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 4th day of December 2023 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Droba and Councilors Buller, Holden, and Kalar
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Wegner
| 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 November 20, 2023, regular City Council meeting | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the minutes of Monday, November 20, 2023, regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 81-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 81-2023 approving transfers, payment of claims and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| ACME Tools-Grand Forks | Salt Spreader-VNP | 845.00 | 77436 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Supp-Adm/Water, Forfeiture-Police | 387.68 | 77437 |
| Ameritas Life Ins Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,792.00 | 77438 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil Matters | 5,985.00 | 77439 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 3,119.00 | 77440 |
| Aramark Uniform & Career Apparel | Cleaning Service | 1,290.10 | 77441 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Parts-Water, Supp-Street Lighting | 59.41 | 77442 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,334.77 | 77443 |
| Bert’s | Building Official Truck | 500.00 | 77445 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 28,660.96 | 77446 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Sanitary Sewer | 13.00 | 77447 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 77448 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 72.04 | 77449 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | IT-Adm, Trng-Hzmt/Amb/Wtr, Sup-Fire | 5,715.42 | 77450 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 536.31 | 77451 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 208 | Repayment to IFEDA from FI | 45,000.00 | 77452 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 1,424.45 | 77453 |
| Compass Minerals | Bulk Hwy Coarse W/YPS | 9,114.83 | 77454 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 10,189.97 | 77455 |
| Core & Main | Supplies-Water Dept | 317.85 | 77456 |
| Display Sales | LED Mini Lights | 323.00 | 77457 |
| Earl Boyum | Waste Tires | 241.00 | 77458 |
| Expert Billing LLC | Ambulance Transports | 3,422.00 | 77459 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 2,041.89 | 77460 |
| Further | Library | 2,024.00 | 77461 |
| Galls, an Aramark Co, LLC | Clothing-Ambulance/Myers | 462.20 | 77462 |
| Graybar | M&R-San Sewer, Bld Maint-VNP | 390.46 | 77463 |
| Hasbargen Customs LLC | Printing of Hi-Vis Jackets | 40.00 | 77464 |
| Hook & Book/Roche’s Towing | Towing-Housing | 125.00 | 77465 |
| Humana Health Care Plans | Ambulance Overpayment | 2,010.32 | 77466 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Supp-Administration/Building Official | 75.74 | 77467 |
| Intl’l Falls US Post Office | Permit #79 Escrow | 5,000.00 | 77468 |
| I.U.E.O Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 28,400.00 | 77469 |
| John P MacLean | Boot Allowance | 160.00 | 77470 |
| Justin Mostad | Meal Allowance | 216.00 | 77471 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Batteries | 664.73 | 77472 |
| MacQueen Equipment Inc | Maint & Repair Equip-Street | 244.31 | 77473 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 610.50 | 77474 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy- Fire/Adm/PW/Wat | 1,598.60 | 77475 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 1,932.00 | 77476 |
| Menards International Falls | Ice Shelter Maint, Supp-Grnd/St/Fire | 949.58 | 77477 |
| Meyers Glass | M&R Doors-Firehall, Lift for Fireworks | 555.00 | 77478 |
| Michael Wallace | Travel Expense-Water | 108.00 | 77479 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 218.18 | 77480 |
| Minnesota Child Support | ID 0014487664, Locator Code 27 | 57.00 | 77481 |
| Minnesota Dept of Health | State Test Fee | 6,245.00 | 77482 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 2,056.70 | 77483 |
| Minnesota Industries | Tools-Street Garage | 27.07 | 77484 |
| North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 77485 |
| North Central Labs of Wisconsin | Supplies-Water | 756.13 | 77486 |
| Premier Specialty Vehicles | Parts-Ambulance | 296.00 | 77487 |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies-Building & Grounds | 1,462.55 | 77488 |
| Streicher’s | Clothing-M Kostiuk | 340.08 | 77489 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 554.08 | 77490 |
| Ted Brokaw | MRWA Conference | 510.03 | 77491 |
| Teleflex Medical | Ambulance Supplies | 677.50 | 77492 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,555.98 | 77493 |
| US Postal Service | Annual Permit Mailing Fee | 310.00 | 77494 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,698.23 | 77495 |
| Viking Electric Supply Inc | Building Maintenance-VNP | 508.92 | 77496 |
| Viking Industrial Center | Maintenance-Sanitary Sewer | 140.44 | 77497 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102061 |
| All State-American Heritage | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102062 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators, LLC | Supplemental insurance | 364.30 | 102063 |
| Bremer Bank, NA | Federal Withholding | 45,066.40 | 102064 |
| I.U.O.E. Central Pension Fund | Retirement | 4,451.10 | 102065 |
| Intl Falls Ambulance Service | Dues | 182.00 | 102066 |
| Justin Franz, Sec/Treas. | C.O.P.S. | 140.00 | 102067 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Center | Wage Assignment | 1,064.67 | 102068 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding | 8,59.78 | 102069 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Deferred Compensation | 7,800.00 | 102070 |
| PERA | Retirement | 38,886.00 | 102071 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 813.31 | 102072 |
| The Hartford | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 771.70 | 102073 |
| United Way of NE MN Inc. | Employee Donation | 15.00 | 102074 |
| AUDIENCE | None |
| PUBLIC HEARING | None. |
| OPENING BIDS | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve consent agenda as presented:
· Cater For You, LLC – itinerant restaurant license · Forestland Sales & Service Inc dba Pizza Barn – restaurant license · Jackpine Family Diner LLC dba Street Eats – itinerant restaurant license · Jeff Briggs Construction LLC – snowplow license · Kennedy’s City Cab and Transport LLC – taxi license · KNV Restaurants Inc dba Subway IF – restaurant license · Menards #3507 – fireworks license · Thomas J. Coulombe – snowplow license · Workman Detailing LLC – snowplow license Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED City Administrator to draft a letter to the Airport Commission with funding concerns |
Mayor Droba shared that he and the council have had discussion on changing the airport funding mechanism as the city believes the current method is disproportionate for the city residents. Everyone agreed how important the airport is to the community.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve drafting a letter to Koochiching County on changing the current funding mechanism for the airport. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 82-2023 a resolution supporting the Canadian Government to purchase the International Bridge | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 82-2023 supporting the Canadian Government to purchase the International Bridge. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ACCEPTED letter of resignation from full-time patrol officer effective January 3, 2024 and declare vacancy | MOTION by Councilor Buller to accept the letter of resignation from full-time patrol officer Bryan Franko effective January 3, 2024 and declare a vacancy. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED filling vacant full-time patrol officer position effective January 3, 2024 | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve filling the vacant full-time patrol officer position with Jay Taylor effective January 3, 2024. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED renewal of Business Associate Agreement and Administrative Services Agreement with Compensation Consultants, Ltd | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the renewal of Business Associate Agreement and Administrative Services Agreement with Compensation Consultants, Ltd., regarding administration of Flexible Benefit Account Program. City Administrator Betty Bergstrom noted the fees are completely paid for by employees. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Year 2024 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications, as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following 2024 license renewals:
· Bootleggers Fuel & Liquor – cigarette license, gasoline pumps license and restaurant license · Bootleggers Liquor LLC – off sale liquor license · Forestland Sales & Service – cigarette license and gasoline pumps license · Koerter’s Inc dba Koerter’s Fuel & Car Wash – cigarette license and gasoline pump license · On the Rocks LLC – on sale liquor license, Sunday liquor license, restaurant license, juke box license, pool table license and off sale liquor license Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | None |
| Reports of Mayor and Council Committees | Councilor Kalar shared that a fundraiser will be held on December 9th at the VFW during the Army/Navy football game to raise money for the Koochiching County Veterans Transportation Program.
Mayor Droba spoke briefly about the town hall meeting held on November 30th at Backus regarding the garbage ordinance and the ambulance deficit. He commented that the meeting went well and that he would like to see more town hall meetings. Mayor Droba stated he is planning a luncheon with the councilors and himself later in December. Mayor Droba also spoke of an EMS hearing that he and Chief Mannausau will be attending on Wednesday, December 13th in Mountain Iron to discuss with legislation the statewide ambulance funding, staffing and capacity crisis. |
| AUDIENCE | Ranier Mayor Dennis Wagner stated his concerns regarding funding of the International Falls Airport and the Ambulance deficit and the importance of the City and Koochiching County working together. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Droba reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 18, 2023, at 5:30 P.M. in the City Council Chambers. Mayor Droba adjourned the meeting at 6:02 P.M. |
Harley Droba, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
