An organizational meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota, was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on the 6th day of January 2025 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar, and Wegner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPOINTED Internal Council Committee Appointments | Mayor Dill shared the Internal Council Committee Appointment recommendations. Discussion ensued with Mayor Dill and the Councilors deciding to approve the appointments by group instead of by individual committee.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Internal Council Committee appointments as follows: President Pro Tem · Councilor Holden Budget & Finance · Mayor Dill · Councilor Buller · Councilor Holden (chair) · Councilor Kalar · Councilor Wegner Legislation and Land Use · Mayor Dill (chair) · Councilor Wegner Public Safety · Councilor Holden · Councilor Wegner (chair) Public Works & Infrastructure · Mayor Dill (chair) · Councilor Kalar Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Other Council Committee Appointments | Mayor Dill shared the Other Council Committee Appointment recommendations.
MOTION by Councilor Wegner to confirm the Other Council Committee appointments as follows: Forest Hill Cemetery Board · Councilor Wegner International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission · Councilor Buller · Councilor Holden Koochiching Economic Development Authority · Mayor Dill · Councilor Kalar North Koochiching Area Sanitary District · Councilor Buller · Councilor Holden Northeast MN Reginal Emergency Communications Board · Councilor Holden · Councilor Wegner Rainy-Rapid River Zoning Board · Councilor Kalar Special Police Department Fund · Councilor Holden · Councilor Wegner Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED External Committee Appointments | Mayor Dill shared the External Committee Appointment recommendations noting the Forest Hill Cemetery Board has a vacant position.
Councilor Kalar addressed concerns with Brian Briggs being on the Fire Civil Service Commission and the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District since he no longer lives in the city of International Falls.
City Attorney Nelson confirmed per the Fire Civil Service Commission bylaws they do need to live within the city.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the External Council Committee appointments except for the Fire Civil Service Commission appointment: Charter Commission · Mayor Dill · Councilor Kalar · Lois Lundin Housing and Redevelopment Authority · Richard DeBenedet International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission · Brian Briggs (Citizen At-Large) Library Board · Michele Misner · Katherine Winkel Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership Board · Ted Brokaw Northeast MN Regional Advisory Committee · Adam Mannausau · Todd Ojala Planning Commission · Willi Kostiuk · Ted Brokaw Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED bi-weekly payroll dates on Tuesday, commencing January 7, 2025 | Motion by Councilor Wegner to approve bi-weekly payroll on Tuesday, commencing January 7, 2026. Motion second by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 06-2025 Designating Depositories | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 06-2025 designating the following depositories for the City of International Falls funds:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Designation of Official Newspaper as the Rainy Lake Gazette | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve designation of the Rainy Lake Gazette as the official newspaper for publications. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 5:44 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
