A special meeting of the City Council of the City of International Falls, Minnesota was held in the Council Chambers of the Municipal Building on the 14th day of July 2025 at the hour of
6:00 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill and Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar and Wegner
MEMBERS ABSENT: None
| OPENING STATEMENT | Mayor Dill wanted to clarify that this is not a meeting to dissolve the ambulance service. Dill further noted that dissolving the service could happen but is not the likely outcome as the service is too important to our community. |
| AUDIENCE | Mayor Dennis Wagner of Ranier, representing the citizens of Ranier expressed his belief that the Local Government Aid (LGA) funds received by the City of International Falls should be used to provide the services of the ambulance, library, and airport. Wagner further noted that years ago a bill called LGA was approved to help small cities. Further adding that he believes International Falls is considered a hub city, similar to Hibbing and receives additional funding to offer the services of ambulance, library and airport to help small communities around them. Wagner added that Ranier has paid their share (the State paid it for us) through the amount of LGA the city of International Falls receives. Mayor Wagner went on to say Ranier is in support of the ambulance service, and that they have paid their fair share- they are not freeloaders. |
| Mayor Dill provided a brief history of the International Falls Ambulance Service.
Mayor Dill read the letter from Ryan Schmidt, Auditor from Schlenner Wenner & Co., dated June 30, 2025, reiterating his concerns of the ambulance fund deficit as presented to the council on June 23, 2025. Dill then referred to a letter from Councilor Kalar written to Mayor Droba and fellow Councilors dated October 11, 2023, regarding the ambulance deficit. Councilor Holden asked that the City continue to work towards an ambulance taxing district with Koochiching County, City of Ranier, and St. Louis County. Mayor Dill noted that if the City is unable to secure a taxing district or a form of support from other areas then the Council will be forced to take an action- most logical option may be going back to Basic Life Support service. Councilor Wegner asked for a deadline for a resolution on this issue. Councilor Buller noted that there seems to be a division between the City and the County. There is no division, we are all County residence. |
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| APPROVED deadline of December 31, 2025, to resolve ambulance deficit | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to determine a solution to resolve the ambulance deficit by December 31, 2025, if no support is achieved from outside sources, consider only offering Basic Life Support service. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED committee to work with governmental entities within the service area on a solution to the ambulance deficit | Mayor Dill asked that members of the Council be on a committee to work with the other governmental entities within the ambulance service area to discuss the ambulance deficit issue and collaboratively work on a solution.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to have Mayor Dill and Councilor Holden represent the City of International Falls on a committee to discuss the ambulance deficit with the other governmental entities within the ambulance service area. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED recommendation to schedule Special Committee-of-the-Whole meetings every Monday for the remainder of 2025 for Ambulance discussion | Mayor Dill recommended meeting every Monday for the remainder of 2025 until the ambulance issue is resolved. It was suggested that meetings be held right after the Committee-of-the-Whole and the City Council meetings. The weeks there are no City Council meetings, the special meeting will be held at 5:30 P.M. in the council chambers.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the recommendation to schedule Special Committee-of-the-Whole meetings every Monday for the remainder of 2025. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Gail Rognerud, 1121 9th Ave shared her knowledge of her time with city government and understands the struggles. Rognerud pointed out the City Charter does not state money will be taken from the LGA for the ambulance service. She also shares that the only option is to have a taxing district to help with the financial burden, anyone who receives the service needs to help with a solution to the problem. | |
| Rhonda Benedix, 909 6th St asked if the ambulance is no longer transferring patients out of Rainy Lake Medical Center. Fire Chief Mannausau reported last month there were 33 transfers, in December of 2023 the department was down to 4 Paramedics limiting the number of transfers that could be done. | |
| Cassie, CHI LakeWood Health of Baudette shared her concerns with the number of transfers the ambulance service has not been able to complete. According to her “quick” math since 2021 the city has lost $1.1M. Her suggestion to make things better would be to go with one Paramedic and one other person along on the transfer and an EMT to cover the city. Another option would be to entice Koochiching County to incorporate townships, as they will pay for the ambulance services. | |
| Sarah Arch, 104 Fernwood Lane works at Rainy Lake Medical Center Hospital as a Registered Nurse but is not here in any way representing RLMC Hospital. She is only here as a citizen of International Falls and an RN and wants to share the importance of the ambulance service and what they offer. Sarah passionately shared, Paramedics are able to send for Life Flight from the scene, they can administer meds, and they can start IV’s, safely. We know when that call comes in to RLMC they are giving lifesaving care! Arch went on to say that if we lose paramedics, we will be losing lives in our County. | |
| Allen Kruse, 3077 County Road shared that LGA funds are not by law tied to any city services. Kruse noted that we should not get rid of ALS. Further adding there is a lot of work to be done, but one thing is clear these employees who serve us are considered non-essential, but they are very critical. They need you to stand up for them. | |
| Terry Ehrman, 1303 16th St shared he was a volunteer EMT, a former RN at the RLMC and involved on many boards in the medical field over the years. He understands how important the ambulance is, and that Medicare and Medicaid does not pay the full amount of the bill. Ehrman noted he was of the committee that brought the paramedics into the City- noting that was a process that took over three years. | |
| Brenda Luettjohann, 321 Shorewood Dr with 16yrs as an EMT on the International Falls Ambulance Service Team shared how amazing the Paramedics are, and how they have made the department a better place by sharing their knowledge with staff making the service to our community much stronger. Luettjohann shared that she would hand in her resignation if the Paramedics had to leave. | |
| Fire Chief Mannausau noted the Paramedics elevate the service, and they help make better EMT’s. Chief further talked about the history of the Task Force from 2021/2022 and that solutions were brought forward and never acted upon. Mannausau noted the biggest question is what’s the plan- if “we” don’t do it, who do you have to provide the service?
Mayor Dill noted that it’s unfortunate that it has come to this- if we are going down the path of insolvency as a community then let’s get it over right now- everyone will lose their contracts and we will start again. Further discussion ensued around the age/miles of the current ambulance vehicles. Ambulance rigs are very costly to replace and they take three years to build. Further noting the expense to equip each rig with lifesaving equipment. Mannausau went on to say we offer a great service, it isn’t one person’s problem, but we all need to work together on a solution. |
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| Financial Officer Rud confidently noted that all city staff understands something needs to be done about the growing ambulance deficit. Further noting the most logical solution is a taxing district. She shares, solutions have been found but not agreed upon. Koochiching County and the City of Ranier have been dragging their feet for a long time, all while the City residents have been paying. Rud went on to talk about the disproportionate funding that City residence have been funding across the board, noting the ambulance, airport, and library.
Mayor Dill interrupted Ms. Rud, stating he doesn’t want to bash our neighbors and we have to move forward- stating the Council will have to deal with it. |
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| Joe Boyle, 210 Shorewood Dr, former International Falls City Attorney, stated he is very much in favor of keeping the local ambulance service going. He has used the service before and twice would have died without it. “People using the service have to pay for it, it is just that simple!” He also shared the LGA funds have nothing to do with paying for the ambulance services, the huge expenses come from the transferring of patients to other facilities. We all need to be reaching out to our County Commissioners, this problem is far beyond the city limits. | |
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ADJOURNMENT |
City Attorney Nelson addressed Mayor Dill requesting that Financial Officer Rud have the chance to finish what she was saying. Mayor Dill noted that he stopped it because it was turning into the same thing over and over. Attorney Nelson noted that everyone else was allowed time and she was the only one that was cut off. Mayor Dill abruptly adjourned the meeting at 7:35 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
ATTEST:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
