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 17th day of April 2023 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar and Wegner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda with additions as presented | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve agenda with the following addition:
1. Accept the resignation of Joe Krause from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board (council action) Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 3, 2023 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of April 3, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 10, 2023 special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the special City Council meeting of April 10, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 10, 2023 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of April 10, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 29-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 29-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Adam Mannausau | Travel Expense | 105.00 | 75653 |
| All Season Equipment Inc | Chainsaw Parts/VNP Parts | 149.92 | 75654 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-Police/IT/Amb/Water | 2,161.77 | 75655 |
| Andrew Holler | Cleaning of Property-1st Ave W | 387.00 | 75656 |
| Anthony Kastens | Travel Expense-Per Diem | 140.00 | 75657 |
| Aqua-Pure Inc | Qrtly Service/Chlorine Analyzer | 5,042.23 | 75658 |
| Bert’s | Lightbar | 516.44 | 75659 |
| Binder Lift Inc | Ambulance Supplies | 626.00 | 75660 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Liftstation #7/#15,WTF Improve/Flood | 179,968.85 | 75661 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 138.50 | 75662 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 2,342.56 | 75663 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75664 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75665 |
| Bryan Franko | Travel-Meal Allowance | 140.00 | 75666 |
| Cenex Voyageur Fleet | Police/St/Bldg Off./Gar/Housing/Amb | 6,159.41 | 75667 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Minutes | 450.36 | 75668 |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Lease Agreement-Suite 305 | 6,244.76 | 75669 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401 | Water Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 75670 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403 | Water Funds Transfer | 20,567.25 | 75671 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 11.55 | 75672 |
| Coffee Landing Metro | Crew Meals | 540.00 | 75673 |
| Costin Group Inc | Government Relations | 2,000.00 | 75674 |
| Dakota Supply Group | Supplies-Water Dept | 1,664.16 | 75675 |
| E Kooch Sanitary Sewer Dist | Water Plant/City Beach | 285.00 | 75676 |
| Falls Lumber Company | Supplies-Grounds | 15.18 | 75677 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Parts-Park&Rec/Street | 111.85 | 75678 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,944.24 | 75679 |
| Frontier | Monthly Phone Service | 2,830.13 | 75680 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing-Myers/Ambulance | 544.11 | 75681 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Charges | 28.35 | 75682 |
| Graybar | Electrical Supplies | 192.48 | 75683 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals | 1,987.34 | 75684 |
| Howards – Cenex LLC | Gas-St Gar/Sewer/Water/Street | 2,018.86 | 75685 |
| IF Recreation Commission | 2nd Half 2022/2023 Funding | 41,500.00 | 75686 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies-Police | 25.76 | 75687 |
| Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash | Gas-Street/St Gar/Elec/Police/Sewer | 5,286.38 | 75688 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | Spec Assessment/Qtrly Lease LEC | 18,990.00 | 75689 |
| Kraus-Anderson Const. Co. | IF Bldg Project 2220024-01 | 23,802.88 | 75690 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Tools-St Lighting | 445.91 | 75691 |
| League of Minnesota Cities | Conf Registration-T Wegner | 280.00 | 75692 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,061.97 | 75693 |
| Little Falls Machine | Parts-Water | 322.30 | 75694 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Labor Relations Services | 1,749.99 | 75695 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Parts-Street/Unit 151 | 337.42 | 75696 |
| Matt LaVigne | Fire Training Mileage | 184.71 | 75697 |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies-Police Mr Bldgs-Police | 959.14 | 75698 |
| Mershon Technology Interests | HP Desktop-Amb Supplies-Bldg Off. | 3,622.00 | 75699 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75700 |
| Mid-States Equipment Inc | Maint Repair-Street Unit 173 | 629.09 | 75701 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 50.00 | 75702 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Monthly Utilities | 7,248.39 | 75703 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies-Street, Hip Waders-Water | 402.90 | 75704 |
| Minnesota Power | Monthly Utilities | 39,294.74 | 75705 |
| Miranda Sears | Travel Expense | 105.00 | 75706 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Elevator ID #01885 | 100.00 | 75707 |
| MN Fire Service Cert Board | Instructor I Certification-LaVigne | 126.00 | 75708 |
| N Koochiching Area Sanitary District | Effluent Treatment | 75,788.67 | 75709 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Parts-St Garage/Unit 124 | 181.60 | 75710 |
| NARTEC Inc | Nik Tests | 356.32 | 75711 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Supplies-Housing/Ice Shelter | 37.06 | 75712 |
| ODB Company | Supplies-Grounds | 2,323.01 | 75713 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network(WAN) Services | 267.73 | 75714 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Police/Garage/Water/GGB | 1,359.94 | 75715 |
| Orton Oil Company | Gas-Storm | 80.13 | 75716 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Supplies-St Garage/Water | 63.48 | 75717 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Fuel-Water, Recycle-Oil/Filters | 694.77 | 75718 |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies-GGB | 294.48 | 75719 |
| Roche’s Towing/Hook&Book Towing | Towing-Police Dept | 100.00 | 75720 |
| Schmidt’s Small Engine | Maint-Snowblower 8th St | 29.50 | 75721 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,725.00 | 75722 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Parts-Water Plant | 679.94 | 75723 |
| SHI International Corp | Cameras-Police | 3,396.96 | 75724 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75725 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75726 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75727 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-Fire/Water Plant | 3,075.91 | 75728 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 435.60 | 75729 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75730 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 75731 |
| Xerox Corporation | Maintenance Agreement-Water Plant | 28.53 | 75732 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 101771 |
| All State-American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101772 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 364.30 | 101773 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 40,891.91 | 101774 |
| I.U.O.E. Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 4,285.70 | 101775 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA–Police/Fire | 520.00 | 101776 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance–49ers | 1,664.00 | 101777 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,845.50 | 101778 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 101779 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 840.00 | 101780 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 120.00 | 101781 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 784.48 | 101782 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,868.59 | 101783 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 9,068.00 | 101784 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | Life Insurance Premiums | 112.00 | 101785 |
| N. Kooch Area Sanitary District | Health Insurance Premiums | 285.00 | 101786 |
| PERA | Retirement | 36,574.15 | 101787 |
| RCB Collections, Inc. | Wage Assignment | 147.90 | 101788 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101789 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Accept the resignation of Joe Krause from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority Board Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation proclaiming May 15-19, 2023 as the week for Buddy Poppies distribution |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Mayoral Proclamation proclaiming May 15-19, 2023 as the week for distribution of Buddy Poppies. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation proclaiming May 2023 as Mental Health Month | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Mayoral Proclamation proclaiming May 2023 as Mental Health Month. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED road closure for Elk’s Lodge #1599 annual Corn and Brat Feed | Councilor Kalar shared the Elks annual Corn and Brat Feed is scheduled for August 18, 2023. New this year is a street dance. Councilor Kalar requested the street be closed till midnight for the dance. All proceeds go to the Elks Scholarship Fund.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve road closure for Elks Lodge #1599 annual Corn and Brat Feed scheduled for Friday, August 18, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 30-2023 approving consent to collateral assignment of development agreement and TIF | Isaac Meyer requested the council adopt the resolution for consent to collateral assignment of development agreement and TIF note for the Alexander Baker building. Mr. Meyer stated financing has been obtained from Wells Fargo Bank.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 30-2023 approving consent to collateral assignment of development agreement and TIF note. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring of summer employees for Public Works department | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve hiring of summer employees for Public Works department, as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring Laurie Humbert to the vacant Administrative Support Specialist position | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve recommendation of the Administrative Support Specialist hiring committee to hire Laurie Humbert to fill the vacant Administrative Support Specialist position in accordance with the I.U.O.E. Local 49 collective bargaining agreement. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee Recommendation(S):
a. Approved replacement of 1983 Clever Brooks Steamer with a Hotsy 3500psi pressure washer and approve the state bid quote from Hotsy Minnesota
|
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve replacement of 1983 Clever Brooks Steamer with a Hotsy 3500psi pressure washer and approve the state bid quote from Hotsy Minnesota. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.
|
| b. Approved the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency DNR Storm Water Management Plan Grant for Assessment and Implementation Planning Project-SWIFT Contract #223012 | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency DNR Storm Water Management Plan Grant for Assessment and Implementation Planning Project-SWIFT Contract #223012. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendation(s):
a. Approved the revised Department of Transportation (DOT) Drug and Alcohol Testing for Commercial Drivers Policy and accompanying forms and a proposal for DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Services from Industrial Health Services Network (IHSN) Inc.
|
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the revised Department of Transportation (DOT) Drug and Alcohol Testing for Commercial Drivers Policy and accompanying forms and a proposal for DOT Drug and Alcohol Testing Services from Industrial Health Services Network (IHSN) Inc. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
|
| b. Informational – Status of lifeguards at City Beach
|
Mayor Droba noted that City Beach will no longer have lifeguards. Signage will be posted at City Beach stating ‘No Lifeguard – swim at your own risk’. City Beach has not had lifeguards for three years due to COVID and not being able to find employees. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | Police Chief Kostiuk stated the police department has started moving to their new location at Backus. Signage will be going up around the Backus building. Kostiuk shared the City of International Falls website will have information on the new location of the police department. Chief Kostiuk also noted he would like to have a Town Hall meeting with the public. The forum would be used to inform the community and also for the community to give input on the future of the police department.
Councilor Kalar suggested the Police Chief do a radio interview to inform the public on the police department move to Backus. The International Falls Police Department Activity Report for March 2023 was available for review along with the March 2023 Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | None. |
| AUDIENCE | Crystal Clance asked if the city’s insurance rates would increase due to no lifeguards at City Beach. Attorney Nelson stated the insurance rates would not be impacted.
Crystal Clance also asked if the council had concerns with parking for the Alexander Baker apartment complex residents. Mayor Droba noted there are concerns. Lois Lundin, Executive Director at Backus and Kelly Meyers, Building Official have been working closely together on different options. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, May 1, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:07 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
