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 6th day of March 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 Buller to approve agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 21, 2023 special City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve minutes of the special City Council meeting of February 21, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the February 21, 2023 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve minutes of the regular City Council meeting of February 21, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 17-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 17-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable for the first monthly City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Adam Mannausau | CAT Team Training | 175.00 | 75378 |
| Align Chiropractic & Wellness Cntr | Pre-Employment Physical | 135.00 | 75379 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supplies-IT/Police/Fire/Hazmat | 520.63 | 75380 |
| Ameritas Life Ins. Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,792.00 | 75381 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil Matters | 14,518.19 | 75382 |
| Andrew Holler | Cleaning of Property-1021 9th St | 1,821.00 | 75383 |
| Andy Kittelson | Travel Expense | 32.05 | 75384 |
| Ann Shickell | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 75385 |
| Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel | Cleaning Services | 1,080.68 | 75386 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 4,150.00 | 75387 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 969.80 | 75388 |
| Ben Mortenson | Travel Expense-CAT Team | 175.00 | 75389 |
| Bolton & Menk, Inc. | Engineering Services | 21,076.50 | 75390 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 75391 |
| Bremer Cardmember Service | Train-Adm/Amb/Hazmat/Pol/St/House | 13,824.92 | 75392 |
| Cenex Voyaguer Fleet | Gas-Amb/Pol/Str/VNP/Gar/Wtr/Grnds | 5,162.12 | 75393 |
| CherryRoad Media, Inc. | Minutes & City Beach Flood Dmg Bid | 665.93 | 75394 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 432.41 | 75395 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings Water Service | 1,634.45 | 75396 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 8,215.86 | 75397 |
| Core & Main | Supplies-Water Department | 471.79 | 75398 |
| Costin Group, Inc. | Govt. Relations | 2,000.00 | 75399 |
| Dakota Supply Group | Supplies-Water Department | 483.52 | 75400 |
| Dylan Holt | Jr. High Basketball Coach | 1,200.00 | 75401 |
| Ellie Jean | Boys Basketball Coach 2022-2023 | 1,200.00 | 75402 |
| Emma Hartzler | Girls Basketball Coach 2022-2023 | 2,400.00 | 75403 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Supplies-Street | 332.95 | 75404 |
| Friend’s Garbage Service, LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 2,069.74 | 75405 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing-Ambulance | 83.11 | 75406 |
| Gearhart’s Floral & Gifts | Acct Deposit Refund | 3.60 | 75407 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 27.00 | 75408 |
| Graybar | Maintenance & Repair-Water | 142.90 | 75409 |
| Innovative Office Solutions, LLC | Supplies-Administration | 235.49 | 75410 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch County | City Share Feb 2023-Parking Lot Rehab | 374,198.00 | 75411 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 30,418.00 | 75412 |
| J & J Contracting, LLC | Appl 1-Bldg Improvements | 254,021.64 | 75413 |
| Jared Holenko | Acct Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 75414 |
| Joshua Ballejo | Clothing Allowance Reimbursement | 563.15 | 75415 |
| Kantor Electric, Inc. | Supplies-Water Department | 12.60 | 75416 |
| Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash | Gas-Str/Str.Lt./Garage/Wtr/Sew | 5,601.38 | 75417 |
| Lawson Products, Inc. | Supplies-Street Lighting | 536.63 | 75418 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment, Inc. | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,417.47 | 75419 |
| Locators & Supplies | Safety Vests-Safety Department | 212.40 | 75420 |
| LVC, Inc. | VNP Fire Alarm Annual Monitoring | 2,172.00 | 75421 |
| Magney Construction | Parts-Water Plant | 6,700.00 | 75422 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 1,119.00 | 75423 |
| Marco Technologies, LLC | Contract/Print/Copy-Fire/Adm/PW | 1,544.76 | 75424 |
| McCoy Construction & Forestry Inc. | Towmaster Trlr-TC12HD VIN#2878 | 15,900.00 | 75425 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,848.00 | 75426 |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies-Bldg/Amb/Str | 170.92 | 75427 |
| Meyers Glass | M&R Doors-Firehall | 115.28 | 75428 |
| Michael Wallace | Strobe Light-Supplies Street | 107.36 | 75429 |
| Midcontinent Communications | Cable-Fire/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt/Gar | 545.20 | 75430 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 50.00 | 75431 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 4,358.06 | 75432 |
| Minnesota Industries | Supplies-Storm/Street | 254.90 | 75433 |
| N Koochiching Area Sanitary Dist. | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 70,304.14 | 75434 |
| National Pen Co., LLC | Stylus Pens | 154.94 | 75435 |
| N. American Bank Co.-Woodbury | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 75436 |
| North Central Labs of Wisconsin | Supplies-Water Plant | 80.48 | 75437 |
| Northern Reliable Agency | Volunteer Fire Dept. Insurance | 429.00 | 75438 |
| Pitney Bowes Global Financial Srvc | Quarterly Lease-Mailing System | 398.82 | 75439 |
| Pitney Bowes Reserve Acct. | Quarterly Lease-Inserting | 1,000.00 | 75440 |
| PowerPlan | Unit 126-Parts | 3,403.20 | 75441 |
| Range Paper Corp. | Supplies-Water Plant | 970.00 | 75442 |
| Sand Creek EAP, LLC | Employee Assistance Program | 2,747.25 | 75443 |
| St. Louis County Auditor | Liquid Brine/Amp | 314.87 | 75444 |
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing-M Kostiuk/P Kennedy | 565.86 | 75445 |
| Stryker Sales Corp. | Supplies & Parts-Ambulance | 3,175.93 | 75446 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 572.16 | 75447 |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating, LLC | Building Maintenance-Street Garage | 225.00 | 75448 |
| TC Lighting Supplies & Recycling | Recycling-IT | 249.40 | 75449 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 41,716.95 | 75450 |
| Todd Ojala | IT Mileage Expense | 55.25 | 75451 |
| Tony Netland | Acct Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 75452 |
| Unique Photoworks | Door Hangers-Police | 75.86 | 75453 |
| Verizon Wireless | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,645.57 | 75454 |
| Viking Electric Supply, Inc. | Supplies-Street Lighting/Electrical | 43.17 | 75455 |
| Volunteer Firefighters | Firefighters’ Insurance | 1,050.00 | 75456 |
| Widseth | Engineering Services | 67.50 | 75457 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 101719 |
| All State-American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101720 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental insurance | 364.30 | 101721 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 40,652.50 | 101722 |
| I.U.O.E. Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 4,280.70 | 101723 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance – 49ers | 175.00 | 101724 |
| International Falls Fire Dept. Relief | Fire Department Relief | 350.00 | 101725 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 154.00 | 101726 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 120.00 | 101727 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 784.48 | 101728 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,411.07 | 101729 |
| Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 9,018.00 | 101730 |
| PERA | Retirement | 33,611.60 | 101731 |
| RCB Collections, Inc. | Wage Assignment | 157.50 | 101732 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 803.81 | 101733 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 723.52 | 101734 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 101735 |
| AUDIENCE:
APPROVED
|
RaeAnn Conat requested approval from the council for an On Sale Intoxicating liquor license for The Salty Jester as her request for 3.2 On Sale and Wine License with strong beer was denied by the State. Ms. Conat’s kitchen did not meet the requirements, as she is only going to be selling prepackaged snacks.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar approving an On Sale Intoxicating liquor license for The Salty Jester. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS:
APPROVED second and final reading of Contract Ordinance #981 for Lift Station #15 Improvements |
MOTION by Councilor Buller approving the second and final reading of Contract Ordinance #981 for Lift Station #15 Improvements Project with the bid being awarded to TNT Construction Group, LLC in the amount of $238,750.00. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
1. Approve DewNorth Spa license renewal for a massage license effective March 1, 2023. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
ADOPTED Resolution No. 18-2023 authorizing agreement for disposition of surplus 1982 Ford 50 ft. Telesquirt Ladder Truck |
Fire Chief Mannausau stated Resolution 80-18 authorizing agreement for disposition of surplus 1982 Ford Ladder truck fell though due to the Littlefork Fire Department lacking storage room for the Ladder Truck and the clause stating the International Falls Fire Department have availability to use the Fire Truck for the annual PCA outage. Mannausau informed the council that the Littlefork Fire Department has resolved their storage issue and is interested in purchasing the Ladder Truck as long as the language regarding the International Falls Fire Department using the Ladder Truck for the annual PCA outage is removed. Chief Mannausau modified the resolution and is requesting approval.
MOTION by Councilor Holden adopting Resolution No. 18-2023 authorizing agreement for disposition of surplus 1982 Ford 50 ft. Telesquirt Ladder Truck. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED renewal of the Modem Data Plan contract with Stryker Medical | Chief Mannausau shared they have been getting fee data since the upgrade of the four Physio monitors three years ago. The modems transmits live data to our regional hospitals and is a critical link in the operations of the Ambulance service.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar approving renewal of the Modem Data Plan contract with Stryker Medical for the four Physio LP15 monitors the Ambulance department has. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 19-2023 approving application for exempt permit for Falls Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc. to conduct a raffle | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 19-2023 approving application for exempt permit for Falls Memorial Hospital Foundation, Inc. to conduct a raffle with the drawing on Friday, June 30, 2023 at Rainy Lake Medical Center, 1400 Hwy 71, International Falls.
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 20-2023 approving Minnesota Management & Budget Pay Equity Compliance Plan | Sherri Stensland Human Resources Director shared that the City of International Falls has been working with Minnesota Management & Budget (MMB) to ensure all female job classifications are in compliance with the 1984 Local Government Pay Equity Act. If the city does not come into compliance they could be subject to a five percent reduction in Legal Government Aid or fined $100 per day, whichever is greater. Stensland stated they reached a tentative agreement with the International Union of Operating Engineers, Local #49 through a Memorandum of Understanding.
MOTION by Councilor Holden adopting Resolution No. 20-2023 approving Minnesota Management & Budget Pay Equity Compliance Plan. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Attorney Nelson stated the agreement between the homeowner and city for the home located at 1717 1st Ave, states tear down can begin on or after March 3, 2023. Travis Thompson submitted the lowest bid in August of 2022. Mr. Thompson indicated he would still honor the bid of $4,950.00 from August of 2022.
MOTION by Councilor Buller approving the lowest bid from Travis Thompson of $4,950.00 to demolish the home located at 1717 1st Ave. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba requested City Attorney Nelson submit a rough draft on where the city stands in regards to legalizing cannabis at the next Legislation and Land Use meeting.
Councilor Buller stated that the engineer from the airport has been meeting with contractors in regards to the water leaks they are experiencing with the building. The Airport Commission has made a motion to hire an independent contractor to identify the repairs needed and further indicated that legal action may be taken if the leaks are not repaired. Councilor Kalar expressed how pleased he was with the League of Minnesota training that he attended. Kalar also reminded everyone of the Guns-N-Hoses hockey game between local Law Enforcement and Fire/EMS departments on March 7, 2023.
Mayor Droba shared that he was asked to testify for the city of International Falls along with the city of Two Harbors in regards to lead in the water service lines.
Mayor Droba also stated that he was very impressed with the tour of the third floor Backus space that the Police department is looking at leasing.
Droba reminded everyone of the State of the City, which will released on March 8, 2023 at 6:00 P.M. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, March 20, 2023 at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:08 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
