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 9, 2001, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

Roll call: Councilors Hendrickson, Benda, Lind and Nylund.

Absent: Mayor Cram

Also Present: City Manager, City Attorney and City Clerk.

Mayor Pro-Tem Nylund opened the meeting by leading all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Councilor Hendrickson supported by Councilor Benda, moved to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of March 12, 2001 and the special meeting of April 2, 2001 as written.

Motion carried.

Officer Wade Cross of the Iron County Sheriff’s Department requested time to speak to the City Council. He advised the Council that had it not been for the "heads up police work" of City Police Officers Anthony Starr and Tim Bean there would not have been as quick an arrest in an armed robbery incident that took place at the MFC Bank in 2000. He noted the officers had preserved important physical evidence at the scene, and also, on the night prior to the robbery had observed a suspicious vehicle in the area that later proved to be the same one used in the robbery. Sheriff Robert Remondini presented Officers Starr and Bean with a "Unit Citation for Team Effort" and thanked them for their part in the solving of this crime. The City Council responded with a standing ovation for the officers.

Marianne Cambray, representing the Iron County Community Hospitals, updated the Council with information that effective July 1^st there will be a full time paramedic on duty on each side of Iron County. She also reported that the hospital board is currently seeking funds for the renovations to the hospital for the moving of the Manor beds.

Maureen Elson reported on various activities at the Contemporary Center noting that the pledge drive for the purchase of the building is moving along quite well. She extended a thank you to the City crews for helping with the moving of a "pug mill" into the center. She also thanked Clerk Olson for the development of a web page on the City’s website for the Contemporary Center.

Manager Nordeman, on behalf of the Downtown Development Authority, presented requests for the release of DDA funds. Councilor Hendrickson supported by Councilor Lind, moved to approve the payment of electric bills for the city hall lights in the amount of $100.00 and further to approve the funding of 50 copies of the "Downtown Revitalization Project" booklets in the amount of $421.50.

Motion carried.

Mayor Pro-Tem Nylund supported by Councilor Benda, moved to approve a pay request for the sewer project in the amount of $7,215.00 to pay engineering invoices submitted by Sundberg, Carlson & Associates.

Motion carried.

A contingent of representatives from the Michigan Department of Transportation approached the Council with a request for support of a proposed detour over city streets during the summer of 2002 to allow for the restoration of the M-69 Bridge on Superior Avenue. Councilor Hendrickson expressed concern about the safety of mixing large semi trucks and passenger cars on narrow city streets. Mike Premo of MDOT noted that there would be a need to widen some areas along the route and rebuild some of the roadbeds to accommodate the larger vehicles. Councilor Lind supported by Councilor Benda, moved to support MDOT’s concept of using Wagner Street, Fairbanks Road, and North 6^th Street as a possible detour route for the summer of 2002.

Motion carried.

(Councilor Hendrickson noted that she reluctantly voted for this concept.)

Mayor Pro-Tem Nylund supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to temporarily adjourn the regular meeting to meet as the Zoning Board of Appeals to hear the request for variance of Nikki Loehr of 927 Forest Avenue.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Meeting reconvened at 5:38 p.m.

Manager Nordeman presented a list of proposed improvements for Runkle Lake Park and explained the concepts to the Council. He also suggested offering of weekly and monthly rates with the inclusion of free days for extended stays. The Council agreed that incentive for extended stays would be good but took no action at this meeting.

The Council discussed the spring clean-up dates and instructed Manager Nordeman to publicize May 18^th and 19^th as the days for the junk drop-off at City Hall and the week of May 21^st as the curbside pickup of spring yard rakings.

Councilor Hendrickson supported by Mayor Pro-Tem Nylund, moved to approve the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $235,614.83 for the month of February 2001, and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Mayor Pro-Tem Nylund supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to accept the following reports for the month of March 2001:

Police Chief’s report indicating 121 complaints, 19 of which were closed by arrest and 3,031 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 1 fire calls; spending approximately 12 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 1 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of departmental activities.

4. Public Works Foreman’s report of department activities.

Motion carried.

Councilor Lind reported his attendance at the Christmas Tree meeting held at the Bates Township Hall and noted that the Iron County Chamber of Commerce would be seeking funds to help with the celebration of this event at some point in the future.

Councilor Lind also reported on a meeting he attended concerning the availability of help for businesses through the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. He suggested that businesses wanting information should contact Beth Berkheiser at the Iron County Courthouse.

Councilor Hendrickson reported on the progress of the Library noting that the plans for the new library building indicate October 15^th as the completion date.

Manager Nordeman announced the hiring of George Pond Jr. as the temporary police officer to fill in shifts vacated by Officer Fraser during his tour of duty with the National Guard.

Councilor Hendrickson suggested to all present that ideas for the City’s website should be forwarded to Clerk Olson. She noted that although the site is becoming more informative, new ideas are always welcome.

Councilor Lind supported by Councilor Benda, moved to adjourn this meeting of the City Council.

Motion carried.

Meeting adjourned at 6:20 p.m.