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 5th day of August 2024 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar, and Wegner.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the Monday, July 15, 2024, regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the minutes of Monday, July 15, 2024, regular City Council meeting.
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the Monday, July 22, 2024, special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the minutes of Monday, July 22, 2024, special City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 41-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 41-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| 75F, Inc | Cloud License & Mobile App | 95.00 | 79065 |
| A Plus Pest Management LLC | Pest Control | 2,758.22 | 79066 |
| Allied Generators | Generator Maint-VNP | 851.00 | 79067 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-Police | 575.99 | 79068 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Administration | 1,792.00 | 79069 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil | 7,585.00 | 79070 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 1,261.60 | 79071 |
| BCBS of Mn | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,042.27 | 79072 |
| Betty Bergstrom | Travel Expense | 227.53 | 79074 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 62,522.50 | 79075 |
| Border States | Laydown Yard Lights | 3,343.08 | 79076 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 79077 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | Hazmat, Trng-Wtr/San Sew/Adm/M&C | 4,892.80 | 79078 |
| Brian Kelly | Safety Boot Allowance | 159.99 | 79079 |
| Carlson’s Auto Repair | Unit 16-01 Ambulance | 260.00 | 79080 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Council Minutes | 181.24 | 79081 |
| Cheryl Miller | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 79082 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 1,317.28 | 79083 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 1,637.58 | 79084 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 25,028.27 | 79085 |
| Core & Main | Supplies-Sanitary Sewer | 2,178.38 | 79086 |
| Costin Group Inc | Govt Relations | 2,000.00 | 79087 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns–City Parks | 1,230.00 | 79088 |
| Dakota Supply Group | Sup-Water/St Light/San Sewer | 1,889.61 | 79089 |
| DSC Communications | Equip & Supplies | 4,925.00 | 79090 |
| Earl F Andersen | Materials Street | 2,084.45 | 79091 |
| Ebix, Inc | Top Health Subscription | 257.40 | 79092 |
| Espresso Lane LLC | RLMC Box Lunches | 270.00 | 79094 |
| ESRI | ArcGIS Annual Subscription | 1,416.00 | 79093 |
| ESX Technology Solutions, LLC | MDR & Firewall | 3,812.50 | 79095 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 865.74 | 79096 |
| Graybar | Supplies-Street Lighting | 183.20 | 79097 |
| Guardian Fleet Safety | 2024 Ford Interceptor Util | 13,224.27 | 79098 |
| Innovative Office Solutions | Supplies-Administration | 346.65 | 79099 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch County | City Share June 2024 Maj Cap | 28,028.83 | 79100 |
| IUEO Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,707.00 | 79101 |
| IWC Innovations | GSA Testing | 3,500.00 | 79102 |
| J & J Contracting LLC | Demo 909 7th St/Pay App #4-Flood | 11,536.30 | 79103 |
| Joshua Ballejo | Police Supplies | 1,093.06 | 79104 |
| Kennedy Electric | Water Tower Disconnect Equip | 150.00 | 79105 |
| KGM Contractors Inc | Street Storm Relocate/Local Utility | 540,574.98 | 79106 |
| Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash | Gas-Street/Police/Water/Garage | 6,346.81 | 79109 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept | Dyed Fuel-Street/Garage/VNP/Maint | 2,367.79 | 79110 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Supplies-Street Garage | 1,139.15 | 79111 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,465.69 | 79112 |
| Locators & Supplies | Supplies-Street | 559.10 | 79113 |
| MacQueen Equipment Inc | M&R-Water/Street, Fuel-Water | 1,698.08 | 79114 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 615.25 | 79115 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy- Fire/Adm/PW/Wtr | 1,438.64 | 79116 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,794.00 | 79117 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-Eng/GGB/Arena/P&R, M&R-Amb | 2,317.72 | 79118 |
| Meyers Glass | VNP Window Replace/Animal Control | 1,719.34 | 79119 |
| MIDCO | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 899.53 | 79120 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 68.40 | 79121 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 178.86 | 79122 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies-Storm/Street | 221.40 | 79123 |
| MN Power | Utilities | 65,640.17 | 79124 |
| MN Bureau of Criminal App | Search Warrants | 300.00 | 79126 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Boiler Registration-Mun/Lib/Wtr Plant | 107.00 | 79127 |
| MTI Distributing Inc | Supplies-Grounds | 284.39 | 79128 |
| Nicholson’s Garden Center | Zinnias/Petunias | 179.70 | 79129 |
| North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 79130 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Tools-Grounds | 38.69 | 79131 |
| Northland Securities Inc | Utility Study | 6,050.00 | 79132 |
| Peter Kalar | Travel/Training Reimbursement | 455.06 | 79133 |
| PowerPlan | Unit 710L Parts | 6,446.22 | 79134 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 179.33 | 79135 |
| Randy’s Tire & Auto | Unit 114 Repairs | 501.45 | 79136 |
| Robert Bahr | Topsoil | 1,500.00 | 79137 |
| Safe-Fast Inc | Tools, Sup-Str Light, Loggers First Aid | 1,471.07 | 79138 |
| Safety-Kleen Systems Inc | Washer Parts | 487.08 | 79139 |
| Sanitation Products, Inc | Maint-Garage | 645.79 | 79140 |
| Schlenner Wenner & Co | 2023 Audit | 18,700.00 | 79141 |
| Shannon’s | M&R-VNP | 6,960.00 | 79142 |
| Shred-N-Go Inc | Recycling Police | 83.93 | 79143 |
| Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery | VNP-Trees, Maint-Grnd, Mulch, Fertilz | 8,577.00 | 79144 |
| Soundnorth | Sup-Adm IT/Wtr/M&C, Fire-Printer | 609.42 | 79145 |
| Streicher’s | Clothing Allowance-Lahmayer/Olson | 149.99 | 79146 |
| Stryker Sales, LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 141.44 | 79147 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 608.22 | 79148 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,837.76 | 79149 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 1,447.56 | 79150 |
| US Bank | Trustee Fees | 500.00 | 79151 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,737.22 | 79152 |
| Vestis | Cleaning Service | 1,847.53 | 79153 |
| Viking Electric Supply LLC | Bldg Maint-VNP, M&R-VNP | 288.98 | 79154 |
| Viking Industrial Center | Maint-Water Plant | 237.53 | 79155 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Fire/Amb/St/Hous/P&R/Wtr/St/Pol | 3,565.94 | 79156 |
| White Cap, L.P. | Supplies-Storm | 1,944.54 | 79157 |
| Widseth Smith Nolting | Engineering Services | 4,448.75 | 79158 |
| Ziegler Inc | Unit 091 – PARTS | 202.98 | 79159 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102339 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102340 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102341 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 48,868.46 | 102342 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,132.50 | 102343 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 161.00 | 102344 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 140.00 | 102345 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 424.54 | 102346 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 9,798.26 | 102347 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,688.00 | 102348 |
| PERA | PERA Life Insurance | 41,389.89 | 102349 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Insurance | 881.56 | 102350 |
| The Hartford V-LTD | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 795.47 | 102351 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 42.00 | 102352 |
| AUDIENCE: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES): | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS:
APPROVED to remove from the table approval of the 2023 Annual Audit as presented by Schlenner Wenner and Co. |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve to remove from the table approval of the 2023 Annual Audit as presented by Schlenner Wenner and Co. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED 2023 Annual Audit as prepared by Schlenner Wenner & Co – Ryan Schmidt | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the 2023 Annual Audit as prepared by Schlenner Wenner & Co. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.
Councilor Kalar noted the delay in approving the 2023 Annual Audit was due to the airport needing additional time to submit documents requested by Schlenner Wenner and Co. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented
|
MOTION by Councilor Wegner to accept donation of $2,500.00 from Packaging Corporation of America for the International Falls Fire Department. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED letter of resignation from Art Holt, Housing & Redevelopment Authority board member |
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the letter of resignation from Art Holt, Housing & Redevelopment Authority board member. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| INFORMATIONAL: vacant position on the Housing & Redevelopment Authority board | Mayor Droba announced he received an application to fill the vacant position on the Housing & Redevelopment Authority board. Droba stated that he would fill the vacant position at the Monday, August 19, 2024 city council- this will give the community an opportunity to apply for the vacant position. |
| APPROVED recommendation of Police Chief Kostiuk to promote Joshua Ballejo to Sergeant | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the recommendation of Police Chief Kostiuk to promote Joshua Ballejo to Sergeant effective, August 6, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of retirement from Brad Hagen, Equipment Operator | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the letter of retirement from Brad Hagen, Equipment Operator effective August 2, 2024 and move the vacancy to the Public Works Committee for discussion and consideration. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the access gate/operator system and perimeter fence quotes, as presented | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the access gate/operator system quote from Barnum Companies, Inc., and perimeter fence quote from Oberg Fence Co. for the laydown yard project. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 42-2024 Conditional Use Permit for storage and meeting purposes for International Falls Recreation Hockey | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the recommendation from the Planning Commission to adopt Resolution No. 42-2024 Conditional Use Permit for storage and meeting purposes for International Falls Recreation Hockey as presented by Building Official/Zoning Administrator Kelly Meyers. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 43-2024 application to conduct off-site gambling for the Ranier Recreation Club to conduct a raffle | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 43-2024 application to conduct off-site gambling for the Ranier Recreation Club to conduct a raffle, with the drawing to be held at the Falls High School, Gymnasium on October 14, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | Administrator Bergstrom gave a brief update on the CGMC conference that she and Councilor Kalar attended in St. Cloud, MN. Bergstrom stated it was very interesting and helpful. They learned about the upcoming changes to the EMSRB, housing issues throughout Minnesota, and what Legislatures are hoping to accomplish during the next session.
Jason Fisher, City Engineer with Bolton & Menk gave an update on the demolition of the Smokey Bear Park Bandshell fire noting they are hoping that Wagner Construction will be able to bring in their containers to haul away the remains prior to the Bass Tournament.
The International Falls Police Department Activity Report for July 2024 was available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Councilor Kalar stated the training he attended with Administrator Bergstrom was a good learning experience where he learned that the house and senate are working on the housing issue seen across the entire state.
Kalar noted he was able to meet with the gentlemen (teacher, policeman and doctor) from Itasca County who traveled to International Falls by running, rollerblading and biking to raise funds for various charities in Itasca County.
Kalar stated that he also attended the Port of Entry information gathering at the Coffee Landing on Tuesday, July 30, 2024. The plan and design should be ready for approval next fall, with construction starting in 2026.
Mayor Droba shared that on July 18, 2024, the Peace Run was held throughout the United States. This group started their run at the International Bridge that was dedicated back in 1991 by Sri Chinmoy, the Peace Run founder who dedicated the International Bridge as the International Falls Peace Bridge, promoting peace, with the then current Mayor Jack Murray. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 19, 2024, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:04 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
