October 20, 2025 City Council Meeting Minutes

1.      Mayoral Proclamation – National Rural Health Day 2025

2.      Letter of support for International Falls School District 361 for a Rotary grant application to purchase an Early Education Outdoor Center

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the agenda with the above mentioned additions.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

·         Monday, October 6, 2025 regular City Council meeting

·         Monday, October 13, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting

Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

APPROVED LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver Form to not waive limits on Municipal Tort Liability

• Approve LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver Form to not waive limits on Municipal Tort Liability and authorize signatures

Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

a.      APPROVED low quote from Up North Builders, Inc., overhead garage door for vactor garage

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve low quote from Up North Builders, Inc. for new overhead garage door for the vactor garage.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried 4-1 with Mayor Dill and Councilors Buller, Holden, and Kalar voting “yea” and Councilor Wegner voting “nay”.  Further, it was noted that North Koochiching Area Sanitary Sewer District has space available for the Vactor truck, at no cost, until the renovation is completed.

a.      APPROVED Caselle Multiple Module Add-On proposal

b.      APPROVED weekly special budget & finance committee meetings beginning October 28, 2025, at 1:00 P.M.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve Caselle Multiple Module Add-On proposal for the accounts payable and payroll modules.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve weekly special budget & finance committee meetings beginning Tuesday, October 28, 2025, at 1:00 P.M. – with the exception of November 11 due to the Veteran’s Day holiday.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

a.      APPROVED moving forward with the design of the bandshell and authorize soliciting bids for consideration by early December

b.      APPROVED Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing from Houston -Galvaston Area Council

c.       APPROVED 2026 Group Medicare Advantage Plus MA plan effective 01/01/2026

d.      APPROVED 2026 BlueCross BlueShield Plan 635 effective 01/01/2026

e.       APPROVED Minnesota Paid Leave Policy

f.        APPROVED safety grant from MNOSHA Workplace Safety and authorize matching funds for security equipment 

g.      APPROVED temporary wage adjustment for Asst. Director of Public Works to act as the Interim Director of Public Works

h.      APPROVED hiring two Parks/Facilities seasonal employees

i.        APPROVED Derek Hell for the internal posting of the Maintenance Worker I/Equipment Operator (Plow Truck) position 

j.        MOVED internal posting for the Heavy Equipment Operator 

k.      APPROVED advertising for replacement of Information Systems Administrator 

l.        APPROVED agreement with Todd Ojala to provide IT services on a temporary basis

m.    APPROVED Minnesota Security Consortium (MNSec) professional services agreement to provide vCISO services

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve moving forward with the design of the bandshell and authorize soliciting bids for consideration by early December.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

Councilors Kalar and Wegner thanked Bob DeGross, RaNae Whitbeck, and Jim Lucachick for their involvement on the Bandshell Committee.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve Interlocal Contract for Cooperative Purchasing from Houston-Galvaston Area Council (H-GACBuy).  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve 2026 Group Medicare Advantage Plus MA plan effective 01/01/2026.  Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve 2026 BlueCross BlueShield Plan 635 effective 01/01/2026.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve Minnesota Paid Leave Policy.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to accept safety grant from MNOSHA Workplace Safety and authorize matching funds to purchase security equipment.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve temporary wage adjustment for Asst. Director of Public Works to act as the Interim Director of Public Works until a replacement plan is established for the Director of Public Works position.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve hiring two Parks/Facilities seasonal employees.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve Derek Hell for the internal posting of the Maintenance Worker I/Equipment Operator (Plow Truck) position.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to move the internal posting for the Heavy Equipment Operator (Excavator/Sweeper) position to a Public Works Committee meeting for additional discussion.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve advertising for replacement of Information Systems Administrator- whether it be a staffed person or a professional services agreement to provide IT Administration.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve agreement with Todd Ojala to provide IT services on a temporary basis.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve Minnesota Security Consortium (MNSec) professional services agreement to provide vCISO services from 10/21/2025 – 12/31/2025.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

A.  Cure and Re-Enact by Ordinance (recommended) – hold a public hearing, adopt the ordinance with a first and second reading, publish the enacted ordinance (or summary) and track the 60-day referendum and 90-day effectiveness periods.

B.  Submit to Voters (election path) – adopt a resolution submitting proposed amendment to the voters at the next available election date, approve ballot language, and complete required notices.

C.  Declaratory Clarification (supplemental) – authorize City Attorney to seek a declaratory judgement confirming the validity of the amendment following corrective action, if desired.

D.  Take No Action (not recommended) – Leaving the record as-is maintains exposure to process challenges to actions taken under the amended charter.

MOTION by Councilor Holden to acknowledge that the City is currently operating under the Home Rule Charter that was previous to the 2024 Amendment and will continue under that version until an update to the Home Rule Charter is brought forward and approved.  Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously.

MOTION by Councilor Kalar to move discussion, on the options noted above, to take corrective action on the procedural oversight of the 2024 Home Rule Charter Amendment to the November 10, 2025 Committee-of-the-Whole meeting.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously.

DENIED moving the petition to the vote of the people

Lundin added that the Charter Commission received notice from City Attorney Nelson that there was question about the amendment itself of the 3% levy limit whether State Law would support the language as presented.  Lundin noted that the Commission has reached out with an independent attorney to review the information provided by the City Attorney.

Attorney Nelson added that she and Administrator Bergstrom reached out to the League of Minnesota Cities and they also advised that this is not a legal ballot question.  Nelson went on to explain that limiting the council to a 3% levy, even with allowing them to ask the voters to approve a higher limit, that authority is strictly reserved for the legislature- the City does not have that authority. Attorney Nelson gave her legal opinion that this not a legal question for the ballot.

Councilor Kalar noted that Attorney Nelson did mention the option of seeking a second opinion however, Lois Lundin sought a second opinion without a vote of the Charter Commission members.

Mayor Dill asked Lundin for an update on the independent review.  Lundin noted that no official response had been received as of today.

Mayor Dill asked Attorney Nelson that her opinion was that the City not call an election for the amendment question.  Attorney Nelson confirmed.

MOTION by Councilor Wegner to acknowledge the petition and deny putting the amendment to a vote.  Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar.  Attorney Nelson noted she is confident in her opinion and not willing to commit legal malpractice- noting she has a legal obligation to provide you the most accurate information I possibly can.  Lundin asked the Council to wait until the second opinion has been received before any action was taken, could it be tabled- Councilor Wegner interrupted and asked the Mayor to call the question.  Mayor Dill noted he would need a motion to call the question.  MOTION by Councilor Wegner to call the question.  Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried 4-1 with Councilors Buller, Holden, Kalar, and Wegner voting “yea” and Mayor Dill voting “nay”.

Lundin further questioned the installation cost for the security equipment that was approved under a matching grant with MNOSHA.  Human Resources/Safety Director Stensland noted that staff would be utilized for the installation.

Rhonda Benedix, 909 6th Street, expressed her concerns about the City Attorney and concerns for the City Council not representing the citizens and that the voices of the citizens are note being heard.

Reynold Calder, 1901 6th Avenue East, expressed concern with the expenses the city council keeps approving when in financial crisis.  Additionally, Calder again expressed his concern with the letter and paint colors of the police squad cars.

Nancy Imhof, 339 3rd Street, expressed her dissatisfaction with the actions of the City Council in relation to citizen input.

Mary Wilson, 1711 1st Avenue East, asked about the Bandshell design that was being considered, as she hadn’t seen it.  Mayor Dill explained the materials were in the City Council packet and the design was discussed at the Open House.  Mayor Dill noted that it is planned to be rebuilt similar to the original structure.