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 20th day of July 2026 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill, Councilors Holden, Kalar and Wegner.
MEMBERS ABSENT: Councilor Buller
| APPROVED agenda as presented with a deletion | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the agenda with the following deletion, as presented:
Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED the following meeting minutes, as presented | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the following meeting minutes as presented.
· Monday, July 6, 2026, public hearing on Franson’s Third Division regarding vacation of certain streets and alleyways · Monday, July 6, 2026, regular City Council meeting · Monday, July 13, 2026, special City Council meeting · Monday, July 13, 2026, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 44-2026 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Resolution No. 44-2026 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| 3S Design LLC | IT Management | 16,750.00 | 83817 |
| A Plus Pest Management LLC | Pest Control | 658.22 | 83818 |
| Abacus Amazon Store | HR/Safety Laptop | 1,398.00 | 83819 |
| Aladtec Inc | Online Scheduling Software | 4,373.00 | 83820 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-P&R | 1,632.57 | 83821 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 168.00 | 83822 |
| Beacon Athletics | Baseball Field Supplies | 2,240.00 | 83823 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 102,468.25 | 83824 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Dept/Water Plant | 240.25 | 83825 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 695.24 | 83826 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83827 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83828 |
| Chamber of Commerce | Chamber Fest Support | 601.48 | 83829 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc | TIF District 1/4/2025 Publication/Minutes | 840.20 | 83830 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 869.04 | 83831 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 117.91 | 83832 |
| CMS Medicare | Amb Overpayment Refund | 1,163.49 | 83833 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 16,511.78 | 83835 |
| Core & Main | Sup-Water Dept | 3,261.83 | 83836 |
| Department of Employment | Benefit Pmt-2nd Qtr 2026 | 10.26 | 83837 |
| Dinges Fire Company | Vision Lamps | 2,015.00 | 83838 |
| DTN | Automation-St | 2,856.66 | 83839 |
| E Koochiching Sanitary Sewer | City Beach/Water Plant | 293.00 | 83840 |
| Enterprise FM Trust | Vehicle Leases | 20,124.55 | 83841 |
| Falls Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | Police Towing Fee | 169.90 | 83842 |
| Fire Catt, LLC | Fire Hose Testing | 4,060.32 | 83843 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | Gas-Garage | 65.26 | 83844 |
| Friend’s Garbage | Monthly Garbage Service | 2,101.32 | 83845 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 492.50 | 83846 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 217.35 | 83847 |
| Graybar | Electric Sup-Baseball Field, Sup-St Light | 2,596.38 | 83848 |
| Greentech Manufacturing Inc | Sup-St Garage | 95.00 | 83849 |
| Hawkins Inc | Cylinder Chgs | 110.00 | 83850 |
| IF Properties LLC | Tax Abatement-1st Half 2026 | 61,176.85 | 83851 |
| IFalls Group LLC | Tax Abatement-1st Half 2026 | 47,604.39 | 83852 |
| Industrial health SV Ntwk Inc | DOT Drg Scrn & MRO Services | 49.90 | 83853 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Adm | 398.37 | 83854 |
| JAL Holdings LLC | Water-Overpayment | 94.32 | 83855 |
| Joshua Baumchen | Water-Overpayment | 56.16 | 83856 |
| K & K Meyers Inc | Sup-VNP/GGB | 63.49 | 83857 |
| KAM Inspections & Contracting | Contract Agreement for Building Official | 3,776.15 | 83858 |
| KCC TV | Appropriation | 707.00 | 83859 |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 83860 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept | Dyed Fuel-St Gar | 908.61 | 83861 |
| Lawson Products | Sup-St Garage | 536.31 | 83862 |
| Logan Hulst | Clothing Allowance Reimbursement | 32.12 | 83863 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | Unit 141 | 1,509.33 | 83864 |
| Mark Rock Products | 3/4″ Minus | 1,175.25 | 83865 |
| Melanie Clarity | Sewing-Sears | 16.00 | 83866 |
| Melanie Dueck Rosen | Water-Overpayment | 41.17 | 83867 |
| Menards International Falls | Tools-Wtr/St, M&R-P&R, Sup-Fire/P&R | 1,670.02 | 83868 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83869 |
| Michael Wallace | MRWA Conference 2026 | 123.00 | 83870 |
| MIDCO | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 682.19 | 83871 |
| Mike McPhillips Inc | Elgin Sweeper Repairs | 16,309.79 | 83872 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 862.44 | 83873 |
| Minnesota Industries | Sup-St/Gar/St Light | 115.96 | 83874 |
| MN Power | Utilities | 32,439.59 | 83875 |
| NAPA Falls Supply | Maint-St/Grnd/Fire/Pol/Wtr, M&R-Pol | 1,848.98 | 83876 |
| Northdale Oil Inc | Fuel-St | 105.76 | 83877 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Maint-P&R/St, Sup-St/P&R/Gar | 755.61 | 83878 |
| Northland Securities Inc | Utility Study | 1,237.50 | 83879 |
| Old National Bank-Credit Card | Rubber Track/Fire/Pol/IT/Pol/St/P&R | 5,103.47 | 83880 |
| ONX Companies | Fuel-St/St Light/Storm/San Sew | 2,613.88 | 83881 |
| Pelland Welding, Inc | Sup-St Gar, Maint-Pol | 95.96 | 83882 |
| Project Pride, c/o Cindy Youso | Lodging Tax | 3,694.88 | 83883 |
| Rainy Lake Medical Center | Medical Supplies | 232.02 | 83884 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Fuel-St | 236.28 | 83885 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-VNP/Gar | 2,893.26 | 83886 |
| Rhory Gelo | Meal Allowance | 123.00 | 83887 |
| Richard Mastin | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83888 |
| Samantha Christie | Clothing Allowance | 704.77 | 83889 |
| Schlenner Wenner & Co | 2025 Audit & Year-end Assis | 28,710.00 | 83890 |
| ServiceMaster of Int’l Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,961.25 | 83891 |
| Streicher’s | Cloth Allow-Kastens | 202.00 | 83892 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83893 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83894 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 83895 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,281.77 | 83896 |
| Viking Industrial Center | Sup-Wtr Dept | 141.10 | 83897 |
| Wagner Construction Inc | Pay Application #6 9th Street | 666,173.25 | 83898 |
| Watts Regulator Co | Sup-Wtr Plant | 186.60 | 83899 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Fire/Hzmt/Hous/St/Amb/P&R | 3,265.83 | 83900 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 300.00 | 83901 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 103190 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 103191 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 103192 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 39,293.78 | 103193 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 3,820.80 | 103194 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Police | 440.72 | 103195 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance-Police | 223.52 | 103196 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance-49ers | 1,507.50 | 103197 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues-IAMAW | 868.00 | 103198 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues Ambulance Dues | 119.00 | 103199 |
| Int’l Union of Oper Engineers | Union Dues-49ers | 665.00 | 103200 |
| Law Enforcement Labor Svcs Inc | Union Dues-LELS | 730.00 | 103201 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 103.36 | 103202 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,219.85 | 103203 |
| MN Dept of Empl & Economic Dev | MN Paid Leave Premiums | 1,681.46 | 103204 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 6,144.00 | 103205 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | PERA Life Insurance | 96.00 | 103206 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement | 34,369.03 | 103207 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 16.00 | 103208 |
| William Lahmayer, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 110.00 | 103209 |
| AUDIENCE: | Ed Bates, 108 Riverview Blvd, addressed the Council regarding statutory publication requirements for the municipal election filing period. City Administrator Bergstrom stated that the notice identifying the open positions, filing dates, filing location, and contact information had been published in two editions of the Rainy Lake Gazette as required by statute and that she would provide the publication dates to Mr. Bates. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| INFORMATIONAL: Legislative Update | Representative Roger Skraba appeared before the Council and provided a legislative update. Skraba thanked the city for its work related to the Water Treatment Plant Rehabilitation Project and reported that the city was successful in receiving significant state bonding assistance for the project. Skraba discussed the 2026 bonding bill, bipartisan work with Senator Hauschild, and the importance of state bonding and Public Facilities Authority financing in reducing the burden on local users and taxpayers.
Skraba also discussed potential funding avenues for the bandshell project, rural ambulance funding challenges, local government aid, workforce housing, transportation funding, and regional economic development matters. He further provided an update regarding wildfires affecting northeastern Minnesota, including fire response operations, open fire restrictions, community impacts, and planned meetings with affected communities and businesses.
The Mayor and Council thanked Skraba for his work on behalf of the city and the region. |
| INFORMATIONAL: Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plane | Travis Houle, Senior Transportation Planner with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, appeared virtually and provided an update regarding the Waters of the Dancing Sky Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan. Sean Bartlett, also with the Arrowhead Regional Development Commission, briefly introduced a related community and climate resilience planning project for north central Minnesota.
Bartlett explained that the corridor management plan is being updated to reflect current conditions, local priorities, regional and statewide goals, and opportunities for continued improvements along the scenic byway corridor. Discussion included the purpose and classification of scenic byways, the Waters of the Dancing Sky corridor, intrinsic qualities including scenic, natural, recreational, historic, cultural, and archaeological resources, and the project timeline.
Houle encouraged local participation through the scenic byway council, steering committee, public engagement opportunities, and project survey. It was noted that additional presentations were planned at an upcoming Koochiching County Board meeting in Birchdale, MN.
The Mayor and Council thanked Houle and Bartlett for the presentation and requested that the city be kept informed as the project progresses. |
| APPROVED Board of Zoning Appeals affirming the decision on a side set-back variance for Brandon Podpeskar, 1209 14th Avenue – Board of Zoning appeals Resolution 01-26 | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to adopt Board of Zoning Appeals Resolution No. 01-26 affirming the decision on a side setback variance for Brandon Podpeskar, 1209 14th Ave. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Board of Zoning Appeals affirming the decision on a side set-back variance for Jake Ruelle, 2401 4th Avenue East – Board of Zoning appeals Resolution 02-26 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Board of Zoning Appeals Resolution No. 02-26 affirming the decision on a side setback variance for Jake Ruelle, 2401 4th Ave East. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendations(s):
a. APPROVED requesting solicitation of quotes for the Tree Clearing & Grubbing Project in connection with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources- Community Tree Planting Grant |
Mayor Dill reported that the City of International Falls received a $203,385 grant for tree removal related to ash trees affected or anticipated to be affected by the emerald ash borer.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve requesting solicitation of quotes for the Tree Clearing and Grubbing Project in connection with Minnesota Department of Natural Resources – Community Tree Planting Grant. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Other Business: | Councilor Holden thanked the International Falls Police Department, and Public Works staff for assistance with traffic control and signage for the Purple Pride fish fry fundraiser.
Councilor Holden expressed concern regarding Public Works staffing and the need to fill vacant positions. Mayor Dill stated the positions were on the Public Works Committee agenda but were not discussed due to time constraints. Mayor Dill noted that staffing needs could also be addressed during the budget process. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom’s bi-weekly report was available for review.
The International Falls Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report dated June 2026 was available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor, Council Committees, Boards and Commissions | None. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill reminded everyone that the next regular City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, August 3, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 6:43 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
