A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on the 19th day of January, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Mayor Droba.
Councilor Krause, Media and public via BlueJeans Conferencing. All members noted they could hear the others and the discussion.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the agenda presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the December 31, 2020 special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the December 31, 2020 special City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the January 4, 2021 Organizational City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the January 4, 2021 Organizational City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the January 4, 2021 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the January 4, 2021 regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the January 11, 2021 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the January 11, 2021 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 05-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 05-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Acme Tools – Grand Forks | Tools – Street/Water/VNP/Sanitary Sewer | 1,275.99 | 70226 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies – Fire | 19.98 | 70227 |
| AmeriPride Services | Cleaning Service | 1,333.52 | 70228 |
| Andy Kittelson | Meal Allowance | 17.89 | 70229 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Police/Water Plant | 123.33 | 70230 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 593.74 | 70231 |
| Bowman Asphalt Products Inc | Pay Est. #2 | 146,416.95 | 70232 |
| Brad Hagen | Meal Allowance | 27.57 | 70233 |
| Brenda Jones | Water Payment Reimbursement | 638.80 | 70234 |
| Brian Briggs | Annual Reimbursement – Water/Sewer | 263.64 | 70235 |
| Brian Kelly | Meal Allowance | 9.37 | 70236 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70237 |
| Cenex Voyageur Fleet | Gas – Grnds/Pol/Build Off/Amb/Wtr Plnt | 2,964.43 | 70238 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 401 | Water Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 70239 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 403 | Water Funds Transfer | 25,760.42 | 70240 |
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 11.00 | 70241 |
| Civic Systems LLC | Semi – Annual Software Support | 6,574.00 | 70242 |
| Complete Comfort Systems | Maint & Repair – Firehall | 4,142.00 | 70243 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Septic Pumped – Firehall | 225.00 | 70244 |
| E Kooch Sanitary Sewer Dist. | City Beach/Water Plant | 159.00 | 70245 |
| Elizabeth Bartholomew | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 200.00 | 70246 |
| Erik Drewes | Meal Allowance | 18.94 | 70247 |
| Expert T Billing | Ambulance Transports | 4,760.00 | 70248 |
| Fairchild Sign | Councilor Sign – Holden | 225.00 | 70249 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Parts – VNP/Park & Rec | 237.58 | 70250 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,763.19 | 70251 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,293.59 | 70252 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing Allowance – Sweney/Sears | 167.71 | 70253 |
| Gopher State One – Call | Monthly Billing | 68.90 | 70254 |
| Grafix Shoppe | 2020 Ford Explorer Decals | 337.93 | 70255 |
| Hach Company | Lab Supplies | 882.39 | 70256 |
| Harley Droba | Annual Standard Expenditure Reimburse | 1,000.00 | 70257 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals | 1,167.00 | 70258 |
| Howards – Cenex LLC | Gas – Storm Sewer/Water | 110.67 | 70259 |
| IF Recreation Commission | 1st Half 2020/2021 Funding | 41,500.00 | 70260 |
| Image Trend Inc | Vault Records – Annual Fee | 800.00 | 70261 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Admin/House, Hand Sanitizer-Covid | 177.93 | 70262 |
| Justin Carney | Door Jamb Repair | 82.38 | 70263 |
| Justin Mostad | Meal Allowance | 19.40 | 70264 |
| K & K Meyers Inc | Building Maintenance – VNP | 25.90 | 70265 |
| Kantor Electric Inc | Supplies – Street Lighting | 13.80 | 70266 |
| Koerter’s Amoco | Gas-Grnd/Str/Gar/Strm Sew/Fire/Wtr/Sew | 2,157.59 | 70267 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | LEC Quarterly Lease | 18,750.00 | 70268 |
| Kooch County Public Health | Water Sample Testing’s 2020 | 2,625.00 | 70269 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Batteries/Supplies | 240.99 | 70270 |
| LMC Insurance Trust – Liability | Deductible – D Hell | 346.30 | 70271 |
| LMC Insurance Trust – WC | Workers Compensation Ins Premiums | 211,942.00 | 70272 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Legal Services | 4,355.91 | 70273 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Str Sweeper to St Paul, Parts – Unit 151 | 1,457.53 | 70274 |
| Marco | Microsoft Visio 2019 | 256.00 | 70275 |
| Mark Leblanc | Meal Allowance | 46.78 | 70276 |
| Mary Nell Gust | UB Overpayment Refund | 26.40 | 70277 |
| Med One Equipment Services | Alaris Tubing Sets | 562.00 | 70278 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup/Tool/M&R-GGB/Bldg O/Fire/Str/Wtr | 345.10 | 70279 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70280 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Internet – Water Plant | 230.00 | 70281 |
| Mike Holden | 2021 Council Std Expenditure Reimburse | 700.00 | 70282 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 4,464.35 | 70283 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies – Sanitary Sewer | 16.50 | 70284 |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 31,978.21 | 70285 |
| MN Dept. of Labor & Industry | Inspection – Council Chambers | 36.00 | 70286 |
| MTI Distributing Inc | Parts – VNP | 1,173.26 | 70287 |
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 74,759.71 | 70288 |
| Napa Falls Supply | Parts – Water/Amb/Wtr Plnt/Storm/Grnds | 159.54 | 70289 |
| Nick Kittelson | Meal Allowance | 20.00 | 70290 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Tools/Sup – Str/Gar/Fire, Chambers Light | 281.94 | 70291 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network(Wan) Services | 260.00 | 70292 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Part/Tool/Sup/Lub – Wtr/Gar/Str/Amb | 705.19 | 70293 |
| Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force | 2021 Membership Fee | 3,500.00 | 70294 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Parts/Supplies – Park & Rec | 949.60 | 70295 |
| Pitney Bowes | Qtrly Lease – Inserting & Mailing System | 691.14 | 70296 |
| Pitney Bowes Inc | Postage Machine Supplies | 76.49 | 70297 |
| Praxair Distribution Inc | Oxygen – Ambulance | 760.24 | 70298 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Oil – Street Department | 1,515.00 | 70299 |
| Rhory Gelo | Meal Allowance | 8.62 | 70300 |
| Roche’s Towing | Towing – Ambulance | 172.00 | 70301 |
| Scalzo Architects | 2045-Locker Rm/Lunch Rm City Garage | 3,142.50 | 70302 |
| Soundnorth | Battery – Water Plant | 49.98 | 70303 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Cloth – Franz/Franko/Kennedy/Offerdahl | 844.24 | 70304 |
| Teleflex Medical | Ambulance Supplies | 608.94 | 70305 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70306 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70307 |
| The Dent Shop | Unit 2002 Repairs | 1,515.00 | 70308 |
| The Journal | Agendas/Min, Chicken Notice, RFP Stor | 2,750.70 | 70309 |
| Thyssen Krupp Elevator Corp | Water Plant Elevator Maintenance | 746.58 | 70310 |
| U.S. Bank | G.O. Bond Sales Tax – Payment/Interest | 332,984.39 | 70311 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Sup-St Light, Bldg Maint-Coun Cham/Fire | 469.36 | 70312 |
| Walt Buller | 2021 Council Std Expenditure Reimburse | 700.00 | 70313 |
| Wherley Motors Inc | 2016 Ford Econo – Amb | 4,127.13 | 70314 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 25,495.94 | 70315 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70316 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 70317 |
| Ziegler Inc | Parts – Lease Equipment/Street | 657.68 | 70318 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 100839 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 100840 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 43,538.20 | 100841 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 4,211.70 | 100842 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA – Police/Fire | 546.00 | 100843 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 454.00 | 100844 |
| IAMAW District W33 | Union Dues | 1,744.50 | 100845 |
| IF Fire Dept. Relief | Volunteer Firemen Dues | 322.00 | 100846 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 161.00 | 100847 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 875.00 | 100848 |
| Int’l Operating Engineers 49ers | Union Dues | 700.00 | 100849 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S. | 120.00 | 100850 |
| MN Child Support Payment Center | Wage Assignment | 601.46 | 100851 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,262.74 | 100852 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 7,000.00 | 100853 |
| PERA | Life Insurance | 128.00 | 100854 |
| PERA | Retirement | 35,690.98 | 100855 |
| AUDIENCE | Mr. Bob Discenza, local landlord, reiterated his statements made at the October 5, 2020 City Council meeting that he would like to see the City rethink the addition of the Fire Marshal position and imposing rental licensing fees. Mr. Discenza stated this would be a burden to the rental market as it would cause an increase in rent citywide. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
o Cater For You, LLC – itinerant restaurant o John’s Ice and Fire Tax and Van Service, LLC – taxi 2. Approve travel and continuing education training expenses for Kelly Meyers to attend the ICC Upper Great Plains Region III Educational Institute on February 8-12, 2021, and quarterly Arrowhead Chapter Building Official Meetings. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS | |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring January 31 – February 6, 2021 as Catholic Schools Week at St. Thomas Aquinas School | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the Mayoral Proclamation declaring January 31 – February 6, 2021 as Catholic Schools Week at St. Thomas Aquinas School. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 06-2021 approving the International Falls Bass Championship application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Kerry Park Arena | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 06-2021 to approve the International Falls Bass Championship application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Saturday, March 27, 2021 at Kerry Park Arena, 601 13th Street, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the Brownsfields Assessment Coalition Memorandum of Agreement between the City and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Memorandum of Agreement between the City and Arrowhead Regional Development Commission (ARDC) establishing the roles and responsibilities of ARDC and partnering communities in the Brownfields Assessment Coalition. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendations | |
| a. Criteria for stop sign placement | The City Council provided the public with the criteria for determining stop sign placement, which includes traffic volumes on all approaches, number of angles and approaches, approach speeds, sight distance available on each approach; and reported crash experience. Mayor Droba explained that there is a lot of thought into where each stop sign is placed and hoped by explaining the criteria for determining stop sign placement, it would help ease resident concerns.
Councilor Ditsch requested follow-up on the number of traffic accidents that have occurred at the intersection of 13th Street and 1st Avenue East. |
| b. APPROVED recommendation to commit $75,000 for replacement of manhole covers city wide and sewer line repairs in Stenberg Addition moving funds from Sanitary Sewer Fund 603 to Reserve Capital Outlay Sewer Fund 403 | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Public Works Committee recommendation to commit $75,000 of unspent 2020 budgeted money for the replacement of manhole covers city wide and sewer line repairs in Stenberg Addition moving funds from Sanitary Sewer Fund 603 to Reserve Capital Outlay Sewer Fund 403. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| c. APPROVED preparing a bid package for the Hiway Lane water and sanitary sewer project | Director of Public Works Brokaw explained that it is necessary to prepare for the Hiway Lane project and get everything aligned so that when the funding falls into place, all of the specs are ready to send out to prospective firms. MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve preparing a bid package for the Hiway Lane water and sanitary sewer project. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| d. APPROVED recommendation to add Highway 53 Water Crossings project to the Highway 53 Reconstruction Project | Director of Public Works Brokaw stated that the City will be doing MSA roadwork on 7th Street in 2022. It was noted that 7th Street has a bad water line and in an effort to coordinate with the Highway 53 Reconstruction Project, it is necessary to replace the water line that crosses 7th Street in order to avoid tearing into the new highway in the near future. Further, Director Brokaw stated that 6th Street and 14th Street would require similar infrastructure improvements to where their water lines cross Highway 53. MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve adding Highway 53 water crossings at 6th, 7th, and 14th Street to the Highway 53 Reconstruction Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| e. APPROVED recommendation to begin the surveying and engineering for 2022 Local Road Projects | Public Works Director Brokaw stated that in order to avoid doing surveying and engineering work in the winter, he is asking for the Council’s approval to begin the process now for surveying and engineering of 2022 Local Road Projects. The intent is that the surveying and engineering would commence in the summer of 2021 and be completed by the fall of 2021, and allow for bidding and completion of work in 2022. MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve beginning surveying and engineering for 2022 Local Road Projects. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED filling the vacant Fire Marshal position with Jared Baldwin and vacating his full-time position as Firefighter Engineer | Mayor Droba gave a detailed history on how the Fire Marshal position came to be, beginning with the January 21, 2020 adoption of the Comprehensive Plan. Mayor Droba pointed to the Housing section of the Comprehensive Plan which had a goal of developing a rental housing registration and inspection program. Mayor Droba reminded the Council that at the September 8, 2020 City Council meeting the Fire Marshal position, job description, and salary were all approved unanimously, with an intended start date on or before January 1, 2021.
At the request of Mayor Droba, Chief Mannausau read off the primary duties of the Fire Marshal from the job description that was approved on September 8, 2020. Mayor Droba noted that the City previously did a poor job explaining the purpose of this job and hoped that by reading the assigned duties it provided the much needed clarification to the public. MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve filling the vacant position of Fire Marshal with Jared Baldwin, and vacate his full-time position as Firefighter Engineer. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Councilor Ditsch stated that this has been a difficult decision for him, but believes that someone needs to be enforcing the current rental licensing ordinances in place and something needs to be done. Councilor Buller stated he cannot support filling this position, because while he wants to see the inspections being done, he feels that the City should utilize existing staff to do them. Councilor Buller pointed to the need for sustainable funding sources and noted that Local Government Aid (LGA) may be severely impacted over the course of the next few years. Councilor Holden noted the poor housing stock, particularly rental properties, he saw during his time as City Electrician and while campaigning for office. Councilor Holden emphasized the need for the Fire Marshal position on the basis of community safety. Councilor Krause stated that while he was previously in support of this position, he stated he can no longer support filling this position. Councilor Krause stated that he feels that under the current funding model rental licensing would disproportionately fund this position, causing hardship for both landlords and renters. Councilor Krause stated he could only support this position if this was spread out to be funded primarily by taxpayers not rental licensing. Motion passed 3-2-0 with Councilors Ditsch, Holden, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilors Buller and Krause voting “nay”. |
| APPROVED hiring Michael Gedde as Firefighter Engineer | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve hiring Michael Gedde in the full-time position of Firefighter Engineer, as per the International Falls Fire Department Civil Service testing process, due to the vacancy created by Jared Baldwin moving into the Fire Marshal position. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| Project Blue Light, January 24 – January 31 | It was acknowledged that Smokey Bear will be illuminated with a “Blue Light” for Project Blue Light, January 24 – January 31, an effort which shows support for Frontline Workers. |
| CONVENE CLOSED MEETING | Mayor Droba announced that the City Council would proceed into a closed meeting session with the City Council, City Attorney, Deputy City Administrator, and Director of Public Works present in accordance with Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3 (c)(3) for the purpose of considering property acquisition of 801 3rd Avenue, International Falls. Mayor Droba asked the City Council if they would like the meeting to be closed to discuss this matter. The City Council indicated they wanted the meeting to be closed to the public in order to freely discuss the matter. MOTION by Councilor Buller to recess the open meeting and move to close the meeting at 6:43 P.M. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| RECONVENE OPEN SESSION | Mayor Droba reconvened the open session meeting at 7:03 P.M. Mayor Droba shared that the City Council has given authority to the City Attorney and Director of Public Works to negotiate on behalf of the City in an effort to acquire the vacant building at 801 3rd Avenue, International Falls. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Attorney Shermoen presented his blight report and stated that the city criminal cases are currently scheduled to be heard in District Court on February 16, 2021. City Attorney Shermoen also presented his Annual Report as City Attorney.
The Administration Department Annual Report was available for review. The Public Works Department Annual Report was available for review. The 4th Quarter 2020 and Annual Building Permit reports were available for review. The International Falls Police Department December 2020 Activity and Annual Reports were available for review. The Fire/Rescue/EMS Department December 2020 Activity and Annual Reports were available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba noted the date change for the Land Use and Legislation Committee from Tuesday, January 19, 2021 to Wednesday, January 20, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. due to the City Council meeting being held on Tuesday, as a result of the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. Mayor Droba noted that the Land Use and Legislation Committee would be discussing rental licensing, as well as the MN Power Franchise Agreement. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba shared that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 1, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 7:06 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator
