A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, April 15, 2008 at 5:00 P.M. Central Time.

Roll Call: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Valesano, Bicigo, and Smokevitch.

Absent: None

Also Present: City Manager Nordeman, City Attorney Lawrence, and City Clerk/Treasurer Olson.

Mayor Hendrickson led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Councilor Valesano moved that the items on the Consent Agenda be approved as noted below:

The minutes of the meetings of March 10, 2008, March 24, 2008 and March 28, 2008 as written.

The following reports for the month of March 2008:

A. Police report, as submitted by Police Chief Sherwin, indicating 195 complaints, of which 6 were closed by arrest, and logging of 2,297 miles on patrol duty.

B. Joint Fire Authority report, as submitted by Fire Chief Ahola, indicating answering one (1) fire call; spending approximately 2 man-hours fighting fires; and holding one (1) practice and training sessions.

C. Electric Dept report as submitted by Chief Electrician David Graff.

D. Public Works Dept report as submitted by Foreman Kelly Stankewicz.

E. Treasurer’s Revenue Report as submitted by Clerk/Treasurer Dorothea Olson.

Payrolls and Disbursements in the amount of $451,450.24 and instruct the City Clerk/Treasurer to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Forest Park Community Schools Summer Recreation Program contribution of $2,000.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: none
Motion carried.

Louise Holmes and Susan Schwedler, representing the Beautification Committee, requested an allocation for the 2008 tree plantings.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the allocation of $2,000.00 for the 2008 tree planting project, and further, to authorize the use of City crews to assist in the plantings.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson temporarily adjourned the meeting to conduct the Public Hearing on Ordinance No. 2.19

PUBLIC HEARING:

Mayor Hendrickson explained that Ordinance No. 2.19, an ordinance to provide for the removal of snow from public sidewalks on Superior Avenue, was in need of revision as the City Council felt that the 72 hours allowed for the removal was too long.

Public Comments:

Randy Hegstrom felt that if the City could take care of other services, such as fire and police, that the City should also take care of the removal of snow from the sidewalks.

Marvin Hill, VFW Post Commander, voiced that they do clean the sidewalk in front of the building, but if the City wants the sidewalk cleaned all the way to the corner that was asking a bit much.

Mike Divine, Peninsula Title and Abstract, noted that he has never cleaned the sidewalk on Superior Avenue because the City always did it.

Duane Lortie, owner of Lortie Plumbing & Heating, asked why the light poles were placed in the middle of the sidewalks making them obstructions for snow clearing, door openings, etc. He also said he was against forcing the business owners to clear the sidewalks on the weekends when they are not even open.

Emil Bicigo, owner of Bicigo Shoe Shop, noted that the City Department heads had all voiced opinions against the placement of the light poles at the edge of the street – they should be moved back.

Volney Ponchaud said that a lot of the property owners already do clean off the sidewalk in front of their business, that the City should clear the snow in front of buildings that don’t and then bill the property owner for that service.

Donna Nelson felt that the City should clear what they could with a small piece of equipment and then the property owner should clean up the rest.

Council Comments:

Mayor Hendrickson noted that the problem is usually with the vacant store owners who don’t clean up after a snowfall. She commended the City work crews for the snow removal job they have done. Her main concern is the safety of the pedestrians trying to access the various businesses on icy, snow covered sidewalks.

Councilor Valesano suggested that the City crews spend more time clearing the sidewalks, however, the fact that the city is on a hillside adds to the problem. He felt that 24 hours to clear away snow is not enough and that the property owners and the City must find a comprise to resolve this problem.

Councilor Heikkinen agreed with Valesano and wondered what could be done to alleviate the problem.

Councilor Smokevitch asked if a smaller piece of equipment could be purchased.

Councilor Bicigo noted that the more the City could do to remove the snow the better as it is illegal for a property owner to deposit snow on the roadway (State law). He also thought that 24 hours was not enough and supported a 48 hour time limit.

Manager Nordeman advised how the streetscape project design came about and that the engineers had been advised about the size of the snow cleaning equipment.

Public Hearing closed at 6:00 p.m. and the regular meeting reconvened.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to amend Ordinance No. 2.19, an ordinance to provide for the removal of snow from public sidewalks on Superior Avenue, by changing Section 1, last sentence to read: "The snow and ice must be removed with 24 hours of its accumulation."

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson and Councilor Heikkinen.

Nays: Councilors Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo

Motion defeated.

Mayor Hendrickson appointed Manager Nordeman, Councilor Bicigo, and Public Works Foreman Stankewicz to a committee to look at the options for snow removal from sidewalks on Superior Avenue.

Chuck Lantz, Commander of the Iron Mountain VFW Post, and Volney Ponchaud, a post member, presented the Council with a plan to place a memorial, honoring Clark Schwedler and any others that may fall in the line of duty in the war on terrorism. They were requesting a highly visible site to place the memorial and several options were suggested. They will return for Council approval once they have narrowed down the options.

Mayor Hendrickson reported on the Downtown Development Authority (DDA) meeting held earlier in the day.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve the payment of $70.00 to MaryAnn Harrington for secretarial services for the DDA.

Motion carried.

Damien Treiber explained and presented a plan to the Council to mitigate the radon gas problem in the city hall basement. Manager Nordeman advised that he will work the cost of the mitigation into the next fiscal year budget.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to approve the Estimate of Funds Needed from Rural Development in the amount of $6,570.00 for the water project.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: None

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the MEDC Grant Payment Request in the amount of $28,944.86 for the water meter project.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Heikkinen, Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: None

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Valesano moved to authorize Manager Nordeman to execute a revised Memorandum of Understanding with Robert and Mary Grell for lots #1,2,3,& 4 at the Industrial Park for Grell’s Crystal Truck Wash and Accessories.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the budget amendments to the general fund as recommended by Manager Nordeman:

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Mayor Hendrickson moved to authorize Manager Nordeman to further develop an alternative to the Municipal Employee Retirement System plan using a matching contribution to the 457 plans.

Ayes: Mayor Hendrickson, Councilors Smokevitch, Valesano, and Bicigo. Nays: Councilor Heikkinen

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to pay the Board of Review members $50.00 per meeting and further, to discontinue the $10.00/meeting meal allowance previously paid when meeting all day.

Motion carried.

Chief Electrician David Graff requested the Council consider the hiring of former employee Dennis Mitchell to work as a temporary/part-time employee during the absence of Axel Anderson who is undergoing a knee replacement on April 16^th and will be off work for 6 to 8 weeks.

David Graff presented a slide show to the Council regarding unsafe, and in some cases illegal, electric services that exist on the City’s electric distribution system. He proposed that all mechanical meters be replaced with the new digital meters to prevent the loss of revenue through inadequate metering. How this will be accomplished is still undetermined and Graff asked the Council to consider perhaps spearheading a project to keep the cost of these upgrades to a minimum for the residents.

Mayor Hendrickson set Monday, May 12, 2008 at the regular meeting scheduled for 5:00 p.m. as the date of a Public Hearing on an Ordinance amendment to Ordinance No. 2 (Public Nuisance) and Ordinance No. 2.03 (Disabled Vehicles) and directed Clerk Olson to publish and post said Public Hearing in accordance with the charter. Said amendments are to the penalty sections of each ordinance.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to contribute $125.00 toward the treatment of the milfoil in Runkle Lake providing that the contribution is paid directly to the contractor.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to approve the re-appointment of Carol Azan to another 3 year term on the Crystal Falls Planning Commission. Said term will expire April 30, 2011.

Motion carried.

Councilor Heikkinen seconded by Mayor Hendrickson moved to approve the re-appointment of Scott Thrasher to another 3 year term on the Crystal Falls Planning Commission. Said term will expire April 30, 2011.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Bicigo moved to keep the Runkle Lake Park Rates for camping the same as the previous season: $17/day (sites #18 - #57) and $22/day (sites #1 - #17) with a $300/monthly rate for all sites. (Monthly rate requires 30 consecutive days of camping to qualify).

Motion carried.

Geoffrey Lawrence, representing the Crystal Theatre Board, announced that the Falls Drug Store has been donated to the Theater Board by Mr. Kunz for use as the costume closet.

Manager Nordeman advised the Council that the City Spring Cleanup will be held on Friday, June 6^th, and Saturday, June 7^th, at the Bristol Mine. City residents will be allowed to drop off metal, old furniture, carpeting, clothing, and appliances during this annual clean up program.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to accept the Harbour House Museum annual report and, further, to authorize the release of the annual contribution to the museum in the amount of $1,100.

Motion carried.

Mayor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Heikkinen authorized the participation in the American Transmission Companies capital call in the amount of $6,190.34.

Motion carried.

Councilor Valesano seconded by Councilor Heikkinen moved to adjourn this meeting.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 9:07 p.m.