Less than two weeks after the Mountain Iron City Council voted to remove Steve Giorgi from two appointed posts, four members of its planning and zoning commission submitted resignation letters to the city. 

Accepting the resignations was not on the council’s agenda for Monday, but were confirmed through Giorgi and Councilor Brad Gustafson. Councilor Alan Stanaway, who led the effort to strip Giorgi of his roles, remains on the commission.

Margaret Soyring and Barb Fivecoate have spent nearly 30 years as planning and zoning members, and were among those stepping down. Fivecoate also resigned from her role on the economic development authority (EDA), which Giorgi also chaired. 

Karla Kintner and Billy Copeland, more recent appointments, also gave up their seats. 

Gustafson said he plans to address the council at its meeting Monday about the process to remove Giorgi from the EDA, which appeared to run afoul of a state statute governing EDA boards. 

State law calls for a 10-day notice to the commission member with allegations spelled out. A hearing or closed session with the council to address the concerns would follow. Mountain Iron did not provide Giorgi with notice. 

Instead, the agenda packet for the meeting shows a one-sentence item calling for his removal, dated Sept. 3. The meeting and vote took place Sept. 8. City Administrator Craig Wainio told the Mesabi Tribune that Stanaway put it on the agenda. 

Councilor Julie Buria and Mayor Peggy Anderson were the other votes against Giorgi in the 3-2 council decision.