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 3rd day of January 2023 at the hour of 5:30 P.M. proceeding the City Council Organizational Meeting.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar, and Wegner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
| APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve agenda with re-positioning of consideration for the Cine 5 Theater License. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the December 19, 2022 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting on December 19, 2022. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 02-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 02-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| ADVASEC Inc. | Cyber Security | 1,988.00 | 74971 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-Pol/Amb/Fire Cloth-Fire/Amb | 493.98 | 74972 |
| Ameritas Life Ins. Corp. | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,837.16 | 74973 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup – 801 7th St | 156.00 | 74974 |
| Arrowhead Reg. Fire Fighter Assoc. | Annual Membership Dues | 75.00 | 74975 |
| Axon Enterprises, Inc. | Taser Cartridges | 900.20 | 74976 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,150.00 | 74977 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 2,304.80 | 74978 |
| Bob Discenza | Water Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 74979 |
| Bolten & Menk, Inc. | Engineering Services | 116,896.50 | 74980 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation & Annual Contr. | 7,250.00 | 74981 |
| Bound Tree Medical, LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,687.85 | 74982 |
| Brad Hagen | Safety Boot Allowance | 160.00 | 74983 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Amb/Fire/Police/IT/St/Housing/Bldg | 4,144.00 | 74984 |
| Cargill, Inc. | De-Icer Salt – Ice Control Bulk | 14,358.87 | 74985 |
| CherryRoad Media, Inc. | Minutes, Meeting Dates, Bids | 1,706.26 | 74986 |
| City of Int’l Falls – Fund 101 | Lodging Tax Transfer | 285.90 | 74987 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings – Water Usage | 2,168.56 | 74988 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 5,432.05 | 74989 |
| DSC Communications | Radio Maintenance & Pager Batteries | 1,836.00 | 74990 |
| Eckman – International Falls | M&R Equipment – Police | 69.03 | 74991 |
| Grand Forks Fire Equipment, LLC | Clothing – Ambulance | 7,770.00 | 74992 |
| Guardian Fleet Safety | 2022 Ford PIU Unit 2202 | 25,039.95 | 74993 |
| Hawkins, Inc. | Chemicals | 90.00 | 74994 |
| Innovative Office Solutions, LLC | Supplies – Adm/Bldg Official | 230.34 | 74995 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 28,609.00 | 74996 |
| Justin Mostad | Safety Boot Allowance | 147.95 | 74997 |
| K&K Meyers, Inc. | Door Opener – Airport | 344.00 | 74998 |
| Kraus-Anderson Const. Co. | Engineering Services | 22,080.53 | 74999 |
| Lawson Products, Inc. | Supplies – Street/St.Lighting/Safety | 1,307.55 | 75000 |
| Leads Online | Automation – Police | 2,635.00 | 75001 |
| LMC Insurance Trust | WC – Deductible | 500.00 | 75002 |
| Marco | Antivirus / Microsoft Exchange | 588.50 | 75003 |
| Marco Technologies, LLC | Contract/Print/Copy | 1,367.42 | 75004 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,848.00 | 75005 |
| Menards – International Falls | Sup – St/St.Lit/WtrAdm/Amb, Tools-St | 185.88 | 75006 |
| Meyers Glass | Door Rep.–Kerry Park, Boarding | 559.30 | 75007 |
| Mike Holden | 2023 Council Expend. Reimbursement | 700.00 | 75008 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 50.00 | 75009 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 1,799.19 | 75010 |
| Minnesota Industries | Safety Equipment – Street | 7.29 | 75011 |
| North American Bank Co. Woodbury | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 75012 |
| Northland Sales & Service | M&R Building – Ambulance/Fire | 3,571.08 | 75013 |
| PBBS Equipment Corporation | Parts – Sanitary Sewer | 499.46 | 75014 |
| Range Paper Corp. | Cleaning Services – Govt. Buildings | 81.70 | 75015 |
| Roche’s Towing | Towing – Police | 85.00 | 75016 |
| Ronning’s | Clothing Allowance – A. Kastens | 43.98 | 75017 |
| Shannon’s, Inc. | Bldg Maintenance – Gar/Water Pl | 895.57 | 75018 |
| Steven M. Shermoen | Legal Fees & Filing Cabinets | 3,434.00 | 75019 |
| Stryker Sales Corp. | Ambulance Supplies | 326.98 | 75020 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 535.49 | 75021 |
| Tactical & Technical Assessment | Simulator Training | 800.00 | 75022 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 37,924.50 | 75023 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Demo/Strm/Fire/St/VNP/Amb/Wtr | 6,594.61 | 75024 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 60,000.00 | 75025 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 1,046.25 | 75026 |
| William Tomczak | Safety Boot Allowance | 159.95 | 75027 |
| Ziegler, Inc. | Parts – Street Department | 1,320.48 | 75028 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 206.62 | 101649 |
| All State – American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101650 |
| Bay Ridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 364.30 | 101651 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 40,947.41 | 101652 |
| I.U.O.E. Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 2,839.62 | 101653 |
| Int’l Falls Fire Department | Fire Dept. Relief | 28.00 | 101654 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 101655 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 110.00 | 101656 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 622.14 | 101657 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,888.13 | 101658 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 8,868.00 | 101659 |
| PERA | Retirement | 35,608.58 | 101660 |
| RCB Collections, Inc. | Wage Assignment | 63.52 | 101661 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 816.51 | 101662 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 739.69 | 101663 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101664 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| 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 2023 license renewal, as presented. 2. Approve/allow necessary expenses for Mayor and Councilors to attend 2023 legislative events that pertain to the city business 3. Approve/allow necessary expenses for Mayor and Councilors to attend 2023 Elected Leaders Institute: Foundational Program and/or Advanced Program offered by the League of Minnesota Cities 4. Approve travel and continuing education training expenses for Building Official, Kelly Meyers · 2023 Annual Institute for Building Officials, Minneapolis, MN – January 23-27, 2023 · ICC Upper Great Plains Region III Educational Institute, Minneapolis, MN – February 13-17, 2023 · Attendance at quarterly Arrowhead Chapter Building Official meetings and required State seminars for continuing education credits 5. Approve travel and continuing education training for Fire Marshal, Jared Baldwin to attend the ICC Upper Great Plains Region III Education Institute, Minneapolis, MN – February 13-15, 2023 6. Approve IRS mileage reimbursement rate for 2023 7. Resolution No. 03-2023 Delegating authority to make electronic fund transfers to the Finance Officer and City Administrator for 2023 Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
UPDATE from the Chamber of Commerce regarding the 2023 Icebox Days Celebration |
Chamber of Commerce President, Shawn Mason, and Executive Director, Denise Kulig, approached the council to offer the following updates on the 2023 Icebox Days Celebration:
|
| APPROVED 2023 license renewals that include tobacco and/or liquor applications as presented | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the following 2023 tobacco and/or liquor license renewals:
Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED new 2023 license applications as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following 2023 new license applications effective January 1, 2023:
Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| INFORMATION:
Councilor attendance encouraged at the virtual Broadband Kickoff event: “Internet for All: Connecting One Minnesota Workshop” |
In response to a recent email from Jacqueline Nagle on behalf of the American Connection Project, Mayor Droba encouraged Councilor attendance to the collaborative National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) & State of Minnesota event: “Internet for All: Connecting One Minnesota Workshop”. This presentation is intended to offer a better understanding of federally driven programs for broadband and digital equity. |
| APPROVED Cine 5 Theatre Restaurant and Theater Licenses contingent upon compliance and approval of the Fire Marshal’s office | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve Restaurant & Theater Licenses for the Cine 5 Theater contingent upon completion of necessary repairs. Due to plumbing issues affecting the facility-wide sprinkler system, the Cine 5 Theater has recently been moved to a fire-watch status while occupied. Mayor Droba proposed the approval of Cine 5’s 2023 Restaurant and Theater license renewals contingent upon compliance and approval of the Fire Marshal’s office. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom reported that the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners is scheduled to begin advertising for the open District 3 County Commissioner seat on Friday, January 9, 2023. District 3 encompasses the East Ward of International Falls and the West Precinct of Ranier. Filing for this position will open at the County Auditor-Treasurer’s office on Tuesday, January 17, 2023; this is to be followed by an April 11, 2023 election at the International Falls East Ward polling location, the Evangelical Covenant Church.
City Attorney, Chelsea Nelson, announced the upcoming opening of her new office in International Falls. This office will be located at 501 4th St (this location previously operated by former City Attorney, Steve Shermoen). Reports from the Convention & Visitors Bureau meeting on November 16, 2022, the International Falls Recreation Commission meeting on December 21, 2022, and the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission meeting on December 28, 2022 were made available. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Councilor Kalar encouraged community attendance for the January 15th Elk’s Hoop Shoot located in the International Falls High School gymnasium from 1:00 P.M. to 3:00 P.M.
Councilor Buller addressed the issue with flights landing and taking off from the International Falls Airport strip without passengers, stating this issue is based on airline flight schedules, and cannot be adjusted by the City Council, the Airport Commission, or the Airport itself. Continuing the conversation regarding the airport, Mayor Droba went on to say an additional Airport Commission meeting is scheduled for January 10, 2023 to hopefully bring about a resolution to the question of airport funding. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded the room that City Offices will be closed on Monday, January 16, 2023 in observance of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday. As a result of this holiday, he further stated the next regular City Council meeting will take place on Tuesday, January 17, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers.
Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:46 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
