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 2nd day of June 2025 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar and Wegner.
MEMBERS ABSENT: None.
APPROVED agenda as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
APPROVED the following meeting minutes, as presented
|
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the following meeting minutes:
· Monday, May 19, 2025, regular City Council meeting · Wednesday, May 21, 2025, special City Council meeting Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
ADOPTED Resolution No. 39 -2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 39-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
A Plus Pest Management LLC | Pest Control | 2,531.12 | 81138 |
Alanna Smith | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81139 |
Alex Air Apparatus 2 LLC | Inflation Hose w/Shutoff, Hose Guard | 4,487.61 | 81140 |
Align Chiro. & Wellness Center | Random DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing | 35.00 | 81141 |
Allied Generators | Generator Maintenance | 3,150.00 | 81142 |
Amazon Capital Services | Sup-IT/Adm/House/Wtr/Fire/Amb | 553.82 | 81143 |
Ameritas Life Ins. Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,679.08 | 81144 |
Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil | 9,330.00 | 81145 |
Auto Value Int’l Falls | M&R Equip-Street | 139.58 | 81146 |
BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,113.79 | 81147 |
Border Boxes | Shipping-St/Wtr Plnt | 37.25 | 81149 |
Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 81150 |
Borderland Rentals LLC | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81151 |
Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,272.88 | 81152 |
Bremer Cardmember Services | Auto-Admin/Pol/Fire/St/Bldg Official | 276.21 | 81153 |
CherryRoad Media Inc | Minutes | 733.38 | 81154 |
Christine Howard | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81155 |
City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 204.85 | 81156 |
City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 1,537.68 | 81157 |
Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 3,892.17 | 81158 |
Core & Main | Meters | 3,952.97 | 81159 |
Dane Olson | Travel Expense | 108.00 | 81160 |
Donald Lavalley | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81161 |
Estate of John & Pat Gavin | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81162 |
Frank Oveson | Account Deposit Refund | 5.00 | 81163 |
Grafix Shoppe | Building/Zoning Shields | 555.00 | 81164 |
Grand Forks Fire Equip LLC | Fire Gear | 5,620.00 | 81165 |
Ice Box Antiques | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81166 |
Int’l Falls Super One Foods | Sup-Police | 13.76 | 81184 |
Innovative Office Solutions | Sup-Water | 96.36 | 81167 |
Intl Falls/Kooch Cty Airport Com | City Share May Maj Cap/2025 Cap | 531,184.83 | 81168 |
IUEO Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 31,507.00 | 81169 |
Joe Dion | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81170 |
John P MacLean | Meal Allowance | 28.00 | 81171 |
Josh Baron | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81172 |
KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 81173 |
Kimberly Demars | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81174 |
Koerter’s Amoco | Gas-St/Wtr/Pol/San Swr/Wtr Plnt | 4,977.21 | 81175 |
Lawson Products Inc | Fuel/Lube Garage | 990.23 | 81176 |
MacQueen Equipment Inc | Lube/Fuel-Street | 41.25 | 81177 |
Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy-Fire/Adm/PW/Wtr | 1,717.30 | 81178 |
Mary Giauque | Account Deposit Refund | 5.00 | 81179 |
MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 2,106.00 | 81180 |
Menards International Falls | Sup-Wtr/Fire/St/Gar/St Light | 323.63 | 81181 |
Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 580.09 | 81182 |
Mike Herman | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81183 |
Minnesota Dept of Health | State Test Fee | 6,400.00 | 81185 |
Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 1,141.65 | 81186 |
Minnesota Industries | Sup-Street, Cabinet | 1,197.80 | 81187 |
Miranda Sears | July 4th Supplies | 62.32 | 81188 |
MTI Distributing Inc | M&R-VNP/P&R/Grnds | 1,127.33 | 81189 |
Nicholson’s Garden Center | Grass/Coleus for Cement Planters | 862.56 | 81190 |
Nick Sivonen | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81191 |
North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 81192 |
Northern Border Investments LLC | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81193 |
Parker Sivonen | Meal Allowance | 28.00 | 81194 |
Robert Bahr | Top Soil | 2,250.00 | 81195 |
Robert Heinlen | Meal Allowance | 7.83 | 81196 |
Scottie Pfeiffer | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81197 |
Sherri Stensland | Upper Midwest Employment Law | 842.00 | 81198 |
Shred-n-Go Inc | Purge Service, Recycling Police | 467.77 | 81199 |
Sierra Wood | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81200 |
Soundnorth | Sup-IT/M&C | 109.92 | 81201 |
Stephen Briggs | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81202 |
Streicher’s | Clothing Allowance-Wherley | 242.97 | 81203 |
Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 548.49 | 81204 |
Sure Can Homes LLC | Account Deposit Refund | 40.00 | 81205 |
SymbolArts LLC | Fire & Ambulance Coins, City Pins | 5,256.75 | 81206 |
Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating LLC | Bldg Maint-St Gar/Mun Bldg | 390.50 | 81207 |
The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,837.76 | 81208 |
The Sherwin Williams Co-Bemidji | Paint | 392.04 | 81209 |
Troy Lepper | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81210 |
Valeriy Yanyuk | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81211 |
Vehicle Response Training LLC | Hands on Training | 7,445.95 | 81212 |
Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 2,779.42 | 81213 |
Viking Electric Supply Inc | M&R-P&R | 399.37 | 81214 |
Wagner Construction Inc | Washed Sand/4000 PSI Grout | 90.00 | 81215 |
Walls All Season Equipment Inc | Fuel-St/P&R, Maint-Grnds/P&R | 400.88 | 81216 |
Watts Regulator Co | Supplies-Wtr Plnt | 1,843.24 | 81217 |
WEX Bank | Gas-Gar/Fire/House/St/Grnd/Pol/Amb | 1,900.37 | 81218 |
William McDougall | Account Deposit Refund | 20.00 | 81219 |
Ziegler Inc | Parts-950H | 5,953.36 | 81220 |
The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102701 |
American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102702 |
Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102703 |
Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 44,585.17 | 102704 |
Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,007.60 | 102705 |
Intl Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 154.00 | 102706 |
Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | COPS Dues | 140.00 | 102707 |
MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 177.19 | 102708 |
MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,857.88 | 102709 |
MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,798.00 | 102710 |
PERA | Public Employees Retirement | 39,893.96 | 102711 |
Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 936.09 | 102712 |
The Hartford V-LTD | Voluntary LTD Insurance | 804.79 | 102713 |
United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 42.00 | 102714 |
AUDIENCE: | Sharon Ball, 120 Cedar Road, shared a handout with Mayor Dill, Administrator Bergstrom and the Councilors regarding her dog kennel business and the 4th of July fireworks. She asked that the city consider moving the location of the fireworks to a new location because of the anxiety and fear it causes her dogs and her fear of a fire starting in the heavily wooded area around her home. |
Nancy Imhof, business owner of 339 3rd Street, approached the Mayor and Council asking if they have the funds to support and are ready to vote on the project at the Water Treatment Plant. She stated she is as surprised as others to find the vote on tonight’s agenda but would request to table the project until the funding is available and we know better where we are financially. | |
Joe Kantor, 1607 13th Avenue, came forward to share his complaints of the potholes for the last year and a half in Stenberg Addition. Mayor Dill assured Mr. Kantor that there is street/sewer, mill and overlay planned for completion in Stenberg by the end of September. Mayor Dill also shared that the same repairs in Riverview Boulevard will be completed by the end of 2026. “I need to let you all know that the Land Use & Legislation have also been busy working hard on the issue with the deer within the city limits. I have spoken with people at the State level. We are working on the issue, and they are being addressed.” | |
Mayor Dill addressed Rob Ecklund, lobbyist for the City, to give an update on the MN Legislative Session. Mr. Ecklund greeted the Mayor and Council and briefed that the 2025 MN Legislative Session was not completed yet. The total $780M in the bonding bill would probably be allocated to Clean Water Funds, PFA, etc and that he is diligently working on what would be available for the City to apply for with the financing provided from the state. He shared that he is confident that a bill will pass, “But it is all up in the air right now”, shares Ecklund. He also shared there are no local projects funded within the bonding bill and that the bonding bill is typically passed in the second session of the legislation biennium, which will be next year. | |
PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
OLD BUSINESS:
APPROVED second and final reading of Ordinance No. 59 5th Series to update Sec. 10-32 Rules, regulations and traffic governing public parks |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve second and final reading of Ordinance No. 59 5th Series to update Sec. 10-32 Rules, regulations and traffic governing public parks. All public parks will be open to the public daily from 7:00 A.M. until 10:00 P.M. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
APPROVED contract with CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk), Rice Lake Construction for GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) for Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project in the amount of $11,844,680 | Mayor Dill invited Brian Guldan, Water/Wastewater Project Manager with Bolton & Menk, Inc to come forward and explain the improvements of the Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project. Brian updated, “This bonding bill has funding of 1%-2% low-rate loans that the City is eligible for. They are for water projects only. There are no grants available, I want to be clear on that portion.” Brian further discussed the estimated rate increase options that were laid out in his memo. Councilor Buller questioned if there was a bonding bill next year would we be eligible to apply for this project. Brian indicated we could as long as we were still working on the project. Mayor Dill didn’t believe that was the case with the conversations that he has had with legislators. Rob Ecklund, lobbyist, approached and spoke about the bill and also the $1M that the city turned back from the Kerry Park Project. Other items discussed included inflation, what would the project cost if it was delayed.
Attorney Nelson asked if the loan would remain if the project got voted down and/or if the project could be broken up. Brian replied that they would have to re-apply for the loan, and to break the project up would not be cost effective.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the contract with CMAR (Construction Manager at Risk), Rice Lake Construction for GMP (Guaranteed Maximum Price) for Water Treatment Plant rehabilitation project in the amount of $11,844,680. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden. Motion passed 3-2 with Councilors Kalar, Holden, and Buller voting “yea” and Councilor Wegner and Mayor Dill voting “nay”. |
CONSENT AGENDA: | None. |
NEW BUSINESS:
APPROVED road closure and support for the annual Chamber of Commerce Crazy Daze event on Wednesday, July 30, 2025 |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve road closure and support for the annual Chamber of Commerce Crazy Daze event scheduled for Wednesday, July 30, 2025, as presented by JJ McBride, Executive Director. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
APPROVED use of Smokey Bear Park for Wednesday Concerts in the Park series | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve use of Smokey Bear Park for Wednesday Concerts in the Park series, as requested by Amy Mortenson and Toni Korpi members of IFalls Nice. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
ADOPTED Resolution No. 40-2025 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Rotary Club for July 1, 2025, for Riverfest Concert at the Amphitheater located at 360 Hwy 11E | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 40-2025 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Rotary Club for July 1, 2025, for Riverfest Concert at the Amphitheater located at 360 Hwy 11E – Carol Grim. Carol Grim was not able to attend so Bob DeGross attended on her behalf. Motion was seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
ADOPTED Resolution No. 41-2025 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Rotary Club for July 3 & 4, 2025 – City 4th of July Celebration | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 41-2025 approving application and permit for a 1 day to 4 day temporary on-sale liquor license for the Rotary Club for July 3 & 4, 2025 for the July 4th Celebration at Smokey Bear Park located at 600 Third Street – Carol Grim. Bob DeGross attended on behalf of Carol Grim. Motion was seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
APPROVED hiring two summer employees for the public works department, as presented | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve hiring two summer employees for the public works department, as presented:
· Taylor Burns · Kayden Korpi Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
Other Business: | None. |
Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom bi-weekly report was available for review. |
Reports of Mayor & Council | Councilor Kalar gave an update that KEDA continues to work on the warehouse project and JJ McBride presented updates regarding the Chamber of Commerce. Councilor Buller noted that the North Koochiching Human Resources committee is meeting soon regarding the re-configuration of the board. |
AUDIENCE | Reynold Calder, 1901 6th Ave E, asked when the next Public Safety meeting will be. Mayor Dill looked to Administrator Bergstrom for confirmation that the meeting will be the 3rd Monday of each month at 2:00 P.M. Administrator Bergstrom confirmed the next meeting is Monday, June 16, 2025, at 2:00 P.M. |
Sharon Ball, 120 Cedar Road, spoke of her disappointment in the approval of the project for the renovation of the Water Treatment Plant. Ms. Ball stated, “There is too much gloat going on within the city. This decision is just wrong! We need to figure out where all our waste is, with all these crazy tariffs we have our backs against the wall!” | |
Joe Kantor, 1607 13th Ave W, also spoke about his concern with the Council passing the project for the renovation of the water plant. “By not being patient and waiting for state funding this will force hands to raise taxes. That is not fair to the citizens”, stated a frustrated Mr. Kantor. | |
Nancy Imhof, business owner requested clarification of the loan for the Water Treatment Plan- that it is for 20 years. She shared her disappointed that the project has passed with the financial state of the city, and the few council members being impatient to wait on the state funding. Mrs. Imhof also wanted an update of the bandshell. Councilor Wegner stated there is a meeting scheduled for June 18th, and the remaining demo should be completed by the end of this week. Nancy also wanted to bring attention to the building that was Jim’s Café needs attention. “It is an eye sore, it smells, and probably needs to be demoed”, declared Mrs. Imhof. | |
Allen Kruse of Mesa, AZ approached the Mayor and Council stating that he is a graduate from Falls High School, he ran for Mayor of International Falls in ’08. He wants to come back here and bring his business here, bring jobs to town, help build new homes, bring white collar revenue income to International Falls. Mr. Kruse scolded the Council that they are elected officials, they are expected to educate the public and to lead the community from the front. He wants to become a part of that. | |
ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill reminded everyone the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, June 16, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 7:00 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator