Range Association of Municipalities and S

Range Association of Municipalities and Schools

Board Meeting Minutes

Thursday, April 28, 2016 – 6:00 P.M.

Northeast Service Cooperative Building

Call to order:

President Paul Kess called the meeting to order at 6:00 P.M.

Roll Call:

Present:

President Paul Kess (City of Ely); Pat Medure (ISD 318-Grand Rapids); Ben DeNucci (City of Nashwauk); Pat Garrity (City of Hibbing); Cyndi Worshek (ISD 2711-Mesabi East); Michael Jugovich (City of Chisholm); Bob Larson (ISD 2142-St Louis County); Ray Marsnik (ISD 696-Ely); Stu Lehman (City of Buhl-Alternate); Carlene Perfetto (City of Silver Bay); Mark Skelton (City of Hoyt Lakes); Al Stanaway (City of Mt. Iron); Warren Stolp (Nashwauk Township); Kim Stokes (ISD 706-Virginia); Dave Worshek (City of Aurora); Ed Zabinski (City of Grand Rapids);

Absent: McDavitt Township; City of Virginia; ISD 701-Hibbing; Morse Township; Great Scott Township; ISD 2154-Eveleth/Gilbert; Two from Supt Assn

Also Present: Steve Giorgi, Executive Director; Lois Roskoski, Administrative Assistant; Ron Dicklich, Lobbyist; Mary Jane Damjanovich, Nashwauk-Keewatin School District; Edward Kippley, Town of White
Review and Approve Agenda:

Moved by Medure and supported by Perfetto to approve the agenda, as presented. Motion carried unanimously.
Approve Meeting Minutes:

Moved by Stokes and supported by Zabinski to approve the minutes from the Regular Meeting held on March 24, 2016, and Special Meeting held on April 1, 2016. Motion carried unanimously.
Appearance:

Andrew Hangemon, CEO, gave a presentation on the Iron Range Makerspace Program, which started four months ago by six engineers from the Iron Range Engineering Program. Iron Range Makerspace is a business development that provides equipment and resources to the public, in order to create and share ideas. The initial program will offer resources and equipment for software, automotive, national defense, wood shop and printing. Additional tools will be added in the future.

Core Values: Safety, community, change, transparency

Mission: Centralize resources into one collaborative environment designed for innovation.

Vision:

• 
  Enable entrepreneurs to start businesses at a low cost.
  
• 
  Increase Iron Range jobs.
  
• 
  Provide productive entertainment.
  

The Iron Range Makerspace program area extends from Virginia to Grand Rapids. They are currently looking at utilizing the former VFW in Hibbing, which is centrally located. Revenue is obtained through training, fee for storage of a project, conference room rental, contract fabrication, membership and classes. A kick starter fundraiser will begin on May 3^rd and they are seeking sponsors. Additional information can be found on their website: http://www.ironrangemakerspace.com.
Executive Director Report:

• 
  Met with Governor Dayton on April 1^st at IRRRB to discuss the land leases for the Twin Metals project.
  
• 
  Traveled to Washington, DC, on April 20^th-22^nd, along with Babbitt Mayor Andrea Zupancich, Hoyt Lakes Mayor Mark Skelton, Ely Mayor Chuck Novak, Aurora City Councilor Dave Lislegard and Nancy Norr with Minnesota Power. The group met with Linda Lance, Deputy Director of the Bureau of Land Management, to discuss the mineral mining in northeastern Minnesota. Their main message was to allow the regulatory agencies to follow the processes in place for the environmental review and permitting process and make decisions based on the facts. The group also met with Congressman Walz, Congressman Nolan, Senator Klobuchar, Senator Franken and the senior aides for Congressman Paulson, Congressman Emmer, Congressman Peterson and Congresswoman McCollum during the trip.
  
• 
  Attended the “Cool and Creative Community Forum” on April 7^th, sponsored by the IRRRB. Good ideas came out of the discussion. The City of Virginia organized a cleanup of Chestnut Street and will put historical pictures in the windows of the vacant buildings.
  
• 
  Attended City Council meetings in Keewatin, Coleraine and Marble. The City of Keewatin agreed to join RAMS and was sent a prorated invoice of $450 for the partial year ($700 full year membership).
  
• 
  Fall Lake Township voted to retain their RAMS membership.
  
• 
  As of this date, Clinton Township has not paid their 2016 membership dues.
  
• 
  Attended a meeting with Governor Dayton, who told leaders there will be no more delays in processing permits for the PolyMet project.
  
• 
  Attended the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources hearing regarding the permitting process for the PolyMet project. The DNR must process the permit within the time frame, as no extensions will be granted for the project.
  
• 
  Reviewed the legislation proposed by Congresswoman McCollum, which calls for a Federal ban for all mining projects in the Rainy River Drainage Basin in Minnesota. A draft resolution will be considered later in the meeting to send a message to Congress to keep an eye on this legislation as it would eliminate opportunities for precious mineral mining.
  
• 
  Contacted by Nancy McReady, Conservationist with Common Sense, regarding a resolution to support a Federal land exchange of 30,000 acres within the BWCA for land outside the area that could generate revenue for the Permanent School Trust Fund. This will be considered later in the meeting.
  
• 
  On April 27^th, a second meeting was held with the Range Mayors. These meetings will be continue to be held.
  
• 
  Attended the MPR forum at Hibbing Community College, where discussion was held on engaging younger people in communities.
  
• 
  Attended the East Range CAP meeting and viewed a presentation on the underground copper nickel Eagle Mine in Marquette, Michigan.
  
• 
  Reviewed information that was received at the “Cool and Connected Community Forum” regarding the economic impact from non-profit arts and cultures within certain communities.
  

Legislative Update:

Ron Dicklich, Lobbyist, provided a legislative update.

• 
  IRRRB: Representative Hackbarth’s bill would make the nine member board comprised of six legislators, without regional jurisdiction, and three at-large citizen members from the Iron Range. Senator Bakk’s bill would not change the makeup of the IRRRB board. The board would be changed to advisory with the IRRRB Commissioner making the final decisions.
  
• 
  The eight cent gas tax is not on the table. If it was passed, 60 percent of the tax would have been used in rural Minnesota and would have provided a dedicated source of revenue for transportation needs for years to come.
  
• 
  There may be a small tax bill, with increases in local government aid, but no changes in the formula.
  
• 
  A supplemental finance bill was on the Senate floor, with everything included in one bill. ($500 million of surplus revenue, including $500,000 for northern Minnesota schools.) This bill also includes redistributing taconite reserves to cities with losses.
  
• 
  The Doug Johnson Fund is being reviewed as a source to fund the lost taconite revenue. A unanimous vote by the IRRRB Board would be required to make any changes to this fund.
  
• 
  Funding for water projects will be put into a public works account, where everyone can apply, instead of putting individual projects in the bonding bill.
  

• 
  Funding for broadband is still in play, but the House and Senate need to get together.
  
• 
  May 23^rd is the last day of legislature. All bills must be passed by May 22^nd.
  

New Business:

1. 
   Expenses for trip to Washington, D.C.
   

Director Giorgi reviewed the travel expenses, totaling $4,748.61, for the five people that traveled to Washington, DC, from April 20-22, 2016, to represent RAMS. The expenses included all travel expenses for Director Giorgi and the hotel rooms and shuttle for the four others that represented RAMS.

Moved by Medure and supported by Marsnik to approve the travel expenses, in the total amount of $4,748.61, for the trip to Washington, DC, from April 20-22, 2016. Motion carried unanimously.

The Personnel Committee will develop a travel policy to address reimbursement of expenses for future travel.

2. 
   Update on membership
   

Director Giorgi noted Minnesota Power has agreed to a corporate membership for 2016. Minnesota Mining also donated $1,500 donation for the efforts in Washington, D.C., to support the mining projects in northeastern Minnesota.

3. 
   Resolution regarding re-organization of IRRRB
   

Moved by Stokes and supported by Skelton to adopt Resolution No. 02-2016, in support of S.F. 3582 – IRRRB Reorganization. Resolution adopted unanimously.

A notice will be sent to all RAMS member groups and asked to take action on the IRRRB reorganization.

4. 
   Resolution regarding H.R. 1796 & 2072 (Rainy River Watershed Basin)
   

Moved by Medure and supported by Garrity to adopt Resolution No. 03-2016, in opposition to Federal Bill H.R. 2072, Congresswoman Betty McCollum’s “National Park and Wilderness Waters Protection Forever Act”. Resolution adopted unanimously.

Copies of Resolutions 02-2016 and 03-2016 will be sent to Governor Dayton and the legislators.

5. 
   Resolution regarding BWCA federal land exchange
   

Discussion was held on the request from Nancy McReady, Conservationists with Common Sense, to adopt a Resolution supporting the Forest Service’s proposal to exchange 30,000 acres of School Trust Lands landlocked within the BWCAW, but strongly opposing any attempts to the outright purchase of School Trust Lands that would relinquish State jurisdiction of these lands and be in direct conflict with the provisions of the 1964 Wilderness Act.

Moved by Larson and supported by Zabinski to table the request from the Conservationists with Common Sense and direct the Executive Director to research and draft a resolution regarding the School Trust Lands landlocked within the BWCAW for consideration at the next meeting. Motion carried unanimously.

6. 
   Establish regular meetings of the Finance Committee
   

Moved by Medure and supported by Stokes to authorize the Finance Committee to meet at 5:30 P.M., prior to each regular RAMS meeting, and make a recommendation to the full board on the finance items. Motion carried unanimously.
Other

1. 
   Strong Towns
   

Director Giorgi reviewed the following dates of the meetings to be held by Strong Towns, a non-profit organization that supports a model of development that allows cities to be financially strong.

6:00 P.M. May 16^th Grand Rapids (Timberlake Lodge)

4:30 P.M. May 17^th Hibbing (Barr Engineering in Hibbing)

6:00 P.M. May 18^th East Range School

6:00 P.M. May 19^th Virginia (Mesabi Range College)

Director Giorgi will gather more information from the IRRRB regarding the “Strong Towns” organization.

2. 
   Regional Data/Trends
   

Director Giorgi reviewed the link from the IRRRB website, which include trends and data for northeastern Minnesota, including population, housing and workforce. Profiles are available for counties, school districts and cities. http://www.mncompass.org/profiles/irrrb#!service-area

3. 
   Discussion was held on the ordinance passed by St. Louis County to authorize the operation of all-terrain vehicles (ATV’s) on public roads. It was suggested that the ordinance be presented to the individual local bodies for enactment.
   

Approval of Bills and Expenditures:

Moved by Medure and supported by Perfetto to approve the following financial reports:

1. 
   Transaction List by Vendor (March and April, 2016)
   
2. 
   Bank Reconciliations (February and March, 2016)
   
   1. 
      Securities America – Goldman
      
   2. 
      Securities America – Utah
      
   3. 
      FNB Buhl – Grant Account
      
   4. 
      FNB Buhl – Checking
      
3. 
   Profit & Loss, Budget vs. Actual (through April 30, 2016)
   

Motion carried unanimously.
Next Meeting:

Moved by Perfetto and supported by Stolp to cancel the May RAMS board meeting and hold the next meeting at 6:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 23, 2016. Motion carried 15-1, with Stokes voting no.
Adjournment:

Meeting adjourned at 7:42 P.M.