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 October 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 with additions | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the agenda with the following additions:
· Accounts payable claim to Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer and Lake of the Woods County · Tomczak’s Brick Oven Mobile Food License Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| MOMENT OF SILENCE to honor Voyageur National Park Ranger Kevin Grossheim | Mayor Droba asked for everyone in attendance to join him in a moment of silence in honor of Voyageur National Park Ranger Kevin Grossheim who passed away on Sunday, October 6th in the line of duty. |
| APPROVED minutes of the September 16, 2024, regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the minutes of Monday, September 16, 2024, regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the September 23, 2024, special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the minutes of Monday, September 23, 2024, special City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 53-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable with additions | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 53-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable with additions. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Alex Air Apparatus 2 LLC | Annual Compressor Service & Air | 1,856.80 | 79495 |
| Allied Generators | Generator Maintenance/Radiator Replacement | 7,058.57 | 79496 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Communication-Amb/Fire, Sup-IT/Pol/Amb | 1,385.31 | 79497 |
| Ameritas Life Ins. Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,703.28 | 79498 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil Matters | 8,045.00 | 79499 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 6,069.60 | 79500 |
| Aqua-Pure Inc | AF 4650 T/Quarterly Service | 5,375.00 | 79501 |
| Auto Value Intl Falls | Supplies-Water | 82.76 | 79502 |
| Automatic Systems Co | Water Tower | 51,500.00 | 79503 |
| BCBS of Mn | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,042.27 | 79504 |
| Benedict Sign Co | Banners | 8,379.00 | 79506 |
| Bert’s | Supplies-Garage | 577.00 | 79507 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 71,592.13 | 79508 |
| Border Boxes | Paper-Mayor & Council | 65.00 | 79509 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 79510 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,116.81 | 79511 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | Train-Wtr Plnt/Mayor & Coun, Sup-Fire/Amb | 7,830.80 | 79512 |
| Carlson’s Auto Repair | Unit 1701 | 422.99 | 79513 |
| Cenex Voyageur Fleet | Gas-Pol/St/Amb/P&R/Fire/Grnds/San Sewer | 5,628.37 | 79514 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | 9th Ave E Easement/Minutes | 484.57 | 79515 |
| City of Intl Falls-Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 1,747.19 | 79516 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 54.36 | 79517 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 1,975.58 | 79518 |
| Clarey’s Safety Equip Inc | Service Truck | 647.16 | 79519 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 33,196.67 | 79520 |
| Core & Main | Maint Repair Water Dept | 199.60 | 79521 |
| Costin Group Inc | Govt Relations | 2,000.00 | 79522 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns–City Parks | 995.00 | 79523 |
| DSC Communications | Portable Radio Repair/APX Batt/Tank 2 | 16,447.50 | 79524 |
| Earl F Andersen | M&R-Street, Supplies-Street | 1,215.65 | 79525 |
| Falls Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | 2024 Ram 1500-Bldg Official Maint | 59.95 | 79526 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | M&R Equip-Park & Rec | 654.29 | 79527 |
| Friend’s Garbage | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,744.47 | 79528 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 462.50 | 79529 |
| Gall’s | Clothing Allowance-Police/Ambulance | 1,450.29 | 79530 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 166.05 | 79531 |
| Graybar | Tools, M&R-VNP, Sup-St Lighting | 253.19 | 79532 |
| Hach Company | Chemicals/Lab Supplies | 4,738.82 | 79533 |
| Hawkins Inc | Cylinder Charges | 90.00 | 79534 |
| Hometown Billing LLC | Ambulance Billing | 4,032.00 | 79535 |
| Intl Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share Sept 2024 Maj Capital | 11,219.68 | 79536 |
| IUEO Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 26,757.00 | 79537 |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 79538 |
| KGM Contractors Inc | 5th Street Storm Relocate | 49,125.75 | 79539 |
| Koerter’s Amoco | Gas-St/Pol/Wtr/St Light/Storm Sewer | 4,109.95 | 79540 |
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept | Solid Waste Fee-St Light/P&R, Brush | 61.00 | 79541 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept | 17th Street Utility Work | 651,445.11 | 79542 |
| Lakes Concrete Plus, Inc | Maint/Repair Other-Storm Sewer | 6,123.60 | 79543 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Street-Supplies | 363.91 | 79544 |
| League of Minnesota Cities | Membership Dues/Conf Reg. Bergstrom | 2,397.00 | 79545 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,518.22 | 79547 |
| Litho Specialists | AP Checks | 1,549.00 | 79548 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen | Labor Relations Services | 516.00 | 79549 |
| Magney Construction | Parts-Water Plant | 8,938.27 | 79550 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 615.25 | 79551 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy- Fire/Adm/PW | 1,828.12 | 79552 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,794.00 | 79553 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing-Ambulance | 16.00 | 79554 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-San Sew/Wtr Plnt/GGB, Ice Shelter Main | 142.31 | 79555 |
| Michael Fisher | Travel Expense-Hazmat | 520.45 | 79556 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Gar | 956.24 | 79557 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 68.40 | 79558 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 223.77 | 79559 |
| Minnesota Industries | Safety Equip-Storm Sewer | 73.80 | 79560 |
| MN Dept of Public Safety | Fireworks Operator Certificate Renew | 100.00 | 79561 |
| Motorola Solutions Inc | Mobile Radios | 6,411.92 | 79562 |
| N Koochiching Area Sanitary | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 110,340.31 | 79563 |
| National PELRA | MN PELRA Membership | 43.75 | 79564 |
| North American Bank Co | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 79565 |
| North Star Training & Consult | HazMat Operator Training | 10,770.00 | 79566 |
| Northland Securities Inc | Utility Study/Annual TIF Report | 3,500.00 | 79567 |
| O&J Coatings, Inc | Water Tower #2 Rehab | 421,800.00 | 79568 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | M&R Equip-Amb, Lubricant-Grnd/St/Gar/Wtr | 341.35 | 79569 |
| Pitney Bowes Inc | Postage Machine Supplies | 215.78 | 79570 |
| Premier Specialty Vehicles | Ambulance Repairs | 373.86 | 79571 |
| R&R Specialties of Wisconsin | Ice Textile Logo/M&R-Kerry Park | 7,137.60 | 79572 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 876.01 | 79573 |
| Randy’s Tire & Auto | Repairs-Street | 376.45 | 79574 |
| Schlenner Wenner & Co | 2023 Audit | 810.00 | 79575 |
| Servicemaster of Intl Falls | Windows-VNP | 600.00 | 79576 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Bldg Maint-Dog Pound, Supplies-Fire | 172.22 | 79577 |
| Shred-N-Go, Inc | Recycling Police | 83.93 | 79578 |
| Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery | Watering Trees/Labor | 1,390.00 | 79579 |
| Soundnorth | Office Supplies-Ambulance | 129.00 | 79580 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 585.54 | 79581 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,837.76 | 79582 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,821.38 | 79583 |
| Vestis | Cleaning Services | 1,305.47 | 79584 |
| Viking Electric Supply LLC | Sup-Laydown Yard, Maint-Ice Shelter | 502.27 | 79585 |
| Wagner Construction Inc | 1 Minus”, Pay App #4 Lift Station #7 | 120,263.75 | 79586 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Fire/House/St/Amb/Pol/P&R/Wtr/Grnd | 1,568.16 | 79588 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasure | Chamber Building 2nd Half Property Tax | 1,254.00 | 79614 |
| Lake of the Woods County | 2nd Half Property Tax-Miggins | 215.00 | 79615 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102407 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102408 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102409 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 44,857.65 | 102410 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 4,580.50 | 102411 |
| IF Fire Dept Relief | Firemen Dues | 448.00 | 102412 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 140.00 | 102413 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 140.00 | 102414 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 424.54 | 102415 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,722.96 | 102416 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,176.00 | 102417 |
| PERA | PERA Life Insurance | 39,034.67 | 102418 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Insurance | 881.56 | 102419 |
| The Hartford V-LTD | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 795.47 | 102420 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota | United Way | 42.00 | 102421 |
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102422 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102423 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102424 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 41,238.66 | 102425 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 4,760.50 | 102426 |
| City of Intl Falls | HRA-Police/Fire | 131.88 | 102427 |
| City of Intl Falls | Health Insurance-49ers | 2,187.00 | 102428 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,990.00 | 102429 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 154.00 | 102430 |
| Intl Union of Oper Engineers | Union Dues | 875.00 | 102431 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 140.00 | 102432 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 424.54 | 102433 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,026.36 | 102434 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,176.00 | 102435 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | PERA Life Insurance | 128.00 | 102436 |
| North Kooch Area Sanitary Dist | Health Insurance Premiums | 450.00 | 102437 |
| PERA | Public Employee Retirement | 36,818.21 | 102438 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota | United Way | 42.00 | 102439 |
| AUDIENCE | International Falls citizen Julie Melstrom of 904 6th Street addressed concerns to Councilor Kalar regarding the local Ambulance Services, Human Resource position and the increase the councilors receive per meeting. Councilor Kalar stated he voted against the councilors increase per meeting, the HR position is a needed position and that the ambulance service has been an issue for a long time. |
| Erik Strand of 1831 4th Ave E wanted to learn more about the purchase of the Kootasca building for the International Falls Police Department. Strand shared his concerns of 2nd Ave E becoming a drag strip for emergency personnel to get to Hwy 53. Strand further shared his concerns about the condition of the building. Mayor Droba explained the purchase of the building was thoroughly thought through including inspections by the Building Official. Droba stated it is a work in progress and plans are for a slow roll out of renovations to have a well fit building for the Police Department. | |
| PUBLIC HEARING
Accept comment on exploring the option of portable recording devices (body-worn cameras) for officers of the City of International Falls Police Department |
Mayor Droba opened the public hearing.
Police Chief Kostiuk shared information regarding the body-worn cameras for the officers of the City of International Falls Police Department. Kostiuk stated he has received 3 emails with comments supporting the purchase of body cameras.
Mayor Droba asked for City Council comment. There was none.
Mayor Droba asked for public comment. There was none.
Mayor Droba closed the public hearing. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| INFORMATIONAL block party sponsored by Community Ed, KAPE and Kootasca | Beth Slatinski, ISD 361 Community Ed Director gave an update of the success of the block party held at Kerry Park by Community Ed, KAPE and Kootasca on Saturday, September 14th. She thanked Jenesa Balaski from KAPE and Amy Mortenson from Kootasca for their help and ideas to help make this event successful. Over 200 people attended. They enjoyed food, arts and crafts and community involvement. Slatinski gave a special thanks to Councilor Kalar for his donation of $100.00 and Mike Wallace, Assistant Public Works Director, and the city crew for their help. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 54-2024 approving Commercial Loan for KOR Properties LLC | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 54-2024 approving Commercial Loan for KOR Properties LLC, as submitted by Ryan Tomevi, TruStar Federal Credit Union for Roma Korzinski. Motion was seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED special assessment for the Cost of Improvement for Bituminous Paving of 9th Avenue East from South line of 19th Street East to the South line of 20th Street East to 8th Avenue East | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the special assessment for the Cost of Improvement for Bituminous Paving of 9th Avenue East from South line of 19th Street East to the South line of 20th Street East to 8th Avenue East. A Public hearing was held October 7, 2024, at 5:00 P.M. with no opposition. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of resignation from Captain Ryan Zub, Paid On-Call Firefighter | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve letter of resignation from Captain Ryan Zub, Paid On-Call Firefighter effective September 19, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of resignation from Erika Scofield, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve letter of
resignation from Erika Scofield, Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) effective September 27, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED extending offer of employment to Teah Goulet for the part-time, seasonal Parks & Facilities Assistant position | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve extending offer of employment to Teah Goulet for the part-time, seasonal Parks & Facilities Assistant position. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Planning Commission recommendation:
a ADOPTED Resolution No. 55-2024 Conditional Use Permit for Kennel Operation purposes for Ball’s Dog Retreat, property owner Sharon Ball |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 55-2024 Conditional Use Permit for Kennel Operation purposes for Ball’s Dog Retreat for property owner Sharon Ball, as recommended by the Planning Commission. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Lead Equipment Operator job description | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Lead Equipment Operator job description under Mike Wallace, Assistant Public Works Director. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED posting internally for the Lead Equipment Operator position | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve posting internally for the Lead Equipment Operator position for one week. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
Public Works Committee recommendation:
|
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the purchase of a 2925 Elgin NP Street Sweeper with funding from the street capital outlay account. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED proceeding with the design and engineering contract with Widseth for the Kerry Park Wellness Center, and authorize completion of the DEED application including adopting Resolution No. 56-2024 Special Appropriation Application | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve proceeding with the design and engineering contract with Widseth for the Kerry Park Wellness Center and authorize completion of the DEED application including adopting Resolution No. 56-2024 Special Appropriation Application, which is necessary to release the 2023 legislative funds that were approved for the Kerry Park Wellness Center project.
Mayor Droba stated all monies will come from the funds received from the state and not from city dollars.
Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Master Research and Evaluation Agreement with Mueller Co., LLC | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Master Research and Evaluation Agreement with Mueller Co., LLC to evaluate certain developmental technology relating to a robotic leak repair solution for water main pipes and provide the City data from the research. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED professional services contract with ESX Technology Solutions | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve professional services contract with ESX Technology Solutions to provide support for the police department Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) audit findings. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 57-2024 approving the Friends of the Falls Fire Department application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Monday, November 15, 2024 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 57-2024 approving the Friends of the Falls Fire Department application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets, with the drawing to be held Monday, November 15, 2024, at the BPO Elks Lodge, 215 3rd Street, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 58-2024 approving delinquent water and sewer accounts to be certified to the Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 58-2024 approving delinquent water and sewer accounts to be certified to the Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 59-2024 approving delinquent grass and blight invoices to be certified to the Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 59-2024 approving delinquent grass and blight invoices to be certified to the Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 60-2024 approving delinquent rental license invoices to be certified to the Koochiching County Auditor/Treasurer | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 60-2024 approving delinquent rental license invoices to be certified to the County Auditor/Treasurer. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 61-2024 rescheduling a Hearing on Proposed Assessment of the cost of Improvement for Bituminous Paving of 5th Avenue West between 19th Street and 20th Street | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 61-2024 rescheduling a Hearing on Proposed Assessment of the cost of Improvement for Bituminous Paving of 5th Avenue West between 19th Street and 20th Street to Monday, November 4, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Itinerant restaurant license for Tomczak’s Brick Oven | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve itinerant restaurant license for Tomczak’s Brick Oven mobile food trailer. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | None. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba shared that he was honored to attend the ribbon cutting of the new Alexander Baker Apartments. He stated that there were 175 applications received for the 27 units. This is the first new apartment complex in 40 years!
Councilor Kalar wanted to invite the public to the Elks on Tuesday, October 22, 2024, to a public gathering and BBQ for information about the Rainy River-Rainy Lake One Watershed One Plan. Additional information will be shared at the Public Open House event. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next City Council Meeting is Monday, October 21, 2024 at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:28 PM. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
