APPROVED agenda with additions and deletion

MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the agenda with additions and deletion as presented:

• Deletion of #1 under Consent Agenda: Approve renewal contract with the Sand Creek Group for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services effective _____, 2019, and authorize signatures
• Addition of #1 under New Business: Consider request from Servants for Shelter for a letter of support, Ariana Daniel, Executive Director, Servants for Shelter (Council action)
• Addition of #7 under New Business: Approve Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Agreement (Council action)

Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

APPROVED minutes of the March 18, 2019 regular City Council meeting

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of March 18, 2019, with reference to the 2019 Census changed to the 2020 Census. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

APPROVED minutes of the March 25, 2019 Town Hall meeting on recreation 

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve the minutes of the March 25, 2019 Town Hall meeting on recreation. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. 

AUTHORIZED down payment of $4,108.50 and signatures for the Conditional Sales Agreement with Small Town Tech, Inc.

MOTION by Councilor Droba to authorize the down payment of $4,108.50 and signatures for the Conditional Sales Agreement with Small Town Tech, Inc. per the approved proposal to install Audio/Visual Equipment in the Council Chambers. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

ADOPTED Resolution No. 20-19 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable

MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to adopt Resolution No. 20-19 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

A Plus Pest Management LLC

Pest Control-Muni Bldg/VNP/Chamber

295.00  

65756 

Ameritas Life Ins Corp 

Dental Insurance Premiums 

2,032.36  

65757 

Andy Kittelson 

Equipment Demo – Duluth

52.50  

65758 

Auto Value Int’l Falls 

Parts – Zamboni P/R, Sup – Garage

71.36  

65759 

Automatic Systems Co 

Lift Station Efficiency 

1,155.00  

65760 

Battalion Distributing 

Supplies – Mayor/Council/Fire

13.20  

65761 

Baycom Inc.

Equipment – Squad Cars 

3,719.00  

65762 

BCBS of MN

Health Insurance Premiums 

4,248.00  

65763 

Ben Mortenson 

MSFCA Fire Officers Trng

314.96  

65764 

Borderland Humane Society 

Pound Operation/Reissue Check 

4,500.00  

65765 

Bound Tree Medical LLC

Ambulance Supplies 

509.18  

65766 

Briggs and Morgan

Legal Services – Sales Tax Legislation

1,750.00  

65767 

City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101

Lodging Tax Transfer 

437.97  

65768 

City Water Department 

City Buildings – Water Usage

1,260.65  

65769 

Coffee Landing Metro 

Crew Meals 

550.00  

65770 

Convention & Visitors Bureau 

Lodging Tax 

8,321.41  

65771 

Core & Main 

Ally Meters (20) 

9,772.71  

65772 

DSC Communications

Pagers – 10 Monitor VI

3,625.00  

65773 

Electric Pump Inc.

Electrical Safety Workshop

520.00  

65774 

Emergency Automotive Tech Inc.

2019 Chevy Tahoe 

3,081.40  

65775 

Falls Lumber Company 

Supplies – Street

40.98  

65776 

Harley Droba 

Sales Tax – Senate Committee 

574.96  

65777 

Holiday Companies 

Gas-Fire/Street/Ambulance/Wtr Plnt 

8,399.62

65778 

Innovative Office Solutions LLC

Supplies-Wtr/Adm/Bld Off/May&Cou

178.16  

65779 

Int’l Falls US Post Office

Permit #79 Escrow 

2,000.00  

65780 

IUOE Local 49

Health Insurance Premiums 

27,604.00  

65781 

J. N. Johnson Fire & Safety

Inspections – VNP/City Bldgs.

453.15  

65782 

Jacob Harris 

MSFCA Fire Officer Trng

314.96  

65783 

Jeremy and Stacy Noyes

Overpayment Refund 

0.49  

65784 

Justin Mostad 

Solid Waste Operator Trng 

52.50  

65785 

Kantor Electric Inc.

Fire hall-Washer/Dryer Project

565.09  

65786 

Kooch County Diesel Inc.

Unit 123 – Repairs/Ladder 2 Repairs

240.00  

65787 

Kris Engineering Inc.

Unit 043 Parts 

744.76  

65788 

Leah Earls 

Overpayment Refund 

1.09  

65789 

Madden Galanter Hansen LLP

Legal Services 

2,424.61  

65790 

Marco 

Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange

446.00  

65791 

Marco Technologies LLC

Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/Pw 

1,144.52  

65792 

Menards International Falls 

Sup/Maint-Wtr/Wtr Plnt/Fire/Str/Amb

1,562.43  

65793 

Midcontinent Communications 

Cable – Fire Hall 

98.89  

65794 

Minnesota Energy Resources 

Utilities 

1,487.56  

65795 

Minnesota Power 

Utilities 

15,590.20  

65796 

MN Pollution Control Agency

Solid Waste Operator – Gelo/Mostad 

30.00  

65797 

MTI Distributing Inc.

Parts – Park/Rec

524.09  

65798 

North Star Publishing 

Envelopes – Water Dept.

169.53  

65799 

Otis Elevator Company 

Service Contract – City Hall/Lib/VNP

2,564.28  

65800 

PowerPlan

644k Parts 

262.84  

65801 

Provider Enterprise 

Non Vent Acucare Masks 

214.39  

65802 

R&R Specialties of Wisconsin

Maint – Kerry Park Arena

4,724.25  

65803 

Range Paper Corp 

Cleaning Services – Bldgs/Fire

533.54  

65804 

Rhory Gelo 

Solid Waste Operator Trng 

52.50  

65805 

Ri – Tec Industrial Products

Supplies-Street Garage 

226.00  

65806 

Sand Creek EAP LLC

Employee Assistance Program 

2,945.25  

65807 

ServiceMaster of Intl Falls

Cleaning Services – VNP

3,500.00  

65808 

Shannon’s Inc.

Bldg Maint – St Garage

45.00  

65809 

Shawn Kelly 

Water Conference – St Cloud

457.61  

65810 

Small Town Tech Inc.

Prof Services – Council Sound System 

4,108.50  

65811 

Steven M Shermoen

Legal Fees 

9,235.00  

65812 

Streicher’s Inc.

Cloth Allow – Pt Helgeson

249.99  

65813 

Sun Life Financial 

Life Insurance Premiums 

471.53  

65814 

Super One Foods 

Supplies – Street

25.96  

65815 

Taylor’s Plumbing & Htg LLC

Bldg Maint – Fire Hall/Ambulance

670.90  

65816 

Ted Brokaw 

Equipment Demo – Duluth

428.22  

65817 

The Nelson Trust 

Health Insurance Premiums 

33,973.79  

65818 

The Outdoorsman’s Headquarters 

Ammo/CRT

143.90  

65819 

Verizon Wireless

Monthly Cellular Service 

817.88  

65820 

Viking Electric Supply Inc.

Tools – St Lighting

31.16  

65821 

Wherley Motors Inc.

2017 Ford Explorer – Police

210.91  

65822 

The following checks were issued under blanket authorization:

AFLAC 

Supplemental Insurance 

218.61 

100124

AllState – American Heritage  

Supplemental Insurance 

9.64 

100125

Bremer Bank NA 

Federal Withholding 

38,433.48

100126

I.U.O.E. Local Central Pension Fund 

Retirement 

3,081.01

100127

Grant DeBenedet, Sec/Treas

C.O.P.S. 

120.00 

100128

Intl Falls Ambulance Service 

Dues 

189.00

100129

MN Child Support Pmt Center 

Wage Assignment 

438.93

100130

MN Department of Revenue 

State Withholding 

7,905.94

100131

Empower Retirement 

Deferred Comp 

7,292.00

100132

PERA 

Retirement 

31,153.68

100133

Rodenburg Law Firm

Wage Assignment – Levy

383.03 

100134 

Sun Life Financial 

Supplemental Life Insurance 

631.03

100135

The Hartford

Voluntary LTD Insurance

462.36

100136

AUDIENCE

Evan Johnson, 1906 2^nd Avenue East, stated that there is a lack of affordable housing for young people and long waiting lists for apartment complexes. Mayor Anderson explained that if the person qualified, they could potentially receive subsidized housing assistance for renting a home, which would allow a person to save for a down payment to purchase a home. Mr. Johnson also stated that with United Health Care laying off workers, it limits the jobs with livable wages. Mayor Anderson explained that United Health Care is restructuring, but there is still an abundance of job openings in the area, such as in the nursing field, local paper mill, and other area businesses. Mayor Anderson pointed out that many of the available jobs require training, thus he encouraged those that could to further their education and training, taking advantage of Rainy River Community College.

PUBLIC HEARING:

First Reading of Ordinance No. __, Fifth Series, An Ordinance to Enact a New Chapter of the Code of Ordinances to Administer and Regulate the Public Rights of Way in the Public Interest, and to Provide for the Issuance and Regulation of Right of Way Permits

MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the First Reading of Ordinance No. __, Fifth Series, An Ordinance to Enact a New Chapter of the Code of Ordinances to Administer and Regulate the Public Rights of Way in the Public Interest, and to Provide for the Issuance and Regulation of Right of Way Permits. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba. There was no public comment. Motion carried unanimously. It was agreed that a Public Works and Infrastructure meeting would be set prior to April 15, 2019 to discuss the final draft of this ordinance and make any necessary changes prior to the second reading on April 15, 2019.

OPENING BIDS  

None. 

OLD BUSINESS:

Agreement with International Falls Recreation Hockey dated June 1, 1998

The Public Works and Infrastructure Committee will secure a date to meet with the International Falls Recreation Hockey Association to discuss and revise the agreement dated June 1, 1998 for Council consideration.

CONSENT AGENDA:

Consider April 15, 2019

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:

• Authorize travel and training expenses for Council to attend the League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference June 26-28, 2019 in Duluth, MN

Motion seconded by Councilor Krause.

Councilor Ditsch stated that he did not agree with approving these travel and training expenses as the Council did not approve the Ambulance Department to send its requested seven staff members to a training recently and only permitted four staff members to attend. City Administrator Anderson explained that the Ambulance fund is an enterprise fund and is experiencing a financial deficit; these travel and training expenses would come from the Mayor and Council Department budget, for which monies were budgeted.

Motion failed with Councilors Buller, Droba, Krause, and Mayor Anderson voting “yea” and Councilor Ditsch voting “nay” (Consent Agenda requires unanimous approval). It was suggested that this item should be put on the April 15, 2019 City Council meeting agenda for further discussion.

NEW BUSINESS:

APPROVED request for a letter of support for Servants of Shelter grant application

Ariana Daniel, the Executive Director of Servants for Shelter, was present to explain that Servants of Shelter is seeking a grant from the Office of Economic Opportunity and is requesting a letter of support from the City of International Falls in order to strengthen their grant application. Previously, Servants of Shelter was a sub-grantee of Kootasca for their first fiscal biennium and is now going to be seeking grants on their own behalf. Councilor Krause stated that this is a wonderful opportunity for Servants of Shelter and hopes they are able to secure the grant. MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve writing a letter of support for Servants of Shelter. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

APPROVED request to use Smokey Bear Park – Cater for You, Jennifer Gustafson

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve request by Jennifer Gustafson, Cater for You to use Smokey Bear Park during the annual mill outage scheduled for April 26-May 5, 2019. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

ADOPTED Resolution No. 21-19 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for Knights of Columbus Council 1540 for the St. Thomas School Silent Auction.

MOTION by Councilor Droba to adopt Resolution No. 21-19 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for Knights of Columbus Council 1540 for the St. Thomas School Silent Auction on May 18, 2019. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

ADOPTED Strategic Action Plan as presented for 2019-2020

MOTION by Councilor Droba to adopt the Strategic Action Plan as presented for 2019/2020. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

APPROVED $5,000 funding for Forest Hill Cemetery contingent on the cemetery board amending their bylaws

Mayor Anderson requested that the funding for the Forest Hill Cemetery Board be contingent on them amending their bylaws to recognize the two new City Councilors as acting City representatives on the board and establish their three-year terms beginning and ending dates. MOTION by Councilor Droba to make the $5,000 funding for the Forest Hill Cemetery contingent on the Cemetery Board amending their bylaws to recognize the two new City Councilors as acting City representatives on the board and establish their three-year terms beginning and ending dates. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion carried with Councilor Droba, Ditsch, and Mayor Anderson voting “yea” and Councilors Buller and Krause abstaining.

APPROVED Fire Department request to purchase a TFT Blitzfire Oscillating Monitor with Nozzle and truck mount

MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Fire Department’s request to purchase a TFT Blitzfire Oscillating Monitor with Nozzle and truck mount from Alex Air Apparatus for low quote price of $4,239 payable from Fire Capital Outlay and General Supplies, 101-41200-5600 and 2100. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

APPROVED Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Agreement

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Agreement. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

Retirement of Captain Thomas Lynch from the International Falls Police Department after 30 years of service effective April 30, 2019

Chief Mastin announced the retirement of Captain Thomas Lynch from the International Falls Police Department after 30 years of service effective April 30, 2019 with last day of work on April 12, 2019. The Council was invited to Captain Lynch’s retirement party on April 12, 2019 from 1:00-3:00 P.M.

REPORTS:

Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads 

City Administrator Anderson set a meeting with the Tee Pee Motel owners, Mayor Anderson, the City Attorney, the Street/Water Commissioner, and himself for April 12, 2019 at 10:00 A.M.

City Attorney Shermoen stated that the hearings on the five properties with orders for demolition will be held April 3, 2019. Shermoen stated he has been working with Building Inspector Meyers on moving one property forward with criminal action.

Reports of Mayor and Council Committees 

Councilor Droba stated that due to the great success of the Town Hall meeting on recreation, a meeting will be set soon with the Recreation Commission, ISD 361 School Board, and the City Council.

Mayor Anderson handed out a written Mayor’s Report dated April 1, 2019.

AUDIENCE 

None.

ADJOURNMENT 

Mayor Anderson reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 15, 2019 at 4:30 P.M and adjourned the meeting at 5:36 P.M.