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 17th day of November 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 Kalar to approve the agenda as presented. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the following meeting minutes, as presented
|
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following meeting minutes:
· Monday, November 3, 2025 regular City Council meeting · Monday, November 10, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 78-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 78-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A Plus Pest Management LLC | Pest Control | 658.22 | 82252 |
| Acme Tools-Grand Forks | Tools-Grnds | 299.00 | 82253 |
| Adam Hanson | Winterize Fire Boat | 350.00 | 82254 |
| Align Chiropractic & Wellness | Random DOT Drug & Alcohol Testing | 85.00 | 82255 |
| Automatic Systems Co | SCADA Improvements | 30,337.00 | 82256 |
| Axon Enterprises Inc | Taser 7 Contract, Cartridges | 10,743.51 | 82257 |
| Badiuk Equipment Inc | Maint-Fire Boat | 307.34 | 82258 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 113,180.00 | 82259 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 162.75 | 82260 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 997.83 | 82261 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | Tools-Fire/Amb, T&T-Amb/CAT/Pol | 2,504.16 | 82262 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82263 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82264 |
| Capitol Hill Associates Inc | Representation MN State Legislative | 2,000.00 | 82265 |
| Cenex Voyageur Fleet | Gas-Pol/St/Amb/Hazmt/Wtr/Wtr Plnt | 3,729.04 | 82266 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc | Council Mtg Dates/Minutes | 1,230.98 | 82267 |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Lease Agreement-Suite 305 | 6,446.33 | 82268 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 401 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 66,666.66 | 82269 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 403 | Water/Sewer Funds Transfer | 29,166.67 | 82270 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 13.75 | 82271 |
| Core & Main | Supplies-Water Dept | 386.90 | 82272 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns–City Parks | 1,075.00 | 82273 |
| Earl F Andersen | Sup-Street | 635.35 | 82274 |
| Enterprise FM Trust | Vehicle Leases | 20,437.56 | 82275 |
| ESX Technology Solutions, LLC | MDR & Firewall | 1,865.00 | 82276 |
| Friend’s Garbage | Monthly Garbage Service | 2,079.68 | 82277 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 3,119.44 | 82278 |
| Gall’s | Cloth-Sweney/Lahma/Hulst/Bomb | 804.55 | 82279 |
| Geotab USA, Inc | Automation-P&R/St | 39.75 | 82280 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 106.65 | 82281 |
| Graybar | Sup-Street Lighting | 309.54 | 82282 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals/Cylinder Chgs | 4,930.39 | 82283 |
| Holiday Outdoor Decor | Flags | 1,003.00 | 82284 |
| Hometown Billing LLC | Ambulance Billing | 5,825.41 | 82285 |
| Industrial Health Sv Ntwk Inc | DOT Drg Scrn & MRO Services | 49.90 | 82286 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Adm/Bldg Off/Wtr | 522.55 | 82287 |
| Jay Taylor | Clothing Allowance | 292.60 | 82288 |
| Jones Lang LaSelle Americas, Inc | Admin Service Fee | 2,237.80 | 82289 |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 152.25 | 82290 |
| KGM Contractors Inc | Stenberg/Library/City Hall | 727,556.79 | 82291 |
| Koerter’s Amoco | Gas-St/Pol/Wtr/Pol/Strm Sew/St Lght | 7,417.23 | 82292 |
| Leads Online | Automation-Police | 3,230.00 | 82293 |
| Linde Gas & Equipment Inc | Oxygen-Amb | 1,905.78 | 82294 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Labor Relations Services | 1,692.00 | 82295 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Unit 141/251/230 | 7,865.56 | 82296 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-St/Grnds/GGB/Gar/P&R/Fire | 864.22 | 82297 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82298 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 141.26 | 82299 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 678.61 | 82300 |
| Minnesota Industries | Sup-P&R | 160.32 | 82301 |
| MN Power | Utilities | 40,555.51 | 82302 |
| Minnesota Pump Works | Liftstation Inspections | 5,204.00 | 82303 |
| Minnesota Security Consortium | vCISO Services | 2,100.00 | 82304 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Boiler Registra-Mun/Lib/Wtr Pl | 295.00 | 82305 |
| MN State Fire Chiefs Association | Annual Membership | 638.00 | 82306 |
| MN State Fire Dept Assoc | Membership Dues | 375.00 | 82307 |
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 82,838.86 | 82308 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | M&R Equip-Amb/St/VNP, Sup-St Gar | 1,759.31 | 82309 |
| Northdale Oil Inc | Def Fuel | 742.50 | 82310 |
| Pomp’s Tire Service Inc | Unit 043 | 4,993.56 | 82311 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 938.05 | 82312 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Fuel-Wtr/St/St Lght | 617.06 | 82313 |
| Range Paper Corp | Cleaning Supplies- Bldgs & Grnds | 160.00 | 82314 |
| Rice Lake Contracting Corp | Water Treatment Plant | 36,3393.24 | 82315 |
| Richard Mastin | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82316 |
| Shannon’s Inc | RPZ Testing | 1,140.00 | 82317 |
| Shred-N-Go Inc | Recycling Police | 90.30 | 82318 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82319 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82320 |
| T-Mobile | Monthly Cellular Service | 5,482.60 | 82321 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 82322 |
| Vestis | Cleaning Services | 1,581.32 | 82323 |
| Wagner Construction Inc | Street & Utility Improvements | 651,632.82 | 82324 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 82326 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102896 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102897 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102898 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 41,570.62 | 102899 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,054.40 | 102900 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance-49ers | 1,486.75 | 102901 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 860.00 | 102902 |
| IF Fire Dept Relief | Volunteer Firemen Dues | 420.00 | 102903 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 126.00 | 102904 |
| Int’l Union of Oper Engineers | Union Dues | 910.00 | 102905 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 130.00 | 102906 |
| Law Enforcement Labor Services | Union Dues | 803.00 | 102907 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 177.19 | 102908 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,039.63 | 102909 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 8,917.00 | 102910 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | PERA Life Insurance | 96.00 | 102911 |
| North Kooch Area Sanitary Dist | Health Insurance Premiums | 420.00 | 102912 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement | 37,120.62 | 102913 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 15.00 | 102914 |
| AUDIENCE: | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA:
APPROVED 2026 license renewals as presented
|
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the following 2026 license renewals:
Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| APPROVED request to subordinate lien position for KOR Properties, LLC commercial loans | Roma Korzinski stated he plans to build 3 – 2-bedroom apartments with a laundry room. Estimated value of improvements would be approximately $400,000.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve request to subordinate lien position for KOR Properties, LLC commercial loans as requested by David Olderman, Commercial Loan Banker, National Bank of Commerce. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Year 2026 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications, as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following 2026 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor:
· Citizens for Backus A/B – Restaurant License, Wine On Sale License and 3.2 On Sale Bar License · Edward’s Oil Inc dba Little Brown Jug – Cigarette License and Off Sale Liquor License · Edward’s Oil Inc dba Lucky Seven General Stores – Cigarette License, Restaurant License and Gasoline Pumps License · Elk’s Club #1599 – Club License, Restaurant License and Sunday Liquor License · IF Properties LLC dba AmericInn by Wyndham – Wine On Sale License, Restaurant License and 3.2 On Sale Bar · Mid West Dabbin Cabin – Cigarette License · Miner’s Incorporated dba Super One Foods – Cigarette License, 3.2 Off Sale License, Restaurant License · Northdale Oil, Inc – Cigarette License, Restaurant License and Gasoline Pumps License · Northdale Oil, Inc dba Sister’s Beer Wine & Spirits – Off Sale Liquor License · Super One Liquor, LLC – Off Sale Liquor License and Cigarette License Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 79-2025 approving Designation of Polling Places for 2026 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 79-2025 approving Designation of Polling Places for 2026. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ACKNOWLEDGED and ACCEPTED letter of resignation from Emergency Medical Technician | MOTION by Councilor Buller to acknowledge and accept letter of resignation from Emergency Medical Technician, Elizabeth Lorenz. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED removal of an Emergency Medical Technician from the Ambulance Service | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve removal of Emergency Medical Technician, Brooklyn Tomczak from the Ambulance Service. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Legislation & Land Use recommendation(s):
a. TABLED consideration of the first reading of Ordinance to prohibit deer feeding within a described area of International Falls |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve consideration of the first reading of Ordinance to prohibit deer feeding within a described area of International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller. Councilor Wegner requested the motions be rescinded and further discussion be held at the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting in January to define whom would be responsible for enforcement. Mayor Dill explained that the decision for the Ordinance was determined by a significant amount of citizen input. Council had investigated an in-town deer hunt, options were limited due to parcel size which would limit the impact on the deer population in town. Mayor Dill also advised that the city is not able to reach out to DNR for assistance with this matter until there is an ordinance on the books. Councilor Kalar agreed further discussion was needed relating to enforcement as the police department is down an officer, and he further added that “East” needs to be added to the 3rd Avenue in the description. Councilors Holden and Buller rescinded their original motion. MOTION by Councilor Wegner to return the Ordinance prohibiting deer feeding to the Committee-of-the-Whole meeting on January 12, 2026 for further discussion. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendation(s):
a. APPROVED internal posting of the vacant Excavator/Sweeper position
b. APPROVED plumbing modifications to the equipment garage to allow for installation of the refurbished HOTSY
c. APPROVED moving forward with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for Information Systems Services
d. APPROVED extending the Temporary IT Support Services Agreement with 3S Design LLC until a full- time replacement has been approved
|
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve internal posting of the vacant Excavator/Sweeper position. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve plumbing modifications to the equipment garage to allow for installation of the refurbished HOTSY (pressure washer). Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve moving forward with the Request for Proposal (RFP) process for Information Systems Services. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.
Mayor Dill inquired if there was a cost estimate included to extend and if it would be at the same rate. City Administrator Bergstrom advised that the hourly rate would be the same as the current agreement. Councilor Kalar stated it would likely be into January before the IT position would be filled and it is important to have someone available to assist with any IT related issues that arise plus assist with the transition.
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve extending the Temporary IT Support Services Agreement with 3S Design LLC until a full-time replacement has been approved. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried 4-1 with Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar and Wegner voting “yea” and Mayor Dill voting “nay.” |
| INFORMATIONAL Water Treatment Plant Facility Project | Jason Fisher, Engineer Bolten & Menk updated the Mayor and Council on the status of the Water Treatment Facility Project upgrades including the work completed, work forecasted, and current schedule. Project is preliminarily scheduled to be completed July 2027. |
| INFORMATIONAL International Falls Ambulance Service
|
Mayor Dill stated that in July the Council began holding a series of meetings to investigate the feasibility of running the ambulance service with only the city providing the service as the taxpayers. A date was set for the end of the year for council to decide how they should go about that. Mayor Dill extended thanks to Fire Chief Adam Mannausau and City Administrator Bergstrom for their work on this matter. Dill advised that it had been verbally indicated to him that there is intent to form an ambulance taxing district. If a taxing district was established it would take effect on January 1, 2027. Mayor Dill asked council to make a motion for City Administrator Bergstrom to draft a letter asking the county to present the city with a letter of intent and ask that the city be included in that district.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to have City Administrator Bergstrom draft a letter to the county as indicated by Mayor Dill. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden.
Councilor Kalar stated he attended the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Conference where there was discussion on ambulance and rural health and the commonality of this issue in other communities. Mayor Dill indicated there was some investigation going on at the county level over if a district is formed how that taxation would occur, whether it would be a general property tax levy or a per parcel fee. Mayor Dill stated that there seemed to be significant interest in a per parcel fee. He concluded with stating the importance of maintaining the ambulance service and his hopes were this would continue to move forward.
Motion carried unanimously. |
| Other Business | None. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom’s bi-weekly report was available for review.
The International Falls Police Department Activity Report for October 2025 was available for review.
The International Falls Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report for October 2025 was available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor & Council | Councilor Kalar reminded everyone of the Thanksgiving Day Dinner being held November 27, 2025 from 12 P.M. to 2 P.M. at the Elk’s. Councilor Kalar gave an update from the KEDA meeting noting the cold weather testers will be starting soon with Jaguar and Land Rover in town. Councilor Kalar shared he attended the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Conference where he had the chance to sit in on some panel discussions including those regarding rural health care. |
| AUDIENCE | Lois Lundin, 2222 3rd Avenue East, thanked all for their continued efforts on the ambulance discussion. Lundin noted her concerns that the deer feeding Ordinance did not encompass the entire city. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill shared he will be giving his first “State of the City” address on Wednesday, November 26, 2025, at 6:30 P.M. Backus Auditorium. City Offices will be closed Thursday, November 27, 2025, and Friday, November 28, 2025, for Thanksgiving. Mayor Dill reminded everyone of the next regular City Council meeting that is scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. As well the Truth-in-Taxation Public Hearing that is scheduled for Monday, December 1, 2025, at 6:00 P.M.
Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 6:09 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
