##VIDEO ID:48GKaUjxDkc## Welcome to our regular International Fall City council meeting this meeting is called to order 1 minute early at 5:29 p.m. please you're welcome thank you for being fual please join me as we recite the pledge [Music] to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all can be noted that all members of the council are present this evening we do have an addition to the previous agenda regarding Carri Park beyond that the chairman would entertain a motion to approve the agenda with the addition I'll make a motion have a motion by councilor Holden second second by councelor Buller discussion question I I I I I'll vote Yes agenda is approved thank you next item on the the agenda would be approval of the minutes uh since I'm new here I don't know if this would be breaking rank but would the council be comfortable if I read them all and we approve them as one or do we have to do them individually it's a preference of the council mayor okay I'm fine with it un I'd say unless somebody has any objections in yeah I'm fine with that okay we'd be looking to approve the minutes of the Monday January 6th public hearing on 5th Avenue West minutes of the Monday January 6th city council organizational meeting minutes of the Monday January 6th regular city council meeting and minutes of the Monday January 13th 2025 Committee of the whole meeting the chairman would entertain a motion to approve minutes 1 2 3 and four I'll move motion by councelor Kaylor is there a second second second by councelor Holden is there any discussion question I I I I vote Yes minutes are approved 5 Z thank you next on the agenda payments and claims transfers of 95,00 83333 accounts payable and claims city of International Falls claims 1,813 18418 Library claims $656 36 airport commission claims $364 184 airport commission major cap Capital claims $ 339,119 for a total accounts payable and claims of 1,427 41738 would accept a motion to approve the transfers of payments and claims so move we have a motion by councelor Kaylor is there a second or excuse me Wagner I'm sorry is there a second it only took you two meetings that's good I'll second we have a second by councelor Kaylor discussion I just want to point out if you all notice the amount we paid on repairs for Kerry Park this month uh for compressors better part of $20,000 and that doesn't include what we paid last year to get the compressor repair just in time for the hockey tournament I just want use as example of some of our stuff that's getting a little warm old here that's all I have I was looking at that as well is that an ongoing expense well it it has been we had to get it fixed in the last two years and I can't remember what the price was last year and I don't know if Ted remembers Mr cut do roughly around the same though yep yeah along with other things more discussion question I I I I yes motion carries 5 Z bills are can be paid next on the agenda open form for the audience if anyone would like to speak please come forward uh with some exceptions uh limited to 5 minutes or less if you uh Willie if you're excuse me if you're coming forward for guns and hoses we actually you're on the agenda we are yeah yeah your on there oh so it'll likely be a few minutes but we did it's okay I didn't see us on the agend we we had we approved with an addition so we got you a proper spot anyone like to come forward seeing no Mr strand please come forward hi Eric strand resident of city of ey Falls 1831 for AV East um so I I understand that there was a modified renovation uh proposal for the kutasa building is that is that correct K Anderson's coming forward okay what what city council meeting was that approved at to revise to revise that proposal was it revise we just asked them when the other one was too much we just got back to them and asked them if they could do better than the 5 million okay so just scaling back on on on on square footage that's getting done or the same am I don't remember it right off of the top of my hat um it was at the committee of the whole last week for a square footed and some of the different things they're going to do okay because if if we're considering just the just the um deferred maintenance on it that deferred maintenance amount really needs to get done just to bring it up to stand standard for any use and that deferred maintenance was over 2 million just itself on the Deferred maintenance let alone the the renovations of the building and then as I REM recall correct me if I'm wrong but even that original total of like 4.8 or 4.9 didn't even include the back classrooms for the the proposed garages after that um I just I just want to give my opinion and say absolutely putting lipstick on a pig that building is terrible it it and and then this proposed campus you don't have any land around it yet um um committed to yes it's kah's but you know there's three other votes there I just it is it's just it's lipstick on a pig um the one the letter that came out um that January 14th letter um that was um that was circulated um so is the is the jail proposal kind of uh or the city police proposal is that kind of being put on hold until the visit it with the county then I mean because it seemed like a pretty open invitation to to visit with the county anybody want to well I think that there's we're meeting chief kic uh administrator Bergstrom and I I believe without being at my calendar I think it's February 3rd that there's a meeting with the county board on the LEC space awesome um I I will reiterate that before I was the proper mayor I found the county to be open arms um we're meeting on February 3rd I I don't think you're going to see anybody take a vote uh before then that was the agreement that came out of Committee of the whole y y and we went and we talked all about at the committee of the whole and we put a you know for ourselves for the county for Kos Anderson if we do that and for the people at back us we got to know what we're going to do here sooner or later because our lease is up and yes it's an open ended invitation from the county uh and we asked when we told them we're ready to negotiate back in December as a matter of fact I was at a committee at large when their um administrator brought it up I was at a committee of the whole for something else he kind of told them I would I don't want to say just ran over it kind of quick and I but they mentioned a few things and it's been coming up all the said well you got to tell us what you want want will you tell us what you want what you want to work with well I just want to iterate that I was right at a meeting sitting just like me to you in way nobody asked what we wanted and I could have gave them a good start rate there mhm so I just want to get that out there too cuz I'm getting a little tired of it being a one-way Street here what's going on but we're more than willing to work with them and hopefully we can work somewh yeah and and and to expand on that a little bit I the city council meeting and you had you had directed councelor Kaylor that for the administrator to set up a meeting with the county and and and that was agreed upon and um and I had called two of the city councilors afterwards just confirming that it was going to be the city council meeting with the County Commissioners and and then it was just the city administrator visiting with the County Administrator Ator so you know and and after that proposal you had had of of requesting that meeting um another person spoke I I um that that had said we just really need the heads to come together and collectively work on this and then when just two people meet on it it it was just very contradictory to what the council was getting after is bringing the heads together just to explain though and all that was was to have her her call to have Betty call the county to let them know we're opening negotiations they weren't negotiating on the phone or anything and but it was still just the two of them in that meeting yeah but Eric before that they had meetings it was more than more than two people meeting we had a committee meeting okay and it didn't go I mean they it just didn't work yeah well I'm I'm hopeful that with the County Administration and the city Administration that that something can get hammered out because I go by I drive by Third Street and look down at the law enforcement center in the evenings and there's squads sitting at the law enforcement center they're they're they're visiting they're working on stuff together and it it's just like it just makes so much sense I just really hope something can be can be worked out there so that's my piece thank you thank you Mr strand for coming up any other public comment during this opportunity please come forward uh name and address for the record y my name is Joe caner I'm from 16007 13th Avenue West International Falls and I'm here today and concerned about the police department and the sheriff department combining together and I kind of think it's a a good good idea to have them combined together so we could kind of budget our money on our taxes and stuff CU that's the people you know we all paying for it and we're going to pay for whatever it cost to build this you know and it's quite a bit of money there and uh I think it's a good way to go as far as I'm concerned and uh you know that old the the back is where we have the police department right now they have an elevator over there it's over on the west end of the building and on the East end of the building there's no elevator there so everybody that c come in there has to come in there they still got to go up the steps they got to go in there use the elevator then they got to walk all the way down the other end of the the East end of the building to talk to the police the office there to make a report or something like that and it just seems to me that's a little bit a little bit unusual to have that much where if you had if you had the two police departments put together it's all on one main floor or there's an new elevator there uh why not just combine the two departments together and make it a whole I think uh uh Eric strand there had said something just now and I I'm I'm for it I'm for all that and what are we going to do out there where we got this building what's that supposed to be for I really don't know sir what in the building out there on Third Avenue the one out there on the East End of or out there by South Falls the one that we want to uh the pig lipstick whatever you knowas building yeah and uh go ahead what what's this what what's going to happen there with this building once it's all put together or we try to fix it up well it's a it's a possible spot for the police department to have their offices and stuff there okay okay possible we're not we're not finished on everything but it's it's a possibility we we got it for a good price and we have got it down to probably where it's doable to remodel it at a decent price uhhuh after we've looked at different things how we can save money to get it fixed up it's a possibility the other possibility is that they are sitting down with the county again right for theth time okay okay okay and it it just didn't work before they wouldn't give us an answer on the cost and how long it was going to take right and I'm being honest with you okay okay so that's good to know I mean we all got to stick together here and kind of plan this out where we want to budget our money and we got got the salt shed that we want to install we want to put this new salt shed in I bit their garage and all you know all that stuff and to me I mean living here all the years I have I remember years where we're putting salt and sand down on that ground all the time but over the years things have kind of changed and our climate's changing here I mean we don't have we have cold weather and don't get me wrong it's been cold but um this year we our snow hasn't been as much as it used to be and a few years beyond that so I kind of think that with this little bit of change in our weather and stuff and the roads being icy and stuff well we don't put down we haven't been putting down much sand and I think this year with everything going on that we want to fix up or do is that we should think about other things that are more important to us like you know uh like winter it's going to be over in about three months supposedly whether or not I think it will be a good year and I think we can bypass this year until next year and postpone that salt shed and start working on our sewer projects in town because our sewer pipes especially in the West End of uh International Falls here our uh sewer lines have been they've been worked through they they've done uh what they did a lining in them but they haven't really fixed them or tore up the ground to fix the streets and it was a threeyear it was supposed to been done three years ago and the mayor put it off this last August and said well it's going to be till probably next year or whatever but that's where our money should be going is that's what my opinion on things are is let's look at the stuff that we need not what we want you know that Clause Mr caner um really appreciate your opinions um and coming up it has been five minutes sure have you're welcome to come back up at the next public comment at the end of the meeting or or please reach out to us or me or Betty email or phone thank you okay you're welcome thank you yep sry sorry mayor one point of clarification um just cuz this is kind of it's Chelsea um sorry I saw you looking around um sometimes rumors go crazy um both the Kuching County um Courthouse where the Sheriff's Office was and will be again um and bis are both ADA Compliant just in reference to that elevator comment both buildings that they are potentially being being considered or currently occupied by the police department are currently ADA Compliant that's all thank you Chelsea did you have uh anything additional any more public comment noque hello everyone um my name is Lois lundine and I'm here today to repres present bis and I just want to offer a quick point of clarification I won't be long um but Pete I wanted to clarify when you talked about the bis lease the Backus lease is coming up uh end of March end of April somewhere in that ballpark traditionally they have signed a one-year lease but um at when this lease renewal comes up they will either be able to sign a one-year a six-month or a month-to-month lease whatever accommodates needs please understand that bakus is in full support of the police department finding their best full-time home but we're happy to make accommodation for them while they as long as they need thank you thanks that's yeah I didn't mean we were packing up and leaving or you're kicking us there's no push from us to go no just but so you know good and Chelsea thank you for your comments also on the ADA compliance it's very important that people know that they can come in on the west end of the building hit the elevator right away I understand there's a little bit of a walk down to the other end of the building to get to the PD but um we have benches chairs and places for people to sit and rest if they need to so and it's warm in there and it's warm in there Lois I want to thank you all what you've done for the police department they're a great group they are and we want to do the best we can for them and you've been there making sure that they're well taken care of and by allowing us to do it on a monthly thing like that till we get everything figured out that's fantastic yeah it's you know it's in our best interest too they have been um wonderful tenants they've been an asset to the building they've had great public exposure there for the people who come and go all the daycares the kutasa people and all of our customers um we're really proud to have them there so they are welcome to stay as long as they need to thank you thank you thank you any additional public comment okay we will move on to Old business I don't think we have any bids or hearings first item of old business would be to approve the second and final reading of an ordinance setting Water and Sewer rates for 2025 I'll move have a motion by councelor Kaylor second second by counselor Wagner discussion I think uh just out of courtesy fostering some discussion about the need there's a water rate increase here um I'm I'm voting for it it's not but the reasons why maybe we've covered it before but the water rates and the sewer rates do need to go up for certain reasons um and I just uh want it to be on the record that you know if anyone has any questions on why rates go up or why they're going up this year or maybe didn't last year please reach out um I think it's very important that the right information gets out there and some things that are probably unique to our water plant and uh regarding our sewer as Mr K just point it out uh with that being said any more discussion question I I I I yes is approved 5 to zero thank you great I raised my hand before but how much are they going up 4% 4% is my understanding um off the cuff here if you'd like to come forward at the and we can discuss it at the meeting as well I just was curious second item under old business Committee of the whole Public Works committee recommendation to consider dsgw architecture report for the rehabilitation of the VOR garage equipment garage be financed and paid for with budgeted Street and sanitary funds it's a included in that too we we already did the salt CH oh that didn't didn't go through I believe there was a grant issue what the salt said is that right Ted yes structure didn't qualify for the gr or the finance low interest low low I don't think this has a salt ched in it so the salt shed is not included in it Ted no no and the floor is open to the council for either motion or discussion I think we've had discussion on this for three or four meetings now and I think the financing is all available without using Levy money through Ted's uh budget and it is budgeted and I think we should go through with it allow to agree Betty what my understanding is that to do this we're still going to post a bond if if it were to be approved we're looking for bonding for additional funding yes to complete the project on on schedule and to finish it off well we have discussed it a lot um so I as I said at Public Works committee I'm feel obligated to say my piece we have a lot going on at one time uh there's discussion around um the police department and what the counil is going to ultimately vote on there in the future which could burden us with debt there's this project which would burden us with debt of some amount as the money still has to be budgeted in the proper place to service the debt we do have a lot of need in the community um I my understanding is that the biggest safety concern has been in our own EMS garage and that's been overlooked with the ventilation system um and we have the ambulance debt that the taxpayers are going to be repaying short of the gift of a lifetime from Senator hosch child and representative scrubba and our lobbyist Rob Eckland is sitting here um so feels like a big chunk to bite off but uh we've discussed this at length so is there any further discussion I would just say it is a big chunk to buite it off and a lot of that has to do with previous and I don't want to throw anybody under the bus but for over the years kicking the can down the road for a lot of these projects that need to be done so if we don't do it now it'll be left as somebody else to do at a higher price and and I want that there's safe and I know there's we did some work I don't know if it's not enough not for the fire department garage with their ventilation stuff I know last summer summer before didn't we get some new ventilation or stuff had cost of a couple hundred thousand I believe but that's the thing we keep peace mealing it like that and when you could pay that and get new buildings and stuff it's going to last 40 50 years and that's all I have I agree with uh you mayor D that we've got a lot of stuff going on and it's uh almost to the point where I mean I'm worried about keeping everything AB breast in the financial so um we just have a ton of stuff that we're looking at different areas and I think we have to look at this better that down the road not now so thank you counselor yeah well I assume that this is going to pass when I call the question but I will also want to point out that if we're going to go down this path uh I want the public to be well advised uh my understanding of it without some cut in other areas uh we're going to be levying going forward and we're going to have higher utility rates go ahead if I may mayor the the current project that they have on the books right now with what they've worked with um the current Northland Securities for the bonding money that would be needed he has current budgeted dollars and if those budgeted dollars don't change year over-year it will not increase in the levy it but they you would need to to budget the same dollars that we're currently budgeting that's when I'm saying there wouldn't be an increase in the levy to do the current project as it sits now that's what the bonding there's Lev or budgeted dollars on right now on an annual basis if that's not decreased going forward right well I think that's a good point I mean the money it will still have to be budgeted and it could have as it traditionally would have likely been budgeted for other things so and I'm also want to mention that with the bonding the community has not the tax capacity of the community has grown over the last 3 four years we've seen that so that's good but if the community shrinks over if we bond for 20 years or 20 5 years that is nothing more than an increase in interest because our tax capacity likely wouldn't grow if the community shrinking with that's a more detailed discussion but I just want to make sure that all the info out there that being said any more discussion question do you need a motion for this I don't know if we motioned it or did we we need a motion we need a motion can you to make please councelor Wagner I'll make the motion move it ahead we do have a motion by councelor Wagner y a second there you go we have a second by councelor Buller any more discussion question I nay I I I'll vote no motion carries 32 to proceed with the public works project thank you number three old business Public Works committee recommendations approv travel and continuing education training expenses for public work staff as presented no move I have a motion by councelor Buller do we have a second second second by councelor Holden this had been sent back to Public Works committee Ted did a great job of getting us some F requested question I I I I I'll vote Yes training is approved 5 Z next is the consent agenda for a license renewal for smoke and fire doing business as Dairy Queen yum yeah that's I didn't read the whole thing I thought maybe we had another tobacco joint which is f which is fine by the way nothing against I'll move a motion by councelor Kaylor second second by councelor Wagner question I I I I I sent agenda is approved moving on to new business 2025 additional committee appointments as presented we have two one is an external committee appointment for the fire Civil Service Commission in which I have appointed Craig bernath subject to council approval to serve a two-year term other Council committee appointments to the cucha Ching Community Development Association I have appointed myself and councelor Kaylor as an alternate all right mayor would entertain a motion to approve the appointments I'll make that motion a motion by councelor Holden second support by councelor Wagner discussion I well there we go it's finally happened for you question but I have nothing to say otherwise except I'm for it you have the that's I'll have to discuss you have the first vote I I I I'll vote Yes what ments carry 5 next on the agenda is to approve separation of employment for a part-time patrol [Applause] officer I'll move a motion by councelor Kaylor to approve second second by councelor Wagner any discussion question starting with councelor Buller this time hi hi hi hi I'll vote Yes and if you could do that every time that'd be great I can mix it [Applause] up next on the agenda consider use of smoky Bear Park in partnership with the International Falls Bass Championship for the 2024 International Falls bass championship tournament scheduled for August 21st through the 23rd 2025 Gary Potter and Nancy Peterson board members I believe that Nancy is here this evening would you like to come forward Nancy thank you Nancy Peterson 1106 8th Avenue International Falls thank you for coming and thank you thank you for the uh tournament it's a great event for the city and I really enjoy being there in the parade and all that goes along with it um do you have questions for councel or anything you'd like to add before we discuss uh one question Gary Potter would like to know if we can have Smoky bear have his fishing vest on again this year other than that I have no further questions well I think he should there was some discussion in the past and was there a resolution over Smokey the Bear at one point that we would no longer be um dressing him cor because of federal rules is what it is yeah great it's required to keep it without for years I used to decorate that bear but we really don't have permission to do that the federal laws are that that Smokey the Bear doesn't get decorated and we have a set of rules that it wasn't the city council's job to take that away it was a federal government saying we had to they want it just like it was the day it was put up they don't want anything else on it so we followed what they wanted do we know how that this came about did we get a random letter or we actually got sent a thing with all the rules and stuff where it talks about it I have a copy at home okay I would like to see that yeah is Smokey the Bear owned by the federal government I am not sure about that but they have their guidelines of what they want on the bear so I mean for a while Nancy great we put scarfs on it and different things and then it just kept being more and more different stuff going on there and someone must have noticed it because the next thing you know the federal sent us guidelines that we're not supposed to be doing that so okay thank you y so you'll show me those yeah I'll try to find it I got it home I think so we had a situation on Sandpoint Lake where we had a it wasn't Smokey the Bear but it was a longtime figure on Federal Land the forest service took it and then some local people poured concrete and put it back up to the extent that it couldn't be taken down and then they went away so I don't know that that's the case with Smoky the Bear but I don't know if we want to get you got to stir the pot a little bit con but we got you know I'd like leaving them the way is he I mean he has survived an narson attempt in his lifetime so just to add mayor if I may the the cost of Maintenance and different things we had gotten him painted we have to um maintain him he's it's a cost um wear and tear on putting different things on him uh doing that uh when we do paint him there are specific colors again going back to the guidelines that he has to be um painted and as well in addition we can't change color you know we have the responsibility uh to like if we got let's say damage or wear and tear like putting new fiberglass we have the city of International Falls has fiberglass that bear and made it like it's brand new um we've painted it uh taken care of it hoisted people up on it and stuff but it's just the rules that came it just I mean Federal level and they want him to be in his blue pants and nothing else on there so no problem nice job just made me ask yeah nice I was going to say nice yeah he does that nice job for encouraging some discussion tell him I'll make the motion for this thing though for to have the tournament in the park because it's a one of the best things that's ever happened it's incred Community what Gary's done Gary served on the Little League board for 20 plus years with me and then he took the he took the bowl by the horns and got this bass tournament going and it's it's been 17 years for me yeah you've been there a long time well we do have a motion on the floor by councelor Holden to approve usage of the Park yeah we have a second by councelor Buller discussion question I I I I I'll vote Yes of the park is approved 5 Z thank you thank you thank you do you want me to remain up here for the other two sure for the Bing next item on the agenda is to consider adopting resolution approving the ifbc application and permit for a one day to 4day Temporary on sale liquor license for the B Championship held August 21st through the 23rd so move we have a motion by councelor Buller I'll second second by councelor Kaylor discussion question starting with councelor Buller hi I I I I'll vote Yes motion carries 5 Z thank you the next item is a resolution for the city of International Falls in the ifbc to sell raffle tickets I'll make that motion motion by councelor Holden is there a second a second councelor Buller discussion beer garden and Raffles and gamblings is there time for bass fishing question beginning with councelor Buller I I I I I'll vote Yes motion carries 5 Z thank you on behalf of the Bass Championship too we'd like to thank the city for their um unwavering support of our event year after year um you're a an amazing partner to have with us and we can't thank you enough and the city Crews and and everybody the police department everybody who's involved with it you're instrumental in making sure that it goes forward every single year so we want to thank you very much as well well thank you Nancy I appreciate [Applause] it number six discuss carry Park lease agreement for annual oldtimers hockey tournament Mr Kelly good evening Sean Kelly 2020 2 Avenue Eastern National Falls well we're looking to host our 25th Annual oldtimers hockey tournament um We Gather about 24 to 26 teams um I feel we do a great job of filling up our hotels our restaurants our bars we bring a lot of past International Falls residents back to town for good time um the city has been great at litness you's carry Park the past um let's go about 24 years and we need carry Park and we need Bronco arena for our our big tournament um I understand um um we we went we fill out an application for our our tournament and we found out that there's a lease and we're we're not boing the lease um if it need be we will pay the lease um it's like 1,50 for 3 days and then we'll need insurance and what we're going to do is we looked into that and we're going to we're going to piggy back on with Ruck hockey's insurance for that weekend um but we would like to propose to the council that we do not get charged a lease this year but what we'd like to do is we'd like to start an account when our tournament said and done when the tournament was started I should have brought that up right away it was that the money went to Rack hockey to support rack hockey and for a little bit of improvements at Park in Bronco Arena we've now expanded that to the Humane Society the cheerleaders um we've given at the purple Pride the Elks Club we've we've and I'm forgetting people here but what we're asking is we'd like to start a account when we're all done that we could have maybe a council members or me or Ryan ruds were're on the committee um on an account that we would give the city a th 50 or more for improvements to go to that building for the use of that building and that's what we're asking if we could uh not pay a lease but give but start an account so after each tournament each year the money goes to the building I like that idea um because you have been 24 years 25 yes and the old-timers tournament uh committee is a and the organization's a nonprofit correct um and to be given out over the years I was told a figure that's been given out for a lot of different things more than hockey I mean it's been out there yes and by doing that you've done a service to the community I don't think you should be charged so that's my opinion sure thank you yeah well I I'd look at it kind of like what we just did with the bass tournament and everybody else that comes to carry part but that and I'm for this I mean that's I can agree to that wholeheartedly that and if there's some extra but I I was like that it was and it changed over the years but it was primarily started to help with Carrie Park I know this cuz I was one of the five or six guys sitting in the corner someplace planed the tournament on the napkin so but yes but they do great to and the business that comes in and then to help the hockey and everything else I think is wonderful I I I'm for it too I'm glad that uh it would work out that way but I would like to see something physically done either suggested by maintenance or whatever that you could actually put your name on it or put put it to this specific thing you know I think it'd be a lot nicer to just say well here's $1,000 for gets used up and maintenance or used up whatever else is there something that we that you like to see done out there is there something that we need to do where I don't know about it but you'd have to talk with the ones that are are running it I can't think of a new project money can start getting saved for right now new compressors yeah but that's up to them and step as they go through and see what's going on and I hate to bring cuz it seems just like yesterday that we bought a new Zamboni for there the electric comp but that's going on 10 12 years now you know and all those things so I mean I just it just seems like it worth it means more if it's yeah a specific item that you've given it to that's my thoughts and there's going to be I I think it's one of my priorities one is to fully I can only say I'm new for so long here so I'm going to say it again but to fully understand where we're at with the facility and what that looks like going forward and I think both you councelor Kaylor and Holden mentioned that about a month ago that what does this facility look like going forward uh if we don't get the the upgrade which isn't in the cards anytime soon yeah most likely so um that being said there's no further discussion we could entertain a motion um I'll make that motion and let's us while we make that motion not to put too much pressure on you let's State exactly what that make the motion that the oldtimers uh committee for the tournament um not have to pay for this year um and allow them to put a money if they want to put money towards maintenance or carry Park that'd be awesome but I don't believe that all the money that 3 or 400,000 that's gone out to the community I think you need to be taken care of so thank you yep by the way we do each year raise around 18 to about $23,000 and then we leave a little bit in our account for a startup fee each year wonderful well we do have a motion on the floor by councelor Holden is there a second go second for discussion second for discussion by councelor Wagner floor is open again I'd just like to know what who's going to how we're going to fit this in or you know where you know you talked about an account that that's what I you know I don't know where that goes or maybe somebody can tell us how that works you know like if Old-Timers we have a checking account if we the city a check and then I'm not sure how that would work on your end I we can work out the details on your committee could work out the details and then bring it before the council what you'd like to do I suggest you have two names on your checkbook okay uh just to cover the bases you know so somebody it's always two people signing the check so then sorry go ahead I think Betty had a question well for the financing piece of it I'm going to defer to my finance officer but I think you know working with our Auditors and things setting up a separate checkbook for something like this probably isn't feasible but we do have separate Revenue line items that we can put within our annual budget that would say you know a direct donation from we can definitely classify that as a direct Revenue line item within the budget and Sean I would add that you can send us as many checks as you like yeah we'll find a place for it but I I was thinking when me and Ryan talked on the phone we didn't talk look you guys will start an account I'm sure wherever you're banking now just you can probably set up another account and whenever you have money to give you could write us a check out of that or the same account you have or whatever and okay give us a check and we'll put it somewhere good wonderful well question we'll start with you councilor I I I I I'll vote Yes 5 Z thank you thank thank you Mr Kelly next on the agenda guns and hoses thank you for coming in well thank you I just want to thank counselors for allowing us to speak tonight we are here to ask the city council to wave the hourly rate insurance requirements for Kerry Park so that the law enforcement and fire hockey team teams can conduct our practices uh twice a week um each year the law enforcement plays we play the Pea teams and the 12 and under girls team and we do that to strengthen the relationships to for with our youth and the community and actually councilman Kaylor is the one who started I did yes me and a board Patrol agent R coach right right and we want to continue that too because I think it goes a long ways with our youth um and how we can you know approachable as far as law enforcement um three years ago I went to Chief Manassa and I came with an with an idea of trying to um get a game together between law enforcement and fire and he accepted it wholeheartedly but he also threw another one in there he said why don't we make it a charitable event and we've had that for two years and I know least Morton in here um does a lot of work with it too she can speak on on on how much we've raised in the last two years but um we need that we need that time and I'll tell you why there's a lot of people there's a lot of different schedules that we have to work around to try to get these guys ice time so that we don't just throw them into these games and somebody's going to get hurt so um that's why I'm asking if we could have a couple of days a week at Carrie and probably go all the way through till we have these games in about in the middle of to the end of March and I have specific times that would work out uh if you want those or if that's something that we can work out later but at least two days a week is what we're asking and um and I'll let uh and and by the way for the last two years we have been using carry Park to to conduct those so you've already done that yeah has anything changed what's has anything changed to councilor Holden's point oh what do you mean as far as changed yeah I mean it you've already done it before yeah the last and it worked out good right perfectly I understand that when the fire department and the police department play against each other that's a good morale uh bonding with the fire department and police department it is it creates camaraderie between the Departments yeah you know and you know afterwards we go out and celebrate have a meal together fantastic both teams sure we've gone as far as gotten a cup so the winner each year gets the cup we each a one once so uh we're looking forward to our third year I think that's awesome yeah yeah and so I you got my vote uh if it works where it's not hindering anything if it's worked before you got my vote thank you thank you and we try to do it in the mornings so that it doesn't disrupt any schedules uh for other teams that may be coming into the arena but I'd like Lisa Morton to give some facts about the money that we raised and where it went as far as the charitables um so our first game was in March of 2023 and uh during that time we decided to raise funds for friends against abuse uh we were able to raise $2,588 for them um to use wherever they saw fit in March of 2024 that was our second annual game um we had a lot of discussions between the law enforcement center and the fire department and we decided that we wanted to give back to our kid to the kids of the community and we wanted to make sure that they could still continue play sports and so we talked with Tim ringhofer and we came up that um all our funds would go to the school and they go to um any children that um qualify for free and reduced lunches that we pay the rest of their sporting fees um in 2024 we raised $1,500 and we did have a matching um contributor peeps um for another $1,500 so we gave a total of $3,000 to the school um I just I talked to Tim ringhoffer the other day and um so between f the fall of 2024 and the winter of 2024 2025 we were able to pay 86 student sporting fees wow plus we will be able to pay for all of spring um fees for them wow and then um whatever we are able to raise this year we will continue so this will continue go back to the school and will pay for um sporting fees for all the um for for children that are needing it we just didn't want that sporting fee to be something that a child wouldn't be able to put we didn't we wanted to take that barrier away from from those students how many hours ice time you talking about what's that how many hours ice time you talking about um about an hour and a half per schedule for per day if we could every day from now till Mar twice a week twice a week uh Mondays and Wednesday Wednesdays if we could um and I can give you hours of the day if you if you'd like to know you'd be sitting down with Tim ringhoff for able I can do that yeah cuz he he's the one that schedules the ice time over there so well he's K Park not a car he he schedules it but works around the park and WS I think he does yeah in indirectly he does uh I talk to uh they have no problems but they would they would like the the crew that works at the rank cuz in the mornings is when they get the ice ready for the day that's when they do their edging and things like that they prefer no earlier than 10: in the morning to get it done and I personally don't have a problem but there's already two hours a day or two times a week at least where there's open skating and I went and checked Wednesday there were four guys out there so I mean there's already that opportunity and the reason that we have fees now and it just started that's just different because we got once again I'll use a compressor as an example you know these things cost money and I but I kind of I don't really because they said I started this with the peewees and it's growing and I obviously I've not to say Pete did this and that I did match last thing year before I did donate to um you did um PRS against abuse well that that's but what I like to do if kind of like we just did with Carrie Park if we can get uh $20 from each guy that plays in the game to go as seed money towards this uh a one a onetime thing uh from each player it's playing the guns and hoses yeah okay to go towards part the fees okay not per time but but just one time that's what I would do unless you want it the um Council decides they want to pay for carry have them pay for carry par well it would get each time there's a lot of practices there so that would be a lot of money yeah but we we're certainly we would certainly do that one time at the end of the guns and hoses game that's what I meant yeah yeah if if the council's going to let them have the ice time for free sure yeah but and then that we have the insurance yeah um but we could you know we could have see if they can schedule it but we have to schedule it is men's open hockey and fall under that umbrella under that and that would mean other people may show up and play if they want which will be a good continuation of your community community policing y y yep so I think I don't think we have any issues with that at all we appreciate that you're even considering this and giving us the opportunity I just don't want to throw you know 50 guys and Lady men and women uh on the ice without having the proper time what a couple broken legs you've had two happens one in the game and one in practice one in the game and one in practice uh like I said before Willie I think it's great for the two units to bond that way to play each other it it goes a long way I think it does more than what people know right right and you know we do love playing uh the um the boys peas and the girls 12 and under also okay that goes a long way with them we have Team pictures afterwards uh you have that bond with the youth we look forward to it every year yeah so I would I would move that we would just um give them two days a week under and those two days a week if it works with the schedule with the workers at Kerry Park whenever they can work it in that those two days a week we'll try and do the times but those will be the men's open hockey for those days you guys can go there then but we'll try and work with your schedule is that something I can I can just work out with i' talk to Mike and then let Tim know and he'll get it on the schedule or Mike Will is that how we do that I can talk with Mr ringhofer once a motion is passed okay okay sounds good let me know if you have so that that's your motion right yeah we have a motion by Council I second it thank you we have a second by councelor Holden discussion mayor if I may yes please little bit of history and being the administrator and my fiscal responsibility this is exactly why I brought up what I am asking these guys to come forward for where do we stop okay I appreciate the gesture to have a $20 per player to put into a fund for maintenance and things for Carri park it wasn't that long ago that CR Anderson sat right here and told us that Carrie park is in Dire Straits and that's why we either move forward with um doing our carry Park project looking for bonding from the state to do a community center and and revamp that or on our own we have to redo the arena itself it was never intended to be what it is today it has been band-aided for lack of better terms over the years to become what it is today it's a great facility for a lot of things in our community it it truly is but it's an expensive facility to maintain and if we keep giving away ice time that's not going to help our matters it's just going to make it going to be more expensive on our taxpayers um I I had a gentleman call who wanted to have a child's birthday party there I told him the hourly rate he had to get insurance he phoned me back I'm sorry I can't afford that I can't have my child's party there that broke my heart and and it's it that's what that's what I have to listen to that's what I hear here when I have individuals coming asking me to use this facility we need to help offset our costs unless taxpayers want to take the burden on a little higher um and that's that's our financial responsibility um we also have an agreement with r hockey during the time period in which these guys are asking for this ice time and within that agreement it is to be 10% of that time goes toward Wards open hockey for our community so that's why looking at the hockey schedule here every Tuesday Thursday and Saturday and Sunday there's open Adult Hockey times already on the schedule so that's why I made the call when I seen police extra time fire extra time I made that call because as the responsibility of our W agreement and to the citizens we need to understand what's happening at our facility and so just a little history little background how we've come to today yeah appreciate the input and I would just Betty just uh actually I really appreciate the input just so you know um I have not talked to any of the counselors on this matter um I have of course talked to Willie he called and we discussed what that process would look like uh to either contest it or not to and talk about guns and hoses but I'm the least knowledgeable person here on carry Park uh we talked about it earlier I think there's some big questions going forward quite frankly about the future of Carri Park uh and I think that they're probably not what everybody wants or wants to hear uh so to where does it stop we had an agreement with a school district that was their own taxing district and obviously we had to get out of it to try and get the real show the big building and that's not looking like it's going to happen soon so now the International Falls taxpayers are bearing the brunt of all of kryy Park my understanding is less what Revenue we take in so I understand the the taking in um the the the revenue and increasing the fees but at the same time just to add that these are our police officers and our firefighters I I'm not even sure that I'll vote but would you need insurance if you're already a city employee is there a Leisure not all of them are city employees and that and that's why I okay I made the motion to have them play on whatever we'll just set that up as a couple of hours for open hockey that week as men's open skate as men's open skating means anybody can go there Play and play with them cuz they're five six maybe seven guys at a time practice and that's that's the reason for we you know having it at different days so that it accommodates some of the different schedules that I have to but but like I said when I talk to Mike they you know it probably the earliest would be is probably 10 okay in the morning and now it's 12 so I don't know how much different but those can be those days that they can get on there like you said if it can work with the schedule there and what else they have and then instead but those will be the open hacking days for that day that way the insurance will be covered and other people will be able to play open hockey too at those times okay it's hopefully will be does that work willly we'll take whatever we can get absolutely yeah well I'd like to see you play your game okay it's always so competitive I know I like that there's a natural competitive between fire and police anyway oh it's awesome you throw a sport into it it makes it even more no I'm all for it thank you yeah thank you well we do have our motions by Kaylor and Holden seeing no further discussion call the question I I I all right yes motion carries 5 Z thank you thank you everyone thanks Willie I wanted to hear more out Alisa but maybe next time Willie are you playing oh yeah yeah I'm not one of those that Mak a difference you don't wrestle out there when you're out there too no well next on the agenda number eight would be consider adoption of a resolution approving the Rotary Club to sell liquor at the carry Park arena March 14th to the 16th mayor would entertain a motion to approve how make go go ahead a motion by councelor Wagner a second councelor Holden discussion is that berler I believe it was buler Holden bowler and Holden oh I'm sorry I thought it was you bowler and Holden yeah thank you you're welcome any discussion question I I I I I'll vote Yes Solutions approved number nine budget and finance committee recommendations item a approves CD maturity renewal for 6 months at 4% interest rate we move second motion by buler second by holding any discussion question I I I I I'll vote Yes motion carries 5 Z Item B approve approved purchase of a new ambulance I'll make that motion a motion by councelor Holden do we have have a second I'll second second by councelor Kaylor discussion question I I I I vote Yes new ambulance is approved 5 zero C approve advertising and filling a vacant casual paramedic position [Applause] so move second motion by Buller second by Wagner any discussion question hi hi hi hi i v yes motion carries 5 Z moving on to Committee of the whole recommendations item a approve advertising and hiring 11 summer employees for various departments as presented move second okay go ahead no you got her motion by councelor Buller second by councelor Wagner discussion I question I I I I I'll vote Yes approved 5 Z thank you B approved 2025 to 20 34 Capital Improvement plan as present presented was were we going to present this um or would you Ted maybe was but I see had a phone call and took off so I looked at it or some I think I think we had it yeah we' had it a couple times my only question before we go to motions would be my understanding was that again if we approve the plan we would still have to approve the project yes this is just the plan and and it the fluid would that could be a word it's not set in stone a plan as we all we find out with we y my superstitions I I I'm going to vote for it I just wanted this may all change and so with that being said do we have a motion to approve the CIP plan I'll move motion by Buller I second second by Kaylor discussion question starting with Buller I I I I I'll vote Yes motion carries 5 Z Item C approve renewal of the South Falls Post Office lease agreement for a 5-year term beginning December 1st 2026 I'll move second motion by Kaylor second by Wagner any discussion question I I I I I'll vote yes all is approved 5 Z any other business next reports of all boards committees and department heads uh Betty do you have anything for us this evening I do mayor I have two items one you kind of touched on that you and I and chief kek will be meeting with the county um on February 3rd to discuss options of um law enforcement space and then also that you and I will be meeting with the HRA they have got a developer that's um possibly looking at doing a renovation of one of the larger um housing complexes in our in our community so working through the H for some funding and um you know utilizing the city as a pass through per se so we do have that meeting scheduled for January 27th as well wonderful yep thank you you're welcome thank you uh Chelsea do you have anything for us I have nothing additional tonight thank you thank you department heads Chief goic I believe you have a annual report for us than would it be all right if I had this absolutely only if you're going to make them talk well that was my plan thanks guys your kid would won yesterday probably too thank you mayor council for having us I just wanted to briefly go through our anual report I have representatives from our Police Department here um are two investigators as well as sergeant afel who works with me on community policing events um some more important aspects of our annual report and I want to know if you had any questions on it like I said I'll give a brief overview you should have a copy in your packet as I said we went through sta a lot of Staffing changes last year we lost four officers at the beginning of the year um one of the reasons I have our three senior employees up here is because they were instrumental in training our new officers and making sure that we're just as proactive as we have been in previous years actually more so in a lot of areas you'll note that the um calls for service actually went up by 700 calls traffic stops again went up as a measure of proactivity you'll see in the annual report we did compare Year bye 23 and 24 with uh 23 being green 24 being blue before I forget i' like to add to we're going to have these available on our website for the public to view also um Department highlights I won't go through all of them with you but you can see we had several large narcotics operations going on throughout the year um December with their largest one you can see that a large aspect of this report has to do with community policing I want to point out the sergeant offeral has been instrumental in working with the United Way and coordinating a lot of these activities so I just kind of want him up here to give him congratulations and thank you beginning of last year we had critical incident which a lot of you are aware of in the middle of town where we had to call the Bel tramy SWAT team out as result of that we met as a group and decided we were going to do our best to handle what kind of calls ourselves we decided we're going to implement our mer mergency response team we asked for volunteers I was lucky enough to have every officer volunteer for that role um investigator Dean Olen sitting next to me was integral in planning and implementing the training for that team happy to say now we've been doing the annual the monthly trainings see some of the pictures there of the different trainings we did do we also sent an officer to um to training on less lethal Munitions as well as gas deployment in the event that we do get a situation like that again I'm sitting on my other side investigator Worley who leaves our drug task force and I want to say as far as both these areas go we've I've been nothing but surprised and Amazed by how hard they've been working and I wanted them to be present as well as Griffin just to let you guys know that they've really taken these roles on themselves and move the department forward in ways when we started 24 I I didn't see us being here today they've worked extremely hard and they haven't given up and I think the accomplishments you can see in here besides just the reactive calls for service that we got just the proactivity that our department has done in the different Outreach projects is extremely impressive I the annual report I put everything together but they do all the work so I wanted Representatives here so you guys can kind of put a b to the names you see around um I didn't know if you any questions for the group or for me more than happy to answer them um these three could answer a lot of the more in- depth Street stuff if you had any what are operational functions I'm glad you got the emergency um SWAT team or however you want to label it because anytime it's coming from out of town it takes time for people to get in here to handle bad situations and you guys stepped up the home plate and you got your team sounds like you're having plenty of practices and stuff and I think it's going to pay off I think that when things get down to the nitty-gritty you'll be ready to go so appreciate it I didn't mean to make you guys feel awkward I just want to bring you guys don't have any questions for me the report's there for you and like I said we're going to make it available on our website as soon as possible um I just want to bring something that mean you have talked about before and I think if I talk I talk to the sheriff is every everybody gets idea because we might have not have 8,000 people anymore that calls will go down but actually they don't they go up for for any various reasons people are on Hard Times you know mental health cases stuff like that and I can attest myself from that one from my years of working in the jail and dispatch that doesn't really correlate with calls depending you know unless you have you know you're talking 5,000 to 200 people but a few here there really doesn't correlate because the people that have those problems still have those problems and I just wanted to bring that up to try and put a little perspective when you say the calls are up and people may be wondering how that can be I think it's a good point I think it points to our evolving role as law enforcement agents Community you know we help out with social work we we're helping out with all the Mental Health Awareness stuff and working with people and I'm Scott Dane and I have been in here for 20 years and we've seen our roles expand greatly in that time so I just think it's important that you guys all see the kind of the driving force in our department I was really proud of them this year senior officers so I won't ruin any of that for you with my personal knowledge it's all good to thank you for all you do in our community thank you thanks for your support from Council Administration we appreciate appreciate that very much thanks to officer griin for keeping our neighborhood safe thank you thank [Applause] you believe that uh report Public Works director broa out so I would suggest that we move his report he just text me and said he's dealing with a water issue but let me know before you close I said we're getting close so he may come through the door so okay well a yes aoo water issue yeah all the talk if he doesn't make it back we can do this at the next council meeting reports of the mayor council committees boards and commissions have we had any meetings yet chairman bowler for the Sewer District yeah we had our Sewer District meeting this morning um re organizational meeting for election officers and committees and so on and um the budget was approved for this coming year um had our last reading on that this morning and just some small reports and details nothing nothing really big right now got a new they're looking into getting a new uh truck a new uh boom truck because our one we have now is the 88 I think he said it was yeah so we're looking at getting we got the okay to go down to uh United body and duth and take a look at the there's so many different uh accessories and things you can get on these trucks that I think it it'd be good to have them go down take a look at what they what is available and I mean you can read all you want and you don't know what it does if you can go down and see what it does you you know it's so anyway the reason they have this type of boom truck is they lift a lot of submersible pumps uh pull them out of the pits that are down there 20 feet or better you just don't grab a hold of them by hand and pull them up unless you're really strong so we have a boom truck that does the lifting and pulls them out and it's the the one they have is getting tired it's an eight 8 so that has to be the original one from when they redid the pl the first the first time yeah the first time when they did the first yeah upgrade to the plant yeah that's all I have great thank you councelor buler I uh just have a few well I promise tomorrow's key to meeting it is really tomorrow mayor 10: a.m. yeah I'm not giving you the wrong date like last weekend well that last week oh they didn't call me it to come do the financial stuff so I want so I look but yes 10:00 tomorrow not here so much but I'd just like to thank the community for the Elks we had a super for troops event that we raised money for uh the local veteran service office here and some events and we uh it was well attended so I like to thank people for that and also we had our annual hoop shoot at the high school it was well attended for our to and on a cold day so I just like to thank everybody for that but have nothing else or anything come up okay any public comment before we adjourn Julie please come forward Julie mom 90 for six Street um I've been thinking seriously about this um um I'd hope that you have one more thing to put on the agenda uh is the lead pipes in town the EPA says it has to be done uh I have lead pipes and with my illness is not good for me and I'd hope that this summer you're going to start working on it can I get your word well we just approved the capital investment plan I I being the new guy I can only say that so long but my understanding is that the money that came along from Governor walls in the the big party a couple years ago was that depleted no we haven't not used yet used we haven't used took bids on we took bids last year one time and it was a problem because we figured about 15,000 per household would what it would cost the bids came in at 36,000 per household and there was only one bid so that's why that didn't get bid last year but the money is there available with if there's anybody out there that that has lead pipes and know you have lead pipes and haven't signed up make sure you call to get signed up to be on the list I was there right away so I mean there's others out there that have it though too that have not contacted and the more we can get probably the better price we can get this next time around well we can't wait no I want to live for a while yeah and that's not healthy for my illness right now so I hope that you would start this summer on them working on it y to go again well we got to do more than just work we got to go through with it the EPA says it's got to be done and like I said it's not good for my health right now and as long as I know and they told me I have lead pipes it's got to be fixed it's definitely a concern and I my brother-in-law is a a water plant operator whatever conflict they have there don't have there but he shares me whatever chemical we put in the water to avoid Flint that's thank you I was just going to yeah we have lead pipes but but our W and I'm not diminishing what you're saying by any means it needs to get fixed but we don't have lead in our water problem because of what they do at the point well I don't see what how we don't I don't understand well me either but we're not we're nobody's fighting back we want to work with you but Sean Kelly did raise his hand and I'm water operator at the plant and you feed and with the Department of Health we are we get samples we take samples every 3 years and I believe Julie first s is on the list and we are compliant with r and copper we put oral phosphat what that does is it quotes your pipes your cast iron pipes from stripping the lines like they did in Flint they were told to stop feeding the the chemical and it strip the lines of theing and there was blood poisoning and that's people in jail so I I can assure you and I can pull up um analysis that shows that we are in compliant with the customers that we go to and with our size of the city we do 20 we have 20 different sites and uh we will not be doing it here in 2025 I think it might be 2026 they send us the bottles and um we drop them off at the residence and the first supposed to do is right to the kitchen pocket and turn it on and not just let it run and we give that procedure to each customer Pi thank you thank you thanks so you're hoping to start this summer spring whatever it's on of list yeah yeah it's it's on the list um I I know I've heard that before well I the list we're not going to do it this year but maybe next year no it's got to be fixed this funding is only available for so long Julie we have to use it I know but there was money there that you were supposed to get to do this project where is that money it we have it you have it okay yeah we just got to get get it going yeah in limited amounts I know rep Rob E is here he's lobbying for us this session and um was that in 22 or 23 that that because my recollection was like duth is full of lead pipes but they didn't give them enough money to do the whole town Mr I believe it was 22 and and the the lead P legislation I don't think when they passed that they had a real handle on how many cities like have residents like Julie does and others so there isn't enough money Statewide there and Council buer talked about the contractors that's that's part of the problem because that money went out there there's the contractors in the state that can do it are probably cheing the job they do yeah that's right yeah duth has started working on theirs already so that and I think the uh State started out with a 10year plan am I right on that and then the feds the feds had a fiveyear and now the feds bumped theirs up to 10 years so it's a 10year 10-year project revolving fund that when we use this up we can also apply for more and use it up and apply for more [Music] yeah we would like to get the lead pipes cleaned up as much as anybody I want to live a little bit longer I've still got stuff I got to take care of we're trying to get the lead out thank you thank you Julie thanks Julie okay reminders next regular city council meeting is Monday February 3rd 2025 5:30 p.m. till then this meeting's adjourned