APPROVED consent agenda with deletion of agenda item number 3

1. Approve 2023 LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver Form to not waive limits on Municipal Tort Liability and authorize signatures
2. Approve/allow necessary expenses for elected officials and/or department heads to attend the 2023 League of Minnesota Cities Annual Conference June 21-23 in Duluth, MN
3. Approve ending employment with Makayla Werdier per the International Union of Operating Engineers (Local #49) collective bargaining agreement Article 19 and authorize posting/advertising the Office Clerk position
4. Approve removing Kyle Rasmussen from the position of Spare FireFighter Engineer

Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar.  Motion failed 4-1 with Councilors Buller, Kalar, Wegner and Mayor Droba voting “yea” and Councilors Holden voting “nay”.  Approval of the consent agenda must be unanimous.

Councilor Holden requested removing consent agenda item number 3 (Approve ending employment with Makayla Werdier per the International Union of Operating Engineers (Local #49) collective bargaining agreement Article 19 and authorize posting/advertising the Office Clerk position.) from the agenda.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to remove consent agenda item number 3 and approve consent agenda items 1, 2, and 4.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

INFORMATIONAL – County Assessor Open Book meeting

MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 23-2023 approving Commercial Loan Program funding in the amount of $24,999.99 as requested by TruStar Federal Credit Union on behalf of Whispering Leaf Irrevocable Trust to improve the building located at 345 3^rd Street.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Planning Commission’s recommendation to change zoning of  Lots 17-22 of Block 1 Plat of Fairview from R-1B Residential to M-1B Manufacturing for Shannon’s Inc., David Hebig and applicant; and furthermore to amend the official zoning map accordingly.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

a.       Approve Survey Services of Holler Field as provided by Bolton & Menk

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Memorandum of Agreement to plan and implement protection and restoration efforts for the Rainy River – Rainy Lake Watershed as part of the Rainy River – Rainy Lake Planning Group and appoint Councilor Kalar to the Policy Committee and Councilor Buller as the alternate.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

a.       Approved participating in the Rainy Lake Coalition (RLC) as it relates to the Canadian National (CN) Railroad Bridge, Mile 85.0 over Rainy River, Ranier, Minnesota

Councilor Wegner stated he has received several calls from concerned citizens.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to postpone approving entering into a lease agreement with Citizens for Backus/AB, Backus Community Center until the April 17, 2023 council meeting to allow time to discuss further with Koochiching County.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar.  Motion failed 2-3 with Councilors Kalar and Wegner voting “yea” and Mayor Droba, Councilors Buller and Holden voting “nay”.

Original Motion passed 4-1 with Mayor Droba, Councilors Buller, Holden and Wegner voting ‘yea’ and Councilor Kalar voting ‘nay’.

Councilor Wegner shared that the Forest Hill Cemetery Board hired web designer Wendy Reiners to create a website for Forest Hill Cemetery.  Also, they are continuing to map out the plots of those buried in the cemetery. The website will have the ability to show users where their loved ones are buried.

Mayor Droba shared that he was contacted to testify at the hearing of the Capital Investment Committee at the Senate on March 21, 2023.   The City of International Falls has potentially received $1 million dollars for the Kerry Park project.  Mayor Droba stated the $1 million doesn’t help much.  Droba noted he will attending and asking for additional support in the amount of 1.8 million, which would cover the design and engineering costs of the project.