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 19th day of October 2026 at the hour of 5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Dill, 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 Buller to approve the following meeting minutes as presented:
· Monday, October 5, 2026, regular City Council meeting · Monday, October 12, 2026, Committee-of-the-Whole meeting Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 68-2026 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 68-2026 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| A Plus Pest Management LLC | Pest Control | 658.22 | 84392 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-Adm/Fire, Clothing-Sears | 259.51 | 84393 |
| Andrew Holler | Lawn Cleanup | 168.00 | 84394 |
| Blackridge | Fuel-St/San Sewer/Pol | 1,791.69 | 84395 |
| Bolton & Menk Inc | Engineering Services | 193,001.73 | 84396 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 249.00 | 84397 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,308.01 | 84398 |
| Brian Jespersen | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84399 |
| Brian Youso | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84400 |
| Cenex Voyager Fleet | Gas-Gar/Grnds/St/Amb/P&R/Wtr | 7,659.00 | 84401 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc | Council Mtg Dates/P&R Ad/Minutes | 765.81 | 84402 |
| Chris Heibel | Travel Allowance | 245.56 | 84403 |
| Citizens for Backus/AB | Lease Agreement-Suite 305 | 6,446.33 | 84404 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 1,303.29 | 84405 |
| City of Ranier | Water-City Beach | 134.72 | 84406 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 24,762.50 | 84407 |
| Core & Main | Sup-Water Dept | 2,027.89 | 84408 |
| Crandall’s Septic Pumping | Portable Johns–City Parks | 1,610.00 | 84409 |
| Dean Buley | Training | 56.75 | 84410 |
| Department of Employment | Benefit Pmt-3rd Qtr 2026 | 22.69 | 84411 |
| DTN | Automation-St | 2,942.38 | 84412 |
| Earl F Andersen | Sign Supplies | 232.80 | 84413 |
| Enterprise FM Trust | Vehicle Leases | 20,124.55 | 84414 |
| ESX Technology Solutions, LLC | MDR & Firewall | 1,901.00 | 84415 |
| Everblades Inc | Unit 230 & 251 | 343.00 | 84416 |
| Falls Lumber Company | Sup-Water | 95.97 | 84417 |
| Forestland Sales & Service | M&R Equip-P&R | 363.92 | 84418 |
| Friend’s Garbage | Monthly Garbage Service | 2,101.32 | 84419 |
| Frontier | Monthly Telephone Service | 3,163.35 | 84420 |
| Gall’s | Clothing-Baldwin | 86.59 | 84421 |
| Gopher State One-Call | Monthly Billing | 465.75 | 84422 |
| Graybar | Sup-St Light | 397.08 | 84423 |
| Hawkins Inc | Chemicals, Cylinder Chgs | 15,410.77 | 84424 |
| Hometown Billing LLC | Ambulance Billing | 4,545.38 | 84425 |
| I-Falls Super One Foods | Sup-Kerry Park/Police | 108.79 | 84444 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Office Supplies-Water | 581.29 | 84426 |
| KCC TV | Appropriation | 685.38 | 84427 |
| KGHS/KSDM | City Talk | 150.00 | 84428 |
| Kooch County Hwy Dept | Fuel-St/Gar/VNP | 1,033.55 | 84429 |
| Lakes Gas | Ashalt Trailer-LP Refill | 21.00 | 84430 |
| Lawson Products Inc | Electrical Sup, AC/DC Light-Gar | 470.49 | 84431 |
| LMC Insurance Trust-Liab | Annual Liability and Auto Insurance | 500.00 | 84432 |
| Locators & Supplies | Asphalt Trailer-Sup | 260.76 | 84433 |
| Madden Galanter Hansen LLP | Labor Relations Services | 550.00 | 84434 |
| Mannco Trucking Inc | M&R-Fire | 647.98 | 84435 |
| Mark Rock Products | 3/4″ Minus | 5,122.31 | 84436 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-St, City Hall Roof, Tools-Gar | 180.59 | 84437 |
| Meyers Glass | 100 Riverview Boarding | 1,140.00 | 84438 |
| Michael Musich | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84439 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr | 1,019.59 | 84440 |
| Minnesota Dept of Health | Class C Cert-R Hilfer | 32.00 | 84445 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 457.60 | 84446 |
| Minnesota Industries | Sup-Storm/San Sew/St | 701.78 | 84447 |
| MN Power | Utilities | 34,632.60 | 84448 |
| MJ Companies LLC | Highway 11 Multi-Use Trail | 205,876.16 | 84449 |
| MTI Distributing | M&R-VNP | 98.16 | 84450 |
| N Kooch Area Sanitary District | Effluent/Backwash/Surcharge | 90,245.97 | 84451 |
| Napa Falls Supply | Sup-St/Wtr, Maint-Gar/Pol/Fire | 499.67 | 84452 |
| Nathan Wahl | Gun Cleaning Supplies | 36.42 | 84453 |
| North Country Collision | Unit 242 Repairs | 2,003.25 | 84454 |
| Northern Fire Suppression, Inc | VNP-Fire Suppression Repairs | 4,722.67 | 84455 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Sup-St/St/GGB, Maint-Fire/P&R | 179.00 | 84456 |
| Old National Bank-Credit Card | Mayor & Council/Pol/Adm/Fire/St | 10,940.74 | 84457 |
| O’Reilly Automotive Inc | M&R Equip-Fire/Pol, Flares-Brn Pil | 60.98 | 84458 |
| Orton Oil Company | Gas-Wtr/VNP | 145.82 | 84459 |
| Parker Sivonen | CDL License | 27.33 | 84460 |
| Premier Pyrotechnics | Fireworks-4th of July/Ice Box Days | 14,000.00 | 84461 |
| R&R Special Ties of Wisconsin | Kerry Park Arena-Ice Maint | 4,319.16 | 84462 |
| Rainy Lake Oil | Fuel-Street | 274.66 | 84463 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-Amb/Fire | 492.81 | 84464 |
| Rhory Gelo | Travel Expense-Fire | 108.00 | 84465 |
| Richard Mastin | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84466 |
| ServiceMaster of Int’l Falls | Cleaning Services-VNP | 4,961.25 | 84467 |
| Streicher’s | Clothing-Pol, Vests | 1,697.98 | 84468 |
| Terry Christie | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84469 |
| Terry Wood | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84470 |
| Tom Lynch | Police Benefit | 150.00 | 84471 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bldg Maint-VNP | 4,854.48 | 84472 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,245.93 | 84473 |
| WEX Bank | Gas-Fire/{&R/Amb/St/Hzmat/House | 1,451.71 | 84474 |
| WMG Lyfjaberg LLC | Medical Director | 600.00 | 84475 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 103312 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 103313 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 103314 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding FWT | 38,011.52 | 103315 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 3,986.40 | 103316 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance-Police | 279.40 | 103317 |
| City of Int’l Falls | Health Insurance-49ers | 1,591.25 | 103318 |
| IAMAW District W3 | Union Dues | 868.00 | 103319 |
| IF Fire Dept Relief | Volunteer Firemen Dues | 378.00 | 103320 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues Ambulance Dues | 112.00 | 103321 |
| Int’l Union of Oper Engineers | Union Dues-49ers | 700.00 | 103322 |
| Law Enforcement Labor Services | Union Dues-LELS | 730.00 | 103323 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 413.46 | 103324 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 7,542.22 | 103325 |
| MN Dept of Empl & Economic Dev | MN Paid Leave Premiums | 1,682.96 | 103326 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 5,438.00 | 103327 |
| NCPERS Minnesota | PERA Life Insurance | 96.00 | 103328 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement Assoc | 33,337.62 | 103329 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 16.00 | 103330 |
| William Lahmayer, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 110.00 | 103331 |
| AUDIENCE: | There were no general comments during the initial audience open forum. Elizabeth Pendergast was invited to present the first New Business item. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| INFORMATIONAL: March for Life, January 23, 2027 | Elizabeth Pendergast presented plans for a March for Life event on Saturday, January 23, 2027, beginning at 11:00 A.M. at Smokey Bear Park. The proposed route would proceed towards the International Bridge, past the Chamber of Commerce on Fourth Avenue, and return by Fourth Street to Koochiching County courthouse. The event is expected to conclude around 12:45 P.M. and will include prayers, singing by children, signs prepared by local youth, a speaker, and a lunch supported by St. Thomas Church and the Catholic Daughters. Pendergast described the event as peaceful and positive. City Administrator Bergstrom explained that the organizers sought permission to gather at the park and that police assistance could be coordinated if needed. Participants were reminded to use sidewalks and comply with traffic rules. Council welcomed the event to the community. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 69-2026, Receiving and Filing Petition for Vacation of Avenue in the City of International Falls, International Falls Business Park, by Roche Properties II, LLC | Council considered a resolution to receiving and filing a petition from Roche Properties II, LLC to vacate portions of Main Avenue within the International Falls Business Park. City Administrator Bergstrom described the required process, including legal descriptions and engineering assistance, public notices that would be published over four weeks, a public hearing, appointment of a vacation committee of freeholders to assess the property’s value and damages, additional notices, a report to Council, and an appeal period. The process was expected to extend into late January or early February 2027. The resolution begins consideration of the petition and does not itself complete the vacation.
MOTION by Councilor Wegner to adopt Resolution No. 69-2026, Receiving and Filing Petition for Vacation of Avenue in the City of International Falls, International Falls Business Park, by Roche Properties II, LLC. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 70-2026 accepting bid and awarding contract for the Water Treatment Plant Generator Project to Parsons Electric, LLC | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 70-2026 accepting bid and awarding contract for the Water Treatment Plant Generator Project to Parsons Electric, LLC. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner. Mayor Dill stated the Water Treatment Plant project was progressing smoothly, on schedule and within budget. Motion carried unanimously. |
| Public Works Committee recommendation(s):
a. APPROVED proposal to migrate current Web App Builder GIS applications within the ArcGIS Online platform |
Council considered a proposal to migrate the City’s existing Web App Builder GIS applications within the ArcGIS Online platform because the current system is being retired at the end of 2026. The GIS system stores and makes accessible mapping information about water lines, curb stops, utilities, and historical infrastructure records used by public works, administration, and planning and zoning.
MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve the proposal to migrate current Web App Builder GIS applications within the ArcGIS Online platform. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| b. APPROVED quote from Meyers Glass for roof repairs of three park structures with funding from Fund 211 Parks & Recreation maintenance repair of buildings | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve a quote from Meyers Glass for roof repairs to three park structures, funded from Fund 211, Parks and Recreation maintenance and repair of buildings. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Committee-of-the-Whole recommendation:
a. APPROVED appointing Deputy City Administrator Lisa Riggs as Interim City Administrator |
MOTION by Councilor Holden to appoint Deputy City Administrator Lisa Riggs as Interim City Administrator beginning November 9, 2026. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| Other Business: | None. |
| Reports of the Administrator, Attorney, and Department Heads | City Administrator Bergstrom’s bi-weekly report 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, November 2, 2026, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 5:46 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
