A 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 3rd day of May, 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 with additions | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda with additions, as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Buller 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 Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 19, 2021 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of April 19, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 26, 2021 special City Council meeting and Public Hearing | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the special City Council meeting and Public Hearing of April 26, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Krause abstaining. |
| APPROVED minutes of the April 27, 2021 special City Council meeting and Public Hearing | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the special City Council meeting and Public Hearing of April 27, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 28-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 28-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup – IT/Wtr Plnt, Comp Power Cord – Amb | 2,620.18 | 70907 |
| American Water Works Assoc. | Membership Dues – Brokaw | 221.00 | 70908 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,837.16 | 70909 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup/Wage Assignment | 298.00 | 70910 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,343.50 | 70911 |
| Bear’s Port Town Tire | Unit 082 – Tires | 714.72 | 70912 |
| Betty Ronning | Reimbursement – ServiceMaster | 80.91 | 70913 |
| Big Fish Print Solutions | Boise Carton Paper | 447.00 | 70914 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Sanitary Sewer | 10.75 | 70915 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 70916 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 308.90 | 70917 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Safe Deposit Box Rent | 20.00 | 70918 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Trng-Pol/Fire, Sup-IT/Fire/Haz/Amb/VNP, | 6,183.14 | 70919 |
| Bryan Franko | Travel – Meal Allowance | 70.00 | 70920 |
| Cari Rostie | Reimbursement – ServiceMaster | 202.27 | 70921 |
| City Directories | Admin/Fire/House/Street/Water | 1,190.00 | 70922 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 229.36 | 70923 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 1,150.25 | 70924 |
| Commercial Refrigeration Sys | Kerry Park Arena – Shut Down | 545.00 | 70925 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 4,357.81 | 70926 |
| Core & Main | Highway 53 Water Main Cross | 30,209.42 | 70927 |
| Dan Sweney | Travel Expense | 192.08 | 70928 |
| Earl F Andersen | Signs | 162.35 | 70929 |
| Emergency Apparatus Maint Inc | Repairs Engine City 1 (0402) | 1,883.78 | 70930 |
| Entenmann – Rovin Co | Officer Badge | 243.00 | 70931 |
| Graybar | Maint & Repair-St Lighting | 541.07 | 70932 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals | 31,310.78 | 70933 |
| Holiday Companies | Gas-Fire/Str/Amb/Water/San Sewer/Hazmat | 3,889.30 | 70934 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies – Mayor/Council | 68.84 | 70935 |
| Int’l Falls US Post Office | Permit #79 Escrow | 2,000.00 | 70936 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share April 2021 Project Costs | 5,474.79 | 70937 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,554.00 | 70938 |
| Jason Sjoblom | Boot Allowance | 110.00 | 70939 |
| Josh Mastin | Travel & Training | 70.00 | 70940 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | Chamber Bldg Property Taxes-1st Half 2021 | 1,373.00 | 70941 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept. | Dyed Fuel – Street/Garage | 2,527.52 | 70942 |
| Lake of The Wood County | 1st Half Property Tax – Miggins | 183.00 | 70943 |
| Locators & Supplies | Supplies – Engineer/Storm/Water/San Sewer | 632.83 | 70944 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Legal Services | 72.00 | 70945 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 546.50 | 70946 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/PW | 1,340.98 | 70947 |
| Mark Leblanc | Meal Allowance | 10.00 | 70948 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,560.00 | 70949 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup/Tools – Wtr/Str/Strm, M&R Other – Str | 299.39 | 70950 |
| Meyers Glass | Door Repair – Fire | 180.23 | 70951 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Gar | 524.76 | 70952 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 30.00 | 70953 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 1,559.57 | 70954 |
| Minnesota Power | Opt 1 Lighting, Street Lighting | 4,790.60 | 70955 |
| Minnesota Rural Water Assoc. | Hydrant Repair Training (7) | 1,050.00 | 70956 |
| MN Dept. of Labor & Industry | Inspection – City Hall | 36.00 | 70957 |
| MN Highway Safety & Research | Police Training | 1,780.00 | 70958 |
| ON2 Solutions | Maint/Repair – GGB Council Chambers | 700.00 | 70959 |
| Pitney Bowes Reserve Acct | Qtrly Lease – Inserting & Mailing System | 1,000.00 | 70960 |
| Range Paper Corp | Supplies – VNP/Bldgs | 1,075.19 | 70961 |
| Rhory Gelo | Travel Expense – Fire | 70.00 | 70962 |
| Roche’s Towing | Towing – Police | 170.00 | 70963 |
| Ronning’s | Clothing Allowance – Kennedy/Bounds | 113.98 | 70964 |
| ServiceMaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Serv-1203 12th St/1200 14th Ave | 550.17 | 70965 |
| Soundnorth | Monitors/Return Monitor | 169.96 | 70966 |
| Steven M Shermoen | Legal Fees | 9,932.00 | 70967 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing – Helgeson/Police, Eye Protection | 645.86 | 70968 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 448.08 | 70969 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 38,912.00 | 70970 |
| The Tessman Company | Fertilizer – Park/Rec | 1,001.81 | 70971 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint – Arena/VNP/Garage/City Hall | 12,910.47 | 70972 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,110.68 | 70973 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Maintenance & Repairs Other – Buildings | 121.56 | 70974 |
| Viking Industrial Center | Maintenance – Sanitary Sewer | 108.84 | 70975 |
| Wex Bank | Circle K Cards | 18.00 | 70976 |
| Wherley Motors Inc | 2020 Ford Explorer – Police | 1,524.88 | 70977 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 86,816.31 | 70978 |
| Wyatt Boyum | Firefighter II Testing – Per Diem | 70.00 | 70979 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 100953 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 100954 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 62,977.50 | 100955 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,202.70 | 100956 |
| IF Fire Dept. Relief | Volunteer Firemen Dues | 350.00 | 100957 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 100958 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 120.00 | 100959 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 601.46 | 100960 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 11,130.88 | 100961 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 34,215.00 | 100962 |
| PERA | Retirement | 36,640.48 | 100963 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 701.90 | 100964 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 653.12 | 100965 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | |
| APPROVED Cleanup Agreement with Friend’s Recycling LLC | City Attorney Shermoen urged the Council to approve a Cleanup Agreement with Friend’s Recycling LLC due to the ongoing blight issues at their properties. It was noted that there are specific timelines and benchmarks in the agreement that Friends must meet in order to avoid criminal blight prosecution moving forward. It was noted that the Council wants to work with local businesses acting in good faith, not force them out of business.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve a Cleanup Agreement with Friend’s Recycling LLC. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED professional services agreement for design services from Widseth and construction management services from Kraus Anderson for Kerry Park Revitalization Project |
Staff from Widseth and Kraus Anderson were present to brief the Council and public on the Kerry Park Revitalization Masterplan and outline the process moving forward.
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the professional services agreement for design services from Widseth and construction management services from Kraus Anderson for the Kerry Park Revitalization Project and authorize signatures on the agreement. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 10-14, 2021 as the week for distribution of Buddy Poppies | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 10-14, 2021 as the week for distribution of Buddy Poppies by the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States (VFW). Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 2021 as Mental Health Month | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Mayoral Proclamation declaring May 2021 as Mental Health Month. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED engineering services from Bolton & Menk for preparing a Water Treatment Plant Asset Management and Capital Improvements Study | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve engineering services from Bolton & Menk for preparing a Water Treatment Plant Asset Management and Capital Improvements Study. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED purchase of condenser for Kerry Park Arena from the City of Champlin for $3,000 | Director of Public Works Brokaw explained that the condenser unit at Kerry Park Arena needs to be immediately addressed due to issues with it leaking. Director Brokaw stressed that with the City undergoing a plan to revitalize Kerry Park, it does not make sense to replace the unit with a new unit at the cost of $15,000-$20,000 when it is possible the City may completely reconstruct the arena. Director Brokaw recommends replacing the condenser with a used model from the City of Champlin. MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the purchase of a condenser for Kerry Park Arena from the City of Champlin for $3,000. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED agreement for contracting athletic director services for the Recreation Commission and authorize signatures | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agreement to contract athletic director services for the Recreation Commission and authorize signatures. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 29-2021 calling for a public hearing on the proposed modification of Development District No. 1 and the establishment of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 1-4 and the adoption of the Tax Increment Financing plan | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 29-2021 calling for a public hearing on the proposed modification of Development District No. 1 and the establishment of Tax Increment Financing (TIF) District No. 1-4 within the development district and the adoption of the modified Development Program and the adoption of the Tax Increment Financing plan related to thereto. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 30-2021 approving MnDOT Grant Agreement No. 1046187 for airport improvements excluding land acquisition | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 30-2021 approving MnDOT Grant Agreement No. 1046187 for airport improvements excluding land acquisition. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 31-2021 approving application for exempt permit for MN Deer Hunters Association, Trails End Chapter to conduct a raffle, with the drawing to be held on June 28, 2021 at Backus Community Center | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 31-2021 approving application for exempt permit for MN Deer Hunters Association, Trails End Chapter to conduct a raffle, with the drawing to be held on June 28, 2021 at Backus Community Center, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Human Resource committee recommendations: | |
| a. APPROVED extending 80 hours of paid leave through September 30, 2021, and not to participate in the American Rescue Plan of 2021 | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve extending 80 hours of paid leave through September 30, 2021, however not to participate in the American Rescue Plan of 2021- as it is optional and all the guidelines for the plan have not been clarified. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| b. APPROVED termination of five (5) Emergency Medical Technicians from employment due to inactivity | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve terminating the following five (5) Emergency Medical Technicians from employment due to inactivity:
Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| c. APPROVED wage adjustment for Spare FireFighter Engineers and Casual Paramedics | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve a wage adjustment for the following employees:
Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| d. APPROVED wage increase to $20/hour for Paid On-Call Volunteer FireFighters for training time and fire calls | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve a wage increase to $20.00 per hour for paid on-call volunteer firefighters for training time and fire calls. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
Interim City Administrator Bergstrom noted that she has a conference call scheduled for Thursday, May 6, 2021 with Flaherty and Hood to begin the process of the Job Classification and Compensation Study.
City Attorney Shermoen stated that he has 19 criminal blight cases scheduled to be heard in district court on Tuesday, May 11, 2021. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba noted that the City Administrator Application Committee met today to review the 16 applications received for the City Administrator job opening. Mayor Droba stated that two applicants have been selected for interviews to be held on May 12, 2021. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 17, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 6:16 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, Interim City Administrator
