Regular meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building and via BlueJeans Conferencing on the 1st day of February, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Mayor Droba. Councilor Krause, media and public via BlueJeans Conferencing. All members noted they could hear the others and the discussion.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda with addition | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda with one addition as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the January 19, 2020 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of January 19, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 07-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 07-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 425.00 | 70338 |
| Alex Air Apparatus Inc | Supplies – Fire Department | 707.98 | 70339 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies – IT/Pol/Public Works, Fire Cloth | 998.87 | 70340 |
| American Water Works Assoc. | Membership Dues – Wilson | 79.00 | 70341 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,837.16 | 70342 |
| Applied Concepts Inc | New Stalker Radar Unit | 3,151.00 | 70343 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Tools/Parts-Gar/Unit 6/Street, Air Comp Oil | 276.99 | 70344 |
| Axon Enterprises Inc | 10 Taser 60 Year 2 Payment: X26P Basic | 2,190.00 | 70345 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,343.50 | 70346 |
| Big Fish Print Solutions | Blight Inspection Forms | 320.58 | 70347 |
| Border State Bank | Radio Equipment | 38,587.10 | 70348 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 70349 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 390.84 | 70350 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Sup/Lic/Trng/MR/Auto-It/Pol/St/Amb/VNP | 849.34 | 70351 |
| Bronko Nagurski Foundation | Appropriation 2021 | 30,000.00 | 70352 |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Appropriation 2021 | 55,000.00 | 70353 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 153.39 | 70354 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 1,264.13 | 70355 |
| CMS Medicare | Amb Overpayment Refund-3221013008830 | 515.48 | 70356 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 2,914.44 | 70357 |
| Core & Main | Rods/PVC Pipe | 898.54 | 70358 |
| Emblem Enterprises, Inc | Patches – Fire Dept./Ambulance | 2,283.41 | 70359 |
| Falls Hunger Coalition | 2021 Annual Appropriation | 5,000.00 | 70360 |
| Ford of Hibbing | 2020 Ford Explorer Police | 34,536.00 | 70361 |
| Forest Hill Cemetery Assoc. | 2021 Annual Allocation | 10,000.00 | 70362 |
| Friends Against Abuse | Appropriation 2021 | 1,000.00 | 70363 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing – Baldwin/Sears/Amb/Bombenger | 755.39 | 70364 |
| Graybar | Maint & Repair – Water | 205.45 | 70365 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals | 2,517.50 | 70366 |
| Holiday Companies | Gas – Strm Sew/Fire/House/Str/Wtr/Amb | 4,562.46 | 70367 |
| I-Falls Super One Foods | Supplies – Ambulance | 31.93 | 70368 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Cases of Paper | 1,711.80 | 70369 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | 1st Half 2021 Project Allocation | 88,981.00 | 70370 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,554.00 | 70371 |
| K & K Meyers Inc | Bldg Maint – Water, Supplies – Engineering | 122.03 | 70372 |
| KCC TV | Appropriation 2021 | 14,000.00 | 70373 |
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept. | Tipping Fee – Street | 18.00 | 70374 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept. | Dyed Fuel – Street/Garage | 3,157.48 | 70375 |
| League of Minnesota Cities | Patrol Subscription | 1,170.00 | 70376 |
| LVC Inc | Annu Fire Ext-Wtr Plnt/Chamb/Pound/K Prk | 278.55 | 70377 |
| Macqueen Equipment Inc | Parts – Street Department | 269.79 | 70378 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 512.75 | 70379 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/Pw | 1,102.90 | 70380 |
| Mark Leblanc | Meal Allowance | 59.34 | 70381 |
| MedicareBlue Rx | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,560.00 | 70382 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing – Ambulance | 32.00 | 70383 |
| Menards International Falls | Tools/Sup-Str/Strm Sew/Admin/Hous/Safety | 484.19 | 70384 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable – Fire Hall/Ambulance, Internet-Street | 283.70 | 70385 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 1,207.92 | 70386 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies – Park&Rec/Garage | 105.86 | 70387 |
| Mn Dept. of Labor & Industry | VNP Elevator #1002980 | 100.00 | 70388 |
| Mn Dept. of Transportation | Temporary Traffic Control Field Manuals (3) | 19.50 | 70389 |
| Municipal Code Corporation | Annual Code Hosting-2021 | 550.00 | 70390 |
| Musco Sports Lighting LLC | Hydrant Extension – Kerry Park Arena | 99.36 | 70391 |
| National Government Services | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 803.35 | 70392 |
| ON2 Solutions | Street Lighting – Cap Project | 12,500.00 | 70393 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical/Pharmaceutical Supplies | 1,646.69 | 70394 |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies – Bldgs & Grds/Garage | 2,403.23 | 70395 |
| Roche’s Towing | Towing – Police | 85.00 | 70396 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services – VNP | 3,500.00 | 70397 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Bldg Maint – City Hall/Library | 9,086.40 | 70398 |
| Sirchie Acquisition Company LLC | Evidence Collection Supplies | 277.90 | 70399 |
| Steven M Shermoen | Legal Fees | 11,066.00 | 70400 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Cloth-Mastin/Kennedy/Franko/Kostiuk/Offer | 666.09 | 70401 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 510.88 | 70402 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 38,912.00 | 70403 |
| Tri State Bobcat Inc | Parts – Unit 6 | 688.65 | 70404 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 2,503.12 | 70405 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Bldg Maint-Fire, Elect Conserva, St Lights | 1,163.25 | 70406 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 103,785.40 | 70407 |
| Xerox Corporation | Maint/Monthly Charge – Water Plant | 78.22 | 70408 |
| Ziegler Inc | Unit 121 – Parts, Grader Lease-12m3awd | 5,368.83 | 70409 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 100856 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 100857 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 36,871.16 | 100858 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,191.30 | 100859 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 100860 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 120.00 | 100861 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 601.46 | 100862 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 6,857.85 | 100863 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 7,025.00 | 100864 |
| PERA | Retirement | 30,570.51 | 100865 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 700.55 | 100866 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 727.98 | 100867 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS
APPROVED First reading of Contract Ordinance for the 2021 Elevated Water Storage Tank Improvements |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the first reading of Contract Ordinance for the 2021 Elevated Water Storage Tank Improvements. Director of Public Works Ted Brokaw stated Viking Industrial Paintings quote came in under the Engineers projected estimate. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Year 2021 license renewals/applications · Silvers Construction, LLC – snowplow license · Snickers Concrete – snowplow license Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
TABLED Consideration of building demolition application from owners Teri Hart and Lisa and Ben Mortenson on non-homesteaded property at 1418 Main Ave. |
Mayor Droba suggested tabling consideration of building demolition application from owners Teri Hart and Lisa and Ben Mortenson on non-homesteaded property at 1418 Main Ave. Mayor Droba stated he would like the council to discuss the demolition policy at the Committee-of the-Whole meeting on Monday, February 8, 2021 before making a decision.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to table consideration of building demolition application from owners Teri Hart and Lisa and Ben Mortenson on non-homesteaded property at 1418 Main Ave. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Alexandria C. Stevens and Ryan E. Stenson as part-time Police Officers | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to appoint Alexandria C. Stevens and Ryan E. Stenson as part-time Police Officers effective upon successfully meeting all city and state employment requirements. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ACCEPTED letter of resignation from City Administrator
|
Mayor Droba stated the council received a letter of resignation from City Administrator Ken Anderson at the Special City Council Meeting held prior to the regular City Council Meeting on February 1, 2021.
City Administrator Anderson stated his last day of work will be Friday, March 5, 2021 with retirement at the end of day on April 2, 2021. Anderson stated it has been a privilege to have worked for seven years on behalf of all the citizens of the City of International Falls. I have advocated and worked hard to pursue excellence in local governance. City Administrator Anderson submitted a list of activities that he plans on focusing on in his last weeks of employment. Mayor Droba thanked City Administrator Anderson for his service the past seven years. MOTION by Councilor Holden to accept the resignation of City Administrator Anderson. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| CONVENE CLOSED MEETING | Mayor Droba announced that the City Council would proceed into a closed meeting session with the City Council, City Attorney, City Administrator, Deputy City Administrator, and Director of Public Works present in accordance with Minnesota Statute 13D.05, Subd. 3 (c)(3) for the purpose of considering property acquisition of 801 3rd Avenue, International Falls. Mayor Droba asked the City Council if they would like the meeting to be closed to discuss this matter. The City Council indicated they wanted the meeting to be closed to the public in order to freely discuss the matter. MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to recess the open meeting and move to close the meeting at 5:45 P.M. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| RECONVENE OPEN SESSION | Mayor Droba reconvened the open session meeting at 6:06 P.M. Mayor Droba shared they will be continuing negotiations regarding the property at 801 3rd Avenue. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Administrator Anderson shared that the Koochiching Community COVID Testing Event held on January 21 – 23 administered 231 saliva tests. The County has not received the positivity results yet. Anderson also shared that he received the Sand Creek employee assistance programs yearly report. A copy has been put in the Mayor and Councilors mailboxes. Minimal participation in 2020. Anderson stated he received an application on tax abatement and will be processing that through the normal channels and will keep the council advised on the matter.
City Attorney Shermoen thanked City Administrator Anderson for all his years of service. Shermoen stated it has been a pleasure to work with Anderson and appreciates all he has done for the city. Shermoen stated he will miss working with him.
City Attorney Shermoen presented the blight report. Court cases are scheduled for February 16, 2021 and March 16, 2021. Shermoen requested to discuss at the next Committee-of the-Whole meeting the pending demolition cases. Discussion ensued regarding assessing legal fees to the property owners. Mayor Droba shared he would add to the Committee-of-the-Whole agenda for discussion. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Councilor Ditsch shared that he requested the number of accidents that have occurred from 332 truck route to Hwy 53 from Police Chief Mastin. Residents in the area had concerns and sought to get stop signs put up. Based on the Police Chiefs report of the low number of accidents it does not warrant any stop signs.
Councilor Buller shared the Airport is having issues with the #2 Boiler ever since it was installed. They have given the company one last chance to fix it. If not fixed they will be demanding a new boiler. Councilor Buller also shared that Public Works will be meeting next week to discuss 2022 projects. Mayor Droba shared Land Use & Legislation have been meeting and discussing the MN Powers Franchise Agreement and rental licensing. Both will be discussed in detail at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on Monday, February 8, 2021. Mayor Droba shared he has not met with the Chamber of Commerce. He did receive a letter from Leif Larson asking how to move forward with the Chamber building. Mayor Droba plans on meeting with them this week. Councilor Holden shared that the KEDA meeting went well. Cold Weather Testing was discussed. Due to COVID they were not able to do Helicopter testing. Councilor Krause shared that the Recreation Commission met. They are having issues with visiting teams and visiting spectators being non-compliant and not wearing masks. Councilor Krause also shared that elections of officers was conducted. Councilor Krause thanked the Public Works Director and the Recreation Commission Director for opening the warming house on 8th Street. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, February 16, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 6:28 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Kenneth R. Anderson, City Administrator
