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 15th day of April 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 with additions | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve the agenda with the following additions.
Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the Monday, April 1, 2024, regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the minutes of Monday, April 1, 2024, regular City Council meeting.
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 23-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 23-2024 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 557.10 | 78382 |
| Ace Industrial Supply Inc | Tools-Garage | 860.00 | 78383 |
| Acme Tools-Grand Forks | Supplies-Street, Tools-P&R/Street | 994.87 | 78384 |
| Adam Mannausau | Supplies-Fire | 80.18 | 78385 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-Police | 223.94 | 78386 |
| Aqua-Pure Inc | Quarterly Service | 1,000.00 | 78387 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 92,573.00 | 78388 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Police/Water Plant | 195.75 | 78389 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,201.97 | 78390 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78391 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78392 |
| Calvin Turban | Boot Allowance | 109.99 | 78393 |
| Carlson’s Auto Repair | Unit 20-05 | 134.39 | 78394 |
| Cenex Voyager Fleet | Gas-Pol/Str/Amb/Fire/House/Water | 7,678.05 | 78395 |
| Chamber of Commerce | Area Resource Guide Advertising | 5,000.00 | 78396 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Council Mtg Dates/Ordinance/Minutes | 1,218.93 | 78397 |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Lease Agreement-Suite 305 | 6,446.33 | 78398 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 78399 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 20,567.25 | 78400 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 12.50 | 78401 |
| Compass Minerals | Bulk Hwy Coarse W/YPS | 28,503.07 | 78402 |
| Costin Group Inc | Govt Relations | 2,000.00 | 78403 |
| Dakota Supply Group | Supplies-VNP | 1,223.64 | 78404 |
| E Kooch Sanitary Sewer Dist | City Beach/Water Plant | 285.00 | 78405 |
| Emergency Apparatus Maint Inc | Repairs-Engine Rural 3 | 45.49 | 78406 |
| Entenmann-Rovin Co | Officer Badge | 1,018.50 | 78407 |
| Enterprise FM Trust | Lease-St/Gar/P&R/VNP/Wtr/Pol/House | 15,058.29 | 78408 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,751.49 | 78409 |
| Gall’s | Clothing-Kastin/Wherley/Olson/M Kost | 457.90 | 78410 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 37.80 | 78411 |
| Harley Droba | 2024 Council Standard Expenditure | 1,000.00 | 78412 |
| Hawkins Inc | Cylinder Charges | 1,588.59 | 78413 |
| Hometown Billing LLC | Ambulance Billing/Set-up Fee | 3,412.00 | 78414 |
| Howards-Cenex LLC | Gas-Street | 57.04 | 78415 |
| I-Falls Super One Foods | Supplies-Admin | 15.62 | 78429 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies-Admin/Water Admin | 1,650.79 | 78416 |
| Int’l Assoc of Chiefs of Police | Membership Renewal | 190.00 | 78417 |
| Ixom Watercare Inc | Control Panel/GS-9 V2 Mixer 120V | 12,433.00 | 78418 |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 78419 |
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept | Sanitation Service-MSW | 12.00 | 78420 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Supplies-Street Garage | 1,328.79 | 78421 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,833.76 | 78422 |
| Locators & Supplies | Engineer Supplies | 369.60 | 78423 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Supplies-Garage, Unit 083 | 90.23 | 78424 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 535.25 | 78425 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-Amb/Wtr/VNP/St/Fire, M&R-Wtr | 881.54 | 78426 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78427 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 228.18 | 78428 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 15,526.51 | Multiple |
| Minnesota Industries | M&R-VNP, Supplies-Street | 117.13 | 78432 |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 39,487.18 | 78433 |
| Minnesota Rural Water Assoc | Conf Reg-Wallace/S Kelly/ Brokaw | 825.00 | 78434 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Boiler Registra-Mun/Lib/Wtr Pl | 160.00 | 78435 |
| N Koochiching Area Sanitary Dist | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 87,765.89 | 78436 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | M&R-Amb/Fire, Sup-Gar, Tools-Gar | 767.20 | 78437 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Sup-P&R/St/Gar/Wtr/Kerry Park | 394.65 | 78438 |
| Northern Reliable Agency | Volunteer Fire Dept Insur | 582.00 | 78439 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network (WAN) Services | 535.46 | 78440 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | M&R-Amb, Lub-Amb/Gar/St/VNP | 1,498.96 | 78441 |
| Pelland Welding Inc | Supplies-Water/Storm, Oil-Storm | 41.27 | 78442 |
| Premier Specialty Vehicles | Parts-Ambulance | 94.42 | 78443 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 479.79 | 78444 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Fuel-Storm, Gas-Water | 238.09 | 78445 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-Arena/Str, Cleaning Svcs-Bldgs | 1,069.15 | 78446 |
| Scott Wherley | Clothing-Wherley | 55.50 | 78447 |
| Servicemaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,961.25 | 78448 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 2,899.79 | 78449 |
| Shred-n-Go Inc | Recycling Police | 83.93 | 78450 |
| Soundnorth | Supplies-IT | 22.99 | 78451 |
| Steve Boyum Construction | Kubota Equip Rental/Snow Removal | 712.50 | 78452 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing-Vests/M4 Mags/Earmuffs | 4,912.00 | 78453 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78454 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78455 |
| The Dent Shop | Repairs Unit 2201 | 920.16 | 78456 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78457 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 1,998.65 | 78458 |
| Viking Electric Supply LLC | Bldg Maint-GGB | 570.24 | 78459 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 78460 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 78461 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102209 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102210 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 370.17 | 102211 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 43,294.88 | 102212 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,128.90 | 102213 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA-Police/Fire | 572.00 | 102214 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,437.50 | 102215 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 196.00 | 102216 |
| Int’l Union of Oper Engineers | Union Dues | 945.00 | 102217 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 140.00 | 102218 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 832.56 | 102219 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,411.76 | 102220 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 7,140.00 | 102221 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | PERA Life Insurance | 128.00 | 102222 |
| North Kooch Area Sanitary Dist | Health Insurance Premiums | 450.00 | 102223 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement Assoc | 37,908.69 | 102224 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 42.00 | 102225 |
| AUDIENCE: | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | |
| APPROVED necessary expenses for Mayor, Councilors, and/or Department Supervisors to attend the 2024 Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Summer Conference | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve necessary expenses for Mayor, Councilors, and/or Department Supervisors to attend the 2024 Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities Summer Conference in Waite Park, MN July 24-26, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| INFORMATIONAL – County Assessor Open Book meeting | Mayor Droba noted the Open Book Meeting will be held on Wednesday, May 15, 2024, from 9:00 A.M to 12:00 P.M. (Noon) at the County Assessor’s office, 715 4th Street for informal appeal for taxpayers to discuss their property assessment/valuation. |
| APPROVED co-sponsoring the Koochiching Labor Assembly Labor Day Picnic scheduled for Monday, September 2, 2024 | Mark Thorpe addressed the council requesting co-sponsorship, road closure and use of Smokey Bear Park for the 2024 Labor Day Picnic, further thanking the City Council for their continued support of the annual event.
Mayor Droba mentioned the recent fire of the City’s Bandshell and asked if a temporary stage would be required. Mark Thorpe indicated they would utilize a temporary stage if available.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve co-sponsoring the Koochiching Labor Assembly, Labor Day picnic on Monday, September 2, 2024, further approving request closure of 3rd Street from MnDOT, and use Smokey Bear Park. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 19-25, 2024 as National Travel and Tourism Week | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 19-25, 2024, as National Travel and Tourism Week. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 2024 as Mental Health Month | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 2024 as Mental Health Month. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring No Mow May in International Falls | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve Mayoral Proclamation declaring No Mow May in International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar.
Councilor Kalar shared the goal of ‘No Mow May’ is to pause mowing lawns during May to allow flowering plants to help provide food for pollinators. Early spring is a time where floral resources are often limited for pollinators.
Motion carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Certificate of Support for new replacement hospital for Rainy Lake Medical Center’s USDA- Rural Development Community Facilities Application | Rainy Lake Medical Center is actively pursuing funding through the FDA loan program and is asking the City of International Falls to provide a Certificate of Support.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Certificate of Support for new replacement hospital for Rainy Lake Medical Center’s USDA- Rural Development Community Facilities Application. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring of summer employees for the Public Works department | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve hiring of summer employees for the Public Works department, as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring of Casual Paramedic for the Ambulance Service | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve hiring of Rebecca Burn as a Casual Paramedic for the Ambulance Service. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 24-2024 authorizing execution of MN Department of Transportation Airport Improvement Grant excluding Land Acquisition | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 24-2024 authorizing execution of MN Department of Transportation Airport Improvement Grant excluding Land Acquisition- Minnesota Agreement No. 1052526, Project No. A3601-118. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendations(s):
a) APPROVED Koochiching County Cooperative Weed Management Area-Memorandum of Understanding b) APPROVED A.W Kuettel & Sons proposal for Equipment Garage Storage Building Plumbing Modifications |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Koochiching County Cooperative Weed Management Area- Memorandum of Understanding. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve A.W Kuettel & Sons proposal for Equipment Garage Storage Building Plumbing Modifications-trench drains. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Cooperative Agreement between Koochiching County and the City of International Falls for design and construction of 5th Street Storm Sewer Relocation | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Cooperative Agreement between Koochiching County and the City of International Falls for design and construction of 5th Street Storm Sewer Relocation to accommodate Koochiching County Jail Expansion Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Koochiching Technology Initiative (KTI) use of Kerry Park Arena parking lot on the morning of June 8, 2024 for a public electronic (E-Waste) collection event | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Koochiching Technology Initiative (KTI) use of Kerry Park Arena parking lot on the morning of June 8, 2024 for a public electronic (E-Waste) collection event. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner.
Members of KTI, Jackie Nagle and Tim Gerlach addressed the Mayor and Council requesting use of Kerry Park Area parking lot on June 8, 2024, for a public electronic (E-Waste) collection event. The company they have collaborated with have agreed to take the devices out of the area, so they will no longer go to the local transfer station. Nagle stated the goal is to save Koochiching County an average of $18-$20 thousand a year from having to haul E-Waste out of the area.
Motion carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom shared that city staff is working with the State Fire Marshal and the International Falls Police Department on the origin and cause of the fire at the Bandshell. Bergstrom added that she contacted the City’s insurance agent and the structure has adequate coverage. She also indicated the city has coverage to bring in a platform/temporary stage to satisfy any current reservations.
Director of Public Works, Ted Brokaw commented that once the city has direction from insurance, the city would need to file a permit with MPCA, and then solicit quotes for demolition.
Mayor Droba commented on the huge outpouring of support for the Bandshell as this structure has been in the community for over 80 years. Director of Public Works, Ted Brokaw added that whatever is built or re-built, current codes and especially ADA compliance will be required. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Councilor Wegner noted a Public Safety Meeting was held on April 15, 2024, where they discussed the Fire Civil Service.
Mayor Droba shared the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of Monday April 8, 2024, is rescheduled to Monday, April 30, 2024. Also, the 4th of July Committee meeting is scheduled for April 17, 2024. The 4th of July Committee is looking for members. Any interested person can contact City Hall for information. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | The next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 6, 2024, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:06 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
