An organizational meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota, was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on the 3rd day of January, 2023 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar, and Wegner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| ADMINISTERED Election Winners Oath of Office and PRESENTATION of the Certificates of Election | City Administrator, Betty Bergstrom, administered the Oath of Office and presented Certificates of Election to the following election winners:
· Pete Kalar, East Ward Councilor, · Tim Wegner, Center Ward Councilor · Walt Buller, West Ward Councilor |
| APPOINTED President Pro Tem | MOTION by Councilor Buller to appoint Councilor Kalar as President Pro Tem. Motion accepted by Councilor Kalar.
MOTION by Councilor Holden to appoint Councilor Buller as President Pro Tem. Motion declined by Councilor Buller. Motion to appoint Councilor Kalar as President Pro Tem carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Mayor Droba (Chair) and Councilor Wegner to the Land Use & Legislation Committee | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of himself, Mayor Droba, as Chair and Councilor Wegner to the Land Use and Legislation Committee. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Kalar (Chair) and all other councilors to the Budget & Finance Committee | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Kalar as Chair, Councilor Buller, Councilor Holden, Councilor Wegner, and Mayor Droba to the Budget & Finance Committee. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Buller (Chair) and Councilor Kalar to the Public Works & Infrastructure Committee | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Buller as Chair and Councilor Kalar to the Public Works and Infrastructure Committee.
Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Buller, Mayor Droba, and Brian Briggs as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission Board | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Councilor Buller, Mayor Droba, and Brian Briggs as Citizen At-Large to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission for two-year terms, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024.
Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Holden, Councilor Wegner, and citizen Karla Line to the International Falls Recreation Commission | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Wegner, and re-appointment of Councilor Holden and citizen Karla Line to the International Falls Recreation Commission for two-year terms, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Mayor Droba and the International Falls Economic Development Authority (IFEDA) President to the Koochiching Economic Development Authority Board | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Mayor Droba and the International Falls Economic Development Authority (IFEDA) President (to-be determined at the January 17, 2023 EDA quarterly meeting) to the Koochiching Economic Development Authority (KEDA) Board. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED citizen Joe Krause to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of citizen Joe Krause to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority for a five-year term, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Ashley Kostiuk, Mona Johnson, and William Frank to the International Falls Library Board of Trustees | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Ashley Kostiuk, Mona Johnson, and William Frank to the International Falls Library Board of Trustees for three-year terms, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Brian Youso, Tara Besch, and Joann Dornhecker to the Planning Commission | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Brian Youso, Tara Besch, and Joann Dornhecker to the Planning Commission for three- year terms, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Bill Valentine to the Zoning Board of Appeals | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Bill Valentine to the Zoning Board of Appeals for a five-year term, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2027. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Chrystal Clance to the North Koochiching Sanitary District | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Chrystal Clance to the North Koochiching Sanitary District for a four-year term, February 1, 2023 – January 31, 2026. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| RE-APPOINTED Van Pavleck to the Fire Civil Service Commission | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s re-appointment of Van Pavleck to the Fire Civil Service Commission for a three-year term, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Holden and Councilor Wegner to the Special Police Department Fund | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Holden and Councilor Wegner to the Special Police Department Fund. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Wegner and Ward Merrill to the Forest Hill Cemetery Board | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Wegner for a two-year term, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2024, and re-appointment of Ward Merrill with a three-year term, January 1, 2023 – December 31, 2025, to the Forest Hill Cemetery Board. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Kalar to the Rainy-Rapid River Board | MOTION by Councilor Holden to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Kalar to the Rainy-Rapid River Board. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Ted Brokaw, Public Works Director, to the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership Board | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Ted Brokaw, Public Works Director, to the Northeast Minnesota Area Transportation Partnership Board. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Councilor Holden (Primary) and Councilor Wegner (Alternate) to the Northeast MN Regional Emergency Communications Board (ECB) | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Councilor Holden (Primary) and Councilor Wegner (Alternate) to the Northeast MN Regional Emergency Communications Board (ECB). Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Fire Chief Adam Mannausau (Primary) and IT Director, Todd Ojala (Alternate) to the Northeast MN Regional Advisory Committee (RAC) | MOTION by Councilor Buller to confirm the Mayor’s appointment of Fire Chief Adam Mannausau (Primary) and IT Director Todd Ojala (Alternate) to the Northeast MN Regional Advisory Committee (RAC). Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPOINTED Anderson Law Offices, P.A. as City Attorney with Chelsea Nelson as City Attorney of Record | MOTION by Councilor Buller to appoint Anderson Law Offices, P.A. as City Attorney with Chelsea Nelson as City Attorney of Record. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| INFORMATIVE—
No action taken. Bolton & Menk, Inc. to continue fulfilling the role of City Engineer |
No action taken. Mayor Droba stated that, although there is no requirement to appoint a City Engineer at the beginning of the year, the City plans to continue utilizing Bolton & Menk, Inc. and their Civil Engineer for future engineering services. |
| INFORMATIVE –
No action taken to appoint Health Officer or Board of Health |
No action taken. Mayor Droba explained that the previous requirement for a Health Officer and Board of Health have been removed by the Charter Commission in the most recent edition of the City Charter. |
| APPROVED bi-weekly payroll dates on Tuesday, commencing January 10, 2023 | Motion by Councilor Holden to approve bi-weekly payroll on Tuesday, commencing January 10, 2023. Motion second by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 01-2023 Designating Depositories | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 01-2023 designating the following depositories for the City of International Falls funds:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Designation of Official Newspaper as the Rainy Lake Gazette | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve designation of the Rainy Lake Gazette as the official newspaper for publications. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:02 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
