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 December, 2022 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden and Krause
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda with addition as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve agenda with the following addition:
· Consider City support for activities for the 19th Annual Arrowhead Ultra 135 on January 30, 2023, Ken Krueger Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the December 5, 2022 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting on December 5, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the December 5, 2022 City Council Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing and Input meeting | MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve minutes of the City Council Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing and proposed Budget and Levy Input meeting on December 5, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the December 12, 2022 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on December 12, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 80-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Krause to adopt Resolution No. 80-2022 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 454.75 | 74867 |
| Accurate Fastening Solutions | Shop Supplies & Plow Parts – St. Gar | 277.21 | 74868 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies – Admin/Police/Fire/Street/IT | 652.55 | 74869 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services | 1,505.00 | 74870 |
| Andy Kittelson | Travel Expenses | 70.00 | 74871 |
| Bear’s Port Town Tire | Tires – Police | 660.96 | 74872 |
| Becker Arena Products, Inc. | Ice Shelter Maintenance | 274.80 | 74873 |
| Bolton & Menk, Inc. | Engineering Services | 20,952.00 | 74874 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping – Water Plant | 66.25 | 74875 |
| Bound Tree Medical, LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 320.85 | 74876 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74877 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74878 |
| Cargill Inc. Salt | Ice Control: De-Icer Salt | 18,697.97 | 74879 |
| City of Int’l Falls Fund 401 | Water Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 74880 |
| City of Int’l Falls Fund 403 | Water Funds Transfer | 25,760.42 | 74881 |
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 11.55 | 74882 |
| Core & Main | Meters, Analytics Annual Fee | 26,204.90 | 74883 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns – Christmas Parade | 505.00 | 74884 |
| Dakota Supply Group | Maint & Repair – Hydrants & Wtr | 10,364.28 | 74885 |
| DTN | Professional Services | 400.00 | 74886 |
| E. Jean Hilfer | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 4.00 | 74887 |
| Eckman – International Falls | Parts– Housing, M&R Equip– Police | 577.76 | 74888 |
| Ed Kaun & Sons, LTD | Zamboni Knife 72” | 101.70 | 74889 |
| Expert Billing, LLC | Ambulance Transports | 3,103.00 | 74890 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Supplies – Water Plant | 122.85 | 74891 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service, LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 1,823.67 | 74892 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,809.76 | 74893 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing – G. Offerdahl, Fire Dept. | 747.01 | 74894 |
| Greentech Manufacturing, Inc. | Maintenance & Repair – Storm | 81.35 | 74895 |
| H & L Mesabi | Grader Blades – Street | 2,770.00 | 74896 |
| Hawkins, Inc. | Chemicals | 2,612.03 | 74897 |
| Howards – Cenex, LLC | Def. Fluid – Street Garage & Water | 880.00 | 74898 |
| Image Trend, Inc. | Vault Records – Annual Fee | 848.72 | 74899 |
| Innovative Office Solutions, LLC | Supplies-Admin/Water Adm/Street/Police | 573.87 | 74900 |
| K & K Meyers, Inc. | Building Maintenance – Water | 629.52 | 74901 |
| Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash | Gas -Wtr Plnt/St/Gar/St Light/Wtr/Pol | 5,240.13 | 74902 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | Proposed Tax Notices | 3,313.62 | 74903 |
| Kraus-Anderson Constr. Co. | Engineering Services | 57,421.50 | 74904 |
| Lawson Products, Inc. | Supplies – Street Gar/Street Lighting | 470.22 | 74905 |
| LVC, Inc. | Fire Extinguisher Recharge – Fire Hall | 117.20 | 74906 |
| MacQueen Equipment, Inc. | Parts – Street Department | 587.71 | 74907 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen, LLP | Legal Services | 1,224.00 | 74908 |
| Mannco Trucking, Inc. | Maint/Repair Equipment | 650.69 | 74909 |
| Marco – LEC | Copier Agreement | 250.86 | 74910 |
| Matt Buller | Travel Expense Per Diem | 70.00 | 74911 |
| Medica | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 101.80 | 74912 |
| Menards International Falls | VNP/StLt/Grds/Fire/Amb/Bldg/Hous | 1,401.10 | 74913 |
| Meyers Glass | Door Repair – Water | 340.00 | 74914 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74915 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Water Plant/Street Garage/Fire/Amb | 524.90 | 74916 |
| MN State Fire Chief’s Assoc. | Membership | 580.00 | 74917 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 4,338.61 | 74918 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies – VNP/Street/Storm/Elec | 308.77 | 74919 |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 42,745.38 | 74920 |
| MN Dept. of Labor & Industry | Elevator Maintenance | 100.00 | 74921 |
| MTI Distributing, Inc. | Parts – VNP | 377.41 | 74922 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Unit 173 – Parts | 35.89 | 74923 |
| North Central Labs of Wisconsin | Supplies – Water Plant | 850.96 | 74924 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | M&R-Ice Shltr/St, Sup-Wtr/Gar/St/Fire | 3,327.97 | 74925 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network (WAN) Services | 267.73 | 74926 |
| O’Reilly Automotive, Inc. | Parts & Supplies – Amb/Street | 1,695.46 | 74927 |
| Parsons Electric | Pole & Banner Saver | 5,453.00 | 74928 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Supplies – Street Garage | 391.45 | 74929 |
| Pitney Bowes, Inc. | Ink Cartridges – Postage Machine | 118.99 | 74930 |
| PowerPlan | Parts – Street Dept. | 4,046.20 | 74931 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Pharmaceutical Supplies | 95.10 | 74932 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Sup – Street Garage, Fuel – Water Dept. | 669.99 | 74933 |
| Range Paper Corp. | Cleaning Supplies – Street/Fire/Bldgs | 1,605.08 | 74934 |
| Rhory Gelo | Travel Expenses Per Diem | 70.00 | 74935 |
| Ronning’s | Clothing Allowance – J. Baldwin | 99.97 | 74936 |
| Schlenner Wenner & Co | Auditor Assistance | 178.75 | 74937 |
| ServiceMaster of Int’l Falls | Cleaning Services – VNP | 4,500.00 | 74938 |
| Shannon’s, Inc. | Heating Unit–K. Park, Equip–Garage | 12,889.00 | 74939 |
| Sjoblom Landscape & Nursery | Straw Blanket | 406.00 | 74940 |
| Soundnorth | Supplies – IT | 25.98 | 74941 |
| Streicher’s Inc. | Cloth-Franz/Lessard/M.Kostiuk/Pt.Magler | 4,039.87 | 74942 |
| Stryker Sales Corp. | Annual Maintenance Agreement | 5,565.80 | 74943 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 535.49 | 74944 |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating, LLC | Building Maintenance – VNP | 790.00 | 74945 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74946 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74947 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74948 |
| Towmaster | Plow Truck Parts | 795.68 | 74949 |
| Viking Electric Supply, Inc. | Supplies & Tools – Street Lighting | 1,237.17 | 74950 |
| Widseth Smith Nolting | Engineering Services | 708.75 | 74951 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 74952 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg, LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 74953 |
| Xerox | Maint. Agrmnt/Monthly Chrgs-Wtr Plnt | 34.17 | 74954 |
| Ziegler, Inc. | Parts – Unit 091 | 508.43 | 74955 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 209.12 | 101628 |
| All State – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101629 |
| Bay Ridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 364.30 | 101630 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 45,233.17 | 101631 |
| I.U.O.E. Local Central Pen Fund | Retirement | 3,822.30 | 101632 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA – Police / Fire | 494.00 | 101633 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 364.00 | 101634 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,620.00 | 101635 |
| Int’l Falls Fire Department | Fire Dept. Relief | 392.00 | 101636 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 161.00 | 101637 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 840.00 | 101638 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas | C.O.P.S | 110.00 | 101639 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 622.14 | 101640 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,638.74 | 101641 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Comp | 8,868.00 | 101642 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | Life Insurance Premiums | 112.00 | 101643 |
| North Kooch. Area San Dist. | Health Insurance Premiums | 50.00 | 101644 |
| PERA | Retirement | 38,814.75 | 101645 |
| RCB Collections, Inc. | Wage Assignment | 66.99 | 101646 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101647 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS:
ADOPTED Resolution No. 81-2022 approving the Final Tax Levy Collectible in 2023 and the 2023 Budget
|
Mayor Droba shared that the council previously discussed options to bring down the levy at the last Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. He further noted that if the Airport Commission receives their anticipated grant, the council would adopt a resolution outlining how those funds will be re-allocated. MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 81-2022 approving the Final Tax Levy Collectible in 2023 and the 2023 Budget for the City of International Falls, MN. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Krause to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
Approve 2023 License Renewals, as presented. · Andy Kittelson – snowplow license · Coffee Landing Café – restaurant license · Hollers Property Maintenance – snowplow license · Lars’ Lumber and Plowing – snowplow license · Mosaic Int’l Corporation dba Boss Rental & Service – snowplow license · Posh Relief LLC – massage individual license · Ralinda Ferguson dba Northern Zen-Massage Therapy – massage individual license · Rose Garden – restaurant license Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED City support for activities for the 19th Annual Arrowhead Ultra 135 on January 30, 2023 |
Ken and Jackie Krueger requested support from the City including use of Kerry Park at 6:00 A.M. on January 30, 2023, banner at Smokey Bear Park, police coverage at road crossings, bullhorn and fireworks. MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve City support for activities for the 19th Annual Arrowhead Ultra 135 on January 30, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED year 2023 License Renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following 2023 license renewals:
Motion seconded by Councilor Krause. Motion carried 4-0-1, with Councilors Buller, Ditsch, Holden, and Krause voting “yea” and Mayor Droba abstaining. |
| APPROVED New License Requests from Kennedy’s City Cab and Transport LLC for Year 2023 | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve new license request from Kennedy’s City Cab and Transport LLC for year 2023 for a taxi license. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 82-2022 for Federal Participation in Construction Agreement | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 82-2022 for Federal Participation in Construction Agreement Contract No. 1052042 with the State of Minnesota Department of Transportation. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 83-2022 approving application and permit for a 1 to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church | MOTION by Councilor Ditsch to approve Resolution No. 83-2022 approving application and permit for a 1 to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for St. Thomas Aquinas Catholic Church for a Dueling Piano event scheduled for February 4, 2023 at the Aquinas Hall. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 84-2022 approving transfer of funds from Fund 250 Sales and Use Tax to Fund 450 Sales Tax Construction Fund | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Resolution No. 84-2022 approving transfer of funds from Fund 250 Sales and Use Tax to Fund 450 Sales Tax Construction Fund. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| Legislation and Land Use Committee recommendation: | |
| APPROVED new 2023 off-sale liquor and cigarette licenses for Edwards Oil, Inc., dba Little Brown Jug, 1120 3rd Ave, Int’l Falls, MN | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve new 2023 off-sale liquor and cigarette licenses for Edwards Oil, Inc., dba Little Brown Jug, 1120 3rd Ave, Int’l Falls, MN. Motion seconded by Councilor Ditsch and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendations: | |
| APPROVED 2023 Consultant Agreement with Costin Group, Inc. | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve 2023 Consultant Agreement with Costin Group, Inc. Motion seconded by Councilor Krause and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED filling vacant Deputy City Administrator position | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve filling vacant Deputy City Administrator position. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED 2023 regular City Council meeting schedule | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve 2023 regular City Council meeting schedule. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED 2023 Committee meeting schedule | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve 2023 Committee meeting schedule. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Chamber of Commerce request for City support for 2023 Icebox Days Celebration | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Chamber of Commerce request for City support for 2023 Icebox Days Celebration. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. The council expressed concerns with parking and requested that the City Administrator confirm what activities would be held at Kerry Park and update the council at the next City Council meeting on January 3, 2023. |
| REPORTS:
Reports of the Attorney, Administrator and Department Heads |
City Administrator Bergstrom thanked staff and the City Council for their great work over the past year and wished everyone a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.
City Attorney Shermoen shared he had 78 criminal cases last week. He stated he has been working with City Administrator Bergstrom and Public Works Director on the Widseth resolution. Shermoen shared this would be his last council meeting and thanked the council for the past 12 ½ years he has served as the City Attorney. Shermoen also thanked City Administrator Bergstrom and expressed how wonderful she has been to work with. Shermoen stated the city is heading in the right direction and he is ready to enjoy his retirement. Mayor Droba stated Police Chief was at the School Board meeting to discuss the School Resource Officer position. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba shared with the council that he found cyber security information on the League of Minnesota Cities website. Mayor Droba requested Information Systems Administrator Ojala research to see if the city needs enhanced security and send a memo to the council with his findings.
Mayor Droba stated he received a letter regarding relocating the Port of Entry building. Mayor Droba thanked Councilors Ditsch and Krause for all their work and time they have given on the council. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the city offices would be closed on the following days: In Observance of the Christmas Holiday: Friday, December 23rd & Monday, December 26th. In Observance of the New Year’s Holiday: Monday, January 2nd.
Mayor Droba concluded the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 3, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6.24 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
