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 6th day of July, 2021 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Ditsch, Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Buller (via BlueJeans as non-voting member)
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda with deletion, as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. Motion fails to pass 3-1 due to lack of unanimous consent to remove the item from the agenda with Councilors Ditsch, Holden, and Krause voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba voting ‘nay’. MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause. Motion passes with Councilors Ditsch, Krause, and Mayor Droba voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Holden voting ‘nay’. |
| APPROVED minutes of the June 21, 2021 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of June 21, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the June 28, 2021 public hearing and special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the public hearing and special City Council meeting of June 28, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 47-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 47-2021 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Adam Mannausau | CAT Travel Expense | 35.00 | 71310 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup/Build Maint-House/Amb/Fire/IT/Police | 942.04 | 71311 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,837.16 | 71312 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup/Wage Assignment | 1,425.00 | 71313 |
| ATCO International | Supplies – Street Garage | 99.00 | 71314 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Supplies – Street Garage | 15.37 | 71315 |
| Battalion Distributing | 4th of July – Ambulance/Fire | 42.50 | 71316 |
| Baycom Inc | Supplies – Squad Cars | 166.00 | 71317 |
| Bear’s Port Town Tire | Water – Tires | 788.00 | 71318 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Asset Mgmt./Cap. Improve Plan – WP | 7,976.00 | 71319 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 71320 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 466.40 | 71321 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Train/M&R – Police/Hazmat/Safety/Amb | 3,630.54 | 71322 |
| Carlson’s Auto Repair | Unit 2004 Repairs | 25.00 | 71323 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 284.03 | 71324 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 1,461.93 | 71325 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 5,396.62 | 71326 |
| Core & Main | Service Ready Kits | 2,168.19 | 71327 |
| Earl F Andersen | Grills – City Beach, Supplies – Street | 3,459.65 | 71328 |
| Electric Pump Inc | Terrace Lane | 955.32 | 71329 |
| Erickson’s Lawncare | Fertilizing | 4,800.00 | 71330 |
| Erik Drewes | Meal Allowance | 9.16 | 71331 |
| Grand Forks Fire Equip LLC | Altair Gas Detector – Hazmat | 801.13 | 71332 |
| Graybar | Electrical Supplies – WP/Street Lighting | 175.20 | 71333 |
| Int’l Falls US Post Office | Permit #79 Escrow | 2,000.00 | 71334 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share June 2021 Project Costs | 456,060.96 | 71335 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,554.00 | 71336 |
| Jakes Companies LLC | Calcium Chloride | 10,461.60 | 71337 |
| Kantor Electric Inc | Supplies/Labor – Street Lighting | 1,027.86 | 71338 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Supplies – Street Lighting | 115.77 | 71339 |
| MacQueen Equipment Inc | Tools – Sanitary Sewer | 1,209.26 | 71340 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 484.00 | 71341 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/PW | 1,248.05 | 71342 |
| MedicareBlue Rx | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,560.00 | 71343 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing – Maish | 16.00 | 71344 |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies/MRO – Str/WP/Fire/San/Rizzo/Wtr | 624.72 | 71345 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable-Fire/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Garage | 514.76 | 71346 |
| Midwest Playscapes Inc | Engineered Wood Fiber | 6,253.00 | 71347 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 30.00 | 71348 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 378.79 | 71349 |
| Minnesota Industries | Safety Equip – Sanitary Sewer | 67.83 | 71350 |
| Minnesota Power | Parks & Rec/Arena | 606.51 | 71351 |
| Nicholson’s LLC | Grass/Coleus for Cement Planters | 761.76 | 71352 |
| Orton Oil Company | Gas – Water, Supplies – Fire | 152.70 | 71353 |
| Pollard Water | Maintenance – Water Dept. | 62.27 | 71354 |
| Project Pride, c/o Cindy Youso | January – June 2021 | 1,196.20 | 71355 |
| Provider Enterprise | Non Vent AcuCare Masks | 297.39 | 71356 |
| Quality Flow Systems Inc | Float Switch – Terrace Lane | 160.00 | 71357 |
| Railroad Mgmt Co III, Inc | License Fees – Sewer Pipeline Xing | 284.85 | 71358 |
| Rainy Lake Designs | Spring Cleanup/Moving Landscaping/Mulch | 1,165.90 | 71359 |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies – Ambulance/Fire | 284.69 | 71360 |
| Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery | Watering Trees/Labor/Fertilizer – Shade Tree | 2,949.99 | 71361 |
| Soundnorth | Supplies – IT | 64.97 | 71362 |
| Steven M Shermoen | Legal Fees | 13,698.00 | 71363 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 443.40 | 71364 |
| Tactical Solutions | Radar Certification (5) | 220.00 | 71365 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 36,480.00 | 71366 |
| The Sherwin Williams Co-Bemidji | Maintenance for Paint Machine | 215.11 | 71367 |
| The Sports Shop | Clothing Allowance – J. Mastin | 136.00 | 71368 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint – VNP/GGB/Garage | 3,956.63 | 71369 |
| Up North Builders | City Hall Basement Bathroom/Wall Repair | 23,009.50 | 71370 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,573.73 | 71371 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Supplies – St Lighting | 446.83 | 71372 |
| Widseth | Project 2021-10643 Annexation Review | 247.50 | 71373 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 225.04 | 101025 |
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101026 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 40,389.14 | 101027 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,171.50 | 101028 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 161.00 | 101029 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 110.00 | 101030 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 614.39 | 101031 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,687.38 | 101032 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 8,743.00 | 101033 |
| PERA | Retirement | 33,333.19 | 101034 |
| AUDIENCE | Ricky Roche, 22nd Street Business Park property owner, expressed concern for the location and size of driveway entrances in the Business Park. Director of Public Works Brokaw noted that Widseth, the City’s engineering firm, will be working with property owners in the Business Park for the installation of driveways. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS: | |
| APPROVED First Reading of Contract Ordinance for 22nd Street Reconstruction and Highway Lane Reconstruction Project with bid alternates | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the first reading of Contract Ordinance for 22nd Street Reconstruction and Highway Lane Reconstruction Project, including the Main Avenue South bid alternate and Court Lane bid alternate. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: APPROVED as presented | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| RECOMMENDED resolution to rescind Resolution No. 28-20 Proclamation and Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19 Health Pandemic | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to recommend a resolution be passed to rescind Resolution No. 28-20 Proclamation and Declaration of Emergency due to COVID-19 Health Pandemic. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Audit of Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2020, as prepared by Schlenner Wenner & Co. | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve Audit of Financial Statements for the year ending December 31, 2020, as prepared by Schlenner Wenner & Co. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| REFERRED Letter of Agreement between City of International Falls and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 49 to Human Resources Committee | MOTION by Councilor Holden to refer the Letter of Agreement between City of International Falls and International Union of Operating Engineers, Local 49 Public Works & Administrative Office Staff to the Human Resources Committee for further discussion. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. A Human Resources meeting was scheduled for July 12, 2021 at 10:00 A.M. to discuss this item. Motion carried unanimously. |
| Daniel Manick, IUOE Local 49 Business Agent | Daniel Manick, IUOE Local 49 Business Agent, thanked the Council for moving the previous Letter of Agreement to the Human Resources Committee for discussion. Mr. Manick urged the City Council to show compassion to the employees and noted that upon reinstatement of the employees’ Commercial Driver’s License (CDL) it would behoove the City to reinstate them to their previous positions. |
| AUTHORIZED the Police Department to use Smokey Bear Park for National Night Out activities from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021 | MOTION by Councilor Holden authorizing the Police Department to use Smokey Bear Park for National Night Out activities from 4:00 to 7:00 P.M. on Tuesday, August 3, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Entry Permit to Use Boise Premises | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve an Entry Permit to Use Boise Premises for emergency purposes. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause. Chief Mannausau explained that this permit will be used for emergency purposes including disaster drills to prepare for a potential emergency spill at the Port of Entry. Motion carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Sewer Easement Agreement with Crescent Drive Mobile Village LLC | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve a Sewer Easement Agreement with Crescent Drive Mobile Village LLC. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 48-2021 supporting Governmental Intervention in the Sale of the International Bridge | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 48-2021 supporting Governmental Intervention in the Sale of the International Bridge. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Mayor Droba noted that he has been in communication with Mayor Caul of Fort Frances regarding this matter, as it is important to both the International Falls and Fort Frances communities. Motion carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 49-2021 approving Amendment #2 to MnDOT Grant Agreement #1044886 | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 49-2021 approving Amendment #2 to MnDOT Grant Agreement #1044886. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED license application from Dairyland Operations, LLC dba Baskin Robbins for restaurant license, effective July 7, 2021 | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve the license application from Dairyland Operations, LLC dba Baskin Robbins for a restaurant license, effective July 7, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED license transfer from Holiday Stationstores #380 located at 1100 3rd Avenue West to Holiday Stationstores #509 located at 1501 2nd Avenue West | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve license transfer from Holiday Stationstores #380 located at 1100 3rd Avenue West to Holiday Stationstores #509 located at 1501 2nd Avenue West for 3.2 off-sale license, cigarette license, gasoline license (12 pumps) and restaurant license effective August 19, 2021. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendations: | |
| a) APPROVED Bolton & Menk proposal to prepare a Lift Station Asset Management and Capital Improvements Evaluation | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve Bolton & Menk proposal to prepare a Lift Station Asset Management and Capital Improvements Evaluation. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| b) APPROVED rejecting all bids for the 2021 Crack Sealing-Mastic Repair and Fog Seal Project | MOTION by Councilor Krause to reject all bids for the 2021 Crack Sealing-Mastic Repair and Fog Seal Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Administrator Bergstrom thanked the July 4th Commission, City of International Falls Public Works, and City of International Falls Administration staff for all their work on the 2021 July 4th Celebration.
City Attorney Shermoen provided an updated criminal blight listing. Mayor Droba inquired as to the status of the annexation. City Attorney Shermoen stated it is a high priority. Mayor Droba noted that he wants to see the annexation moved through for the multimodal and Donahue properties in order to retain potential future tax benefits. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba noted the reason he voted no to removing the Local 49 Letter of Agreement from the agenda was because he wants to ensure this is handled in a timely fashion. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular meeting is scheduled for Monday, July 19, 2021 at 5:30 P.M. and adjourned the meeting at 6:28 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
