A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, February 12, 2001, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

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

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

Mayor Cram opened the meeting by leading all present in the Pledge of Allegiance.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to accept the minutes of the regular meeting of January 8, 2001 and the special meeting of January 22, 2001 as written.

Motion carried.

Frank Groenveld, representing the Harbour House Museum appealed to the Council to consider funding a sign designating the Harbour House as a site on the Iron County Heritage Trail. He noted the cost to be around $500.00. Manager Nordeman indicated there was not a budget allotment for this expenditure, however, the consensus of the Council members was that it was a good project and they would try to find some funding.

Mr. Groenveld, representing a DDA subcommittee for historic preservation, also requested the Council allow the DDA to invest a portion of its budget allotment to begin building funds for the refurbishing of the City Hall auditorium. The work would include fixing the floor, stage area, curtains, storage rooms, lights, sound system, etc. Mayor Cram applauded the idea but noted the DDA funds should be spent enhancing the downtown area and toward efforts to bring in new business, not to repair the City Hall. Packy Eckola, also representing the same committee, asked permission of the Council to do some fundraising to renovate the auditorium. Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to allow the "Historic Preservation Committee" to proceed with the establishment of an account for auditorium renovations with said account to be set up and maintained separately from the City’s accounts by said committee.

Motion carried.

Mary Ellen Marchinowski, owner of The Infield Bar, requested the Council examine the police snowmobile patrol policy. She complained the Crystal Falls Police Department has reached the level of harassment of visitors to the area and is driving the tourism business away. Mayor Cram noted he was not aware of any harassment by the police and asked Manager Nordeman for his input. Nordeman indicated he would not comment until the Chief of Police had an opportunity to respond to the allegations. Chief Bicigo’s attendance at the next regular meeting of the council was requested.

Maureen Elson reported the Contemporary Center is doing well in its new home and noted they are beginning efforts to raise funds for the purchase of the building.

Mike Ferguson, representing the Downtown Development Authority, requested the Council re-appoint Maxine Eckola to the DDA board. Mayor Cram supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to re-appoint Maxine Eckola to serve a term on the DDA board, which will expire November 30, 2004.

Ayes: Mayor Cram, Councilors Nylund, Hendrickson, and Lind.

Nays: Councilor Benda

Motion carried.

Councilor Benda, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to accept the lease to E. Ross, Inc. for the parcel of land described as Township 43 North, Range 32 West, Section 21, 11/12 interest in the SW ¼ of the NW ¼, and authorized the Mayor and Clerk to sign said lease upon the meeting of all pre-requisites included in the lease, and further, to authorize the Manager and City Attorney to draw up and execute a license for E. Ross, Inc. to cross city owned properties adjacent to the property described in said lease.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to approve the purchase of a sign for the U. S. 141 entrance to the Industrial Park from Sherwood Sign & Graphic Design in the amount not to exceed $7,729.00, to authorize the down payment of $4,000.00 toward said sign, and further, to proceed with the change order to the EDA contract for the funding of this sign through the Industrial Park Infrastructure project.

Motion carried.

Mike Gatzow updated the Council on matters concerning the sewer project noting the project completion date was December 8, 2000 and liquidated damages are now accumulating as per the contract with Oberstar. Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to approve the pay request for the sewer project in the amount of $5,085.00.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram tabled the appointments to the planning commission to the next regular meeting of the Council pending his review of the list of applicants.

Councilor Lind, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to allow Manager Nordeman to pursue an emergency snow plowing contract and a street sweeping contract with the Village of Alpha pending they will pay for these services per the terms of the City’s contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation.

Ayes: Mayor Cram, Councilors Nylund and Lind

Nays: Councilors Hendrickson and Benda

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Benda, moved to set up a "Perpetual Care Fund" for the cemetery with all the monies collected beginning October 1, 2000 for perpetual care to be invested. It is understood that only the interest earned on this fund can be used for maintenance at the Evergreen Memorial Cemetery.

Motion carried.

Councilor Lind, supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to enter into an agreement with American Cellular Corporation for the installation of two antennas on the city’s water tank and the placement of an equipment shelter at the base of the tower. Said agreement is to include an annual rental fee starting at $16,800.00 and will be executed pending the approval of the installation method by Chief Electrician Angelo Diqui.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to re-appoint Donald Boulanger, William Sundquist, and Kristine Coopman to serve on the 2001 Board of Review, and further to set compensation at $35.00 per day plus meals.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram suggested the Council consider items to place in the Iron County 2000 time capsule.

Councilor Hendrickson, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the City of Crystal Falls did on March 28, 1977 acquire title to said land now known as the Crystal Falls Industrial Park, and

WHEREAS, the City of Crystal Falls is desirous of adding two recently established streets, which are as yet unnamed but referred to as "East-West" street and "Access Road" for the purpose of this resolution, in said industrial park to its street system, and

WHEREAS, it is necessary to furnish certain information to the State of Michigan to place streets within the City street system for the purpose of obtaining funds under Act 51, P.A. 1951 as amended,

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The centerline of the street referred to as "East-West" is described as: Commencing at the Northeast Corner of Section 30,thence N89° 29’04"W, 1320.03’ along the North line of Section 30 to the East Sixteenth line of Section 30; thence S00° 44’45"W, 272.57’ along the East Sixteenth line of Section 30 to a point on the Centerline of the East-West Road extended; thence S82° 31’50"W, 319.02’ along the Centerline of East-West Road extended to a point on the Centerline of Zavada Street given as the Point-of-Beginning "A" (POB-A); thence continuing S82° 31’50"W, 684.45’ along Centerline of East-West Road to a curve to the right having a Delta Angle of 06° 15’53", a Length of 100’, and Radius of 914.56’; thence S88° 47’44"W along the Centerline of East-West Road, a distance of 53.4’ more or less, to the Easterly Right-of-Way of Highway US-141 and the Point-of-Ending "A" (POE-A) of East-West Road, subject to restrictions, reservations, rights-of-way and easements of record.

The center line of the "Access Road" street is described as: Commencing at the Northeast Corner of Section 30, thence N89° 29’04"W, 1320.03’ along the North line of Section 30 to the East Sixteenth line of Section 30; thence S00° 44’45"W, 272.57’ along the East Sixteenth line of Section 30 to a point on the Centerline of the East-West Road extended; thence S82° 31’50"W, 923.97’ along the Centerline of East-West Road to a point on the Centerline of Access Road given as the Point-of-Beginning "B" (POB-B); thence S01° 13’28"W, 342.76’ to a curve to the left having a Delta Angle of 90° 26’20", a Length of 62.35’, and Radius of 39.50’; thence S89° 12’52"E along the Centerline of Access road a distance of 558.2’ more or less, to the Centerline of Zavada Street, and the Point-of Ending "B" (POE-B) of Access Road, subject to restrictions, reservations, rights-of-way and easements of record.

That said streets are located within a City right-of-way and are under the control of the City of Crystal Falls.

That said streets are public streets and are for public street purposes.

That said street is accepted into the City Major Street System.

Yeas: 5

Nays: 0

Resolution adopted.

Mayor Cram suggested asking the citizens to assist in the naming of the two industrial park streets. Clerk Olson was instructed to place an ad in the local papers requesting suggestions for the naming of said streets.

Councilor Hendrickson, supported by Councilor Benda, moved to approve the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $314,946.23 for the month of January 2001, and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Mayor Cram supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to accept the following reports for the month of January 2001:

Police Chief’s report indicating 115 complaints, 13 of which were closed by arrest and 2,661 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 1 fire call; spending approximately 2 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 1 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of departmental activities.

Motion carried.

Councilor Lind expressed concern about the Iron County ambulance service, noting several complaints regarding response time. Manager Nordeman was instructed to pen a letter to Marianne Cambray, a city representative on the hospital board, to attend the next regular meeting of the Council to address this issue.

Lynn Perry asked about signage at the intersection directly in front of the Iron County Court House. Manager Nordeman will speak to Chief Bicigo regarding the matter.

Mayor Cram, supported by Councilor Nylund, moved to set the deadline for submittal of agenda items for regular council meetings to be the 1^st day of each month to allow for the delivery of said agendas to the council members by the 1^st Monday of each month.

Motion carried.