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 7th day of March, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 22, 2022 regular City Council meeting with changes | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes with changes to page 3, Audience Section, as it should have stated ‘They are currently working with Kraus Anderson, Isaac Sports Group (ISG) and local groups to ensure the data they received showing the City could financially support the project is viable.’ of the regular City Council meeting of February 22, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 13-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 13-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup – Amb/San Sew/Admin | 204.55 | 72982 |
| American Water Works Assoc. | Membership Dues – Brokaw | 227.00 | 72983 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Administration | 1,882.32 | 72984 |
| Ann Olson | Overpayment Refund – 1122 11th St | 103.58 | 72985 |
| Arrowhead Chapter of ICC | Annual Membership | 135.00 | 72986 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Parts – Water Dept. | 95.92 | 72987 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,328.19 | 72989 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Water Plant | 62.75 | 72990 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 446.35 | 72991 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Sup/Cloth/Training-IT/FireAmb/Bld Off | 4,424.00 | 72992 |
| Cenex Voyaguer Fleet | Gas-Grnd/Pol/Str/BdgOf/Amb/Wtr/Strm Sew | 6,658.51 | 72993 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Agendas/Minutes | 375.00 | 72994 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 225.75 | 72995 |
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 11.55 | 72996 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 1,473.92 | 72997 |
| Clean Plus Inc | Nitrile Gloves | 292.72 | 72998 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 4,289.29 | 72999 |
| Costin Group Inc | Gov’t Relations – Kerry Park | 2,000.00 | 73000 |
| Dylan Holt | Jr High Basketball Coach | 1,200.00 | 73001 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,740.96 | 73002 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing Allowance – Stenson | 37.00 | 73003 |
| Garrett Lyons | Overpayment Refund – Ambulance | 1,441.00 | 73004 |
| Gopher State One – Call | Monthly Billing | 14.85 | 73005 |
| Graybar | Bldg Maint – Police Forfeiture | 331.48 | 73006 |
| Harley Droba | LMC Conference | 976.95 | 73007 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies – Safety/Administration | 538.36 | 73008 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 31,299.00 | 73009 |
| Jamie Skrien | Jr High – 8th Gr Girls BB | 1,200.00 | 73010 |
| Josh Koenig | Jr High Basketball Coach | 1,200.00 | 73011 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | 910 11th Street – Payment | 441.87 | 73012 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Supplies – Street Garage | 340.09 | 73013 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. | Oxygen – Ambulance | 1,364.48 | 73014 |
| LVC Inc | VNP Fire Alarm Annual Cellular Monitoring | 1,072.00 | 73015 |
| M.A.P.E.T. | Prop/Evid Tech. Membership | 35.00 | 73016 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Parts – Units 124/062/151 | 3,658.58 | 73017 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 508.50 | 73018 |
| MedicareBlue Rx | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,820.00 | 73019 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing – Sweney/Ambulance | 16.00 | 73020 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup/M&R-Str/Wtr/Police/Fire/Amb | 343.16 | 73021 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Gar | 520.57 | 73022 |
| Minn State Fire Chiefs Assn | Duluth FOTOS Attendee | 285.00 | 73023 |
| Minnesota Dept. of Health | State Test Fee | 6,441.00 | 73024 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 5,254.32 | 73025 |
| Minnesota Industries | Gloves – Street Dept. | 193.20 | 73026 |
| MTI Distributing Inc | Maint/Repair – VNP | 889.68 | 73027 |
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 67,292.48 | 73028 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Tools/Supplies – Street/Garage/Water | 164.77 | 73029 |
| Nicole Maish | Travel Expense – CALS Conference | 350.80 | 73030 |
| North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 73031 |
| Northern Reliable Agency | Volunteer Fire Dept. Insurance | 844.00 | 73032 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Part-Units 161/114/18/124/173/141/043/Pol | 1,039.14 | 73033 |
| Pitney Bowes | Quarterly Lease-Inserting & Mailing System | 398.82 | 73034 |
| PowerPlan | Parts-Units 043/644k/710l/74/Str, Rent Credit | 1,687.92 | 73035 |
| PreCise MRM LLC | Flat Data Plan – Six | 120.00 | 73036 |
| Premier Specialty Vehicles | Ambulance Parts | 66.15 | 73037 |
| Rhory Gelo | Meal Allowance | 6.82 | 73038 |
| Ronning’s | Clothing Allowance – Kennedy | 46.97 | 73039 |
| Sand Creek EAP LLC | Employee Assistance Program | 2,821.50 | 73040 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Municipal Bldg Waxing | 855.00 | 73041 |
| Steven M Shermoen | Legal Fees | 8,798.00 | 73042 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 536.94 | 73043 |
| Taylor Wilson | Jr High – 8th Grade Boys BB | 1,200.00 | 73044 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 39,202.07 | 73046 |
| Towmaster | Supplies – Street | 354.00 | 73047 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 3,379.87 | 73048 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Supplies – Electrical/Street | 162.63 | 73049 |
| Wherley Motors Inc | Supplies – Street | 102.72 | 73050 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 7,801.50 | 73051 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 73052 |
| Ziegler Inc | Parts – Park/Rec | 685.64 | 73053 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| APPROVED use of Smokey Bear Park and partnership with the International Falls Bass Championship for the 2022 International Falls Bass Championship Tournament scheduled for August 25-27, 2022 | Gary Potter requested use of Smokey Bear Park and the City of International Falls to partnership with the International Falls Bass Committee for the International Falls Bass Championship tournament scheduled for August 25-27, 2022. Mr. Potter stated the tournament would not be such a success without the City of International Falls partnership.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the use of Smokey Bear Park and the partnership between the City of International Falls and the International Falls Bass Championship Tournament scheduled for August 25-27, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 14-2022 approving the International Falls Bass Championship application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Annual International Falls Bass Championship Tournament held August 25-27, 2022 at Smokey Bear Park, 600 Third Street, International Falls | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 14-2022 approving the International Falls Bass Championship application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Annual International Falls Bass Championship Tournament held August 25-27, 2022 at Smokey Bear Park, 600 Third Street, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 15-2022 approving the International Falls Bass Championship application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Smokey Bear Park, 600 Third Street, International Falls | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 15-2022 approving the International Falls Bass Championship application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Saturday, August 27, 2022 at Smokey Bear Park, 600 Third Street, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.
Gary Potter thanked the city for all their help. |
| APPROVED necessary expenses for Mayor Droba to testify on a bill that directly affects International Falls and meet with legislatures regarding Kerry Park Health & Wellness Center in St Paul on March 8 & 9, 2022 | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve necessary expenses for Mayor Droba to testify on a bill that directly affects International Falls and meet with legislatures regarding Kerry Park Health & Wellness Center in St Paul on March 8 & 9, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.
|
| APPROVED Repealing Resolution No. 09-2022 Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) application for Greentech Sewer Realignment Project due to updated/corrected information | City Administrator Bergstrom stated when completing the packet for the Greentech Sewer Realignment project the Fund Code needed to be stated. Instead of updating Resolution No. 09-2022 it was better to repeal and approve the updated Resolution.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve Repealing Resolution No. 09-2022 Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) application for Greentech Sewer Realignment Project due to updated/corrected information. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 16-2022 approving Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) grant application for Greentech Sewer Realignment Project | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 16-2022 approving Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure (BDPI) grant application for Greentech Sewer Realignment Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the three-year Labor Agreement between the City of International Falls and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #49, for the Public Works and Administrative Office Clerical Staff, January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024 | Mayor Droba asked the Councilors if they would like to go to a closed meeting to discuss the changes to the Labor Agreement between the City of International Falls and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #49 for the Public Works and Administrative Office Clerical Staff. The Councilors stated they had faith in the group they had representing the City and wanted to move forward with the Labor Agreement as presented.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the three-year Labor Agreement between the City of International Falls and the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #49, for the Public Works and Administrative Office Clerical Staff, January 1, 2022 to December 31, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Motion passes with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Krause voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba voting ‘nay’. |
| INFORMATIONAL
Letter of contract non-renewal from City Attorney Shermoen |
City Attorney Shermoen presented a letter stating that 2022 would be his last year as City Attorney. Shermoen stated he has been a lawyer since 1976 and has been the City Attorney for 12 years. Shermoen stated he wanted to give plenty of notice so he could assist with a smooth transition to whomever replaces him. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Administrator Bergstrom stated she has been working with the County Auditor/Treasurer on redistricting. Also, continues to work with the Union on the remaining two contracts. Bergstrom also stated the Housing Study would be available soon.
City Attorney Shermoen stated he has been working with the Union on the remaining two contracts. Shermoen also shared that he is working with Jared Baldwin on the Landlords that have not complied with Rental Licensing. Further discussion is scheduled at the next Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on how to move forward. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | None. |
| AUDIENCE | Lois Lundin asked if the City were approved for the Bonding Funds for the Kerry Park Revitalization would they have to accept it. Mayor Droba stated the City had the option to not accept it.
Lengthy discussion ensued between the Councilors and the City Attorney of the history of Kerry Park. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 21, 2022 at 5:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 6:30 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
