A regular 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 5th day of April, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors 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: Councilor Buller.
| APPROVED agenda with addition | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the March 8, 2021 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of March 8, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the March 15, 2021 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of March 15, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the March 25, 2021 special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the special City Council meeting of March 25, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 19-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 19-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 520.00 | 70722 |
| ACME Tools – Grand Forks | Tools – Street/Street Light/Grounds/VNP | 1,104.97 | 70723 |
| AlcoPro Inc | FST Mouthpieces | 159.00 | 70724 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-M&C/Adm/IT/Str/Amb/WPlnt/Bldg Off | 936.20 | 70725 |
| American Water Works Assoc. | Membership Dues – Kelly | 79.00 | 70726 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,837.16 | 70727 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup/Wage Assignment | 1,314.40 | 70728 |
| Aqua – Pure Inc | Polymer | 8,218.00 | 70729 |
| Association of Minnesota Counties | City Administrator Job Posting | 75.00 | 70730 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Parts – VNP | 44.90 | 70731 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,343.50 | 70732 |
| Betty Steinbach | Ambulance Overpayment – Refund | 20.00 | 70733 |
| Big Fish Print Solutions | Billing Env–Water, Bus Cards-Fire Marshal | 236.68 | 70734 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Ambulance/Water Plant | 233.00 | 70736 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 70737 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 884.14 | 70738 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | M&R-Pol/Haz/St Sew, Pub Ed/Sup-Amb/IT | 2,194.12 | 70739 |
| Cenex Voyageur Fleet | Gas-Grnd/Pol/Bdg O/St Li/Str/Gar/Amb/Hou | 4,388.13 | 70740 |
| Chamber of Commerce | Refund 2021 Lease Payments | 1,500.00 | 70741 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 183.16 | 70742 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 1,214.25 | 70743 |
| Clarey’s Safety Equip Inc | Chemical Assessment Team – Gas | 324.24 | 70744 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 3,480.11 | 70745 |
| Core & Main | Hydrants/Holiday W/S Service | 7,158.13 | 70746 |
| Display Sales | City/State/Intl Flags | 2,213.00 | 70747 |
| Doug Johnson | Water Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 70748 |
| Earl F Andersen | Channel Posts/Signs | 2,065.20 | 70749 |
| Frontier | Remote Labor Charge – Administration | 100.00 | 70750 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing Allowance – Fire General | 381.53 | 70751 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Bill – St Lighting | 68.85 | 70752 |
| Griffin Offerdahl | Clothing Allowance | 266.79 | 70753 |
| Holiday Companies | Gas – Strm Sew/Fire/Str/Amb/Wat/Hazmat | 5,286.72 | 70754 |
| Image Trend Inc | Image Trend EMS/Rescue Support | 4,370.91 | 70755 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Admin/Street/Garage/W Plant/W Admin | 326.34 | 70756 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share March 2021 Project Costs | 2,978.00 | 70757 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,554.00 | 70758 |
| Kivi Bros Trucking Inc | Equipment Pick Up and Delivery | 6,000.00 | 70785 |
| Lakes Gas Co – B053 | Bulk LP – LEC Range | 59.00 | 70759 |
| LVC Inc | Ann Fire Extinguisher – City Hall/Pol/VNP | 1,361.60 | 70760 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 555.62 | 70761 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/PW | 1,195.12 | 70762 |
| Mark Leblanc | Meal Allowance | 76.14 | 70763 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,560.00 | 70764 |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies – VNP/Amb/Fire/Safety/W. Plant | 464.31 | 70765 |
| Mershon Technology Interests | Computer – Police-Kostiuk | 649.00 | 70766 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Gar | 514.76 | 70767 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 96.60 | 70768 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 2,369.79 | 70769 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies/Tools – Street/Storm/Storm Sew | 469.40 | 70770 |
| MN Pollution Control Agency | Industrial Storm Water Annual Permit Fee | 400.00 | 70771 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Supplies – Street Garage, Tools – Water Dept. | 109.39 | 70772 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Sup-Grnd/Wtr/Fir/Sa Sew/VNP/Strm Sew/St | 168.97 | 70773 |
| Northland Sales & Service | Housing – Office Chair | 199.99 | 70774 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Unit 043/113/083/650k/1902, Parts/Lub-Gar | 826.45 | 70775 |
| Otis Elevator Company | Service Contract – City Hall/Library/VNP | 2,735.16 | 70776 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services – VNP | 3,500.00 | 70777 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Bldg Maint – Fire Dept. | 321.05 | 70778 |
| SHI International Corp | Hardware – Admin IT | 625.00 | 70779 |
| Snowquip, Inc. | M&R Equip – Street-Trackless Machine | 182.68 | 70780 |
| Soundnorth | Supplies – IT/Building Official/Fire | 146.93 | 70781 |
| Steven M Shermoen | Legal Fees | 12,142.08 | 70782 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Cloth – Kostiuk/Kennedy/Helgeson/Wherley | 673.86 | 70783 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 465.38 | 70784 |
| The Journal | 2021 Local Streets | 883.20 | 70786 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 38,912.00 | 70787 |
| The Sherwin Williams Co-Bemidji | Paint | 2,967.50 | 70788 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint – VNP/City Hall/Garage | 8,483.12 | 70789 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,312.83 | 70790 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Tool/Sup-St Lt, Welcome Sgn, M&R-W Plnt | 966.26 | 70791 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 120,803.50 | 70792 |
| Winter Equipment Co | System 2000 Round Tip Tool | 879.69 | 70793 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 70794 |
| Xerox Corporation | Maint/Monthly Charge – Water Plant | 38.18 | 70795 |
| Ziegler Inc | Parts – Unit 191/Unit 121 | 348.09 | 70796 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 100915 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 100916 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 38,442.35 | 100917 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,131.90 | 100918 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 100919 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 120.00 | 100920 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 601.46 | 100921 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,238.56 | 100922 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 7,825.00 | 100923 |
| PERA | Retirement | 32,656.04 | 100924 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 701.90 | 100925 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 653.12 | 100926 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | |
| Low bids for two court ordered demolitions: | |
| a. 900 11th Street – APPROVED low bid from Travis Thompson in the amount of $5,435 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the low bid from Travis Thompson in the amount of $5,435 for the court ordered demolition of the property located at 900 11th Street. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| b. 1531 2nd Avenue East –low bid from Travis Thompson in the amount of $4,925 | City Attorney Shermoen explained that the agenda addition of new business item #10 makes it no longer necessary for the City to contract to have the structure demolished, as the property is transferring ownership and the new owners are contractually obligated to secure a licensed contractor to demolish the property and pay all associated costs. No action was taken on this item. |
| First reading of Contract Ordinance #___, an Ordinance approving the lowest responsible bid for the 2021 Local Street Improvements to Bowman Asphalt Products, Inc., in the amount of $1,471,909.00 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the first reading of Contract Ordinance #___, an Ordinance approving the lowest responsible bid for the 2021 Local Street Improvements to Bowman Asphalt Products, Inc., in the amount of $1,471,909.00. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause.
Director of Public Works Brokaw noted that Bowman Asphalt Products’ favorable low bid included the desired additional project alternates. Councilor Krause expressed his concern and desire for the contractor to be held to tight timelines and quality standards.
Motion carried unanimously. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | |
| Second and final reading of Ordinance to repeal sections of the Code of Ordinances and adopt the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 41, 5th Series, repealing sections of the Code of Ordinances and adopting the 2021 International Property Maintenance Code. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. Interim City Administrator Bergstrom noted that the City Attorney would need to get Administration a condensed version of the ordinance for publication purposes. |
| Removed from the table and APPROVED Special Assessment Policy | MOTION by Councilor Krause to remove from the table consideration of the Special Assessment Policy. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Special Assessment Policy. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Consent Agenda as presented: 1. Approve Cooperative Fire Protection Agreement No. 21 261 36302 for wildland fires between the Minnesota DNR and the International Falls Fire Department and authorize signatures 2. Approve Financial Planning Agreement with Northland Securities, Inc. – Tax Abatement for the Alexander Baker Project 3. Approve 2021 travel and training request for Public Works employees to attend conferences for continuing education, exam preparation and testing Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| Discussion about a “Community Garden” to benefit patrons of Falls Hunger Coalition | Daniel McGonigle, Community Education Director, spoke about the need for free fresh vegetables for patrons of the Falls Hunger Coalition. Mr. McGonigle stated he has a grant application written for a grant to aid in the costs associated in creating a Community Garden, if the City would be willing to supply the space. Mayor Droba stated he believes it is an excellent idea, but would like more time to discuss with department heads the ideal location for a community garden. Mayor Droba stated he would like to see this item back on the next City Council meeting agenda with a recommendation from staff where to locate the community garden. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 20-2021 authorizing execution of Minnesota Department of Transportation FY2022 Grant Agreement for Air Service Marketing | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 20-2021 authorizing execution of Minnesota Department of Transportation FY2022 Grant Agreement for Air Service Marketing. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 21-2021, PERA Declaration for part-time Patrol Office Alexandria C. Stevens | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to adopt Resolution No. 21-2021, PERA Declaration for part-time Patrol Officer Alexandria C. Stevens. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 22-2021, PERA Declaration for part-time Patrol Office Ryan E. Stenson | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 22-2021, PERA Declaration for part-time Patrol Officer Ryan E. Stenson. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 23-2021 approving Lease and Premises Permit Application for Lawful Gambling for the Ranier Recreation Club at BPOE Lodge #1599 dba Elks Lodge | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 23-2021 approving the Ranier Recreation Club Lawful Gambling Premises Permit to allow them to sell pull-tabs at the BPOE Lodge #1599 dba Elk’s Lodge, 215 Third Avenue, International Falls, MN 56649. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| Human Resources Committee recommendations: | |
|
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the one-year Labor Agreement and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on pay for members planning and negotiating the contracts between the City of International Falls and the IAMAW District Lodge 5, Woodworkers Local W33, IAMAW Union for the Firefighter Engineers and Paramedics, January 1, 2021 to December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| b. ADOPTED Resolution No. 24-2021 approving 2021 Wages and Benefits for Nonunion and Seasonal Employees | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve Resolution No. 24-2021 approving 2021 Wages and Benefits for Nonunion and seasonal employees. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| c. AUTHORIZED advertising to fill the vacancy in the Public Works Department | MOTION by Councilor Holden to authorize advertising to fill the vacancy in the Public Works Department. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee meeting recommendation: | |
|
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Request for Qualifications from Bolton & Menk to provide Water Treatment Plant Engineering Services. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED initiating road construction and utility work for 22nd Street improvement project, as an assessed project in conjunction with being awarded the BDPI Grant | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve initiating road construction and utility work for 22nd Street improvement project, as an assessed project in conjunction with being awarded the BDPI Grant. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED purchase agreement for property located at 801 3rd Avenue, International Falls | Director of Public Works Brokaw explained that acquiring this building is part of a larger five-year plan to consolidate the Public Works Department into one building, moving the Water Department employees from the South Falls Garage to the City Garage on 7th Street. This would allow the South Falls Garage to be used for storage and increase efficiencies.
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the purchase agreement for property located at 801 3rd Avenue. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Councilor Ditsch stated that he is not in support of this purchase and while he heard the Director of Public Works’ rationale, he does not support the City getting another building that will require improvements be made to it. Motion passed 3-1-0 with Councilors Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Ditsch voting “nay”. |
| APPROVED Release of Land from Judgement – 1531 2nd Avenue East | City Attorney Shermoen stated that this Release of Land is contingent upon meeting requirements laid out in the agreement marked Exhibit A including the new owners paying a $1,500.00 administrative fee and demolishing the house structure. Mr. Shermoen stated this is a good resolution for a blighted property that the City has been battling for years.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve a Release of Land from Judgement for the property 1531 2nd Avenue East, which is contingent upon Christopher L. Weisz and Michelle Weisz meeting all requirements set forth in the Agreement marked Exhibit A. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Land Use and Legislation recommendation: | |
|
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the First reading of Ordinance ___ 5th Series to repeal and replace Chapter 3 – Municipal and Public Utilities Rules and Regulations, Rates, Charges, and Collections, to include updated sanitary sewer language. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause.
In Section 3-20- Sewer Use Regulations-(c)(5), City Attorney Shermoen requested changing the word “must” to “may” regarding “…the City must undertake to have said connection made and shall assess…” to allow the City more flexibility when enforcing the ordinance.
A friendly amendment was made to change “must” to “may”. Motion carried unanimously. |
| DENIED demolition application for property located at 516 Memorial Drive | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to deny the building demolition application on non-homesteaded property at 516 Memorial Drive on the basis that it is non-homesteaded and there is a current moratorium on demolitions. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Attorney Shermoen noted that he has been working with the Director of Public Works on a number of policies and items concerning Public Works. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba noted that he would be attending the roundtable at Backus Community Center on Tuesday, April 6, 2021 at 10:30 A.M. with U.S. and Canadian representatives to discuss the reopening of the U.S./Canadian border that was closed at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, April 19, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 6:36 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, Interim City Administrator
