A regular meeting of the Council for the City of Crystal Falls was held in the Council Chambers of the City Hall on Monday, October 13, 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 September 8, 2003 and the special meeting of September 23, 2003 were approved as written.

Mayor Sabo called for amendments to the agenda and Manager Nordeman asked to add Item D. to the "Unfinished Business" to allow for engineers comments regarding ongoing projects.

Mayor Sabo advised the City Council that future Downtown Development Authority meetings will be held at 1:00 p.m. on the second Monday of each month in the Council Chambers. He also noted that until further notice the TIF Committee will meet immediately following the regular monthly meetings of the City Council on the second Monday of each month.

Councilor Thrasher suggested the Council consider drafting an ordinance to regulate the use of ORVs and snowmobiles on the City streets. Mayor Sabo directed Councilor Thrasher to compile said draft for introduction to the Council at the November meeting.

Jeff Sjoquist of Coleman Engineering updated the Council on the water drilling project including: preliminary work in the securing of easements for a transmission line; a meeting with Rural Development regarding a loan/grant application; and announcing that the commencement of drilling on the Voelker property will begin later in the week.

Councilor Hendrickson seconded by Councilor Benda moved to contribute $50.00 to the "Gifts from Santa" program.

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Benda moved to contribute $50.00 to the Rotary Club for the annual Halloween Party.

Motion carried.

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

WHEREAS, Iron County Community Hospital (ICCH) operates a kidney dialysis unit in Crystal Falls, serving hundreds of patients since the service was initiated in 1967 by a group of dedicated community residents; and

WHEREAS, the long-term viability of the program may be compromised by the increasingly inadequate level of federal funding which currently necessitates an annual 100,000 dollars subsidy; and

WHEREAS, ICCH is precluded from passing on unreimbursed costs to patients which results in a financial hardship to the hospital supporting other essential, non-profitable services; and

WHEREAS, ICCH has applied for special designation from the federal government’s Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) as an "Isolated Essential Facility" (IEF) which would substantially increase the payment rate per visit, thus reducing the operating loss; and

WHEREAS, ICCH fully meets all criteria for designation as an "Isolated Essential Facility", a fact attested to by both Medicare’s Fiscal Intermediary and Medicare’s Provider Reimbursement Review Board; and

WHEREAS, Loss of access to this lifesaving service in Iron County would result in significant hardship for area residents having to travel up to an extra two hours round-trip three days per week during good weather conditions; and

WHEREAS, a timely and favorable decision by CMC on the hospital’s IEF designation is critical to avoid delaying the construction of a new ambulatory care facility in Crystal Falls which would house dialysis, in addition to lab, x-ray, rehab, and physician services; and

WHEREAS, the Crystal Falls City Council believes that it is highly desirable to retain local access to a "lifesaving" service such as kidney dialysis; now

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Crystal Falls City Council goes on record as supporting the Iron County Community Hospital’s request for designation of its dialysis unit as an "Isolated Essential Facility" by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

RESOLUTION ADOPTED

Councilor Benda seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to grant a wage increase of 2.9% to Manager Nordeman and Clerk/Treasurer Olson for the upcoming fiscal year (1.9% Cost of Living plus 1% merit).

Motion carried.

Councilor Koszyk seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to donate $25.00 to the Dickinson-Iron Community Services Agency "Safe Night".

Motion carried.

Mayor Sabo seconded by Councilor Hendrickson moved to accept the resignation of Terri Plowe from the Downtown Development Authority and directed Clerk Olson to forward a thank you to Mrs. Plowe for her service on behalf the City Council.

Motion carried.

Councilor Thrasher seconded by Councilor Koszyk moved that the payrolls and disbursements in the amount of $434,547.33 for the month of September 2003 be approved, and the City Clerk be instructed to draw checks on the City Treasury in payment of same.

Motion carried.

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

Police Chief’s report indicating 127 complaints, 9 of which were closed by arrest and 2,992 patrolled miles.

Joint Fire Authority report submitted by Fire Chief John Ahola indicating answering 1 fire call; spending approximately 12 man-hours fighting fires; and holding 2 practice and training sessions.

Chief Electrician’s report of department activities.

Public Work foreman’s report on department activities.

Motion carried.

There being no further business to come before the Council, meeting adjourned at 5:20 p.m.