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 21st day of February 2023 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
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 as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller.
Councilor Kalar requested agenda item 6e – Consider response to Koochiching County in regards to the Lease Agreement for shared space for the International Falls Police Department be removed from the agenda so further discussions can occur with Koochiching County Commissioners and Sheriff Hedlund. Mayor Droba stated a response is due to the County by February 22, 2023 and felt the agenda item should remain so a response can be given by date requested. MOTION by Councilor Kalar to remove agenda item 6e – Consider response to Koochiching County in regards to the Lease Agreement for shared space for the International Falls Police Department. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner. Motion failed 2-3 with Councilors Kalar and Wegner voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba, Councilor Buller, and Councilor Holden voting ‘nay’. Original motion to approve agenda as presented carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 6, 2023 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 6, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 13, 2023 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve minutes of the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of February 13, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 16, 2023 Special Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the Special Committee-of-the-Whole meeting of February 16, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 15-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 15-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the second monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 477.49 | 75288 |
| All Season Equipment, Inc. | Shovels, Tires-Ambulance, W&R-Water | 1,295.67 | 75289 |
| Allied Generators | Generator Maintenance | 4,567.10 | 75290 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-Amb/Fire/IT/Pol/San | 1,280.20 | 75291 |
| American Water Works Assoc. | Membership Dues-Kelly & Brokaw | 312.00 | 75292 |
| Andrew Holler | Cleaning Service | 139.00 | 75293 |
| Bear’s Port Town Tire | Tires-Street/Water/Sanitary Sewer | 1,832.00 | 75294 |
| Bolton & Menk, Inc. | Engineering Services | 220,920.55 | 75295 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 148.00 | 75296 |
| Bound Tree Medical, LLC | Credit Memo, Ambulance Supplies | 761.52 | 75297 |
| Bowman Asphalt Products, Inc. | 14th Ave MSA-Appl 3 | 48,320.50 | 75298 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75299 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75300 |
| CherryRoad Media, Inc. | Mtg Dates/Minutes/St.&Util. Bid Notice | 1,821.43 | 75301 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401 | Water Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 75302 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403 | Water Funds Transfer | 20,567.25 | 75303 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach, Annual State Test Fee | 21.27 | 75304 |
| CMS Medicare | Ambulance Overpayment Refund | 460.38 | 75305 |
| Expert Billing, LLC | Ambulance Transports | 4,031.00 | 75306 |
| Falls License Bureau | 2023 Mack Dump Truck #8896 | 9,408.49 | 75307 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Parts-P&R/Grnds, Fluid-Wtr Plant | 182.50 | 75308 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,858.27 | 75309 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Cloth-Gedde/Sears/Tveit/Kastens | 441.18 | 75310 |
| Hawkins, Inc. | Chemicals | 1,742.60 | 75311 |
| Innovative Office Solutions, LLC | Supplies-Administration | 168.97 | 75312 |
| Jared Baldwin | Travel Expense | 105.00 | 75313 |
| Jefferson Fire & Safety | Helmet Shields and Eye Protectors | 1,217.67 | 75314 |
| Jorson & Carlson Co. | Blade Sharpening & Cleaning-Zamboni | 224.28 | 75315 |
| K & K Meyers, Inc. | Repairs-Zamboni, Bldg Maint- Water | 84.99 | 75316 |
| Kelly Meyers | Travel Expense | 629.62 | 75317 |
| KGM Contractors, Inc. | Pleasant Ave Drainage | 72,135.00 | 75318 |
| Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash | Gas-Police | 1,656.25 | 75319 |
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept | Professional Services-Fire | 12.00 | 75320 |
| Kooch County Auditor/Treasurer | Certificate of Tax & Taxable Prop. | 200.00 | 75321 |
| LMC Insurance Trust-Liab | Annual Liability & Auto Insurance | 201,777.00 | 75322 |
| LMC Insurance Trust-WC | W.C. Insurance | 268,037.00 | 75323 |
| LVC, Inc. | Ann. Fire Ext. Servicing & Inspections | 2,324.45 | 75324 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen, LLP | Labor Relations & Legal Services | 4,771.78 | 75325 |
| Mannco Trucking, Inc. | Loader/Chipper, Parts-Units151/124 | 4,490.52 | 75326 |
| Marco – LEC | Copier Agreement | 326.85 | 75327 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing-Ambulance | 32.00 | 75328 |
| Menards – Int’l Falls | Sup-St/Pol/St.Lt, M&R-Gar/St | 280.00 | 75329 |
| Meyers Glass | Maint/Repair-Zamboni | 180.28 | 75330 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75331 |
| Minn State Fire Chiefs Assn | Duluth FOTOS Attendee | 855.00 | 75332 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 50.00 | 75333 |
| Minnesota Dept. of Health | State Test Fee | 6,296.00 | 75334 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 11,525.68 | 75335 |
| Minnesota Industries | Maintenance & Repair-VNP | 67.00 | 75336 |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 43,047.61 | 75337 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Boiler Registration-Mun/Lib/W.Plnt | 50.00 | 75338 |
| Modern Imaging Solutions | Supplies-Police | 109.95 | 75339 |
| Moody’s Investors Service, Inc. | Annual Fee for EDA Bonds-VNP Facility | 500.00 | 75340 |
| NAPA | Parts-Water Dept./St. Garage/Street | 170.61 | 75341 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Tools-Amb/Fire/St, Sup-House/P&R | 1,483.60 | 75342 |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Area Network(Wan) Services | 267.73 | 75343 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Parts-P&R, Supplies-VNP/Water | 564.97 | 75344 |
| Provider Enterprise | Non-vent AcuCare Masks | 259.75 | 75345 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 525.95 | 75346 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Off Road Fuel-Water | 325.13 | 75347 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-Street/Water/W.Plant/Ambulance | 225.48 | 75348 |
| ServiceMaster of Int’l Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,725.00 | 75349 |
| St. Louis County Auditor | 2023 Regional Radio Fees | 244.50 | 75350 |
| State of MN Dept. of Public Safety | Program Fees | 100.00 | 75351 |
| Steve Boyum Construction | Equipment Rental-Bldg Demo | 450.00 | 75352 |
| Ted Brokaw | Water Operator Exam-S.Kelly | 32.00 | 75353 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75354 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75355 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75356 |
| Van Iwaarden Associates | GASB 75 12/31/2022 | 3,200.00 | 75357 |
| Viking Electric Supply, Inc. | Maintenance & Repair | 66.00 | 75358 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Strm/Fire/House/St/Bldg/Amb/Wtr | 7,104.19 | 75359 |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 75360 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg, LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 75361 |
| Xerox Corporation | Monthly Charges-Water Plant | 49.84 | 75362 |
| Ziegler, Inc. | Fender-Street | 1,254.86 | 75363 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 101700 |
| All State-American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101701 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 364.30 | 101702 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 42,977.74 | 101703 |
| I.U.O.E. Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 4,403.70 | 101704 |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA – Police/Fire | 494.00 | 101705 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 364.00 | 101706 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,751.00 | 101707 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 168.00 | 101708 |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 840.00 | 101709 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 110.00 | 101710 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 784.48 | 101711 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,262.89 | 101712 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 9,018.00 | 101713 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | Life Insurance Premiums | 112.00 | 101714 |
| N. Kooch Area Sanitary District | Health Insurance Premiums | 50.00 | 101715 |
| PERA | Retirement | 37,169.10 | 101716 |
| RCB Collections, Inc. | Wage Assignment | 118.42 | 101717 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101718 |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED letter of support for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Application
|
Jim Yount, Chair of Koochiching Technology Initiative shared they have worked to develop a proposed broadband project that will bring reliable, affordable, broadband access to the businesses and economic development sites located along Highway 332 S and County Road 155 corridor. This area is currently unserved, creating a barrier to existing businesses and future economic development. Koochiching Technology Initiative is requesting a letter of support from the City of International Falls for the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Application.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to support the Border-to-Border Broadband Development Grant Application that the Koochiching County Initiative (KTI) is applying for and commit to funding 15% of the project in the amount of $28,987.40 from EDA funds and provide a letter of support for the project. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of support for the City of Littlefork for the development of a new ATV friendly RV park | MOTION by Councilor Buller approving that a letter of support be sent to the Legislative Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources for the City of Littlefork in regards to development of a new ATV friendly RV park on a parcel of donated land for grant funding. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring Lisa Riggs to the position of Deputy City Administrator and filling the vacant Administrative Support Specialist position
|
City Administrator Bergstrom stated they received several qualified applications. Five people were interviewed for the position.
MOTION by Councilor Holden approving the recommendation to hire Lisa Riggs for the position of Deputy City Administrator for the International Falls Administration Department effective February 27, 2023 and fill the vacant Administrative Support Specialist position. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring John MacLean to the position of Maintenance Worker I | MOTION by Councilor Kalar approving the recommendation to hire John MacLean for the position of Maintenance Worker I for the International Falls Public Works Department with an anticipated effective date of March 13, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Contract Ordinance for Lift Station #15 Improvements Project | Jason Fisher, City Engineer, with Bolten & Menk stated he received three bids for Lift Station #15 improvements. Mr. Fisher recommends the city accept the low bid from TNT Construction Group, LLC of Grand Rapids, MN with a bid of $238,750.00.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Contract Ordinance for Lift Station #15 Improvements Project with the bid being awarded to TNT Construction Group in the amount of $238,750.00. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole Recommendations:
a. dEnied purchase of Cyber6 for enhanced cybersecurity |
Mayor Droba shared that he contacted the League of Minnesota Cities asking what Cyber6 would protect the city from. Christian Torkelson, Information Security Professional from the League of MN Cities stated that a city can spend a lot of money and never have all its data secure. Mr. Torkleson suggested doing a business impact analysis which includes; analysis of all systems, inventory on data, and hardware used. Purchasing one single product will not meet all the needs. Mr. Torkelson offered to work with the City Administrator and staff to complete a business impact analysis.
Todd Ojala, Information Systems Administrator stated he had not done a formal analysis. Mr. Ojala’s goal is to improve performance issues and keep attackers out. MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the purchase of Cyber6 for enhanced cybersecurity. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Motion failed 2-3 with Councilors Holden and Kalar voting ‘yea’ and Mayor Droba, Councilor Buller, and Councilor Wegner voting ‘nay’. |
| b. APPROVED International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club Trail re-route within City limits | Joe Mershon, representative of the International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club (IVSC) presented the proposed trail re-route to accommodate snowmobile traffic to businesses on the south edge of the city limits. MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the proposed International Voyageurs Snowmobile Club Trail re-route within city limits including the abandonment of a previous route. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| c. ADOPTED Resolution 16-2023 approving loan application to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution 16-2023 approving loan application to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority for a loan from the Drinking Revolving Fund for improvements to the Water Treatment Plant. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| d. APPROVED 2023 Sump Pump Inspection Project | Jason Fisher, City Engineer with Bolten & Menk shared the city has done sump pump inspection in a small area of the city. Mr. Fisher is recommending a two-year project to conduct inspections city wide. MOTION by Councilor Kalar approving the 2023 Sump Pump Inspection project. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| e. APPROVED terminating Lease Agreement with Koochiching County for space currently occupied by the International Falls Police Department | Mayor Droba re-iterated that the City had received a letter from the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners requesting the City to commit to participating in a long-term lease agreement for the International Falls Police Department’s (IFPD) shared space within the Joint Law Enforcement Center. Mayor Droba noted that at a recent Committee-of-the-Whole meeting Chief Kostiuk was asked for his recommendation on what would be best for the Police Department. Chief Kostiuk stated that it is in the best interest of the Police Department to move from the Law Enforcement Center to allow the police department to build their own identity and allow for more space. Mayor Droba noted there are questions and concerns but he supports the Police Chief and officers. Mayor Droba expressed that the Sheriff’s department and Police Department have a great relationship and this will not change if they decide to terminate the lease.
Councilor Kalar expressed his concerns stating he does not believe it would benefit the City to terminate the lease. Kalar feels the Sheriff’s department and the Police department will not have the same collaboration as they currently do. Further, Kalar stated concerns with a daycare being located in the Backus building. Councilor Kalar suggested tabling the termination until further discussion can be held with the County. Councilor Wegner expressed concern for the housing of in-mates and dispatching services. MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve terminating the Joint Law Enforcement Center Lease Agreement with Koochiching County for space currently occupied by the International Falls Police Department; however continue discussions with the Koochiching County Board of Commissioners. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Droba, Councilors Buller, Holden and Wegner voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Kalar voting ‘nay’. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Attorney Nelson requested approval for demolition of the home located at 1021 9th Street as it has been identified as an emergency hazard. Nelson noted that two bids were received and recommends awarding the contract to the lowest bidder, Travis Thompson in the amount of $12,700.00.
MOTION by Councilor Buller approving the lowest bid from Travis Thompson of $12,700.00 to demolish the home located at 1021 9th Street. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. Attorney Nelson stated there are several properties needing demolition work in the City. Nelson stated she has spoken with Nathan Heibel from Koochiching County and he indicated the City receives $24,000.00 for demolition and the landfill waste fees are waived. Councilor Kalar suggested further demolition discussion be done at the next Public Works meeting on March 13, 2023 at 2:00 P.M. in the Council Chambers. Mayor Droba and Councilors all agreed. The International Falls Police Department Activity Report for January 2023 was available for review along with the January 2023 Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba shared there is an Airport Meeting on February 22, 2023
Droba also shared that he is working on a State of the City, which he will conduct on March 8, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. The State of the City will be pre-recorded for social media, radio station and the newspaper. Councilor Kalar shared that he is now a member of the Kootasca Community Action board. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 6, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 7:08 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
