October 19, 2020 City Council Meeting

 MINUTES

MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL

October 19, 2020

 

Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:30p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Joe Prebeg Jr., Alan Stanaway, Julie Buria, Steve Skogman, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Anna Amundson, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Al Johnson, City Engineer; Bryan Lindsay, City Attorney; and SGT John Backman,  Sheriff’s Department.

 

It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Buria that the consent agenda be approved as follows:

 

1. Approve the minutes of the October 5, 2020, regular meeting as submitted.

 

2. 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.

 

3. To acknowledge the receipts for the period October 1-15, totaling $184,579.74 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes),

 

4. To authorize the payments of the bills and payroll for the period October 1-15, totaling $1,407,424.86 (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).

 

The motion carried.

 

Public Forum:

 

• Ed Roskoski spoke during the public forum, regarding the new City of Mountain Iron Drinking Well Project. Mr. Roskoski stated that during the September 21^st City Council meeting that he asked several questions regarding this project, which were not answered. Such as is the money from received from the IRRRB a grant or loan? Money received from Public Facilities Authority (PFA) a grant or loan? Is the Resolution within the packet an exploratory bid or actual bid for the project? Should not the Mining Company help pay for the mines since they additionally use the Drinking wells.
• City Administrator, Craig Wainio stated the money received from the IRRRB would be grant money, which will not have to be paid back, however the money received from the PFA is a loan, which will have to be paid back with interest. The Resolution within the packet is an actual bid for the project, acceptance of bid results would be determined by the City Council.

 

 

 

The Mayor reported on the following:

 

• Condolences to the family and friends of Michael “Mike” Mitshulis
• Perkins will not be reopening, the Mountain Iron location along with several others have been closed due to bankruptcy
• The developer which owns the land/building owner has regained ownership, hopeful that some other restaurant will open in the future
• Thank you to all those who are keeping this Country moving forward!

 

 

 

City Administrator:

 

• Discussion with MNDoT for future project
• Received $400,000 Grant from IRRRB for Water System Improvement Projects
• Thank you to Senator Tomassoni and Representative Lislegard for help with receiving Grant money

 

Director of Public Works:

 

• Hydrant Flushing scheduled for next couple of weeks
• Discolored water is common along with low water pressure

 

Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:

 

• Curbside pickup starting next week, using new convenient Shed
• No Halloween event, cancelled due to the increase in COVID-19 cases

 

Sheriff’s Department:

 

• Calendar parking starts November 1^st
• Warnings issued in the coming week, with tickets to be handed out starting on November 1^st

City Attorney:

 

• No formal report

 

City Engineer:

 

• No formal report

 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Pay Request No. 1 – for the Water Tower Improvement project in the amount of $729,125, to Viking Industrial Painting LLC. This amount includes a 5% retainage until final inspection can be completed. The motion carried on roll call vote.

 

It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Buria to authorize posting for the following positions within the Fire Department: 

 

• Fire Chief – expire 12/31/2022
• Fire Captain Safety Officer – expire 12/31/23

 

The motion carried.

 

It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to approve the recommendation of the Public Health and Safety Board and authorize the following changes: Amend Policy #2008-02, as presented with highlighted change; and Repeal Policy #2008-02, First Responder Officer selection policy. The motion carried.

 

 

 

 

Liaison Report:

 

• Councilor Prebeg stated that during the Shared Services Study Meeting, questions arose which could not be addressed. Therefore a Committee of the Whole meeting was decided to be independently conducted respectively by both the City of Virginia and the City of Mountain Iron.

 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Resolution #23-20; Approving Plans and Specifications and Ordering Advertisement for Bids, the project is to be funded through the IRRRB and the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.

 

It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to authorize Staff to purchase the following: Server upgrades to support distance working in the amount of $20,808; Remote setups for Desktop Users in the amount of $7,995.72 from CW Technology and the purchase of 30 dumpsters for Commercial recycling in the amount of $15,945, items to purchased under the CARES Act funding. The motion carried on roll call vote.

 

The MIB Quarterback Club requests contribution for their 2020 Ranger Football Season, for assistance in purchasing safety equipment, other football equipment as well as for defraying traveling expenses. It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to donate $100 to the MIB Quarterback Club for their 2020 Football Season, monies to come out of the Charitable Gambling Fund. The motion carried on a roll call vote.

 

At 7:21p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Buria that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.

 

Submitted by:

 

 

 

 

Amanda Inmon

Municipal Services Secretary

www.mtniron.com

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Communications:

 

1. General Election on November 3, 2020, polls will be open from 7:00am until 8:00pm
2. Mountain Iron Community Center: Precinct #1: IROQUOIS ROOM;

Precinct #2: WACOOTAH ROOM.

1. Absentee ballots via curbside service are available at City Hall now through November 2, 2020 for those voters unable to vote on Election Day.
2. City Hall will also be open (curbside service) for Absentee voting from 10am-3pm on Saturday, October 31^st and until 5:00pm on Monday, November 2^nd.