September 4, 2018 City Council Minutes
MINUTES
MOUNTAIN IRON CITY COUNCIL
September 17, 2018
Mayor Skalko called the City Council meeting to order at 6:p.m. with the following members present: Councilor Joe Prebeg, Jr., Alan Stanaway, Steve Skogman, Susan Tuomela, and Mayor Gary Skalko. Also present were: Craig J. Wainio, City Administrator; Tim Satrang, Director of Public Works; Amanda Inmon, Municipal Services Secretary; Sally Yuccas, Library Director/Special Events Coordinator; Rod Flannigan, City Engineer; SGT John Backman, Sheriff’s Department.
It was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the consent agenda be approved as follows:
- Approve the minutes of the September 4, 2018, 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, totaling $127,591.31 (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, totaling $ (a list is attached and made a part of these minutes).
The motion carried on roll call vote.
Public Forum:
- Ed Roskoski spoke in regards to Conditional Use Permit Application for Anthony Mason to build an Indoor/Outdoor Shooting Range
- No conditions are listed/presented,
- No operation days/times
- No noise decimal limits
- No procedures to remedy potential problems
- Why is permit being granted with no listed conditions
- Has price been established for these pieces of land, which will be where the shooting range will be located
- Who will pay for the utilities to be established at this location
- Mayor Skalko and Councilor Skogman stated that noise Ordinance and other conditions are stated/present already in the City Ordinances
- Currently Conditional Use Permit is just the beginning, changes to Zoning within the area need approval from P&Z and City Council, currently a proposed project, there is a lot that Mr. Mason has to finish before building, nowhere near ready to start construction
- City Administrator stated that the price of the land/parcels as well as the responsibility of utility cost placement had not been established at this time
- No conditions are listed/presented,
The Mayor reported on the following:
- Condolences to the family and friends of Jack Cerkvenik
- Condolences to the family and friends of David Langowski
- Good luck to all the Mountain Iron –Buhl Fall Sports Teams
- Happy birthday to Gladys Kujala turned 88 on September 4th
- Rock Ridge Development, tentative proposed projects for the Spring of 2019
- Construction of new Hotel, Holiday Inn Express
- Current Holiday Inn would be renovated, take new Hotel Franchise name/brand
- New 250 seat Conference/Convention Center, with attached Brewery and Pub
- Market-rate based Apartment Complex (70 Units)
- Heliene USA, Inc. starting mid-September
City Administrator:
- MIB JV Football won first game against Northwoods
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Prebeg to accept the recommendation of the Safety Committee and approve the contract with the Minnesota Municipal Utilities Association (MMUA) for employee training for the 2018-2019 year, in the amount of $11,200. MMUA provides monthly training for all employees as well as keeps all out required OSHA documents up-to-date. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
Director of Public Works:
- City Crews working on ditching gravel roads in 4-mile area along with Browns Road, Giorgi Rd, and Streetcar Rd
- Crews will be patching water line main as well as conducting a downtown sewer line repair
- Political signs nailed to Power Poles will be taken down, can be picked up at City Garage
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to approve the quote from Gulbranson Excavating for electrical boring, and installation of 3 phase power for the west side of L&M to the west side of Shortstop, which will help assist with voltage conversion in the long term, in the amount of $7,600. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
Library Director/Special Events Coordinator:
- Library Hours as of September 4th
- Monday-Thursday-10-6
- Friday-10-2
- Saturday & Sunday-closed
- Thursday, October 4th “Taste of Mountain Iron,” at Mountain Iron Community Center
- All bakers and cooks welcome, contact Sally
Sherriff’s Department:
- No formal report
- Do not block traffic or park on Unity and Emerald Drive
- Parking on these roads will result in a ticket
City Engineer:
- No formal report
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve Pay Request No. 6 for the Nichols Wastewater Pond Decommissioning Project in the amount of $72,354, to the Veit Company, Duluth, MN. This amount includes withholding of 5% retainage on work completed to date. The motion carried on roll call vote.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Stanaway to approve the recommendation of the Personnel Committee and hire Mrs. Lisa Richards, to the Mountain Iron Fire Department as a paid on call firefighter. The motion carried.
It was moved by Skogman and seconded by Tuomela to accept the recommendation of the Planning and Zoning Commission and approve the Conditional Use Permit (CUP) for Anthony Mason, “Range at Valhalla,” to build an Indoor/Outdoor Shooting Range. The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to accept the recommendation of the Public Health and Safety Board and authorize the purchase of eight AED’s for the First Responders. Current AED’s for the First Responders are significantly out of date, the AED’s would Zoll models and purchased through Lifeline using the State Bid price of $1,250 a unit for a total of $10,000 to be funded out of the First Responders Budget. The motion carried on a roll call vote.
Councilor Skogman discussed the purchase of a new Fire Truck for the Fire Department to replace the current Fire Truck. Discussion ensued regarding prices, purchase ideas, preliminary work regarding a purchase and when would be the best time to purchase a new Fire Truck.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Skogman to approve Resolution #23-18; adopting the preliminary 2018 tax levy in the amount of 3%, collectable in 2019, which must be certified to the County by September 15th. The Resolution is presented with a two percent increase in the levy from last year (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Prebeg and seconded by Tuomela to approve Resolution # 24-18; adopting the proposed 2018 market-rate based referendum levy for the General Obligation Community Center bonds and interest. The amount reflected is to cover bond payments for 2019 and is the same amount as was levied in 2018 (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Stanaway and seconded by Skogman to approve Resolution #25-18; setting the Economic Development Authority tax levy for 2019. This Resolution reflects a levy of the same amount as last year which generates approximately $12,000 for the EDA (a copy is attached and made a part of these minutes). The motion carried.
It was moved by Tuomela and seconded by Skogman to authorize Staff to seek bids for the development of Plans and Specifications for the replacement of the water filters at the water treatment plant. There has been deterioration of the filters ever since they were installed in the 1980’s, have reached their expected lifespan, and are due for a replacement. The motion carried.
No Communications
At 7:27p.m., it was moved by Skalko and seconded by Tuomela that the meeting be adjourned. The motion carried.
Submitted by:
Amanda Inmon
Municipal Services Secretary
