February 22, 2022 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 22nd day of February, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.

MEMBERS PRESENT:       Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, Krause, and Mayor Droba.

MEMBERS ABSENT:         None.

 

APPROVED agenda as presented MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the agenda as presented.  Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.
   
APPROVED minutes of the February 7, 2022 regular City Council meeting MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 7, 2022.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.
   
APPROVED minutes of the February 14, 2022 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of February 14, 2022.  Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.
   
ADOPTED Resolution No. 12-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 12-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.

CLAIMS

A+ Pest Management Pest Control         454.75 72889
Accurate Fastening Solutions Supplies – Street Garage         130.65 72890
ACME Tools Tools – Water         475.99 72891
Amazon Capital Services Sup-Wtr/Eng/Fire/Pol/IT, Police Slings         558.98 72892
Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel Cleaning Service     1,039.83 72893
ATCO International Degreaser        140.25 72894
Bolton & Menk Inc Engineering Services     9,668.50 72895
Border Boxes Shipping – Wtr Plnt, Sup – Strm Sew         137.00 72896
Bound Tree Medical LLC Ambulance Supplies      1,442.17 72897
Brian Jespersen Police Benefit        150.00 72898
Brian Youso Police Benefit         150.00 72899
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 401 Water/Sewer Funds Transfer   66,666.66 72900
City of Int’l Falls – Fund 403 Water/Sewer Funds Transfer    25,760.42 72901
Compass Minerals Bulk Hwy Coarse W/YPS   10,293.88 72902
Core & Main Supplies – Water Department         192.83 72903
Curtis Blue Line Patches           50.00 72921
Dakota Supply Group Valve Repair, Supplies – Water     1,306.24 72904
Expert Billing LLC Ambulance Transports      3,422.00 72905
Falls Lumber Company Police – Dog Pound Gym           34.99 72906
Flaherty & Hood, P.A. Job Class & Compensation Study         290.00 72907
Forest Lake Printing Police Department – Hats         156.50 72908
Forestland Sales & Service Parts – Street/P&R         121.88 72909
Frontier Monthly Telephone Service     2,421.18 72910
Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC Clothing – Stenson/Kostuik/Tveit         665.17 72911
Graybar Supplies – Street Lighting        216.40 72912
Hasbargen Customs LLC Printing of Hi-Vis Jackets         406.13 72913
Hawkins Inc Chemicals    35,563.28 72914
Howards – Cenex LLC Gas – Street/Gar      1,792.35 72915
Innovative Office Solutions LLC Sup – Admin/Amb, Shut Off Door Tags         406.86 72916
International Code Council Membership – Building Official         145.00 72917
Inventory Trading Co Ambulance Clothing         840.24 72918
Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash Gas-Pol/Str/Gar/St Lght/Strm Sew/Wtr      6,700.76 72919
Kooch County Diesel Inc Unit 124 Repairs         160.00 72920
Lawson Products Inc Electrical Supplies         362.32 72922
LMC Insurance Trust – Liability Annual Liability and Auto Insurance 180,367.00 72923
LMC Insurance Trust – WC Workers Comp Insurance Premiums  246,955.00 72924
Madden Galanter Hansen LLP Legal Services      1,832.70 72925
Mannco Trucking Inc Parts – Street     1,409.41 72926
Marco Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange           80.00 72927
Marco – LEC LEC – C368 Copier Agreement         409.33 72928
Marco Technologies LLC Contract/Print Copies – Fire/Admin/PW     1,285.64 72929
Menards International Falls Sup/Tool-Fire/Pol/Grnds/Str Lght/Str      1,110.70 72930
Michael Musich Police Benefit         150.00 72931
Midcontinent Communications Cable – Fire Hall/Ambulance         140.42 72932
Minnesota Energy Resources Utilities    11,283.79 72933
Minnesota Industries Supplies – Water/Garage           61.24 72934
Minnesota Power Utilities    38,565.50 72935
MN Bureau Criminal Apprehension DMT-G Cert – Wherley         375.00 72936
MN Dept. of Labor & Industry Inspection-Old Dog Pound Police Gym           48.00 72937
MN Dept. of Labor & Industry Boiler Inspection-Water Plant/Library           50.00 72938
MTI Distributing Inc Parts – VNP     1,545.44 72939
North American Bank Company Inserting System Lease         181.75 72940
Northern Lumber & Hardware Sup/Tools-Str/P&R/Wtr/Gar/Pol/GGB         458.51 72941
Nuss Truck & Equipment 2022 Mack GR42F Dump Truck 117,175.00 72942
Office of MNIT Services Wide Area Network(Wan) Services         267.73 72943
Rainy Lake Medical Center Pharmaceutical Supplies        224.13 72944
Rainy Lake Oil Fuel – Water Plant           50.50 72945
Range Paper Corp Cleaning Supplies – Ambulance/Fire         307.85 72946
Scalzo Architects 2045-Locker Rm/Lunch Rm City Gar        776.25 72947
ServiceMaster of Intl Falls Cleaning Services – VNP      4,500.00 72948
Streicher’s Inc Clothing Allowance – Stenson          69.98 72949
Taylor’s Plumbing & Htg LLC Kerry Park – Repairs         934.50 72950
Terry Christie Police Benefit         150.00 72951
Terry Wood Police Benefit        150.00 72952
Tom Lynch Police Benefit         150.00 72953
UHL Company Inc Bldg Maint – City Hall/Library     3,849.00 72954
VariTech Industries Inc Deicer Tank     5,726.00 72955
Viking Electric Supply Inc Police Department-Old Dog Pound-Gym         122.51 72956
Volunteer Firefighters Firefighters Insurance      1,060.00 72957
WEX Bank Gas – Fire/House/Str/Amb/Water     7,122.68 72958
Willi Kostiuk Police Benefit         150.00 72959
Xerox Corporation Maint/Monthly Charge – Water Plant           29.81 72960
Ziegler Inc Unit 091 – Parts         751.18 72961
The following checks were issued under blanket authorization:
AFLAC Supplemental Insurance 225.04 101267
AllState – American Heritage Supplemental Insurance 9.64 101268
Bremer Bank NA Federal Withholding 40,167.10 101269
I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund Retirement 4,524.16 101270
City of Int’l Falls HRA – Police/Fire 520.00 101271
City of Int’l Falls Health Insurance – 49ers 404.00 101272
IAMAW District W33 Union Dues 1,720.00 101273
IF Fire Dept. Relief Volunteer Firemen Dues 280.00 101274
Intl Falls Ambulance Service Dues 161.00 101275
I.U.O.E. Local 49ers Health Reimbursement 910.00 101276
Justin Franz, Sec/Treas C.O.P.S 120.00 101277
MN Child Support Pmt Center Wage Assignment 614.39 101278
MN Department of Revenue State Withholding 7,414.91 101279
Empower Retirement Deferred Comp 9,183.00 101280
PERA Life Insurance 112.00 101281
North Kooch Area San Dist Health Insurance 425.00 101282
PERA Retirement 34,411.35 101283
United Way of NE MN Employee Donation 15.00 101284
AFLAC Supplemental Insurance 206.62 101285
AllState – American Heritage Supplemental Insurance 9.64 101286
Bremer Bank NA Federal Withholding 42,622.41 101287
I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund Retirement 4,380.90 101288
Intl Falls Ambulance Service Dues 161.00 101289
Justin Franz, Sec/Treas C.O.P.S 120.00 101290
MN Child Support Pmt Center Wage Assignment 614.39 101291
MN Department of Revenue State Withholding 7,695.62 101292
Empower Retirement Deferred Comp 15,820.66 101293
PERA Retirement 34,885.57 101294
Sun Life Financial Supplemental Life Insurance 800.51 101295
The Hartford Voluntary LTD Insurance 773.23 101296
United Way of NE MN Employee Donation 15.00 101297

 

AUDIENCE Lois Lundin inquired on any updates on the Kerry Park Revitalization Project.   Mayor Droba shared the city applied for bonding funds for Phase 1 of the Kerry Park Revitalization Project.  The City of International Falls is scheduled to testify in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives on March 3, 2022 regarding the bonding request.  They are currently working with Kraus Anderson,  Isaac Sports Group (ISG) and local groups to ensure the data they received showing the City could financially support the project is viable.  Mayor Droba stated no additional taxes or costs would be requested of the residents of International Falls.
PUBLIC HEARING None.
OPENING BIDS None.
OLD BUSINESS None.
CONSENT AGENDA:

APPROVED as presented

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:

  1. Approve renewal of Employee Assistance Agreement with Sand Creek EAP, LLC for Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services effective March 15, 2022 to March 14, 2024 and authorize signatures
  2. Acknowledge resignation of part-time Patrol Officer Curtis Turban effective February 17, 2022

Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

   
NEW BUSINESS:

APPROVED request from Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) for a letter of support for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Main Street Economic Revitalization Program grant that they are requesting through the Northland Foundation for businesses in Koochiching County

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the request from Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) for a letter of support for the Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) Main Street Economic Revitalization Program grant that they are requesting through the Northland Foundation for businesses in Koochiching County.  Motion passed 4-0-1 with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Krause voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba abstaining.

 

   
APPROVED continued participation in the Northeast Minnesota HOME Consortium Joint Powers Agreement MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve continued participation in the Northeast Minnesota HOME Consortium Joint Powers Agreement.  Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously.
   
REPORTS:

Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads

City Administrator Bergstrom shared that she is working with ISG in preparation to testify on March 3, 2022 in front of the Minnesota House of Representatives regarding the bonding request for the Kerry Park Revitalization project.

 

City Attorney Shermoen shared his annual report of 2021.  He also stated he has met with Greentech regarding the agreement with the city and has been working on union negotiations.

 

The January 2022 International Falls Police Department Activity Report was available for review.

 

The Building Official/Zoning Administrator Annual report for 2021 4th Quarter was available for review.

   
Reports of Mayor and Council Committees Mayor Droba shared that the County Board met and did not make a decision on the Ambulance Taxing District.  Discussion was tabled until Ranier makes a decision.

 

Mayor Droba stated there is an Airport Committee meeting on February 24, 2022 to discuss annexation of the International Falls/Koochiching County Airport into the city of International Falls.

 

Mayor Droba shared a written statement that he would be sending to the Chamber of Commerce in regards to the story ‘Our financial situation’ posted in the Rainy Lake Gazette.  MOTION by Councilor Buller that the letter come from all the Council members.  Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously.

 

Councilor Buller thanked Public Works for the great job they have been doing plowing snow from the streets.

 

Councilor Krause shared that the Recreation Commission meeting last week went well.  Councilor Holden added that Recreation Director Mason would be addressing the concerns from the city with the staff member.  Councilor Krause suggested that a preliminary meeting to discuss the Joint Powers agreement be held June 2022 to discuss the retirement of the Recreation Director.

   
AUDIENCE Crystal Clance suggested the Chamber of Commerce combine the Convention of Visitors Bureau to assist with their financial situation.
   
ADJOURNMENT Mayor Droba stated that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 7, 2022 at 5:30 P.M.

 

The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 6:17 P.M.

Harley M. Droba, Mayor

Attest:

Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator

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