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 3rd 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 | Mayor Dill asked for the following two items to be added to the agenda for consideration:
1. 3S Design LLC, temporary IT Support Services Agreement 2. Proposal for Soil Boring of Smokey Bear Park- Bandshell MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve the agenda with the above-mentioned additions. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED minutes of the, Monday, October 20, 2025, regular City Council meeting
|
MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve the minutes of the Monday, October 20, 2025, regular City Council meeting. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 74-2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 74 -2025 approving transfers, payment of claims, and accounts payable. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
CLAIMS
| Alex Air Apparatus 2 LLC | Annual Compressor Service | 869.23 | 82152 |
| ALLDATA LLC | Yearly Subscription | 1,500.00 | 82153 |
| Amazon Capital Services | Sup-Amb/Fire/Pol/Wtr, Cloth-Amb | 568.84 | 82154 |
| Ameritas Life Ins. Corp | Dental Insurance Premiums | 1,679.08 | 82155 |
| Anderson Law Offices, P.A. | Legal Services-Criminal & Civil Matter | 11,115.00 | 82156 |
| Andy Kittelson | Meal Allowance | 15.00 | 82157 |
| ATCO International | Degreaser | 136.40 | 82158 |
| Auto Value Int’l Falls | Tools-Storm | 329.95 | 82159 |
| BCBS of MN | Health Insurance Premiums | 5,113.79 | 82160 |
| Biller Press | Parking Ticket Books | 471.33 | 82162 |
| Border Boxes | Shipping-Water Plant | 203.00 | 82163 |
| Borderland Humane Society | Pound Operation | 2,250.00 | 82164 |
| Bound Tree Medical LLC | Ambulance Supplies | 1,907.76 | 82165 |
| Bremer Cardmember Services | Auto-M/C/Adm/Pol/Fire/St, Sup-Adm | 358.67 | 82166 |
| CherryRoad Media Inc | Minutes | 409.07 | 82167 |
| City of Int’l Falls-Fund 101 | Water/Sewer Admin Expenses | 1,065.05 | 82168 |
| City Water Department | City Buildings-Water Usage | 2,049.09 | 82169 |
| CMS Medicare | Overpayment Refund-44924 | 656.10 | 82170 |
| Convention & Visitors Bureau | Lodging Tax | 20,236.01 | 82171 |
| Earl F Andersen | Signs-No Parking | 201.95 | 82172 |
| ESX Technology Solutions, LLC | Windows 10 | 2,928.00 | 82173 |
| Falls Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram | Police Towing Fee | 159.95 | 82174 |
| Flow Measurement Group LLC | Certification Liftstation #7 | 517.75 | 82175 |
| Gall’s | Clothing-Wahl | 157.00 | 82176 |
| Graybar | Sup-St Lighting | 1,304.96 | 82177 |
| HACH Company | Chemicals | 203.67 | 82178 |
| Heather Olson | Travel Expense | 338.56 | 82179 |
| Innovative Office Solutions LLC | Sup-Water/Adm | 118.71 | 82180 |
| Int’l Falls/Kooch Cty | City Share Oct 25 Maj CA/25 Annual | 430,952.29 | 82181 |
| IUOE Local 49 | Health Insurance Premiums | 29,735.00 | 82182 |
| Jay Taylor | Clothing Allowance | 331.69 | 82183 |
| Logan Hulst | Clothing Allowance Reimbursement | 148.99 | 82184 |
| LVC Inc | Fire Extinguisher Recharge-Police | 298.00 | 82185 |
| Marco | Antivirus/Microsoft Exchange | 535.25 | 82186 |
| Marco Technologies LLC | Contract/Print/Copy-Fire/Adm/PW | 1,854.91 | 82187 |
| MedicareBlue RX | Health Insurance Premiums | 2,106.00 | 82188 |
| Menards International Falls | Sup-St/Pol/Fire/Gar/Adm/P&R/Wtr | 429.60 | 82189 |
| Midco | Cable-Fire Hall/Amb, Internet-Wtr Plnt | 600.09 | 82190 |
| Minnesota Energy Resources | Utilities | 645.03 | 82191 |
| Minnesota Industries | Sup-Wtr Dept/St Dept | 39.13 | 82192 |
| Minnesota Security Consortium | Annual Subscription | 1,300.00 | 82193 |
| MN Dept of Labor & Industry | Boiler Registra-Mun/Lib/Wtr Pl | 160.00 | 82194 |
| MN Secretary of State – Notary | Notary Application-L Humbert | 120.00 | 82195 |
| MTI Distributing Inc | M&R-Grnds | 92.86 | 82196 |
| North American Bank Company | Inserting System Lease | 181.75 | 82197 |
| Northern Lumber & Hardware | Sup-St/Gar/Wtr/P&R, Maint-Fire | 368.04 | 82198 |
| Nuss Truck & Equipment | Unit 254 | 134.85 | 82199 |
| Pitney Bowes Reserve Acct | Qtrly Lease-Inserting & Mailing Syst | 2,000.00 | 82200 |
| Pomp’s Tire Service Inc | Unit 043 | 4,314.03 | 82201 |
| PowerPlan | Unit 644J-Repairs | 1,047.36 | 82202 |
| Range Paper Corp | Sup-GGB/Gar/Wtr/Wtr Plnt | 89.05 | 82203 |
| Rhory Gelo | Meal Allowance | 15.00 | 82204 |
| Shred-N-Go Inc | Recycling Police | 90.30 | 82205 |
| Sirchie Acquisition Company LLC | Evidence Collection Supplies | 88.83 | 82206 |
| Streicher’s | Cloth Allow-Kastens | 279.99 | 82207 |
| Sun Life Financial | Life Insurance Premiums | 518.26 | 82208 |
| Taft Stettinius & Hollister | General Obligation Bonds Series | 21,000.00 | 82209 |
| Taylor’s Plumbing & Heating LLC | Bldg Maint-Fire Hall | 395.58 | 82210 |
| The Nelson Trust | Health Insurance Premiums | 44,837.76 | 82211 |
| TruStar Federal Credit Union | Research-Police | 45.00 | 82212 |
| UHL Company Inc | Bld Maint-VNP | 1,141.75 | 82213 |
| United Electric | Kerry Park Arena | 168.52 | 82214 |
| US Bank Equipment Finance | Motorola Lease | 8,290.55 | 82215 |
| Verizon | Monthly Cellular Service | 1,979.75 | 82216 |
| Walls All Season Equipment Inc | Maint-Wtr/St/P&R | 1,366.47 | 82217 |
| The following checks were issued under blanket authorization: | |||
| AFLAC | Supplemental Insurance | 182.08 | 102882 |
| American Heritage Life Ins Co | Supplemental Insurance | 9.64 | 102883 |
| Bay Bridge Administrators LLC | Supplemental Insurance | 354.51 | 102884 |
| Bremer Bank NA | Federal Withholding | 42,529.27 | 102885 |
| Central Pension Fund Source A | Retirement | 5,092.80 | 102886 |
| Int’l Falls Ambulance Service | EMT Dues | 126.00 | 102887 |
| Kane Kostiuk, Sec/Treas | Cop Dues | 130.00 | 102888 |
| MN Child Support Pmt Ctr | Wage Assignment-Child Support | 177.19 | 102889 |
| MN Department of Revenue | State Withholding SWT | 8,559.78 | 102890 |
| MSRS-Empower Retirement | Empower Retirement | 9,127.00 | 102891 |
| PERA | Public Employees Retirement | 38,323.06 | 102892 |
| Sun Life Financial | Supplemental Life Insurance | 813.71 | 102893 |
| The Hartford V-LTD | Voluntary Insurance | 475.57 | 102894 |
| United Way of NE Minnesota Inc | United Way | 15.00 | 102895 |
| AUDIENCE: | None. |
| PUBLIC HEARING: | None. |
| OPENING BIDS (AND/OR QUOTES) | None. |
| OLD BUSINESS: | None. |
| CONSENT AGENDA: | None. |
| NEW BUSINESS: | |
| INFORMATIONAL Convention Visitors Bureau presentation, Katrina Heibel | Katrina Heibel, Executive Director of the Convention Visitors Bureau shared her promotional skills for the CVB and their mission is to promote travel and tourism and generate an economic impact for the servicing area. Revenue is generated by a 3% lodging tax from visitors on all area lodging establishments. From 2010 until 2020 lodging tax averaged $165,000 annually. Heibel states, “In 2024-2025 we officially broke the $260,000 mark”. Heibel noted a National Park Service report shows 200,000 people visited Voyageurs National Park in 2024 for various opportunities from fishing and camping, to seeing the northern lights for the first time, or attending a business meeting. The CVB uses various ways to promote and market the area with social media, printed news, broadcast media, travel guides, and a new website is being created. |
| APPROVED hiring for one of the two approved seasonal Parks & Facilities Assistant positions | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve hiring Sasha Scott for the approved seasonal Parks & Facilities Assistant positions. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED reappointment of Cindy Youso to the Housing & Redevelopment Authority Board of Commissioners for a five-year term | MOTION by Councilor Buller to approve reappointment of Cindy Youso to the Housing & Redevelopment Authority Board of Commissioners for a five-year term January 1, 2026 – December 31, 2031, as requested by Kimberley Nuthak, Executive Director, HRA of International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED appointment of Todd Ojala and Glenn Davis to the Charter Commission | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve appointment of Todd Ojala and Glenn Davis to the Charter Commission. Deputy Administrator Riggs added both of their terms will be November 4, 2025 – December 31, 2028. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of support for Voyageur County ATV – Koochiching County Trail Plan 2025 | MOTION by Councilor Holden to approve letter of support for Voyageur County ATV – Koochiching County Trail Plan 2025. Voyageur Country ATV President Tom Dougherty shared this is a 3-phase project, phase 1 of the trail is expected to start this fall, with the end project having connection to the Blue Ox trail. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED letter of support for International Falls Recreation Hockey Association | MOTION by Councilor Kalar to approve letter of support for International Falls Recreation Hockey Association for a Rotary grant application to help fund building repairs at Kerry Park Arena. Motion seconded by Councilor Wegner and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to MN Paid Family and Medical Leave between the City and District Lodge 5 and its Affiliate Woodworkers Local Lodge W-33 of the IAMAW | MOTION by Councilor Wegner to approve Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) related to MN Paid Family and Medical Leave between the City and District Lodge 5 and its Affiliate Woodworkers Local Lodge W-33 of the IAMAW representing the Firefighter Engineers and Paramedics. Motion seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 75-2025 application for exempt permit for Rainy River Community College Foundation to conduct a raffle | MOTION by Councilor Buller to adopt Resolution No. 75– 2025 application for exempt permit for Rainy River Community College Foundation to conduct a raffle on December 7, 2025, at Backus Community Center, 900 5th Street, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Holden and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 76-2025 application for Premises Permit for Lawful Gambling for International Falls Recreation Hockey Association | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 76-2025 application for Premises Permit for Lawful Gambling for International Falls Recreation Hockey Association to conduct lawful gambling at Cobblestone Hotel & Suites, 1 Memorial Drive, International Falls. Motion seconded by Councilor Kalar and carried unanimously. |
| ADOPTED Resolution No. 77-2025 opting to increase the benefit level for Firefighters who are vested in the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan | MOTION by Councilor Holden to adopt Resolution No. 77-2025 a resolution opting to increase the benefit level for Firefighters who are vested in the Statewide Volunteer Firefighter Plan. Motion by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| Ambulance Continued Discussion | Mayor Dill noted a Roundtable meeting was held. Dill shared they are all working hard together and have had meaningful discussions. Mayor Dill feels very optimistic the level of service will remain the same, and we will have more news to come before the next City Council meeting. |
| APPROVED 3S Design LLC, 15-day IT Agreement | Motion by Councilor Holden to approve 3S Design LLC, 15-day IT agreement. City Administrator Bergstrom shared she has worked with Dimitrios Hilton of MNSec and feels this is a must have until a full-time replacement has been approved. Motion was seconded by Councilor Buller and carried unanimously. |
| APPROVED Proposal for Soil Boring for the Smokey Bear Bandshell Project
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Motion by Councilor Kalar to approve the proposal for soil boring for the new Bandshell Project in the amount of $8,480. Councilor Kalar stated this step is necessary to find what kind of foundation is needed to move forward with a replacement structure. Motion was 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.
The International Falls Fire/Rescue/EMS Activity Report for September 2025 was available for review. |
| Reports of Mayor & Council | Councilor Kalar shared the latest KEDA update regarding the new Camper Cabins at the Campground in Big Falls. He also noted he will be attending the Greater MN Conference November 13-14, 2025, in Grand Rapids. Councilor Kalar noted on Tuesday, November 11, 2025, from 8:00 A.M.-10:30 A.M. the Elks will be having a breakfast for all Veterans and is open to the public. |
| AUDIENCE | None. |
| ADJOURNMENT | Mayor Dill reminded everyone that City offices will be closed in observance of Veteran’s Day holiday on Tuesday, November 11, 2025. He also reminded everyone of the next regular City Council meeting that is scheduled for Monday, November 17, 2025, at 5:30 P.M. Mayor Dill adjourned the meeting at 6:23 P.M. |
Drake Dill, Mayor
Attest:
Betty Bergstrom, City Administrator
