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 16th day of May, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Krause, and Mayor Droba.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Holden.
| 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 May 2, 2022 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of May 2, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the May 3, 2022 special Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve minutes of the special Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of May 3, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the May 9, 2022 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of May 9, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 33-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 33-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A + Pest Management | Pest Control | 2,477.85 | 73459 | ||
| All Season Equipment Inc | Tire-Amb, Gas/Oil-Grnds, Tires-Trailer | 1,207.32 | 73460 | ||
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-Hous/IT/Wtr/Pol/Amb, Cloth-Pol | 1,139.77 | 73461 | ||
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 701.00 | 73463 | ||
| Anthony Kastens | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 105.00 | 73464 | ||
| Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel | Cleaning Service | 1,080.68 | 73462 | ||
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Water Plant | 277.25 | 73465 | ||
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 337.16 | 73466 | ||
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73467 | ||
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73468 | ||
| Cenex Voyager Fleet | Gas-Grnd/Pol/Str/Gar/Hou/Wtr/San Sew | 5,276.16 | 73469 | ||
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 401 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 73470 | ||
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 403 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 25,760.42 | 73471 | ||
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 11.55 | 73472 | ||
| Clarey’s Safety Equip Inc | Chem Assessment Team – Gas/Maint | 1,323.04 | 73473 | ||
| Core & Main | Supplies – Water Dept., Meters | 4,336.85 | 73474 | ||
| Costin Group Inc | Gov’t Relations – Kerry Park | 2,000.00 | 73475 | ||
| David Zaren II | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 35.00 | 73476 | ||
| Electric Pump Inc | Liftstation Repair | 604.82 | 73477 | ||
| Energy Laboratories, Inc | Maintenance Other – Water Plant | 119.00 | 73478 | ||
| Entenmann-Rovin Co | Officer Badge 218 | 142.75 | 73479 | ||
| Erik Drewes | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 52.50 | 73480 | ||
| ESS Brothers & Sons Inc | Maint/Repair – Wtr/Strm Sew, Bridging | 39,085.00 | 73481 | ||
| Expert Billing LLC | Ambulance Transports | 3,422.00 | 73482 | ||
| Fairchild Sign | Forms – Sanitary Sewer | 175.00 | 73483 | ||
| Falls Lumber Company | Maint & Repair Other – Street | 39.89 | 73484 | ||
| Flaherty & Hood, PA | Job Class & Compensation Study | 942.50 | 73485 | ||
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,740.96 | 73486 | ||
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,479.30 | 73487 | ||
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing – Kastens/Mannausau/Gedde | 609.99 | 73488 | ||
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 17.55 | 73489 | ||
| Graybar | Supplies – Street Lighting | 124.38 | 73490 | ||
| HACH Company | Chemicals/Lab Supplies | 1,036.34 | 73491 | ||
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supplies – Street/Admin/Bldg Off | 194.81 | 73492 | ||
| Joseph R Krause | 2022 Council Expenditure Reimburse | 700.00 | 73493 | ||
| Justin Franz | Travel – Per Diem | 512.26 | 73494 | ||
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept. | Demo – Water Plant | 11.00 | 73495 | ||
| Lawson Products Inc | Batteries/Supplies | 350.24 | 73496 | ||
| League of Minnesota Cities | Home Rule Charter Review | 500.00 | 73497 | ||
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc | Oxygen – Ambulance | 1,328.91 | 73498 | ||
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Str Sweeper from Midstate to Virginia | 700.00 | 73499 | ||
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 508.50 | 73500 | ||
| Matt Buller | Travel Expense | 214.55 | 73501 | ||
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing – Mannausau | 8.00 | 73502 | ||
| Menards International Falls | Sup-Pol/Str, Maint & Repair-Str/Demo | 184.72 | 73503 | ||
| Mesabi Bituminous Inc | Cold Mix | 4,126.80 | 73504 | ||
| Meyers Glass | 620 9th St – Fire Dept. | 665.13 | 73505 | ||
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73506 | ||
| Mid-State Truck Service Inc | Unit 171-2017 Intl | 515.43 | 73507 | ||
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 8,485.38 | 73508 | ||
| Minnesota Industries | Tools – Water, Safety Equip – Street | 164.50 | 73509 | ||
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 31,913.46 | 73510 | ||
| MN Fire Service Cert Board | Youth Fire Setter Prevention Training | 240.00 | 73511 | ||
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 257,077.20 | 73512 | ||
| NAPA Falls Supply | Supplies – Street Garage | 57.55 | 73513 | ||
| Nick Kittelson | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 70.00 | 73514 | ||
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Maint/Sup/Tool-Str/Gar/Wtr, Meter Part | 617.44 | 73515 | ||
| Northland Securities Inc | TIF – Alexander Baker Housing Project | 483.75 | 73516 | ||
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network(Wan) Services | 267.73 | 73517 | ||
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Lub/Part/Sup – Gar/Pol/Wtr/Fire/Units | 1,251.77 | 73518 | ||
| Pelland Welding, Inc | Roches Landing, Parts – Water JD 180 | 130.48 | 73519 | ||
| Premier Specialty Vehicles | 2016 Ford Type III Ambulance – Parts | 432.94 | 73520 | ||
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Pharmaceutical/Medical Supplies | 1,677.84 | 73521 | ||
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning – Bldgs/P&R/Garage | 2,285.18 | 73522 | ||
| Rhory Gelo | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 35.00 | 73523 | ||
| Robert Heinlen | Travel Expense – Per Diem | 70.00 | 73524 | ||
| Roche’s Towing | Towing – Police | 209.00 | 73525 | ||
| Safety-Kleen Systems Inc | Washer Solvent | 525.06 | 73526 | ||
| Schlenner Wenner & Co | 2021 Audit | 15,000.00 | 73527 | ||
| Small Town Tech Inc | Supplies – Fire | 18.99 | 73528 | ||
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing – Kastens/Franz | 540.86 | 73529 | ||
| TC Lighting Supplies & Recycle | Recycling – IT | 151.86 | 73530 | ||
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73531 | ||
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73532 | ||
| The Sherwin Williams Co-Bemidji | Paint | 1,880.80 | 73533 | ||
| Todd Ojala | IT Expenses | 103.96 | 73534 | ||
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73535 | ||
| TruStar Federal Credit Union | Research – Police | 60.00 | 73536 | ||
| UHL Company Inc | Maint-VNP/CityHall/Lib, VNP-Contract | 11,716.67 | 73537 | ||
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Supplies – Electrical | 316.11 | 73538 | ||
| Viking Industrial Painting | Pay Est. 2 – Elevated Water Tower | 109,415.00 | 73539 | ||
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 73540 | ||
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 73541 | ||
| Wright Interiors LLC | Flooring – SF Post Office Bldg. | 5,719.23 | 73542 | ||
| Xerox Corporation | Maint/Monthly Charge – Water Plant | 43.07 | 73543 | ||
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 206.62 | 101361 | ||
| AllState – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101362 | ||
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 44,614.55 | 101363 | ||
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 4,443.30 | 101364 | ||
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA – Police/Fire | 520.00 | 101365 | ||
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 404.00 | 101366 | ||
| IAMAW District W33 | Union Dues | 1,720.00 | 101367 | ||
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 161.00 | 101368 | ||
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 875.00 | 101369 | ||
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 120.00 | 101370 | ||
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 622.14 | 101371 | ||
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,564.24 | 101372 | ||
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 9,033.00 | 101373 | ||
| NCPERS Minnesota | Life Insurance | 112.00 | 101374 | ||
| North Kooch Area San Dist | Health Insurance | 50.00 | 101375 | ||
| PERA | Retirement | 38,058.67 | 101376 | ||
| United Way of NE MN | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101377 | ||
| AUDIENCE | Kurt Wagner addressed his concerns in regards to the City no longer demolishing buildings. Mr. Wagner also stated concerns with ATV vehicles on city streets. Police Chief Kostuik offered to meet with Mr. Wagner to discuss his concerns in regards to ATV vehicles. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED Deputy Chief of Police position within the Police Department |
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Deputy Chief of Police position within the Police Department. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED appointment of Sergeant Josh Mastin to rank of Police Investigator
|
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the appointment of Sergeant Josh Mastin to rank of Police Investigator for the International Falls Police Department effective May 7, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 34-2022 declaring adequacy of petition and ordering preparation of feasibility study for the stabilization and bituminous paving of 6th Avenue between 17th Street and 18th Street | MOTION by Councilor Buller adopting Resolution No. 34-2022 declaring adequacy of petition and ordering preparation of feasibility study for the stabilization and bituminous paving of 6th Avenue between 17th Street and 18th Street. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED request to advertise for bids for the 2022 Lift Station #7 Rehabilitation Project | MOTION by Councilor Buller approving request to advertise for bids for the 2022 Lift Station #7 Rehabilitation Project. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED agreement for use of City/IFEDA property near VNP Headquarters Building for electric bike rentals with Voyageurs E-Bike Rentals and Tours | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve agreement for use of City/IFEDA property near VNP Headquarters Building for electric bike rentals with Voyageurs E-Bike Rentals and Tours. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Land Use and Legislation recommendations: | |
| APPROVED revised Park Use Agreement | City Administrator Bergstrom stated the revised agreement includes an electricity fee for ‘profit’ vendors. Park Use Agreements for profit will require approval from the City Council. Non-profit users can be approved by the administration department.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch approving revised Park Use Agreement to include a fee for profit vendors. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED revised Credit Card Use Policy and issue department credit cards | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve revised Credit Card Use Policy and issue department credit cards. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendations: | |
| APPROVED the Housing Location Study, as prepared by Bolton & Menk, Inc. | MOTION by Councilor Krause approving the Housing Location Study, as prepared by Bolton & Menk, Inc., and presented by Mike Thompson, Sr. Urban Planner, Bolton & Menk, Inc. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 35-2022 approving 2022 wages and benefits for nonunion employees | MOTION by Councilor Buller adopting Resolution No. 35-2022 approving 2022 wages and benefits for nonunion employees. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Request for Proposal (RFP) for Legal Services | City Administrator Bergstrom shared she has been working with Sherri Stensland, Human Resources on the request for proposal for legal services and the locations where to advertise.
MOTION by Councilor Krause approving Request for Proposal for Legal Services. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch. City Attorney Shermoen stated it is very vague as to what is covered under Retainer and Hourly Billing under the Fees and Charges section. Applicants may not know what they are committing too. MOTION by Councilor Krause to amend original motion to include City Attorney Shermoen, City Administrator Bergstrom and Human Resources Stensland review and come up with language for what is covered under section Fees & Charges, Retainer and Hourly Billing. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Fun Food Factory application for use of Smokey Bear Park on May 27, 2022 | MOTION by Councilor Buller approving Fun Food Factory application for use of Smokey Bear Park on May 27, 2022 for preschool graduation. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Fun Food Factory application for use of Smokey Bear Park on June 18-26, 2022 | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch approving Fun Food Factory application for use of Smokey Bear Park on June 18-26, 2022 during the PCA outage/shutdown. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 36-2022 in Support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Plan | MOTION by Councilor Krause adopting Resolution No. 36-2022 in Support of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Mitigation Plan. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads |
City Attorney Shermoen stated he spoke with Joe Boyle, previous City Attorney in regards to assisting him with blight cases. Mr. Boyle does not have a secretary and would need assistance with paperwork. Shermoen would be responsible for billing Mr. Boyle’s hours to the city and paying him.
MOTION by Councilor Ditsch approving Joe Boyle assist City Attorney Shermoen for the remaining 2022 calendar year. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. City Attorney Shermoen shared that the Deputy Sheriff has been serving papers for the city in the past for no fee. The city is now being billed for these services. Mr. Shermoen suggested that papers be served by an employee or the police department. City Administrator Bergstrom stated she will add to the next Committee-of-the-Whole meeting for further discussion. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba shared sandbagging efforts are occurring at Kerry Park, Tilson’s and Island View. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba stated that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 6, 2022 at 5:30 P.M.
Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:31 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
