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 19th day of April, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, Krause and Mayor Droba.
Media and public via BlueJeans Conferencing. All members noted they could hear the others and the discussion.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 5, 2021 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the April 5, 2021 regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 12, 2021 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of April 12, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 25-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 25-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 555.00 | 70817 |
| Acme Tools – Grand Forks | Master Locks | 731.40 | 70818 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies/Maint – Fire/IT/Street | 182.81 | 70819 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup/Wage Assignment | 711.40 | 70820 |
| Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel | Cleaning Services | 1,038.01 | 70821 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Water Plant | 157.00 | 70822 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 654.71 | 70823 |
| Bowman Construction Co | Crusher Fines ¾” Minus | 4,800.00 | 70824 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70825 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70826 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 401 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 70827 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 403 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 25,760.42 | 70828 |
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 11.00 | 70829 |
| CMS Medicare | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 478.82 | 70830 |
| Danielle Fish | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 70831 |
| Drain Services Inc. | Widseth Project 2019-13239 | 38,720.00 | 70832 |
| E Kooch Sanitary Sewer Dist. | City Beach/Water Plant | 195.00 | 70833 |
| Earl F Andersen | Supplies – Street, Signs – Grounds | 1,699.90 | 70834 |
| Expert T Billing | Ambulance Transports | 2,523.00 | 70835 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Car Wash – Police | 10.06 | 70836 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,740.96 | 70837 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,610.19 | 70838 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing Allowance-Mannausau/Ambulance | 156.15 | 70839 |
| Hach Company | Chemicals/Lab Supplies | 434.64 | 70840 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals | 2,667.64 | 70841 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies – Housing | 100.32 | 70842 |
| Koerter’s Amoco | Gas-Grnds/Str/St Lght/Strm Sew/Wtr/Sewer | 2,547.97 | 70843 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | Spec Assess Admin Fees, LEC Qrtly Lease | 18,900.00 | 70844 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Supplies – Street Lighting | 193.96 | 70845 |
| LMC Insurance Trust – Liability | Deductible – Mannausau | 500.00 | 70846 |
| LVC Inc | VNP Fire Alarm Troubleshoot/Repair | 1,502.88 | 70847 |
| Macqueen Equipment Inc | Maintenance & Repair – Sweeper | 17,647.70 | 70848 |
| Mark LeBlanc | Meal Allowance | 10.00 | 70849 |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies/Tools – Street/Fire/Amb/GGB | 557.07 | 70850 |
| Meyers Glass | Door Repair – City Hall, Board Fire House | 800.98 | 70851 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70852 |
| Mid-States Equipment Inc | Maintenance Repair – Street Unit 173 | 381.31 | 70853 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 96.60 | 70854 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 5,916.22 | 70855 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies – Sanitary Sewer | 23.00 | 70856 |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 26,549.70 | 70857 |
| MN Dept. of Labor & Industry | Inspection – Council Chambers/Elevator | 136.00 | 70858 |
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 84,743.17 | 70860 |
| Napa Falls Supply | Unit 1702/183/173, Sup/Tools – Garage | 981.34 | 70861 |
| National Pen Co LLC | Safety Pens | 154.20 | 70862 |
| Northland Securities Inc | Tax Abate Ser – IF Properties/Cobblestone | 7,525.00 | 70863 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network(Wan) Services | 260.00 | 70864 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Parts-Storm Sewer, Tools/Oil/Sup-Grounds | 498.04 | 70865 |
| Praxair Distribution Inc | Oxygen – Ambulance | 901.83 | 70866 |
| Rainy Lake Designs | Library Steam to Hot Water Project | 865.49 | 70867 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Pharmaceutical Supplies | 665.92 | 70868 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Kerosene/Fuel – Water Dept. | 217.30 | 70869 |
| Range Paper Corp | Supplies – Fire | 136.19 | 70870 |
| Ronning’s | Clothing Allowance – J Mastin/Kennedy | 149.95 | 70871 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services – VNP/Covid Clean Up | 3,575.00 | 70872 |
| Shannon’s Inc | Bldg Maint – Library Steam to Hot Water | 11,082.55 | 70873 |
| Small Town Tech Inc | IT/Communication Upgrade Council | 18,198.00 | 70874 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing Allowance – Helgeson | 89.96 | 70875 |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Htg LLC | Building Maintenance – City Garage | 285.60 | 70876 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70877 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70878 |
| The Journal | Agendas/Min/Ordin/Summer Emp/RFP | 2,079.04 | 70879 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70880 |
| TriTech Software Systems | ZSuite Annual Fee | 6,783.73 | 70881 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-Gar/VNP/Library, RPZ-W Plnt | 18,780.66 | 70882 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Bldg Maintenance/Electrical Supplies | 266.69 | 70883 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 5,732.50 | 70884 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 70885 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 70886 |
| Xerox Corporation | Maint/Monthly Charge – Water Plant | 34.70 | 70887 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 100927 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 100928 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 41,326.44 | 100929 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,223.70 | 100930 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA – Police/Fire | 546.00 | 100931 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 454.00 | 100932 |
| IAMAW District W33 | Union Dues | 1,744.50 | 100933 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 154.00 | 100934 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 875.00 | 100935 |
| Int’l Operating Engineers 49ers | Union Dues | 1,000.00 | 100936 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 120.00 | 100937 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 601.46 | 100938 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,057.45 | 100939 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 8,235.00 | 100940 |
| PERA | Life Insurance | 128.00 | 100941 |
| North Kooch Area Sanitary Dist | Health Insurance | 425.00 | 100942 |
| PERA | Retirement | 36,323.23 | 100943 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS:
Removed from the table the delaying of the JLR Cold Box loan repayment from Koochiching Economic Development Authority
|
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to remove from the table the delaying of the JLR Cold Box loan repayment from Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA). Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
Mayor Droba noted that the City recently underwent its 2020 audit and Schlenner Wenner, the auditing firm, questioned where this item was at, as it was tabled in June 2020 and never readdressed. Paul Nevanen, KEDA, stated that KEDA should be able to get caught up on its three (3) payments by May or June. The Council acknowledged it would be good for KEDA to get caught up on payments and clear this item up for auditing purposes. No further action was taken on this item. |
| APPROVED Second and Final Reading of Contract Ordinance #974, accepting the lowest responsible bid for the 2021 Local Street Improvements to Bowman Asphalt Products, Inc., in the amount of $1,471,909. | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the second and final reading of Contract Ordinance #974, accepting the lowest responsible bid for the 2021 Local Street Improvements to Bowman Asphalt Products, Inc., in the amount of $1,471,909. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Second and Final Reading of Ordinance No. 42, 5th Series to repeal and replace Chapter 3 – Municipal and Public Utilities Rules and Regulations, Rates, Charges, and Collections, to include updated sanitary sewer language | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 42, 5th Series to repeal and replace Chapter 3 – Municipal and Public Utilities Rules and Regulations, Rates, Charges, and Collections, to include updated sanitary sewer language. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve publication of the summary of Ordinance No. 42, 5th Series. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| CONSENT AGENDA | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED hiring of summer employees for the Public Works Department as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Holden approving hiring of 2021 Public Works summer part-time employees as follows:
· Alexis Erickson, Olivia Wright, Chad Wennerstrand, Gust Lorenson, Tanner Sether, Taylor Jo Sears, Madeline Pierre, and Avery Sivonen Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring of summer employee for the Housing Department as presented | MOTION by Councilor Krause approving hiring of 2021 Housing/Fire/Code Enforcement summer part-time employee as follows:
· Brittany Foss Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Financial Planning Agreement with Northland Securities, Inc. – Tax Increment Financing Housing District (Redevelopment) for the Alexander Baker Project | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Financial Planning Agreement with Northland Securities, Inc. – Tax Increment Financing Housing District (Redevelopment) for the Alexander Baker Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED agreement for use of Smokey Bear Park for a Community Market | Teresa Moynihan, AOC Event MN, indicated that she obtained the necessary insurance for holding the Community Market at Smokey Bear Park. Ms. Moynihan will work with City staff to determine an appropriate layout to minimize impact to the park grounds.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the agreement for use of Smokey Bear Park for a Community Market each Saturday from 9:00 A.M. – 2:00 P.M. beginning May 29 through September 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED agreement for use of City Beach for kayak and paddleboard landing area (drop off/pick up) – Aaron Nordrum, Rainy Lake Aquatics LLC | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the agreement with Rainy Lake Aquatics LLC for use of City Beach for kayak and paddleboard landing area (drop off/pick up). Motion seconded by Councilor Holden.
Aaron Nordrum, Rainy Lake Aquatics, requested to put signage advertising and informing the public of his business’ presence at City Beach. Mayor Droba stated that the Community Market requested the same thing, but the City does not permit businesses placing signage or advertisements on City property. Mr. Nordrum also requested that he able to hold a “demonstration day” in June at which time he would have his kayaks all on hand at City Beach on one designated day and provide free rentals and kayak/paddleboard demonstrations. It was noted that as long as Mr. Nordrum maintains liability insurance, it should not be an issue. A friendly amendment was made to allow for a demonstration day at City Beach, as a part of the agreement for use of City Beach. Motion carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendations: | |
| a. APPROVED Request for Proposal from Flaherty & Hood, P.A. to provide a Job Classification and Compensation System Study | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Request for Proposal from Flaherty & Hood, P.A. to provide a Job Classification and Compensation System Study. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| b. APPROVED paying Service Master bills for three properties on 14th Avenue for Sanitary Sewer backup | Mayor Droba noted that the cause of the 14th Avenue sanitary sewer backup was an entity disposing of “flushable” wipes down the sanitary sewer. The City’s insurance company is denying homeowner’s insurance claims for damages that resulted from the sewer backup, because the City did proper maintenance of the sanitary sewer main and kept thorough records. The City’s insurance company maintains the City is not at fault as this sewer backup was not a result of a faulty main or negligent maintenance on the City’s part. City staff who responded to the first sewer backup told homeowners to contact ServiceMaster for cleaning. Due to direction provided by City staff to hire the firm to clean-up their properties, it is the recommendation of the Committee-of-the-Whole that the City pays for ServiceMaster cleaning these three (3) properties.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve paying ServiceMaster bills for three properties on 14th Avenue for Sanitary Sewer backup, due to City staff’s suggestion to property owners to have ServiceMaster clean their properties. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works committee recommendations | |
| a. APPROVED partnering with ISD #361 Community Education and Falls Hunger Coalition for expansion of the Community Garden to the Carson Lupie Playground location | MOTION by Councilor Ditsh approving partnering with ISD #361 Community Education and Falls Hunger Coalition for expansion of the Community Garden to the Carson Lupie Playground location. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller.
Ariana Daniel addressed the council with her concerns in regards to moving the site due to all the work they have done at the current Community Garden site. Daniel McGonigle explained the expansion of the Community Garden would be paid by an Age to Age grant, administered by Community Education. Motion carried unanimously. |
| b. ACCEPTED and APPROVED 22nd Street feasibility report and scheduled a public hearing for Monday, May 10, 2021 | MOTION by Councilor Buller to accept and approve the 22nd Street feasibility report and schedule a public hearing for 4:00 P.M. on Monday, May 10, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. A friendly amendment was made to change the Public Hearing meeting time to 5:30 P.M. to allow for better attendance at the Public Hearing. Motion carried unanimously. |
| c. The shrubs and plantings located at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 11th Street will be removed and replanted elsewhere | Information was provided noting that the shrubs and plantings located at the corner of 3rd Avenue and 11th Street that were planted in 2019, will be removed and replanted across from the High School due to the Highway 53 road construction project. No action was taken on this item. |
| ACCEPTED letter of retirement from Police Chief Rich Mastin
|
MOTION by Councilor Holden to accept the letter of retirement from Police Chief Rich Mastin, with regret. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause. Mayor Droba thanked Chief Mastin for all his hard work, specifically with working towards community engagement and organizing events such as National Night Out to bring the police department and community together. Motion carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED advertising the job opening of Chief of Police
|
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to advertise the job opening of Chief of Police. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Friend’s Garbage Service, LLC blight violation update | It was noted that a meeting is scheduled for this week to discuss Friend’s Garbage Service property cleanup progress as it relates to the upcoming May 1, 2021 deadline. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Attorney Shermoen updated the Council on criminal blight cases, with court dates scheduled for April 20 and May 11, 2021. Shermoen stated he is meeting with Fire Marshal Jared Baldwin and Building Official Kelly Meyers to review blight cases every Friday morning. Shermoen shared upcoming meeting scheduled for April 22, 2021 regarding progress of Friends Recycling Facility cleanup project.
Audience member Dennis Wagner addressed the council in regards to Friends Recycling Facility. The Blight written report dated April 19, 2021 was available for review. The International Falls Police Department March 2021 Activity Report was available for review. The March 2021 Fire/Rescue/EMS Department written report was available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba stated he spoke with the Mayor of Fort Frances about the fact that Resolute Paper is considering selling their half of the International Bridge. Mayor Droba noted that both communities have a vested interest in who purchases the bridge, as it will impact international travel and impact toll fees. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba noted there are Public Hearings scheduled on April 26 and 27, 2021 at 5:00 P.M. regarding proposed tax abatement at two separate properties. Mayor Droba shared that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 3, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:48 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, Interim City Administrator
