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 3rd day of February 2025 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Wegner.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the following meeting minutes, as presented
|
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the following meeting minutes:
Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 12-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 12-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Adam Mannausau | Travel Expense-Ambulance, Tac Mtg | 324.00 | 80340 |
| Align Chiropractic & Wellness Center | Random DOT Drug & Alcohol Test | 50.00 | 80341 |
| Allied Generators | Generator Maint-Water Plant | 750.00 | 80342 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-Pol/Bldg Off/Adm/Fire | 296.49 | 80343 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,679.08 | 80344 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil | 12,990.00 | 80345 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Sup-St Gar, Tools-St Gar, M&R-St | 135.92 | 80346 |
| BCBS of Mn | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,424.79 | 80347 |
| Becker Arena Products Inc | Ice Shelter-Electric Edge | 7,850.00 | 80349 |
| Ben Mortenson | TAC Meeting Expense & Mileage | 396.40 | 80350 |
| Bert’s | Parts-VNP | 62.95 | 80351 |
| BKV Group Inc | Municipal Needs Assessment | 810.84 | 80352 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 80353 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | Trng-Hzmt/Bld Off/Pol/Amb/Fire | 11,031.52 | 80354 |
| Char Tomczak | Travel Expense | 410.00 | 80355 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Minutes/Public Hearing | 1,152.25 | 80356 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 261.22 | 80357 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 3,862.11 | 80358 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 4,963.09 | 80359 |
| Creative Product Source Inc | D.A.R.E. Supplies | 374.18 | 80360 |
| Dan Sweney | Travel Expense | 54.00 | 80361 |
| Defense Technology, LLC | Ammunition | 1,519.85 | 80362 |
| Drake Dill | 2025 Stand Exp, MN Chamber Exp | 1,852.60 | 80363 |
| Earl F Andersen | Signs | 91.15 | 80364 |
| Falls Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | 2015 Ford F250, 2016 Ford F250 | 1,622.26 | 80365 |
| Falls Lumber Company | Maintenance & Repair | 374.13 | 80366 |
| Fred Freisen | Travel Expense | 400.00 | 80367 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,171.05 | 80368 |
| Gall’s | Clothing-Fire/Gedde/Tveit | 273.11 | 80369 |
| Grand Forks Fire Equip LLC | Altair Gas Detector | 964.99 | 80370 |
| Hamilton Medical Inc | TI Ventilator Annual PM | 2,990.00 | 80371 |
| I-Falls Super One Foods | Sup-Street | 37.76 | 80389 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Administration/Street | 71.89 | 80372 |
| International Code Council | Membership-Building Official | 170.00 | 80373 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share January 2025 | 2,113.85 | 80374 |
| KCC TV | KCC-TV Broadcast Equipment | 1,375.00 | 80375 |
| Kent Automotive | Supplies-Safety | 114.50 | 80376 |
| Kevin Zook | Travel Expense | 346.00 | 80377 |
| KGM Contractors Inc | OUI.125785 Demo Landfill | 164,389.00 | 80378 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept | Reimburse KGM Contractor, Fuel | 41,733.73 | 80379 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Sup-Street Lighting | 369.75 | 80380 |
| LVC Inc | Annual Fire Extinguisher Servicing | 1,550.80 | 80381 |
| M.A.P.E.T. | Prop/Evid Tech. Membership | 35.00 | 80382 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy-Fire/Adm/PW | 1,460.15 | 80383 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 2,106.00 | 80384 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-Adm/St/Gar/Amb/Fire/Ice Shelt | 351.32 | 80385 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Pl | 601.93 | 80386 |
| Mike Fisher | Travel Expense | 162.00 | 80387 |
| Mike Holden | 2025 Council Standard Exp | 700.00 | 80388 |
| Minnesota Dept of Health | Class Cert-Brokaw/Crosby/Hilfer | 96.00 | 80390 |
| Minnesota Industries | Sup-Street/Garage/Water, Tools-St | 934.54 | 80393 |
| Minnesota Mayors Association | Annual Dues | 30.00 | 80394 |
| Minnesota Pump Works | Transducer | 2,812.42 | 80395 |
| North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 80396 |
| PowerPlan | Parts Credit, 710L | 630.72 | 80397 |
| Pro-Tec Design, Inc | Impound Lot | 20,539.19 | 80398 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-Fire/Ambulance | 400.03 | 80399 |
| Rhory Gelo | Cleaning Ventilation System | 400.00 | 80400 |
| Robert Heinlen | Meal Allowance | 10.00 | 80401 |
| Ronning’s | Yaktrax | 109.98 | 80402 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Heat Exchanger | 4,575.00 | 80403 |
| Soundnorth | Sup-Admin IT | 26.98 | 80404 |
| St. Louis County Public Works Dept | Salt | 225.23 | 80405 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 581.38 | 80406 |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating LLC | Kerry Park-Repairs | 250.00 | 80407 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,837.76 | 80408 |
| Tritech Software Systems | Zsuite Annual Fee | 11,153.82 | 80409 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-Arena/Wtr/VNP/GGB | 11,931.97 | 80410 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 2,071.80 | 80411 |
| Vestis | Cleaning Services | 1,412.26 | 80412 |
| Viking Industrial Center | Maint-Water | 140.63 | 80413 |
| Ziegler Inc | Unit 121 Parts | 441.33 | 80414 |
| IUEO (Local 49) | Fringe Benefit Fund | 31,507.00 | 80442 |
| Aqua-Pure Inc | Re-issue Check | 5,375.00 | 80443 |
| ON2 Solutions | Re-issue Check | 5,535.00 | 80444 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102555 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102556 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102557 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 45,426.18 | 102558 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,198.40 | 102559 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 147.00 | 102560 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 140.00 | 102561 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 177.19 | 102562 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 9,174.23 | 102563 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,523.00 | 102564 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement | 41,172.08 | 102565 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 925.41 | 102566 |
| The Hartford V-LTD | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 804.79 | 102567 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota | United Way | 42.00 | 102568 |
| AUDIENCE: | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the following 2025 license renewal:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED to temporarily suspend calendar parking on Sunday mornings for the 600 blocks of 6th Street and 6th Avenue from 6th Street to 4th Street |
Len Peterson Zion Lutheran Church member asked the Council for a 120-day trial period to suspend calendar parking on Sunday mornings for the 600 block of 6th Street and 6th Avenue from 6th Street to 4th Street. Fire Chief Mannausau addressed concerns of the width of the street on 6th Avenue. Mayor Dill and the Councilors agreed to have the Public Works Department and Fire Chief Mannausau review the width of the street and address any safety concerns.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve to temporarily suspend calendar parking for 120 days on Sunday mornings for the 600 block of 6th Street and 6th Avenue from 6th Street to 4th Street. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Airport Consulting Agreement | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Airport Consulting Agreement. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion carried 3-0-1, with Councilors Buller, Holden and Kalar voting “yea” and Mayor Dill abstaining. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 13-2025 authorizing city administrator to file an application with the Minnesota Management and Budget Office (MMB) for a 2025 capital budget request for the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation | Rob Ecklund, Lobbyist of Capitol Associates briefed everyone on what is happening at the State Legislature. Ecklund shared that he is working closely with Senator Skraba on a draft request of approximately $4.8M of capital budget funds for the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project. Mayor Dill asked if the $1M that was previously allotted for the Kerry Park Wellness Center could be rolled over to the Water Treatment Plant Project. Mr. Ecklund thought that could be done, but he would need to confirm that and get back to the Mayor and Council. Ecklund strongly encouraged the Mayor and Councilors to go to the State Capital to show support of the City’s requests.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 13-2025 authorizing city administrator to file an application with the Minnesota Management and Budget Office (MMB) for a 2025 capital budget request for the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 14-2025 approving application for exempt permit for MN Deer Hunters Association, Trails End Chapter to conduct a raffle | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 14-2025 approving application for exempt permit for MN Deer Hunters Association, Trails End Chapter to conduct a raffle, with the drawing to be held on April 11, 2025, at Backus Community Center. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED purchase of nine (9) sets of turnout gear for new firefighters | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the purchase of nine (9) sets of turnout gear for new firefighters. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED appointment of Justin Chezick to the vacant Captain position for the International Falls Fire Department | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve appointment of Justin Chezick to the vacant Captain position for the International Falls Fire Department. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring Brooklyn Tomczak as Emergency Medical Technician-B | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve hiring Brooklyn Tomczak as Emergency Medical Technician-B for the International Falls Ambulance Service. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| Other Business: | None. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | None. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | None. |
| AUDIENCE | Lois Lundin, Executive Director of Citizens for Backus read the letter she sent to Mayor Dill, Police Chief Kostiuk, and City Administrator Bergstrom dated January 28, 2025. Her goal of the letter is to provide the City of International Falls options as they work with community partners to find the best solution for the city and the residents for housing the International Falls Police Department. Lundin shared Backus is willing to freeze the current lease rate with a new commitment. “Keeping the IFPD at Backus makes good sense for the tax-paying residents”, stated Lundin. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill reminded everyone that city offices will be closed on Monday, February 17, 2025, in observance of President’s Day. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 18, 2025, at 5:30 P.M., due to President’s Day on Monday. Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 6:15 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
