January 7, 2019 City Council Organizational Meeting Minutes

ELECTION WINNERS

OATH OF OFFICE

Election winners Leon Ditsch, East Ward; Joseph Krause Jr., Center Ward; and Walt Buller, West Ward were administered the oath of office at 4:30 P.M. by City Administrator Anderson.

PRESENTATION of the Certificates of Election  

Mayor Anderson presented the election winners with certificates of election. 

APPOINTED President Pro Tem

Mayor Anderson recommended Councilor Droba for President Pro Tem. MOTION by Councilor Krause to appoint Councilor Droba as President Pro Tem. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

APPROVED Internal and External Committee appointments

Mayor Anderson provided the Council with a list of appointments for Internal and External Committees.

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve appointments as follows:

Legislation and Land Use – Councilor Krause, Councilor Buller

Budget and Finance – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Buller, Councilor Ditsch, Councilor Droba, Councilor Krause

Human Resources – Councilor Ditsch, Councilor Krause

Public Works and Infrastructure – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Buller, Councilor Droba

Airport Commission – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Buller

Community Education Advisory Council – Councilor Ditsch

Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Droba, and Alternates to be Councilors Buller and Ditsch

Recreation Commission – Councilor Droba, Councilor Krause, Mayor Anderson

Highway 53 Long Range Improvement Task Force – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Buller (alternate)

Chamber of Commerce – Mayor Anderson, Councilor Droba

Rainy/Rapid River Zoning and Advisory Committee – Mayor Anderson

Special Police Department Fund – Councilor Buller, Councilor Ditsch

Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

APPOINTED Brian Briggs to the Fire Civil Service Commission

MOTION by Councilor Droba to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Brian Briggs to the Fire Civil Service Commission to a three-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Thomas Smyithe to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority

MOTION by Councilor Droba to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Thomas Smyithe to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for a five-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Dick Peterson and Mary Jo Winkel the International Falls Library Board

MOTION by Councilor Droba to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Dick Peterson and Mary Jo Winkel to the International Falls Library Board for three-year terms, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Clint Chase, Willi Kostiuk, and Matthew Gouin to the International Falls Planning Commission

MOTION by Councilor Krause to confirm the Mayor’s re-appoint of Clint Chase, Willi Kostiuk, and Matthew Gouin to the International Falls Planning Commission for three-year terms, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Tim Everson to the Police Civil Service Commission

MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Tim Everson to the Police Civil Service Commission for a three-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Julie Ehrman to the International Falls Zoning Board of Appeals

MOTION by Councilor Krause to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Julie Ehrman to the International Falls Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba and carried unanimously.

APPOINTED Leon Ditsch to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board

MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Leon Ditsch to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board for a three-year term, February 1, 2019 – January 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

APPOINTED Roger Jackson to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board

MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Roger Jackson to the North Koochiching Area Sanitary District Board for a three-year term, February 1, 2019 – January 31, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba and carried unanimously.

RE-APPOINTED Paul Nevanen as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission 

MOTION by Councilor Krause to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Paul Nevanen as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission for a two-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

REAPPOINTED Steven M. Shermoen as City Attorney 

MOTION by Councilor Droba to reappoint Steven M. Shermoen as City Attorney for a two-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

HEALTH OFFICER

After a lengthy discussion, it was decided to send the topic of the Health Officer back to the Charter Commission for further review, with the possible change or removal from the Charter requirements to have the Health Officer be a physician.

APPOINTED Board of Health 

MOTION by Councilor Droba to appoint the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and pending decision on the Health Officer to the Board of Health for a two-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

APPOINTED City Engineer and Surveyor 

MOTION by Councilor Buller to appoint Widseth Smith Nolting as the City Engineer and Surveyor per their proposal for a two-year term, January 1, 2019 – December 31, 2020 . Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

APPROVED Biweekly Payroll on Tuesday

MOTION by Councilor Droba to approve payroll biweekly on Tuesday, commencing on 01/02/2019. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

ADOPTED Resolution No. 01-19 Designating Depositories

MOTION by Councilor Droba to adopt Resolution No. 01-19 designating depositories. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

APPROVED Designation of Official Newspaper

MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve designation of The Journal as the official newspaper for publications. Motion seconded by Councilor Droba and carried unanimously.

ADJOURNMENT

Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 5:14 P.M.