriff’s Department monthly statistical reports for the months of July and August, 2012.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to authorize payment request number one for the Locomotive Park Improvements-Phase II Project to Jola and Sopp Excavating Incorporated in the amount of $29,782.50. The motion carried on the following roll call vote: Tuomela, yes; Roskoski, no; Prebeg, yes, Skalko, yes; and Zupancich, absent.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and authorize the Conditional Use Permit for Robert Niemi to construct a 1,040 square foot building on his property located at 8788 Mud Lake Road, Mountain Iron, parcel code 175-0056-00080. After further discussion, Councilor Prebeg withdrew his motion and Councilor Tuomela withdrew her support.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to refer the Robert Niemi Conditional Use Permit application back to the Planning and Zoning Commission for reconsideration due to the need for a variance for the height of the building. The motion carried with Zupancich absent.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Roskoski to accept the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and approve the Memo of Understanding which provides for a stipend for pager call, Article III, Section G, (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried unanimously on a roll call vote with Zupancich absent.
Councilor Roskoski inquired about City Staff contacting Saint Louis County regarding adding a right turn lane at the intersection of County Road 7 and Unity Drive. The City Engineer informed the Council that he was informed that there was not sufficient right-of-way to make the turning lane.
The following Liaison Reports were given:
- Library Board. Councilor Tuomela informed the Council that the Library Board had a meeting recently and they discussed security of the library, updating the library policies, strategic plan discussion, and the Library Director’s employment agreement.
- Community Conversations. Councilor Tuomela updated the Council regarding the meetings. She said that there were 730 participants and 12 cities involved covering numerous topics. She said that copies of the information were available upon request.
- Mesabi Daily News. Councilor Tuomela addressed a recent onion in the newspaper. She said that there was information regarding her platform when she ran for election, she asked where the onion writer was when she had an open forum at the Mountain Iron Library for eight Saturdays. She suggested that the onion writer apply for open positions in the City.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Prebeg to authorize a contribution of $500 to the Virginia Regional Medical Center Foundation for the Dance for a Cure Event on October 5, 2012 in Virginia, with the funds being expended from Charitable Gambling. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Zupancich absent.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to allow the Special Events Coordinator to expend $500 from the Charitable Gambling Fund to purchase new games for the Halloween Carnival. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Zupancich absent.
It was moved by Roskoski and seconded by Prebeg to contribute $100 to the Rural Housing Coalition with the funds being expended from the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on a roll call vote with Zupancich absent.
At 7:21 p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried with Zupancich absent.
Submitted by:
Jill M. Clark, MMC
Municipal Services Secretary
COMMUNICATIONS
1. Standard & Poor’s Rating Service, forwarding the City of Mountain Iron’s rating.
2. Club Mesabi Incorporated, a thank you for allowing the Great River Energy Mesabi Trail Tour to use Locomotive Park as a key location for the tour.
3. MediaCom, forwarding information regarding the addition of two channels to the programming choices.
4. Rural Housing Coalition, a request for a donation for the Community Connect event scheduled for October 25th in Virginia.
