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 16th day of October 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 Kalar to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the Monday, October 2, 2023 regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve the minutes of Monday, October 2, 2023 regular City Council meeting.
Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the Monday, October 9, 2023 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the minutes of Monday, October 9, 2023 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 74-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 74-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A+ Pest Management | Pest Control | 697.54 | 77104 | |
| Adam Mannausau | Hazmat Trvl/Trng | 144.77 | 77105 | |
| Amazon Capital Services | IT Supplies/Credit Memo | 741.11 | 77106 | |
| American Ambulance Association | Membership Renewal | 525.00 | 77107 | |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 456.00 | 77108 | |
| Arrowhead EMS Association | Annual Membership Fee | 170.00 | 77109 | |
| Axon Enterprises Inc | Taser Batteries | 87.20 | 77110 | |
| Bert’s | Parts-Sanitary Sewer | 110.00 | 77111 | |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 20,114.00 | 77112 | |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 70.25 | 77113 | |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,111.37 | 77114 | |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77115 | |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77116 | |
| Cady Business Technologies | Annual Platinum Support-Mitel | 1,992.00 | 77117 | |
| Cenex Voyaguer Fleet | Pol/Fire/BO/Hous/P&R/Amb/Water | 6,542.11 | 77118 | |
| CherryRoad Media Inc. | Council Mtg/Ord/Floodplain/Ads | 2,000.00 | 77119 | |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Lease Agreement-Suite 305 | 6,244.76 | 77120 | |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 77121 | |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 20,567.25 | 77122 | |
| City of Ranier | Water – City Beach | 48.95 | 77123 | |
| Costin Group Inc | Government Relations | 2,000.00 | 77124 | |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns-City Parks | 1,545.00 | 77125 | |
| Department of Employment | Benefit Pmt- Adm | 2,478.00 | 77126 | |
| E Kooch Sanitary Sewer District | Water Plant | 285.00 | 77127 | |
| Earl F Andersen | Sign Supplies | 154.35 | 77128 | |
| Eckman – International Falls | M/R Equip-Police | 184.70 | 77129 | |
| Enterprise FM Trust | Leases- Pol/Hous/VNP/St/Water | 12,625.30 | 77130 | |
| Expert Billing LLC | Ambulance Transports | 3,074.00 | 77131 | |
| Fairview Health Services | Fire Fit Tests/Physicals | 6,807.30 | 77132 | |
| Falls Lumber Company | Supplies-Water | 191.88 | 77133 | |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Parts-Park/Rec | 36.99 | 77134 | |
| Friend’s Garbage Service LLC | Monthly Garbage Service | 2,297.30 | 77135 | |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,872.19 | 77136 | |
| Galls, An Aramark Co., LLC | Clothing – Ambulance/Mannausau | 307.07 | 77137 | |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 155.25 | 77138 | |
| Hawkins Inc | Supplies-Water Plant | 35.60 | 77139 | |
| Howards – Cenex LLC | DEF Fluid-Street Garage | 1,053.58 | 77140 | |
| Industrial Health Sv Ntwk Inc | Mandated US DOT Regulations | 141.90 | 77141 | |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Office Supplies-Street/Police/Adm | 309.05 | 77142 | |
| ISD #361 | Brick Dust-Ball Fields | 2,392.75 | 77143 | |
| Jason Sjoblom | Boot Allowance/License Fee Reimb. | 182.99 | 77144 | |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 77145 | |
| Kooch Co Env Services Dept | Demo-Water | 108.00 | 77146 | |
| Kraus-Anderson Const. Co. | Const. Mgmt IF Bldg Improvements | 8,686.19 | 77147 | |
| Kraus-Anderson Const. Co. | Const. Mgmt IF Bldg Improvements | 66,815.35 | 77148 | |
| LOW Towing & Repair LLC | Towing – Police | 615.60 | 77149 | |
| Lake Superior College | Fire Inst. I Trng-Mortenson/Gedde | 900.00 | 77150 | |
| Laursen Asphalt Repair Eqp LLC | Recycler Tune Up Kit | 394.89 | 77151 | |
| Lawson Products Inc | Batteries/Supplies | 452.53 | 77152 | |
| League of Minnesota Cities | Online Training | 30.00 | 77153 | |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc. | Oxygen-Ambulance | 1,085.66 | 77154 | |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Arbitration/Administrative Hearings | 292.50 | 77155 | |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Maint/Repair Street Dept | 3,963.00 | 77156 | |
| Marco | Copy Charges | 20.26 | 77157 | |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Copier Agreement/Copy Charges | 2,177.58 | 77158 | |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing – Ambulance | 48.00 | 77159 | |
| Menards International Falls | Supplies-Water/Elec/Amb/Police | 177.19 | 77160 | |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77161 | |
| Midcontinent Communications | Internet-Police/Water | 210.85 | 77162 | |
| Mid-State Truck Service Inc | Parts-Street/San Sewer/Water | 2,303.98 | 77163 | |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 752.92 | 77164 | |
| Minnesota Industries | Gloves – Street Dept | 73.80 | 77165 | |
| Minnesota Power | Utilities | 32,475.60 | 77166 | |
| Multiple Concepts Interiors | IF Bldg Improv.- Appl 2-Labor | 32,429.96 | 77167 | |
| Multiple Concepts Interiors | IF Bldg Improv.- Appl 2-Materials | 10,702.72 | 77168 | |
| N Kooch. Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 85,707.74 | 77169 | |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Supplies-Street/Fire/Storm Sew | 378.30 | 77170 | |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Supplies-Ggb/St/Water/KP/Gar/P&R | 477.16 | 77171 | |
| Office of MNIT Services | Wide Are Network(WAN) Services | 267.73 | 77172 | |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | Parts-Fire/Gar/St/P&R/Water/Arena | 1,920.94 | 77173 | |
| Pelland Welding, Inc. | Parts-Street | 232.11 | 77174 | |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Vaccine/Pharmaceutical Supplies | 527.10 | 77175 | |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Parts-VNP / Fuel-Water | 690.00 | 77176 | |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies | 767.74 | 77177 | |
| Regional Contracting & Painting | Pay Appl. 2-Labor | 15,599.95 | 77178 | |
| Rhory Gelo | Hazmat-Travel/Trng | 108.00 | 77179 | |
| Servicemaster of Intl Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,725.00 | 77180 | |
| Shannon’s Inc | Supplies-Storm | 100.00 | 77181 | |
| Sherri Stensland | NE Regional Safety Day Trng | 520.74 | 77182 | |
| Shred-N-Go Inc | Recycling Police | 75.89 | 77183 | |
| Streicher’s Inc | Clothing-Lessard/Olson/M Kostiuk | 717.89 | 77184 | |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating LLC | Bldg Maint-Municipal Bldg | 380.00 | 77185 | |
| Terex Services | Unit 083 – Maintenance | 1,661.60 | 77186 | |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77187 | |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77188 | |
| TK Elevator Corp | Water Plant Elevator Maint | 127.96 | 77189 | |
| TNT Construction Group LLC | Lift Station #15 Improvements | 223,219.60 | 77190 | |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77191 | |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 1,185.32 | 77192 | |
| Van Iwaarden Associates | GASB 75 12/31/2023 | 1,200.00 | 77193 | |
| Wagner Construction Inc | PSI Concrete | 736.00 | 77194 | |
| Wagner Construction Inc | Pay Application #2 | 521,550.00 | 77195 | |
| Willi Kostiuk | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 77196 | |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 77197 | |
| Xerox Corporation | Maintenance Agreement-Wtr Plant | 31.78 | 77198 | |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | ||||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 101994 | |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 101995 | |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 364.30 | 101996 | |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 41,546.67 | 101997 | |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 4,716.10 | 101998 | |
| City of Int’l Falls | HRA–Police/Fire | 520.00 | 101999 | |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance–49ers | 1,794.00 | 102000 | |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 1,845.50 | 102001 | |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 182.00 | 102002 | |
| I.U.O.E. Local 49ers | Health Reimbursement | 945.00 | 102003 | |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 120.00 | 102004 | |
| MN Child Support Payment Center | Wage Assignment | 1,064.67 | 102005 | |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 7,970.08 | 102006 | |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 7,875.00 | 102007 | |
| NCPERS Minnesota | Life Insurance Premiums | 112.00 | 102008 | |
| N. Kooch Area Sanitary District | Health Insurance Premiums | 285.00 | 102009 | |
| PERA | Retirement | 36,153.89 | 102010 | |
| RCB Collections-Range Credit B | Wage Assignment | 100.60 | 102011 | |
| United Way of NE MN Inc | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 102012 | |
| AUDIENCE | Julie Melstrom of 904 6th Street inquired of where the addition tax increase would be spent. Mayor Droba explained to her that the increase will be divided among all the departments of the city. She also stated that she thinks the city should re-instate the Public Health Officer to help with the unsanitary homes in our community. Mayor Droba explained that the city is not in a position to financially offer such a position and that the County has a Public Health Officer. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS: | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED as presented |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Consent Agenda as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| APPROVED 2023 3.2 off-sale, restaurant, and cigarette licenses for Super One Foods, 1606 Hwy 71 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve 2023 3.2 off-sale, restaurant, and cigarette licenses for Super One Foods, 1606 Hwy 71 (new location). Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED 2023 itinerant restaurant license for Lem’s Bigwood Pizza, Chloe Lemieux-Dougherty | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve 2023 itinerant restaurant license for Lem’s Bigwood Pizza, Chloe Lemieux-Dougherty effective upon approval. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the Basic lease agreement for 7 Taser units from Axon Enterprises | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the Basic lease agreement for 7 Taser units from Axon Enterprises. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| City Attorney:
a. APPROVED moving the demolition quote from Travis Thompson for 1101 9th Street to the IFEDA for consideration. |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to move the demolition quote from Travis Thompson for 1101 9th Street in the amount of $7,390.00 to the IFEDA for consideration. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| b. APPROVED moving the demolition quote from Steve Boyum Construction for 817 6th Street to the IFEDA for consideration | MOTION by Councilor Buller to move the demolition quote from Steve Boyum Construction for 817 6th Street in the amount of $12,840.00 to the IFEDA for consideration. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring two seasonal part-time Parks & Facilities Assistants as recommended by the Parks & Facilities hiring committee | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the recommendation of the Parks & Facilities hiring committee to hire Teah Goulet and Nick Anderson as seasonal, part-time Parks & Facilities Assistants. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED hiring a part-time Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to hire Elizabeth Lorenz as a part-time Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendation(s):
a. APPROVED the Driveway Entrance Specification and Regulations |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Driveway Entrance Specification and Regulations, as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| b. APPROVED the Facility Condition Assessment Proposal for the City of International Falls: Kerry Park Rink | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the Facility Condition Assessment Proposal for the City of International Falls: Kerry Park Rink from Kraus-Anderson Construction Company. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Budget & Finance Committee recommendation:
a. APPROVED Bremer New Deposit-ICS Deposit Placement Agreement |
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the Bremer New Deposit-ICS Deposit Placement Agreement. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendation(s):
a. APPROVED Earned Sick and Safe Time policy |
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the Earned Sick and Safe Time policy. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden for discussion. Councilor Wegner starting asking clarifying questions related to the policy. Administrator Bergstrom asked what had changed between the October 9 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting and now, as no one had any questions then. Bergstrom further noted that this policy follows State law and in fact is more generous than State law. Councilor Wegner noted that he had been contacted by the Union and they have additional questions. Wegner asked that more information be provided and discussion with the Union be had on this matter. MOTION by Councilor Wegner to table this item to allow additional discussion with the Union. Councilor Holden seconded the motion to table. Motion to table passed 4-1 with Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar and Wegner voting “yea” and Mayor Droba voting “nay”. |
| b. APPROVED Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) policy. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| c. ADOPTED Resolution No. 75-2023 utilizing a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the City of International Falls | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 75 -2023 utilizing a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) for the City of International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| d. APPROVED Snowplowers license fee increase to $50.00 | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve fee increase for Snowplowers license from $25.00 to $50.00. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the date of March 1st, 2024 to discuss the Ambulance Service action regarding the letter from Councilor Kalar. | MOTION by Councilor Buller to set March 1, 2024 as a date to have a plan in place to alleviate the growing deficit of the ambulance fund, tasking the Ambulance Director and City Administrator to review options and bring forth a recommendation. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar.
Lengthy discuss ensued including the importance of keeping the Advanced Life Support (ALS) level of service that is currently provided by Paramedics and paid on-call Emergency Medical Technicians (EMT’s). Brenda Luettjohann, EMT for the International Falls Ambulance Service addressed the Council about hiring additional EMT’s if the service is in a deficit, as there is a cost related to hiring them. Ms. Luettjohann stated, “Paramedics are needed, they save lives”. Motion carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | None. |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Mayor Droba expressed that a date is being scheduled for a town hall meeting for the garbage and ambulance concerns for the community. He also addressed the increased fee for the bridge crossing cards. Mayor Droba noted that he and the Mayor of Fort Frances have spoken about the bridge toll increase and that they will continue to work together on the issue.
Councilor Wegner asked for clarification of the status of the former Holiday Inn becoming a housing unit for the elderly. Mayor Droba indicated that he currently had no information on that matter. |
| AUDIENCE | Joe Schwartz, Business Representative for the Machinist Union that represents the Fire, Police and Paramedics addressed the Council wanting to clarify a few things that were said earlier in the meeting. Mr. Schwartz noted he would like to meet with city staff as he has concerns with some of the language in the E.S.S.T. policy and the FMLA policy. Mr. Schwartz further noted the Union has lobbyist and the Union is willing to help with the Ambulance deficit discussions.
Patrick O’Connell of the Labors International Union of North America thanked the City Council for approving the Project Labor Agreement (PLA) and looks forward to working with the City of International Falls. Further noting that following State Statute is acceptable but statute sometimes allows for exceptions or carves out versus just setting a threshold for all projects, noting he does not foresee an issue, but wanted to explain. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting will be held on Monday, November 6, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:43 P.M. |
Harley M. Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
