October 16, 2017 City Council Minutes

October 16, 2017 City Council Minutes

4:30 P.M.

 

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 16th day of October, 2017 at the hour of 4:30 P.M.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:     Councilors Briggs, Droba, Jaksa, Pearson, and Mayor Anderson.

MEMBERS ABSENT:     None.

 

APPROVED agenda with additions and deletion

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve the agenda with the following additions and deletion:

  • Addition of #2 under New Business: Approve appointment of Kalan Schneider as full-time Patrol Officer effective January 1, 2018 (Council action)
  • Deletion of #3 under New Business: Consider approval of job description for new Investigator position in the Police Department (Council action)
  • Addition under Correspondence: October 16, 2017 – Green Acres Park Picnic, Noon, October 16, 2017
  • Addition of #2 & #3 under Reminders:
    • Project Steering Team meeting, Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 8:30 A.M.
    • Public Workshop for Highway 53 Project, Thursday, October 26, 2017, AmericInn, 6:30 to 8:30 P.M.

Motion seconded by Councilor Pearson and carried unanimously.

   

APPROVED minutes of the October 2, 2017 regular City Council meeting

MOTION by Councilor Briggs to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of October 2, 2017. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba and carried unanimously.

   

ADOPTED Resolution No. 58-17 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable

MOTION by Councilor Jaksa to adopt Resolution No. 58-17 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Pearson and carried unanimously.

 

CLAIMS

Adam McIntyre Painting

Painting of City Beach Bath House

6,000.00 

62078 

All Season Equipment Inc

Chainsaw Oil 

47.90  

62079 

American Ambulance Association 

Reissue- Subscriptions & Membership

525.00  

62080 

AmeriPride Services

Cleaning Services 

852.45  

62081 

Andrew Holler 

Misc Lawn Cleanups 

1,361.00  

62082 

Aqua-Pure Inc 

Qrtly Service

800.00  

62083 

Arrow International Inc 

Ambulance Supplies 

612.65  

62084 

Bennie Etienne 

Account Deposit Refund 

20.00  

62085 

Border Boxes 

Shipping-Water Plant 

71.71  

62086 

Bound Tree Medical LLC

Ambulance Supplies 

719.00  

62087 

Bowman Asphalt Products Inc

15th St MSA

73,938.50  

62088 

Bowman Construction Co 

Crushers/Alley/St Sewer/Hot Mix 

17,392.80  

62089 

Bremer Cardmember Service 

Admin/Amb/Fire/Police/Street/VNP

2,664.85  

62090 

City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101

Water Adm Expenses 

18,285.00  

62091 

City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401

Water Funds Transfer 

25,000.00  

62092 

City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403

Water Funds Transfer 

17,428.00  

62093 

City of Ranier

Water – City Beach 

68.49  

62094 

Clarey’s Safety Equip Inc 

Equipment-Fire 

50.59  

62095 

Corrin’s Plumbing & Heating

Supplies-GGB

100.44  

62096 

Dakota Supply Group 

Storm Sewer/Water Maint 

28,862.29  

62097 

Drug Task Force 

Misc Expenses-Forfieture 

2,000.00  

62098 

E Kooch Sanitary Sewer Dist 

City Beach/Water Plant 

189.00  

62099 

Ewald Enterprises 

Repairs-VNP Hdqtrs

825.00  

62100 

Expert T Billing 

Amb Transports 

3,429.00  

62101 

Falls Lumber Company 

Grounds/Street/Library Maint 

404.77  

62102 

Forestland Sales & Service 

Gas- Amb/Water/Water Plant 

431.46  

62103 

Friend’s Garbage Service LLC

Monthly Utilities 

1,865.22

62104 

Frontier 

Monthly Phone Service 

2,408.12  

62105 

Galls, An Aramark Co., LLC

Maish/Mortenson/Myers/Tveit 

1,372.74  

62106 

Goodin Company 

Supplies- VNP/GGB

729.18  

62107 

Gopher State One-Call  

Monthly Bill-St Lighting/Water Dept 

87.75  

62108 

Government Finance Officers Assoc

GFOA Membership Dues

170.00  

62109 

Graybar 

Maint & Repair-Parks & Rec 

2,082.42  

62110 

IF Recreation Commission

1st Half Funding Request

40,555.79

62111 

ITS Inc.

Hwy 53 Watermain Repairs 

2,800.00  

62112 

K & K Meyers Inc 

Bldg Maint-Kerry Park

49.98  

62113 

Kantor Electric Inc 

Electrical Pole 

88.00  

62114 

Kathy Smith 

Overpayment Refund 

261.71

62115 

KGHS/KSDM

City Cleanup 

200.00  

62116 

Koerter’s Amoco 

Gas-Street/St Lighting/Water 

2,522.10  

62117 

Kooch Co Env Services Dept 

Tipping Fees-City Cleanup

740.00  

62118 

Larry Davison 

Plywood –City Cleanup

49.14  

62119 

Lawson Products Inc 

Batteries/Supplies 

1,000.52  

62120 

Maguire Iron Inc 

Ground Storage Tank Rehab- Pmt 2 

128,807.00  

62121 

Mannco Trucking Inc 

Parts-Street 

207.45  

62122 

MCFOA Treasurer, Linda Rappe

Membership Fees-B Ettestad 

40.00

62123 

MedicareBlue RX

Health Insurance Premiums 

1,736.00  

62124 

Menards International Falls 

Bldg Off/Fire/Street/Elect/St Sewer

441.62

62125 

Michael Musich 

Police Benefit 

150.00 

62126

Midwest Playground Contractors Inc 

Green Acres Park/Playground Install

5,000.00 

62127 

Midwest Playscapes Inc 

Green Acres Park/Playground 

23,953.53 

62128 

Minnesota Energy Resources 

Monthly Utilities

570.06 

62129 

Minnesota Power 

Replace St Light/Opt 1 Lighting

7,626.27 

62130 

MN Dept of Commerce

Unclaimed Property

162.00 

62131 

Municipal Code Corporation 

Annual Fee-MyMunicode

100.00 

62132 

N Kooch Area Sanitary District 

Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge 

88,897.59 

62133 

NAPA Falls Supply

Amb/Grounds/Water Plant

256.04 

62134 

Northeast Service Cooperative 

Insurance Premiums 

5,132.50 

62135 

Northern Lumber & Hardware 

Electrical/Street/Water/Water Pl/VNP

760.06 

62136 

ODB Company

Freight 

373.24 

62137 

O’Reilly Automotive Inc

Fire/Grounds/Street/Garage/Water 

1,100.68

62138 

Praxair Distribution Inc 

Oxygen-Ambulance 

305.57 

62139 

Rainy Lake Medical Center 

Medical Supplies 

1,424.06 

62140 

Randy’s Tire & Auto Repair LLC

Grds/Police/BldgOff/Street/Water

1,775.15 

62141 

Range Paper Corp 

Cleaning Supplies-Bldgs & Grds/VNP

947.78 

62142 

Robert Anderson 

Travel Expense 

409.47 

62143 

ServiceMaster of Intl Falls

Municipal Bldg Carpets/VNP

4,150.00 

62144 

Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery  

VNP-Fertilizer/Maint-Grounds

6022.45

62145 

Skubic Bros. International 

Maint-Street 

464.50 

62146

Streicher’s Inc 

Clothing Allowance-Olson 

113.97

62147 

The Journal 

Misc Ads-Police 

105.60

62148 

Wagner Construction Inc 

Ready Mix/Playground-Concrete 

1,595.00 

62149 

Widseth Smith Nolting 

Bit Paving/MSA/Alleys/Other

54,141.19 

62150 

Willi Kostiuk 

Police Benefit

150.00 

62151 

WMG Lyfjaberg LLC

Medical Director 

300.00 

62152 

Xerox Corporation 

Admin/Fire/Police/Street/Water/Plant

1,842.35

62153 

The following checks were issued under blanket authorization:

AFLAC

Supplemental Insurance

269.67

99519

AllState – American Heritage

Supplemental Insurance

9.64 

99520

Bremer Bank NA 

Federal Withholding 

39,317.91

99521

I.U.O.E. Local Central Pension Fund 

Retirement 

2,535.80

99522

City of Int’l Falls

HRA Police/Fire

546.00

99523

City of Int’l Falls

49ers Health Insurance

1,864.00 

99524

Grant DeBenedet, Sec/Treas 

C.O.P.S. 

110.00 

99525

IAMAW District W33 

Union Dues 

1,545.00

99526

IF Fire Dept Relief 

Dues 

448.00

99527

Intl Falls Ambulance Service 

Dues 

119.00

99528

Int’l Operating Engineers 49ers

Union Dues 

862.50 

99529

MN Benefits Association 

Suppl Life Insurance

25.43 

99530

MN Child Support Pmt Center

Wage Assignment 

319.79 

99531

MN Department of Revenue

State Withholding 

7,197.37

99532

Empower Retirement 

Deferred Comp 

6,633.00

99533

NCPERS Minnesota

Suppl PERA Life Insurance 

64.00 

99534

No Koochiching Area Sanitary Dist.

Health Insurance Premiums

233.60 

99535

PERA 

Retirement 

27,538.50

99536

 

AUDIENCE

None.

PUBLIC HEARING

None.

OPENING BIDS

None. 

OLD BUSINESS

None.

   

APPROVED Consent Agenda as Presented

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

  1. Year 2018 license renewals, as presented

Motion seconded by Councilor Pearson and carried unanimously.

NEW BUSINESS:

 

APPROVED Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Interagency Agreement effective January 1, 2018, payment of $3,500 Regular Membership fee, and authorized signatures

Sgt. Robert Billings, Task Force Commander from the Beltrami County Sheriff’s office, presented information and responded to Council questions. MOTION by Councilor Briggs to approve Paul Bunyan Drug Task Force Interagency Agreement effective January 1, 2018, payment of $3,500 Regular Membership fee, and authorize signatures. Motion seconded by Councilor Pearson and carried unanimously.

   

APPROVED appointment of Kalan Schneider as full-time Patrol Officer effective January 1, 2018

MOTION by Councilor Jaksa to approve appointment of Kalan Schneider as full-time Patrol Officer effective January 1, 2018. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously.

   

APPROVED Independent Contractor Agreement with payment of $47,435 to the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, effective January 1, 2018, and authorized signatures

MOTION by Councilor Jaksa to approve Independent Contractor Agreement with payment of $47,435 to the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce, effective January 1, 2018, and authorized signatures. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba. Dan McCarthy, resident of International Falls, asked who drafted the agreement. City Administrator Anderson informed him that the Chamber of Commerce drafted the agreement. Motion carried 4-1 with Mayor Anderson and Councilors Briggs, Droba, and Jaksa voting “yea” and Councilor Pearson voting “nay.”

   

ADOPTED Resolution No. 59-17, Approving request by the Fire Relief Association to increase the pension amount from $2,900 to $3,300 per year of service

MOTION by Councilor Jaksa to adopt Resolution No. 59-17, Approving request by the Fire Relief Association to increase the pension amount from $2,900 to $3,300 per year of service. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously.

   

APPROVED 2018 license renewals, as presented

MOTION by Councilor Pearson to approve 2018 license renewals, as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs. Motion carried 4-0-1 with Mayor Anderson and Councilors Briggs, Pearson, and Jaksa voting “yea” and Councilor Droba abstaining.

   

ADOPTED Resolution No. 60-17, Resolution on Controlling Costs at the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District (NKASD)

MOTION by Councilor Pearson to adopt Resolution No. 60-17, Resolution on Controlling Costs at the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba. Councilor Droba distributed a letter prepared by Cyndi Strand, Executive Director of the NKASD. The letter described the proposed budget discussion for a fifth employee, fees paid by the East Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District (EKSSD) by contract, cost and operation implications of severing the contract, and charges to the three government entities that are based solely upon sewage flows from each entity. Mayor Anderson stated that there is no agreement currently in place to pay for a fifth employee. He said the 5th employee is not needed to operate the treatment plant. He said the plant operates fine on weekends with no employees. Further, he questioned if the NKASD should be in the business of maintaining the sewer collection system (pipes) because they do not have the equipment to do so. Councilor Jaksa agreed the City pays an unfair share of sewer costs. She wondered aloud if limiting the ability of NKASD to hire another person to help EKSSD would eliminate the contract between the two parties resulting in higher costs to the City. The Mayor replied that the NKASD has a fifth employee in the proposed budget. The purpose of this resolution is to help prevent the hire of another person just because the EKSSD is adding to the collection system. They have not justified the hire of another person and there is no agreement with EKSSD to pay the costs of a fifth person. Councilor Jaksa suggested there should be more focus on cost accounting, but she would abstain from voting until she knows more.

 

Motion carried 4-0-1 with Mayor Anderson and Councilors Briggs, Droba, and Pearson voting “yea” and Councilor Jaksa abstaining.

   

REPORTS:

Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads

City Administrator Anderson stated that he received notification from the Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District of two upcoming meetings in regards to water quality sampling that are scheduled on October 23 & 24, 2017 from 4:30 – 6:30 P.M.

 

Kelly Meyers, Building Official, presented the Building Permit Quarterly Report for the third quarter of 2017. He stated he is developing an update to the fee schedule for future consideration.

   

Reports of Mayor and Council Committees 

Councilor Droba commented that the Council works well together and thanked everyone for being civil. He reminded the Council that there is a Public Works Committee meeting on November 2, 2017 at 1:00 P.M.

 

Mayor Anderson handed out a Mayor’s Report dated October 16, 2017.

   

AUDIENCE 

None. 

   

ADJOURNMENT 

Mayor Anderson reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 6, 2017 at 4:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 5:52 P.M.

 

                    

ATTEST: Robert W. Anderson, Mayor

 

                        

Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator

Print Friendly, PDF & Email