November 7, 2022 City Council Minutes

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 November, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Councilors Ditsch, Krause, and Buller

MEMBERS ABSENT:  Mayor Droba and Councilor Holden

 

APPROVED agenda as presented MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve agenda as presented.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED minutes of the October 17, 2022 regular City Council meeting MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting on October 17, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
ADOPTED Resolution No. 71-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to adopt Resolution No. 71-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

CLAIMS

A+ Pest Management Pest Control 593.85 74559
Adam Mannausau CAT Team Training 70.00 74560
Amazon Capital Services Cloth-Amb, Sup- Admin/Pol/IT/Amb/Fire 510.93 74561
Ameritas Life Ins. Corp Dental Insurance Premiums 1,295.24 74562
Anderson Law Offices, P.A. Legal Services 595.00 74563
Andrew Holler Lawn Cleanup 310.00 74564
Andy Kittelson Travel Expenses 105.00 74565
Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Cleaning Service 1,080.68 74566
Auto Value Int’l Falls Oil/Tools/Sup- St. Gar., Tools- St. Light 107.36 74567
Badiuk Equipment, Inc. Maintenance- Fire Boat 267.83 74568
BCBS of MN Health Insurance Premiums 6,137.19 74570
Ben Mortenson CAT Team Training 70.00 74571
Biller Press Parking Ticket Books 418.20 74572
Bolton & Menk, Inc. Engineering Services 103,421.85 74573
Border Boxes Paper-Admin/Fire/Hous/St/Safety/Amb 2,328.25 74574
Borderland Humane Society Pound Operation 2,250.00 74575
Bound Tree Medical, LLC Supplies – Ambulance 1,353.76 74576
Bremer Cardmember Service Admin/Amb/IT/St/Haz/Pol/Fire/W.Plt 4,827.20 74577
Cenex Voyager Fleet Gas-Pol/Gar/St/Amb/Wtr/Hous/Grnds 5,206.93 74578
CherryRoad Media, Inc. Minutes & City Beach Flood Dam. Bid 609.69 74579
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 Lodging Tax Transfer 744.89 74580
City of Int’l Falls Water Department Water – Government Buildings 2,322.84 74581
CivicPlus Municode Admin Support Fee 275.00 74582
Convention & Visitors Bureau Lodging Tax 14,152.86 74583
Core & Main Meters, Supplies – Water Department 7,967.98 74584
Costin Group, Inc. Govt. Relations – Kerry Park 2,000.00 74585
Crandall’s Septic Pumping Portable Johns – City Parks 655.00 74586
DSC Communications Pagers – 3 Minitor VI 1,260.00 74587
Dylan Holt Jr. High Football Coach 1,000.00 74588
Earl F Andersen Memo.Bnch, M&R-St, Signs-No Hunting 7,936.50 74589
Ernest Lorenson Overpayment Refund 28.85 74590
Fairchild Sign Forms – Street Dept. / Water Dept. 189.00 74591
Fairview Health Services Fire Dept. Physicals & Fit Tests 5,329.70 74592
Friend’s Garbage Service Monthly Garbage Service 1,823.67 74593
Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC Clothing-Tveit/Sears/Ballejo/Amb/Fire 1,675.87 74594
Gene Andrusco Building Permit Refund 567.19 74595
Gopher State One-Call Monthly Billing 109.35 74596
HACH Company Chemicals 367.36 74597
Hamilton Medical, Inc. Equipment – Ambulance 286.81 74598
Harold Scholler Life Insurance Overpayment Refund 34.02 74599
Hasbargen Custons, LLC Embroidered Caps / Beanies 526.00 74600
Hawkins, Inc. Chemicals 20.00 74601
Int’l Falls Super One Foods Department Training 123.72 74628
Innovative Office Solutions, LLC Supplies – Police / Administration 137.46 74602
Int’l Falls Ambulance CPR Training – Police 880.00 74603
Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty Airport Comm. City Share – October 2022 Annual 32,876.61 74604
IUOE Local 49 Health Insurance Premiums 29,954.00 74605
J.P. Cooke Co. Animal Licenses 96.94 74606
Jenica Whitbeck Jr. High Volleyball Coach 1,500.00 74607
K & K Meyers, Inc. Supplies – Voyageurs Nat’l Park 68.79 74608
Karl Gansch Jr. High Volleyball Coaching 1,000.00 74609
KGM Contractors, Inc. 240 Tons Patching / 16th St Paving 83,458.00 74610
Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer LEC quarterly lease 18,750.00 74611
Koochiching County Hwy Dept. Fuel-Street/Grounds/Garage/Water Maint. 3,716.75 74612
Leonard Hair Ambulance Overpayment Refund 75.00 74613
Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. Oxygen – Ambulance 1,184.43 74614
LMC Insurance Trust – WC Worker’s Compensation Deductible 753.83 74615
Locators & Supplies High-Vis. Safety Shirts – Public Works 1,001.45 74616
Marco Antivirus / Microsoft Exchange 588.50 74617
Marco Technologies, LLC Contract/Copy-Fire/Adm/PW/Wat/Sew 1,645.35 74618
McCoy Const. & Forestry, Inc. John Deere SS30 16,500.00 74619
MedicareBlue Rx Health Insurance Premiums 1,820.00 74620
Melanie Clarity Sewing – Amb/Myers/Sears 56.00 74621
Menards International Falls Sup-Pol/Fire/St/St.Lt./Wtr.P., Tools-Strm 601.16 74622
Mesabi Bituminous, Inc. Cold Mix 11,055.00 74623
Meyers Glass 11th Ave Fire – Boarding 637.68 74624
Michael Wallace Travel Expenses-St. & Crew Meals-Trn 225.47 74625
Midcontinent Communications Cable – Fire Hall/Amb, Internet – WP/Gar 524.90 74626
Mike Wilcox Overpayment Refund 5.01 74627
Minnesota Child Support ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 50.00 74629
Minnesota Energy Resources Utilities 1,839.02 74630
Minnesota Industries Sup/Equip – Street Garage / Street / Fire 370.68 74631
Minnesota North College Mock OSHA Inspection 1,200.00 74632
Minnesota Pump Works Lifestation #15 12,539.04 74633
Mitch Lessard Travel Expense 432.50 74634
MN Bureau of Criminal App. DMT-G Certification – P. Kennedy 75.00 74635
MN State Fire Dept. Association Membership Dues 375.00 74636
N Koochiching Area Sanitary District Effluent / Backwash / Surcharge 310,760.12 74637
Nick Hedtke Jr. High Football Coach 1,000.00 74638
North American Bank Co.-Woodbury Inserting System Lease 181.75 74639
Northern Lumber & Hardware Sup/Tools/Maint.-Grnd/Sign/St/Wtr/Strm 449.31 74640
Northland Counseling Center Police Evaluation 562.50 74641
Nuss Truck & Equipment 2023 Mack GR64F Dump Truck 143,869.00 74642
O’Reilly Automotive Inc. Unit091-St, Unit176BH-Wtr, Prts-Amb 1,600.25 74643
Otis Elevator Company Logistics & Fuel Impact Fee 375.00 74644
Pelland-Swenson & Associates Forklift Rental – Flood 900.00 74645
Peri Bovitz Jr. High Volleyball Coach 500.00 74646
Premier Pyrotechnics 4th of July Fireworks 12,000.00 74647
PTM Document Systems W-2/1099 Forms 144.30 74648
Public Employees Ret. (PERA) N. Olson – Rec Commission 2,943.92 74649
Rainy Lake Designs Fall Cleanup & Mulch 175.80 74650
Rainy Lake Houseboats, Inc. Fuel for Fireboat 328.72 74651
Range Paper Corp. Supplies – Fire/Ambulance/Street/Bldgs 1,216.70 74652
Rick Becvar Safety Glasses Allowance 66.17 74653
Ronning’s Clothing – J. Franz 55.94 74654
Ryan Stenson Clothing Reimbursement 63.75 74655
Safety-Kleen Systems, Inc. Washer Solvent 524.35 74656
Schwab Vollhaber Lubratt Bldg Maint – VNP 3,689.04 74657
Shannon’s, Inc. Heating Unit – Kerry Park 444.59 74658
SHI International Corp. Hardware – Hazmat 3,625.00 74659
Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery Fertilizer 39.95 74660
Soundnorth Supplies – IT 37.97 74661
Steven M Shermoen Legal Fees 9,088.00 74662
Streicher’s Inc. Clothing – P. Kennedy, Supplies – Police 729.90 74663
Sun Life Financial Life Insurance Premiums 512.81 74664
Ted Brokaw Travel Expense 105.00 74665
The Nelson Trust Health Insurance Premiums 39,188.65 74666
Verizon Wireless Monthly Cellular Service 1,690.26 74667
Viking Electric Supply, Inc. Supplies – Electrical, M&R – VNP 3,009.08 74668
Viking Industrial Painting Pay Est. 4 – Elevated Water Tower 37,913.00 74669
Wagner Construction Ready Mix / AGG 1,609.00 74670
WEX Bank Gas-Amb/St/Sew/Fire/Hous/Demo/Strm 3,682.37 74671
Wherley Motors, Inc. ‘16 Ford E450-Amb/’20 Ford Expl.-Pol 979.87 74672
Ziegler, Inc. CAT 259D3 Compact Track Loader 69,620.21 74673
The following checks were issued under blanket authorization:
AFLAC Supplemental Insurance 206.62 101559
AllState – American Heritage Supplemental Insurance 9.64 101560
Bremer Bank NA Federal Withholding 38,430.59 101561
I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund Retirement 4,230.90 101562
City of Int’l Falls Fire Dept. Relief 350.00 101563
Intl Falls Ambulance Service Dues 147.00 101564
Justin Franz, Sec/Treas C.O.P.S 120.00 101565
MN Revenue Wage Assignment 196.38 101566
MN Child Support Pmt Center Wage Assignment 622.14 101567
MN Department of Revenue State Withholding 7,184.32 101568
Empower Retirement Deferred Comp 8,933.00 101569
PERA Retirement 33,848.64 101570
RCB Collections, Inc. Wage Assignment 94.64 101571
Sun Life Financial Supplemental Life Insurance 543.35 101572
The Hartford Voluntary LTD Insurance 688.02 101573
United Way of NE MN Inc. Employee Donation 15.00 101574
AFLAC Supplemental Insurance 206.62 101575
AllState – American Heritage Supplemental Insurance 9.64 101576
Bremer Bank NA Federal Withholding 38,799.69 101577
I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund Retirement 4,331.70 101578
City of Int’l Falls HRA – Police / Fire 546.00 101579
City of Int’l Falls Health Insurance – 49ers 364.00 101580
IAMAW District W3 Union Dus 1,710.00 101581
Intl Falls Ambulance Service Dues 175.00 101582
I.U.O.E. Local 49ers Health Reimbursement 840.00 101583
Justin Franz, Sec/Treas C.O.P.S 120.00 101584
MN Revenue Wage Assignment 126.50 101585
MN Child Support Pmt Center Wage Assignment 622.14 101586
MN Department of Revenue State Withholding 7,413.58 101587
Empower Retirement Deferred Comp 8,933.00 101588
NCPERS Minnestoa Life Insurance 112.00 101589
North Kooch Area San Dist Health Insurance 50.00 101590
PERA Retirement 34,923.71 101591
RCB Collections, Inc. Wage Assignment 303.62 101592
Sun Life Financial Supplemental Life Insurance 118.53 101593
United Way of NE MN Inc. Employee Donation 15.00 101594

 

AUDIENCE None.
PUBLIC HEARING None.
OPENING BIDS None.
OLD BUSINESS None.
 
CONSENT AGENDA:

 

 MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:

  • Approve 2023 License Renewals, as presented.
  • Accept letter of resignation from part-time Patrol Officer, James Kennedy effective October 26, 2022.
  • Accept letter of resignation from Patrol Officer, Ryan Stenson effective November 12, 2022.

Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
NEW BUSINESS:

APPROVED year 2023 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications as presented

 MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the following 2023 license renewals:

  • Bootleggers Fuel & Liquor- cigarette, gasoline pumps, and restaurant licenses
  • Bootleggers Liquor, LLC- off-sale liquor license
  • Citizens for Backus/AB- restaurant, wine on-sale, and 3.2 on-sale restaurant/bar licenses
  • Family Dollar Inc. dba Family Dollar Store #30058- cigarette and 3.2 off-sale licenses
  • Holiday Stationstore dba Holiday Stationstore #509- cigarette, gasoline pumps, restaurant, and 3.2 off-sale licenses
  • Howards Cenex, LLC- cigarette, restaurant, and gasoline pumps licenses
  • Miner’s Inc. dba County Market Foods- cigarette, gasoline, restaurant, and 3.2 off-sale licenses
  • On The Rocks, LLC- on-sale liquor, Sunday liquor, restaurant, juke box, pool table, and off-sale liquor licenses
  • Super One Foods- cigarette, restaurant, and 3.2 off-sale licenses
  • Super One Liquors, LLC- dba County Market Liquor- cigarette and off-sale liquor licenses
  • VFW Post 2948- pool table, club, gambling, restaurant, Sunday liquor, and juke box licenses

Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
 
ADOPTED Resolution No. 72-2022 approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreements with the City of International Falls on behalf of its City Attorney and Police Department, and authorize signatures MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Resolution No. 72-2022 approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreements with the City of International Falls on behalf of its City Attorney and Police Department, and authorize signatures for:

  1. Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement Authorized Agency, SWIFT Contract #220580, MN036011A
  2. Court Data Services Subscriber Amendment to CJDN Subscriber Agreement

Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED the hiring of Keith Magler as part-time Patrol Officer for the International Falls Police Department MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve Police Chief Mike Kostiuk’s recommendation to hire Keith Magler as a part-time Patrol Officer for the International Falls Police Department.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
 
ADOPTED Resolution No. 73-2022 PERA Declaration for part-time Patrol Officer Keith Magler MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No.73-2022 PERA Declaration for newly hired part-time Patrol Officer, Keith Magler.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED the Minnesota Contract DPS/SFM Hazmat PT_FY23-FY24 for hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response team MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve and authorize the signing of Minnesota Contract DPS/SFM Hazmat PT_FY23-FY24 for hazardous materials (HAZMAT) response teams to assist local authorities by providing technical advice to local incident commanders, and recommending mitigation actions necessary to protect life, property, and the environment.  Effective date of the contract is November 1, 2022-June 30, 2024.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED the Spring 2023 EMT class through the International Falls Ambulance Service MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve advertising and offering of an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) class by the International Falls Ambulance Service. This course will run on the same fee and reimbursement schedule described during the January 3, 2022 Council Meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED the renewal of the International Falls Ambulance Service’s maintenance contract with Stryker ProCare Services MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the renewal of the International Falls Ambulance Service’s maintenance contract with Stryker ProCare Services for the four Physio LifePak 15 (LP15) monitors (one for each ambulance), totaling $5,565.80.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED Statement of Work agreement with Municode/CivicPlus MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the City Administrator and Mayor’s signatures for the Statement of Work agreement with Municode/CivicPlus that shall be effective in January 2023.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
 
APPROVED the scheduling of a Canvassing Board meeting for Monday, November 14, 2022 at 4:00 P.M. Motion by Councilor Buller to approve the scheduling of a Canvassing Board meeting for Monday, November 14, 2022 at 4:00 P.M., prior to the Budget and Finance/Committee-of-the-Whole meeting, in the City Council Chambers.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
 
REPORTS:

Reports of the Attorney, Administrator and Department Heads

 City Attorney, Steve Shermoen stated he has an excess of 50 criminal files currently in his possession, and that the new City Attorney, Chelsea Nelson with the Anderson Firm, began taking all new cases effective November 1, adding that several of his cases may be passed onto Nelson effective January 1st if they are not resolved before then.

Shermoen added that he is continuing to move forward with conversations regarding the Multi-Modal project with the company interested in the project.

City Administrator, Betty Bergstrom, reminded the room of the rapidly approaching, November 8th elections.

Bergstrom went on to report that she, Fire Chief Mannausau, and Councilor Buller had attended the November 7th Koochiching County Board of Commissioners’ Committee of the Whole meeting to request aid for the International Falls Ambulance Service in 2023. This was in preparation for further research scheduled by the Steering Committee on available taxing district options.

Bergstrom requested approval for herself and Chief Mannausau to attend The Future of Rural Ambulance and EMS meeting on rural policy and development held by the Minnesota Ambulance Association next Wednesday, November 16, in Duluth.  MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve funding for both parties’ travel expenses.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

The International Falls Police Department Activity Report for October 2022 was available for review along with the October 2022 Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report.
 
AUDIENCE None.
 
REMINDERS President Pro Tem Krause offered the following reminders:

  1. City Offices will be closed for the Veteran’s Day holiday on Friday, November 11, 2022.
  2. A special meeting to canvass election results will be held on Monday, November 14, 2022 at 4:00 P.M. (prior to the Budget & Finance/Committee-of-the-Whole meetings)
  3. The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 21, 2022 at 5:30 P.M.
  4. The City Council Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing and Input Meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 5, 2022 at 6:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT President Pro Tem Krause adjourned the meeting at 5:53 P.M.

Joseph Krause, President Pro Tem

Attest:

Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator

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