• New Business – 1. Consider approval of the special assessment of the cost of Improvement for Bituminous Paving of 5th Avenue West between 19th Street and 20th Street – public hearing held on November 4, 2024.

Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

Strand felt that the decision to purchase this building was made very quickly as the initial meeting was held on July 1, 2024, to propose the building as an option and decision was approved to purchase the property for $4999.00 on July 15, 2024. Strand also had concerns that there was no notice in the paper regarding this matter nor did Councilors Kalar or Holden speak to anyone in their Wards. Strand advised he had canvassed the areas of 19th Street to 2nd Avenue E, Memorial Drive to Highway 53 as well as 2nd Avenue E to 4th Avenue E receiving 29 signatures that this purchase would affect. There were a few who did not sign Strand indicated, as well 6 people who were not home. That is a $23,865 portion of taxpayer’s dollars involved and effected by this purchase. Strand gave City Administrator, Betty Bergstrom a copy of the signatures he received.

APPROVED as presented

• Cater For You, LLC – itinerant license
• Erickson’s Lawn Care – snowplow license
• Klinefelter Synergy LLC dba McDonald’s Int’l Falls – restaurant license
• Massage by Megan Boe – massage individual license
• TK Taxi – taxi license
• Up North Builders Inc – snowplow license

Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

APPROVED contingent offer of employment pending satisfactory completion of pre-employment requirements for the vacant Mechanic position

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approved contingent offer of employment to Dean Buley pending satisfactory completion of pre-employment requirements for the vacant Mechanic position. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

Mayor Droba questioned if the costs could be assessed with the property being tax forfeited, and if the city would ever be able to recoup their money through the assessment process. City Attorney Nelson stated it would be a case-by-case basis. Mayor Droba commented that he would be abstaining on this matter since he lives in the area.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve demolition of property located at 801 7th Street. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner.

Fire Marshal Baldwin commented that his office has been dealing with this property for over a year.  Order for Removal was issued last year.  The owner of the property had an incident where the SWAT team was called in.  All utilities have been turned off at the property and the windows broken. The cost to repair/rehab would be much more than what the property is worth.

Councilor Buller stated he would like to see the bid costs to tear this property down. Mayor Droba confirmed with the City Administrator that the bids would have to return to council.

Motion carried 3-0-1, with Councilors Buller, Holden and Wegner voting “yea” and Mayor Droba abstaining.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to set the canvassing board meeting for November 14, 2024, at 4:00 P.M. to canvass the results of the November 5, 2024, General Election.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

• Citizens for Backus/AB – restaurant license, wine on sale license and 3.2 on sale restaurant and bar
• Edwards’s Oil Inc dba Lucky Seven General Stores – cigarette license, gas pump license and restaurant license
• Super One Foods – cigarette license, restaurant license and 3.2 off sale license
• Super One Liquor, LLC – off sale liquor license and cigarette license
• VFW Post 2948 – pool table license, gambling license, restaurant license, juke box license, club license and Sunday liquor license

Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.