An organizational meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota, was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building and via BlueJeans Conferencing on the 4th day of January, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba. Media and public via BlueJeans Conferencing. All members noted they could hear the others and the discussion.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| ADMINISTERED Election Winners Oath of Office and PRESENTATION of the Certificates of Election | Election winners Harley M. Droba, Mayor and Mike Holden, Councilor At-Large were administered the oath of office and presented certificates of election by City Administrator Anderson. |
| APPOINTED President Pro Tem | MOTION by Councilor Buller to appoint Councilor Krause as President Pro Tem. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Krause abstaining. |
| APPROVED Mayor’s recommended re-appointments to the “Charter Commission of the City of International Falls, MN” for submittal to the Chief Judge for approval | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s recommended re-appointments of Chrystal Clance, Cynthia Jaksa, and Jason Sjoblom to the “Charter Commission of the City of International Falls, MN” for four-year terms, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2024, with submittal to the Chief Judge for approval. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Ben Line to the Fire Civil Service Commission | MOTION by Councilor Krause to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Ben Line to the Fire Civil Service Commission for a three-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Cindy Youso to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Cindy Youso to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for a five-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2025. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Buller, Mayor Droba, and Brian Briggs as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Buller, Mayor Droba, and Brian Briggs as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission for two-year terms, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Ditsch, Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Buller abstaining. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Holden and Mayor Droba to the Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) Board | MOTION by Councilor Krause to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Holden and Mayor Droba to the Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) Board for two-year terms, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Krause, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Holden abstaining. |
| RE-APPOINTED Heather Weaver and Paul Nevanen to the International Falls Library Board | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Heather Weaver and Paul Nevanen to the International Falls Library Board for three-year terms, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Brian Briggs and Robert Thompson to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Brian Briggs and Robert Thompson to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board for three-year terms, February 1, 2021 – January 31, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Police Civil Service Commission Appointments | Mayor Droba noted that there is a recommendation from the Charter Commission to abolish the Police Civil Service Commission that will be acted upon at the regular City Council meeting to follow this meeting. Mayor Droba stated that if the Council chooses not to abolish the Police Civil Service Commission, he will make the necessary appointments at the next regular City Council meeting. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Holden, Councilor Krause, and citizen Karla Line to the International Falls Recreation Commission | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Holden, Councilor Krause, and citizen Karla Line to the International Falls Recreation Commission for one-year terms, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion passed 3-0-2 with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilors Holden and Krause abstaining. |
| RE-APPOINTED Steven M. Shermoen as City Attorney | MOTION by Councilor Holden to reappoint Steven M. Shermoen as City Attorney for a two-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| HEALTH OFFICER | No action taken. The topic of the Health Officer continues to be discussed by the Charter Commission, regarding the possibility to change or remove from the Charter the requirement to have the Health Officer be a physician. |
| APPOINTED Board of Health | MOTION by Councilor Krause to appoint Adam Mannausau, Fire Chief, Rich Mastin, Police Chief, and pending decision on the Health Officer to the Board of Health for a two-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED City Engineer | MOTION by Councilor Holden to appoint Widseth as the City Engineer per their proposal for a two-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022 . Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED City Surveyor | MOTION by Councilor Buller to appoint Widseth as the City Surveyor per their proposal for a two-year term, January 1, 2021 – December 31, 2022 . Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayor’s appointments to the Northeast Minnesota Emergency Communications Board (ECB) and the 2021 Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) | MOTION by Councilor Krause to appoint Mayor Droba to the Northeast Minnesota Emergency Communications Board (ECB), with Councilor Ditsch as the alternate, and appoint Adam Mannausau to the ECB 2021 Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) with Todd Ojala as the alternate. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Biweekly Payroll on Tuesday | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve payroll biweekly on Tuesday, commencing on 01/12/2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 01-2021 Designating Depositories | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to adopt Resolution No. 01-2021 designating depositories. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Designation of Official Newspaper | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve designation of The Journal as the official newspaper for publications. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 5:51 P.M. |
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Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
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Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator
