A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, March 10, 2003, at 4:30 P.M. Central Time.

Roll call: Mayor Sabo, Councilors Hendrickson, Koszyk, Thrasher, and Benda.

Also Present: City Manager, City Attorney, City Clerk and various citizens of the community.

Mayor Sabo led all present in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

The minutes of the regular meeting of February 10, 2003 and special meeting of February 19, 2003 were approved as written.

Mayor Sabo called for amendments to the agenda and added the appointment of a Planning Commission member as new business.

Mayor Sabo welcomed Adam Waite, a West Iron County middle school student, who will be "job shadowing" Manager Nordeman on Tuesday, March 11, 2003.

Gloria Frederickson, representing the Crystal Theatre, presented the Council with the annual report on the theatre. She also reported the brickwork on the Northeast corner of the building will be repaired as soon as weather permits.

There was no report from the DDA.

Mark Agnessi, Iron County Economic Developer reported on the progress of the marketing of the Crystal Manor building. He discussed the application for the Market Study Grant and noted the need for a public hearing prior to the end of March 2003 to finalize said application. Mayor Sabo set March 27, 2003, 4:30 p.m. as the date of a special meeting of the Council to conduct the public hearing.

Regarding the renovations to the "old library" rooms it was the consensus of the Council to return the Council Chambers to the large room and directed Manager Nordeman to take care of the details, hopefully prior to the next meeting of the Council. Councilor Hendrickson commented that the City crews have done an outstanding job to date on the renovations.

Councilor Koszyk, seconded by Councilor Hendrickson, moved to direct Manager Nordeman, along with Attorney Lawrence, to finalize the paperwork, including stipulations recommended by Manager Nordeman, for the sale of Industrial Park land to Brian Rose, Crystal Falls Springs.

Motion carried.

Mayor Sabo advised the Council that Christine Valesano submitted her resignation from the Planning Commission, and further, Sabo asked the Council to support the appointment of Michael Divine in her place. Councilor Hendrickson, seconded by Councilor Benda, moved to accept Christine Valesano’s resignation from the Planning Commission and to approve the appointment of Michael Divine to serve on the commission for the remainder of her term, effective immediately.

Motion carried.

Councilor Benda, seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved to approve the 2003-2004 cemetery contracts with the townships of Crystal Falls, Mansfield, and Mastodon as prepared by the City Clerk.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to adopt the following resolution:

WHEREAS, the Act provides municipalities with the opportunity to form a joint agency for the purpose of undertaking the planning, financing, development, acquisition, construction, reconstruction, improvement, enlargement, betterment, operation of maintenance of a Project or Projects (as defined in the Act) to supply electric power and energy for their present or future needs as an alternative or supplemental method of obtaining the benefits and assuming the responsibilities of ownership in a project;

WHEREAS, the Upper Peninsula Public Power Agency ("UPPPA") is a joint agency being formed for the purposes set forth in the Act;

WHEREAS, the Council of this municipality has determined that it is in the best interest of the municipality to join the UPPPA for the following reasons:

The UPPPA will be able to finance the cost of Projects in a more economic and efficient manner;

If bonds were to be necessary to finance a Project or Projects, financial market acceptance will be enhanced if one (1) entity is responsible for issuing and selling the bonds in a timely and orderly manner and with a uniform credit rating, instead of multiple entities marketing their separate issues of bonds;

Savings and other advantages will be obtained by providing a separate entity responsibility for the acquisition, construction, ownership, and operation of a Project or Projects; and

The existence of the UPPPA will foster the continuation of joint planning and undertaking of projects, and the resulting economies and efficiencies to be realized from the joint planning and undertaking will serve the interest of the residents of the municipality;

It is in the best interest of the City of Crystal Falls to join the UPPPA.

This governing body shall work with other participating municipalities to adopt Article of Incorporation and By-Laws for the UPPPA.

Resolution adopted.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to authorize Manager Nordeman to send out "Requests For Qualifications" regarding engineering for the upcoming water infrastructure project.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to form a committee to examine the options available regarding the maintenance of water line extensions in Crystal Falls Township for which the City receives revenues from the sale of water delivered through those pipes. Said committee will consist of Mayor Sabo, Councilor Koszyk, and Manager Nordeman.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $285,151.12 for the month of February 2003 be approved, and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

Councilor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Benda, moved to accept the following reports for the month of February 2003:

Police Chief’s report indicating 85 complaints, 5 of which were closed by arrest and 2,775 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 2 fire calls; spending approximately 26.5 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 2 practice and training session.

Chief Electrician’s report of department activities.

Public Work foreman’s report on department activities.

Motion carried.

STS consultant Jeff Bal reported to the Council on the assessment of the Superior Avenue buildings regarding roof and floor drains connected to the existing sewer system. He proposed the next steps for the Superior Avenue Sewer Separation Project that the City needs to take include the development of a cost estimate, televising the existing pipe, securing of funding, and coordination with the Streetscape project.

There being no further business to come before the Council, meeting adjourned at 5:37 p.m.