November 16, 2020 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 16th day of November, 2020 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Briggs, Buller, Ditsch, Krause and Mayor Droba.
Media and public via BlueJeans Conferencing. All members noted they could hear the others and the discussion.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
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APPROVED agenda with addition |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the agenda with addition as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously. |
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APPROVED minutes of the November 2, 2020 regular City Council meeting |
MOTION by Councilor Briggs to approve minutes of the November 2, 2020 regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
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APPROVED minutes of the November 12, 2020 City-election Canvassing Board meeting |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the November 12, 2020 City-election Canvassing Board meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Briggs, Buller, Ditsch, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Krause abstaining. |
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ADOPTED Resolution No. 97-20 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable |
MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 97-20 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
|
75f, Inc. |
Cloud Lic & Mobile App – Library/BHS |
285.00 |
69828 |
|
Adam Mannausau |
Cat Team Travel Expense/Maintenance |
355.70 |
69829 |
|
Alex Air Apparatus Inc. |
Class A Plus Foam Pails |
2,592.00 |
69830 |
|
Amazon Capital Services |
Office Supplies – Street/Admin/Police |
1,051.81 |
69831 |
|
AmeriPride Services |
Cleaning Service |
944.50 |
69832 |
|
Border Boxes |
Shipping – Police Dept./Water Plant |
130.25 |
69833 |
|
Bound Tree Medical LLC |
Ambulance Supplies |
79.05 |
69834 |
|
Bowman Construction Co |
3/4″ Clean/Washed Sand |
21,200.00 |
69835 |
|
Brian Youso |
Police Benefit/Reissue Check |
300.00 |
69836 |
|
Cenex Voyager Fleet |
Gas – Grnds/Pol/Amb/Wtr Plnt/Bldg Off |
2,768.58 |
69837 |
|
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 |
Water Admin Expenses |
9,951.67 |
69838 |
|
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 401 |
Water Funds Transfer |
66,666.66 |
69839 |
|
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 403 |
Water Funds Transfer |
25,760.42 |
69840 |
|
City of Ranier |
Water – City Beach |
11.00 |
69841 |
|
Crandall’s Septic Pumping |
Portable Johns – City Parks |
625.00 |
69842 |
|
Display Sales |
Led Mini Lights |
2,609.00 |
69843 |
|
Earl F Andersen |
Supplies Signs |
583.45 |
69844 |
|
ESRI |
ARC GIS 10/2020-9/2021 Field Work Lic |
342.00 |
69845 |
|
Expert T Billing |
Ambulance Transports |
2,968.00 |
69846 |
|
Fairchild Sign |
Forms – Street Dept./Water Dept. |
185.00 |
69847 |
|
Falls Lumber Company |
Maintenance – Signs/Planters |
53.64 |
69848 |
|
Friend’s Garbage Service LLC |
Monthly Garbage Service |
1,745.64 |
69849 |
|
Frontier |
Monthly Telephone Service |
2,506.58 |
69850 |
|
Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC |
Clothing Allowance – Maish/Lessard/Amb |
697.87 |
69851 |
|
Gopher State One – Call |
Monthly Billing |
198.45 |
69852 |
|
Guardian Fleet Safety |
2020 Utility Inv. Setup |
6,739.25 |
69853 |
|
Hawkins Inc. |
Chemicals |
6,201.53 |
69854 |
|
Innovative Office Solutions LLC |
Supplies – Police/Admin |
117.83 |
69855 |
|
Int’l Falls/Koochiching County |
City Share October Project Costs |
501,768.98 |
69856 |
|
KGM Contractors Inc. |
2020 Local Streets Improvement |
964,092.75 |
69857 |
|
Koerter’s Amoco |
Gas-Street/Garage/Water/Sewer/St. Light |
2,136.94 |
69858 |
|
Life Blanket |
Transfer Pad Standard |
421.00 |
69859 |
|
Litho Specialists |
PR/AP Checks |
1,174.00 |
69860 |
|
LMC Insurance Trust – WC |
Blais Deductible |
323.70 |
69861 |
|
Madden Galanter Hansen LLP |
Legal Services |
342.00 |
69862 |
|
Mannco Trucking Inc. |
Unit 124 – Parts |
15.55 |
69863 |
|
Marco – LEC |
LEC – C368 Copier Agreement |
243.98 |
69864 |
|
Melanie Clarity |
Sewing – Ambulance |
8.00 |
69865 |
|
Menards International Falls |
Sup/Tools/Maint-Str/San Sew/Strm/P&R |
1,168.25 |
69866 |
|
Mesabi Bituminous Inc. |
Cold Mix |
7,040.90 |
69867 |
|
Michael Musich |
Police Benefit |
150.00 |
69868 |
|
Midcontinent Communications |
Internet – Water Plant |
230.00 |
69869 |
|
Minnesota Energy Resources |
Utilities |
1,034.23 |
69870 |
|
Minnesota Power |
Utilities |
22,190.29 |
69871 |
|
Minnesota Rural Water Assoc. |
Annual Membership |
400.00 |
69872 |
|
MN Dept. of Labor & Industry |
Boiler Insp/Reg – Mun Bldg/Lib/Strm Sew |
190.00 |
69873 |
|
MTI Distributing Inc. |
Maint/Repair – VNP |
929.34 |
69874 |
|
N Kooch Area Sanitary District |
Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge |
94,911.20 |
69875 |
|
NAPA Falls Supply |
Parts/Sup/Lube – Fire/Wtr/P&R/Gar/Str |
188.56 |
69876 |
|
Northern Lumber & Hardware |
Sup/Tools/Maint – City Hall/Str/Gar/Wtr |
472.73 |
69877 |
|
Office of MNIT Services |
Wide Area Network(Wan) Services |
260.00 |
69878 |
|
O’Reilly Automotive Inc. |
Unit 132/15-06/163, Sup/Tls-Gar/Fire/Str |
1,550.19 |
69879 |
|
Pelland Welding, Inc. |
Parts – Street Dept. |
71.78 |
69880 |
|
PowerPlan |
John Deere 210G – Rental, Unit 710l Rep |
4,089.65 |
69881 |
|
Praxair Distribution Inc. |
Oxygen – Ambulance |
1,019.57 |
69882 |
|
Rainy Lake Designs |
Library Steam to Hot Water Project |
320.24 |
69883 |
|
Rainy Lake Medical Center |
Medical/Pharmaceutical Supplies |
1,194.67 |
69884 |
|
Rainy Lake Oil |
Off Road Fuel – Water |
223.05 |
69885 |
|
Range Paper Corp |
Cleaning Supplies – Buildings |
349.19 |
69886 |
|
RMS Tritec LLC |
Inspection JLG Lift 460SJ |
2,562.11 |
69887 |
|
Robert Bahr |
Top Soil |
2,000.00 |
69888 |
|
Roche’s Towing |
Towing – Police |
170.00 |
69889 |
|
Ronning’s |
Clothing Allowance – J Mastin |
81.97 |
69890 |
|
Rusty Blais |
Boot Allowance |
110.00 |
69891 |
|
ServiceMaster of Intl Falls |
Cleaning Services – VNP |
3,500.00 |
69892 |
|
Soundnorth |
Supplies/Maintenance – IT/VNP |
23.97 |
69893 |
|
St Louis County Auditor |
2020 Regional Radio Fees |
263.64 |
69894 |
|
Streicher’s Inc. |
Cloth-Olson/Kostuik/ Mastin/Wherly/Less |
941.84 |
69895 |
|
Ted Brokaw |
Gas – Travel |
24.50 |
69896 |
|
Terry Christie |
Police Benefit |
150.00 |
69897 |
|
Terry Wood |
Police Benefit |
150.00 |
69898 |
|
The Journal |
Agendas/Minutes/Ord/Proc/Elect/Do Bid |
3,758.57 |
69899 |
|
Todd Ojala |
IT Mileage Expense |
43.59 |
69900 |
|
UHL Company Inc. |
Bldg Maint – Water Plant |
4,218.99 |
69901 |
|
Viking Electric Supply Inc. |
St Lighting MRO |
154.43 |
69902 |
|
Willi Kostiuk |
Police Benefit |
150.00 |
69903 |
|
WMG Lyfjaberg LLC |
Medical Director |
300.00 |
69904 |
|
Xerox Corporation |
Maint/Mthly Charge – Wtr Plant/Fire Dept. |
122.96 |
69905 |
|
|
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|
AFLAC |
Supplemental Insurance |
225.04 |
100768 |
|
AllState – American Heritage |
Supplemental Insurance |
9.64 |
100769 |
|
Bremer Bank NA |
Federal Withholding |
36,564.22 |
100770 |
|
I.U.O.E. Local Central Pension Fund |
Retirement |
4,117.40 |
100771 |
|
City of Int’l Falls |
HRA – Police/Fire |
520.00 |
100772 |
|
City of Int’l Falls |
Health Insurance – 49ers |
454.00 |
100773 |
|
IAMAW District W33 |
Union Dues |
1,561.00 |
100774 |
|
Intl Falls Ambulance Service |
Dues |
147.00 |
100775 |
|
Int’l Operating Engineers 49ers |
Union Dues |
875.00 |
100776 |
|
I.U.O.E. Local 49ers |
Health Reimbursement |
6,700.00 |
100777 |
|
Justin Franz, Sec/Treas |
C.O.P.S. |
120.00 |
100778 |
|
MN Child Support Payment Center |
Wage Assignment |
601.46 |
100779 |
|
MN Department of Revenue |
State Withholding |
6,924.39 |
100780 |
|
Empower Retirement |
Deferred Comp |
7,000.00 |
100781 |
|
PERA |
Life Insurance |
96.00 |
100782 |
|
North Kooch Area Sanitary Dist. |
Health Insurance |
125.00 |
100783 |
|
PERA |
Retirement |
30,695.86 |
100784 |
|
AUDIENCE |
None. |
|
PUBLIC HEARING |
None. |
|
OPENING BIDS |
None. |
|
OLD BUSINESS |
None. |
|
CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
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NEW BUSINESS: APPROVED no parking from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along the South side of 3rd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. for the Elks Lodge November 26th Thanksgiving Day dinner curb-side, through window pickup |
Shawn Mason requested no parking from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along the south side of 3rd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. for the Elks Lodge November 26th Thanksgiving Day dinner to allow for curb-side, through a window pickup. Ms. Mason explained they are expecting traffic issues since the Lodge is closed to the public and they plan on serving about 600 meals. Captain Mike Kostuik explained the vehicle staging area would line up North of City Drug in the City parking lot. Volunteers would be at 4th and 3rd Ave, to orderly direct traffic to the Elks Lodge curb side pickup area as space is available.
MOTION by Councilor Krause approving no parking from 10:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. along the South side of 3rd St. between 2nd and 3rd Ave. for the Elks Lodge November 26th Thanksgiving Day dinner curb-side, through window pickup. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously. |
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APPROVED 2021 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications, as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Year 2021 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications:
Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously. |
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APPROVED support for Minnesota Power to apply for MPCA grant for electric vehicle fast charger(s) |
Public Works Director Brokaw explained that he was contacted by Minnesota Power in regards to the charger(s) for electric vehicles. The City of International Falls has been approved for one long charger to be installed in 2021. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has grants available for fast chargers for electric vehicles. Minnesota Power is asking for support when applying for the grant. The charger(s) would take up 6 parking spots behind City Drug.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch approving support for Minnesota Power to apply for MPCA grant for electric vehicle fast charger(s). Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
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INFORMATIONAL: Discuss Governor Tim Walz Emergency Executive Order 20-96 and new COVID-19 Testing Sites |
City Administrator Anderson shared general information regarding the most recent Emergency Executive Order 20-96 issued by Governor Tim Walz, announcement from the Minnesota Department of Health about eleven new COVID-19 testing sites, and a recent StarTribune article highlighting actions and concerns regarding the pandemic in northern Minnesota. The Governor’s Executive Order is effective Friday, November 13, 2020 at 10:00 P.M. |
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APPROVED Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Joe Krause to the vacancy on the Recreation Commission |
Mayor Droba requested that Councilor Joe Krause fill the vacancy of Ashley Hall on the Recreation Commission.
MOTION by Councilor Briggs approving Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Joe Krause to the vacancy on the Recreation Commission. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Briggs, Buller, Ditsch, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Krause abstaining. |
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ACCEPTED resignation of Clint Chase from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals with letter of gratitude for outstanding community service |
Mayor Droba shared that he received a letter of resignation from Clint Chase who has been on the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals for many years. Mayor Droba thanked Mr. Chase for his outstanding service. Mayor Droba stated that he would not fill Mr. Chase’s position until January 2021.
MOTION by Councilor Krause to accept with regret the resignation of Clint Chase from the Planning Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals with letter of gratitude for outstanding community service. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs and carried unanimously. |
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ADOPTED policy implementing grace period to allow persons currently keeping and harboring chickens (14) to do so until January 1, 2021, after which they shall be prohibited and violations enforced |
Mayor Droba explained the purpose for the Policy Implementing Grace Period for Keeping of Chickens is to allow persons currently keeping and harboring chickens (estimated to be 14 properties) to continue to do so until May 1, 2021.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch adopting a policy implementing a grace period to allow persons currently keeping and harboring chickens (14) to do so until May 1, 2021, after which they shall be prohibited and violations enforced. Motion seconded by Councilor Briggs.
Councilor Buller stated that the properties had chickens and have been out of compliance for quite some time. They were already given a grace period until the election on November 3, 2020 where the voters said ‘No’ to “Do you vote for the ordinance to allow the keeping of chickens in the City of International Falls, Minnesota”.
Councilor Krause stated he had concerns with the language in the policy “after which time the keeping of chickens shall be prohibited and any observed violations shall be enforced”. Councilor Krause stated they have always been prohibited.
Councilor Briggs rescinded his second to the Motion adopting a policy implementing a grace period to allow persons currently keeping and harboring chickens (14) to do so until May 1, 2021, after which they shall be prohibited and violations enforced.
Mayor called for a second three times. Motion failed due to lack of a second.
MOTION by Councilor Briggs adopting policy implementing grace period to allow persons currently keeping and harboring chickens (14) to do so until January 1, 2021, after which they shall be prohibited and violations enforced. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion carried 4-1 with Councilors Ditsch, Briggs, Krause, and Buller, voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba voting ‘nay’. |
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INFORMATIONAL: City of International Falls Inflow and Infiltration Plan prepared by Widseth, consulting engineers |
City Administrator Anderson shared the International Falls Inflow and Infiltration plan prepared by Widseth, consulting engineers. |
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Other: |
Councilor Krause expressed his concerns with not being notified that the Recreation Commission scheduled an emergency meeting for Monday, November 16, 2020 at 3:30 P.M. Councilor Krause had several people contact him asking when the next meeting was scheduled, he gave them incorrect information since he was not aware of the emergency meeting. Mayor Droba suggested that questions be directed to the chair or director of the meeting. |
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REPORTS: Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Attorney Shermoen reviewed the pending criminal blight cases. Three properties have been cleaned up and the $150.00 fee has been paid.
The International Falls Police Department October 2020 Activity Report was available for review.
The October 2020 Fire/Rescue/EMS Department written report was available for review. |
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Reports of Mayor and Council Committees |
Mayor Droba shared that he attended the Recreation Commission meeting held at 3:30 P.M. on November 16, 2020. Mayor Droba said he offered a motion for the Recreation Commission to follow the same policy as the School Board adopts for school sponsored sports. If the School Board closes school facilities and sports activities, then the Recreation program sports activities would also close. The motion failed with 3 yeas to 5 nays; therefore, sports may continue if on property other than school property.
Mayor Droba said he would have a list of Committee/Commission vacancies at the next Council meeting. Persons interested in serving can apply in December for appointment by the Mayor at the organizational meeting on January 4, 2021. |
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AUDIENCE |
Kevin from DSI inquired if we had received the packet of documents that had been mailed to the City of International Falls in regards to the I/I project. Mayor Droba stated he would look into the matter and get back to him. |
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ADJOURNMENT |
Mayor Droba shared that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 7, 2020 at 5:30 P.M. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:14 P.M. |
ATTEST: Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator
