It's 4:06 p.m. I'll call the committee of the whole meeting to order. Monday, May 11th, 2026. Please rise and we will say the pledge. I pledge algiance 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. If the all members are present of the council and um if the council doesn't
mind, we have one guest here under new business, represent or um former representative Ecklund with a legislative update. Would you be okay with that? >> Yep. >> Okay. Please. Yes. >> And good afternoon. >> Good afternoon. Thank you, Mr. Mayor and
council members. Um, it's getting down to crunch time at the legislature. First off, I'd like to thank everybody that sent letters in to uh Senator Hoschild, Representative Scraba, or made phone calls to them because,
um, this time of year when you've have a project in front of the legislature, numbers count, numbers matter. So, uh, I appreciate that. Betty and Emma, thank you for helping set up the letter campaign. So, I think it went well.
Um, right now the Senate has a number of about $965 million that they want to do for a U bonding bill, capital investment bill. The House is a little more murky because
of the divided government 6767, but I've heard numbers anywhere from 1.1 billion to 1.4 billion. Um, I would expect a number probably right around 1 billion, maybe one 1.1 if if a
bonding bill happens. Um, represents Graz told me that this is his priority for this year's bonding bill, the International Falls Project. Uh but he's getting pressure from a lot of other entities because he's probably similar to when I was in the
legislature. He's probably got 8 10 12 14 bonding projects for across the district because everybody's got bad water, sewer, and other infrastructure going on. But he's he's been steadfast all year and I think the mayor will agree that that he said this is his priority. So, well, we'll see what
happens. Um, we probably won't see a bonding bill until sometime late Sunday night. Uh, that's generally how how they do things. And I'm thoroughly uh expecting if there's an agreement that there will
be some kind of policy demand from the GOP uh either in the Senate the senators in the minority or the House being divided. If we're going to pass a bill, they're gonna have, you know, they're gonna something they're going to want to tweak. that usually is happens. Something gets held hostage. Um but
overall the mood seems to be good towards getting a bonding bill done. Last week I was sitting in now two weeks ago I was sitting in with Minnesota Rural Counties. uh they're another client of our firm and the ways and means chair uh representative Paul
Torqulson was uh gave us a legislative update and he he was pretty he was pretty hip on getting a bonding bill done and he in his earlier in his legislative career he was the bonding chair so he's you know he knows all the
work and what goes into getting these things done and stuff like that all the the deals that have to be made. So he he seemed like that we're excited to move that. So I I'm thinking that the if there's a holdup, it'll probably be in the Senate where you you still have to
have a super majority in both bodies to pass one. So that's uh um but the mood seems to be there and both all all the chairs have talked about water infrastructure as their priority for capital investment this
year because if you remember last year they did a small not a small bill it was pretty good size but it was all all uh uh stateowned stuff DNR university all that kind of stuff. They did a lot of roofs and sidings and all kinds of stuff to fix up state owned buildings and get
that part out of the way. So, um, with that, I'm hopeful, judging talking to the people I know that we're going to get a a bonding bill. We'll just see what it is and where where International Falls, uh, ends up. Uh, there's always a the chance of a haircut from what we're
asking. I don't have it in front of me, but I think it's 4.65 million or something like that. I I can't remember what the number is on the bill, but somewhere some are just short of $5 million that we're asking for the water plant. I did talk to Senator Hostile last week. Uh he asked me if we still
needed money because of the PFA announcement that we had as far as uh the PFA loan that we have for that water plant. And I said yes. I said because whatever we get in bonding, that's less interest that we'll be paying off over over the length of the PFA agreement,
whatever that is. Yeah. So, so that's where we're at. And I need to apologize. Uh, for some reason, last time I was supposed to be here at 4:00 and I had 5:30 stuck in my mind and I got here and you guys are done. So, anyway, so I apologize for that. >> Thank you.
>> Yep. Any questions? >> No. >> Rob, is there anything that we can do from our end now that we're kind of in the last few days of anyone we need to be reaching out to besides Scraba and Host Child? Uh, no. Uh, I it wouldn't it
wouldn't make any difference to reach out to any of the chairs because they probably have a block on their email for where it be constituents only and >> sure >> you'll get a bounce back that says you know >> sure >> call >> contact someone who cares appointment or something. Yeah. I'm not sure what it
is. So >> yeah, I mentioned I had dinner with Roger um last Tuesday and If there's a bonding bill and it's enough, we're going to be in it was what
he had mentioned. So, >> well, he's pretty tight with uh Chair Franen. So, I mean, and and you guys all all you that know Roger, he likes to talk. So, he's he's got her here every chance he gets. I know that. So,
she might be driving her crazy, but to get bonding projects, that's what you have to do. You got to be persistent. So, um we've done a good job. They they know us. If I see if I come to Senator Hostile's office now right away, his LA wants to know if I'm talking bonding and
it'll be something else because I do I do have other clients that we work on down there. So, but you know, so they they know right away when they see us coming. So, that's the main thing. So, we we did our job. We'll see what happens. >> Thank you. >> All right. Thanks. I'll be heading down
later this week and uh we'll see see what happens when the smoke clears. So, all right. Have a good >> We can now move back to old business. Uh we'll invite Sherry up for item one, human resources report.
So, over the last several weeks, we've onboarded um five EMTs and um I'll be working with one casual paramedic tonight to get her paperwork done. So, we've we've done some hiring for the ambulance, so that's good. Um unfortunately, we've lost a few in the
meantime, but um an equipment operator is anticipated to start, we're hoping, next week. So, you should see that on your city council agenda for next week. Uh, summer staff will be starting soon. There'll be two orientations May 26th
and June 1st. We have everyone hired and confirmed. And so, the current openings that remain are the director of public works and the hiring committee has met on that and we're moving forward with that. We have another equipment operator position open
and we've received several applications for that and I've received some additional inquiries. So, um, and then the EMT and casual paramedic position remains open. Both those positions remain open. Um, been working on the job description
updates that are in progress for the fire chief, ambulance director, fire marshall, building official. So, those are all in the works right now. Um, thanks to Emma, we became aware that Rainy River is going to be offering a class A CDL this summer.
>> So, that's fantastic news. Oh, that is good. >> Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Really good. >> Well, it gets better. Mike Wallace reached out to them and then he became aware of a grant that we could be eligible for to help us pay for it. And so I met with the gentleman last week
and um potentially we could the classes 5,445 per person. Um and we have two individuals right now that we'd like to go through the CDL training. So that would be $11,000 some dollars. But with the grant, um, we could get that down to
about a $1,90 for both of them. So just waiting to hear back. Um, I submitted our application today. He thought he would have updates for us soon. So that is that's really great if we can do that because they would be able to do it all
here. um the classroom piece of it would be online and then the rest of it would be hands-on that they would do at the college bringing an instructor up here. So um and then we're offering Alice
training uh later this week on uh Thursday. So any questions on anything? >> Please. No. How how many candidates do you have for the public works? >> Uh we have three right now.
>> And when will you be starting those interviews? >> Um so the hiring committee met and uh we have interviews set up for next week. >> Okay. >> So >> moving right along. >> We are we are moving them along. Yes.
>> Any other questions or >> And we got applicants. >> And we got applicants. And that's I was going to say it's nice the jobs we have been posting that we've been getting applicants which hasn't always been the same here in other places >> right I feel very fortunate well not
only with that job but with the equipment operators as well and talking with you know Mike Wallace and and CDL requiring CDLs and >> you know some of his counterparts down in the cities they're not getting applicants at all and we've we've been fortunate so far and we like I said we
have two we'd like to get through the training here. Um, their jobs didn't initially require them than they when they were hired on. Um, but we'd like to get them CDL trained nonetheless. It only makes us more flexible and efficient as a as a city. So,
>> one question is is this just a one-time class or are they going to continue this class at the college? >> You know, he didn't know. So, the the the individual I met with from Career Force, that's who the train the grant is through. He said they've they've done this before.
Um, and so they're working together to make it happen. It's not something that college does regularly was my understanding. >> Um, because I had also asked him because I looked, um, we have several with class B licenses as well. And I I had asked, you know, do you ever offer so they
could go from B to A? And he said they have done that in the past as well. That's not in this cycle, but he said they have done it. And so if we did get this grant, then we wouldn't be eligible for a grant for one year, but they most likely would not offer that class till like next year
sometime. And potentially we could apply again if any of our class B's wanted to move up to a class A. So it's just hit or miss, but that's kind of what I took away from it. >> I'm not sure. >> I would think if they if they're successful this time, they'll do it
again. >> That's generally how it works. have to get enough interest. Yeah. >> Yeah. >> Which would be nice. >> Any other questions? >> Any questions for Sherry from council? Thank you. >> All right.
>> Items two and three with our fire marshall rental licensing and light. Uh thank you, mayor and councel. Um in your packets are the um rental licensing report for the month of April.
Um getting to the end of the rental licensing year-end cycle in June, 11 inspections were completed. Um 21 inspections remaining. Uh 316 completed year-to date. Um
corrections identified. You know, it's usually repetitive on what we're finding. Um what we're seeing and you know the turnovers in the rentals things are starting to disappear a little bit more often now because they're a lot of the landlords are required to go to the 10-year sealed unit batteries and their
smoke alarms which are expensive now. So when people are leaving they're taking that stuff with them. Um but uh for the most part everything's still going good. Um so we're just moving forward with that.
Any questions? Uh if no questions on to blight. Um 2026 blight year to date. Um we're in the process of uh the list starting to grow. Um myself and Chelsea uh met last Friday um
and took a tour around town to a few locations that we're getting a lot of complaints on. Um we've put together a plan moving forward on how we're going to deal with those. Um we have done a couple significant cleanups in the last
couple weeks. Um on uh 13th Street and one on Riverview, but uh other than that uh things are picking up on that side of things again. So,
we uh also have a issue with rats on the Second Avenue and 19th Street. Um we've been getting a lot of complaints about that. So, we're trying to track down where the garbage is at. So, um we've got an idea, but we
haven't been able to gain access yet on how we're going to go about it. So, >> it's uh Second Avenue East, >> uh right by the Rambler Motel. >> That's why I saw it. >> So,
um yeah, it's unfortunate, but seems to know it's Yeah, not a good situation, but uh we'll see what uh boils out of it. So, um, other than that, um,
we do got a couple houses that we're going to have to deal with. Um, I'm not sure what direction we'll want to go with that this summer. Um, but, uh, we're, uh, working moving forward with it.
Um, and I guess just so everybody's aware, the riverfront um, has had some issues out there in the last month. It's vacant. Um, they closed the doors last fall. Um, pretty much packed up and
left. Um, so we've been having some issues out there with people inside the building um, creating some issues for us. I've been working with Nathan Hibel at Land and Forestry from the county. um the police department. Um so we went in
there um took some updated pictures and uh it's in very tough shape. So I reached out to the owner um and from the understanding we got is that the countyy's going to end up with it. It's
uh over 350,000 in the rears and taxes and uh it's becoming more and more of a problem. So, just for you guys to have that on your radar um because it's a big
piece of property, it's a bit going to become a problem. So, um it does forfeit this fall to the county. Um, so that's why I've been working with the assessor because the value on it right now is
significant and with the new Tyler vers Henipin. Um, in order to market that property, it's got to be marketed at estimated market value, which is well over a million dollars right now. So, um,
tough situation there. We don't have any, you know, confirmation that that's what's going to happen, but that's what the what it's leaning towards. So, >> Jared, I know they said that they open
back up. >> It is not. Um, I reached out to the fire marshals division who does hotel inspections and uh with the pictures that I supplied to them, they said they they will not give them occupancy to open it back up. Ceilings are falling
in. I mean, there's been copper removed. Um, yeah, I mean, yeah, it it it won't happen. So, um, unless there's a significant investment and if you're that behind in your taxes,
there's other other issues going on. So, so that's where that's at. Um, but again, just something to have on your radar. Um, because whatever happens with it, it's going to be a pretty big undertaking. So,
uh, any other questions? questions for Jared. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> There is a building permit report in our packet
with the permit activity for April 2026. continues to click along. Questions? Um, from the council. Seeing none, let's move on to councelor
Wgner and councelor Kaylor with a band shell update. Okay. Well, the band shell went out for bids as we told you before the first time and nobody bid it. So, we brought it back and made some adjustments, sent it out for bids again early May. We did
get two bids back. You do have a sheet there. Um, basically, uh, both of them, one of them actually removed theirs at the end, but so you only see the one, but they were both right around $2 million to build rebuild it. And that's after
we've we've stripped a lot of it's not even the same other than the the dome looking part, same structure. Uh beared it back as best we could. So we've got a
another meeting coming up I think next week. Is it next week? >> 21st. >> 21st. >> That Yep. Next week. Yep. >> And uh we're going to go back to see what we can. We've Betty's reached out to the insurance company again to see if
they could get some more money from them. Um because the what they valued it at compared to what our bid has come in at is quite a bit different. >> So we're going to look into that, but um
we we may probably have to move towards a different type of structure that will support the >> B money we got from the insurance company. So >> is it our understanding that
the insurance company is supposed to pony up if we rebuild the same structure or is it I forget the insurance speak just a lump sum payment >> there we have replacement costs >> okay
>> but they went and got a bid for what they believe the replacement would be >> and that's what we were paid on >> and that's what we argued and you know discussed with them all along this process with our engineers saying that's not going to cut it. >> Yeah.
>> So that's why it's important now for us to reach back out with their bids showing them showing them that we you know we didn't put um bathrooms in it. We didn't put heat in the whole back of it like it was prior. So, it's the same
size and structure model, but we backed off on some of the amenities and um so that's why we reached back out. I did send it to our adjuster and his supervisor. Neither of them are there with the league anymore. So, I'm working
with a new adjuster and supervisor. They're a bit familiar with our project and so um I've been instructed to send them some documentation. So, I'm putting that together and I will have that to them. We just sent them a letter on Thursday and I got a response back on
Friday um actually Thursday afternoon and then Friday again with our new adjuster. So, um waiting for us to put together some items and get to her and then they will be looking at that and working with us to determine what they will or will not do to move forward.
>> Thank you. >> Basically starting over with the insurance company. >> Yeah, that's going to be another year. All new. Exactly. Exactly. >> Yeah. >> But uh we'll see. >> And it was talked about too that there's a citizens group that um wanted to raise
the difference and I don't know uh what that amount was >> thought to be but a million dollars seems like or over a million seems >> 1.5 they'd have to raise. Yeah. >> Awfully heavy >> heavy lift. >> That'd be a heavy lift for them. Yes. Unless there's some people like they've
said with deep pockets. I don't know how deep they have. I know Pete's pockets don't go to his knees. So there's me. >> Well, but but then we're going to move and we're going to have a meeting just
to >> finalize where we're at. Maybe look at some of other if that's what it comes to some other options. >> Yeah. be different but some type of venue. >> Yeah.
>> For things that we think will work. >> Any additional Okay. >> No. Frustrating. >> Well, it's been a long uh process, but want to thank you for your continued work on it and um we've gone through
this entire exercise. um over the band shell. It's a shame that the one we had uh ended up like it did, but um we'll be able to say that uh we did it. >> We did it. >> Let's move on uh back to new business to
item two. Discuss placing an advisory question regarding the Minnesota state flag on the November ballot. Uh, this was something I asked Betty to put on the agenda. I had a constituent reach out
a month ago and was asking questions about it, seeing that many cities uh in the state uh have ordinances to do so without apparently uh getting in trouble for lack of better terms. Um,
I asked them uh if that was something to propose as an ordinance uh or not and the response I got was well put it on the ballot uh as an advisory question. So that's why I put
it to discuss. Um, I believe that our city attorney, Chelsea Nelson, had mentioned to us that we can place advisory questions that are non-binding on the ballot. Um, >> she is online. >> And I see she is online. Chelsea, what
is is that accurate that we can place advisory questions on the ballot? >> Yes. Um, so it's not on the same ballot though. It's essentially something the city would have to undertake itself. Kind of like a survey. It's not on the
state ballot though. >> Okay. So, it can't go on the city general election ballot in November, >> right? It would it I mean it can go up for an advisory question on it, but it's a separate document and a separate tallying process.
>> Okay, that thank you for clarifying that um is is very helpful. Um, so, uh, my my question to the council would be, is there any interest in doing so? >> Yeah, I have an interest in it.
>> I do as well. >> Yeah, I do not. >> Nope. >> We have a state flag. >> Yeah. >> I I just want to also add that's um that's going to be a city cost. Um, and Betty may have better numbers, but I
would anticipate they'd be similar to special election numbers. Um, and I think the last time we talked about that was 5,000 plus. Um, there's also always the option that if they want an ordinance, they can certainly get a
group of people and petition the council to get an ordinance. And then, um, if that doesn't pass, that could go to a ballot that way as well. >> Thank you for the update, Chelsea. And that's what I wanted to work out in
discussion of this. Um, and that's what I was asked to do. Any more thoughts? Seeing none, uh, we'll move to other business. Any other business for new business? We'll move to boards and commission
reports. Councelor Buller and Holden with Airport Commission. So, we've been having some discussions with people coming few people wanting to know um why on our our big hanger we're
building um would need water and sewer in that building. Well, I think uh I think I stated and it was it was on TV that if somebody's got a problem working in there on that airplane and they need to get to a
bathroom quick and it's 30 below zero, they might break their necks running to get we need we need bathrooms in that hanger. We need water and sewer. So, we just it's a very small little
group that asking questions, but we need we need that. It's going to have heat in there. Might as well have water and sewer, too. So, >> this was also included in the cost of that the state was going to contribute
to this. >> Yeah. >> Input. It's in their portion of it, not the FAA portion of it. >> Yeah. The heating Amen. >> Excuse me. The insulation, the heating, and the >> insulated and heated. Yep. >> Yes. >> That building big enough to require a
sprinkler system. So, you're going to have to have water either way. >> Well, that sounds good. >> We're going to get >> I think I think that's >> We're going to get bathrooms, aren't we? So, we got to get water and sewer in there, >> I would think. Right. >> Yeah. >> Is big cuz it's going to be for
>> large planes. Oh, it's huge. It's huge. >> It's about 150 by 180. >> Yeah, >> it's a big hanger. >> So, that >> Yeah, >> please. >> Doesn't that beg the question of
annexation then? >> Yes, it is. >> How's that going? I >> I think that's where this came from. Possibly. That's where I brought it out. I mean the only way that we can do that is to
enex it. So it's being built not >> not totally on annex property. >> That's right. So >> that's my report. >> Please consider you had asked that I reach out to Adam Co and ask him where
the process of annexation is which I did a few weeks back and he looked into some items and additional information which I provided him last week and so he is back over his ball court to research the information and to you know determine if
he has what he needs to move it forward through the county. >> Okay. Thank you. And I think I think this question was brought up or he had brought it up earlier too when he put us to the task of making sure that all of the parcels
on the annex property are described properly and not only just the unex annexed property and that was already completed. Correct. That was done >> I think. So I think all you did well I know for sure I'm not I can't I guess I can't speak to the properties of the
airport currently. I can speak to the ones that we were looking to enex. Those I know have all been vetted and updated appropriately for and ready for annexation. >> Yes. And then after we had that then the request was to get check the other ones and you went through that too. I
remember that that was gone through the >> entire >> the entire area that was >> everything airport area >> the even >> joint ownership >> the satellite >> there there was some satellite >> y of the woods >> so yeah a lot of that's been done what
what's been requested so anyway >> more updates is that the >> requ that that building um I think the number that the city's going to have to pay is really mole for that. And so in
the county too, right, Walt, it's only like 2. >> Oh, yeah. FAA is is in a special fund that's available right now for a >> I don't know how long, but it take period of time for this type of structure to be built. So, right, >> it's a special fund that they had just
come up with their grants. The timing on this thing, Mayor Dill, is perfect because they're willing to FAA is willing to pay and the city only have to pay like 2.5%. Then the state's going to chip in for
the heating and insulating a chunk, big chunk. >> Thank you. And I would uh like to be on the record that this is an issue with the airport that I would like to directly recuse myself from
>> which one >> with the airport hanger discussion. >> Oh >> um just that's the proper process. Um, you can't update. >> See, we sit on the committee, so you know, >> I mean, that's some of the stuff we're
doing, you know. So, >> thank you for the update. >> Yeah. >> Um, next we'll move uh to myself and councelor Kaylor. I was gone. Councelor Kaylor was there at the kea meetings,
>> special meetings we had for uh developing the advertisement for the job posting for uh the new director. Uh, I think we I can't remember the date, but I think
what the like middle of May I believe is the end date for applications to get out there so we can get some candidates and uh get them started because our current director is uh retiring July 1st, but
he's agreed to, you know, stick around as uh needed and help push things along. because we already got uh already have this was during one of these meetings that just came up that I believe uh Land
Rover is already planning on coming here already again here in a few months. So, but to help them get squared away, whoever it is was scheduling the which is a big part of it, the cold weather >> stuff,
>> you put out an advertisement >> for a director, right? >> Yep. Adver. Yeah, we put it here. Our site, the county site, um I think uh >> ARDC or what whatever set they could
find to put up around the northern region where we are here. They're head over west a little bit so they know where we are, that type of person and what we're living and stuff like that. So hopefully we hear back here soon
about something. >> Yeah. >> Wonderful. Thank you, councelor North Cooch. Uh back to counselors Buller and Holden. >> Well, we're back to our original
director out there. She our our hire put in a week and decided it wasn't for her. So Cali did decide that she would take it on again if she could have some option of some reduced hours if if it was possible until the end of the year.
So, it gives us some time to go ahead and and uh see what's what we can do and and I think it's going to be a good thing because if we can get somebody there before the budget time starts, that's that's the toughest part of the whole thing there is just to make sure that you get East Coach and
Reneer and all these these entities all separated out and and being able to know when to build them and what to build them and how to do it and what so there's a lot of things that need to be known by the new person and Cali said that she'd be more than willing to help and and stay and help with them, but she
would like to be done the end of the year as possible. So, that's our our goal now this this fall is going to be to search for a new director there earlier so we can get going with that. So, otherwise uh flows are down. Pray
for rain. We're not making money. >> Call that they call that pennies from heaven, right? >> Yeah, >> that's what I was told anyway. Yeah, >> for the district. Yes. >> Yeah, >> we're talking district. >> Yeah, not so great for here. We could
use a little drought. >> Yeah. >> Anyway, that's that's about all I have. Thank you. >> Thank you for the update. Um from subcommittees, uh item one, is there any continued discussion on the band shell
uh from what we discussed earlier? >> No. >> Thank you. Um, ambulance taxing district. Um, administrator Bergstrom, could you please give us an update?
>> Sure. We met last week. Um, councelor Wgner as president prom stepped in in your absence and we worked through a um draft agreement that the county had brought for us to look through. Um, they
were using a from North Memorial on you know they contract with a lot of different cities. So we kind of walked through that there are some definitely some things we need to discuss and um understand and you know have some mutual agreement of updating that agreement and
then we are working internally actually starting tomorrow as Adam was out for training and so he's back so we will be working with myself and Adam and Emma to put together budgeting numbers for what what you know we on this side would be
expecting to you know charge for that service and then you know starting that conversation and we are meeting next >> the 14th >> Thursday yeah >> Thursday later this week >> y >> so
>> when does this have to be in by do you know >> well understanding from that question we asked them if they do a flat rate plan it needs to be done by July 1st If the county does ambulance by
valuation, it's not till later in the year. Um, but I wasn't certain on an exact date >> um for that. So that's where >> not much time left. >> Not much time. That's why we, you know, we met last week, meeting again this
week. So >> thank you. >> July 1st is the number to go by. >> Yeah, we talked about that. Yes. We talked about a little bit of it and then making sure that get all the expenses in there before
you, you know, everything. >> Yes. Before we start our city budgeting in earnest. >> Yeah. >> Carrie Park. >> Uh nothing since the last meeting. Um
we're uh going to meet here eventually, but we got a lot of other things right now that the administrators involved in and um commission or councelor Wagner. So when things slow down with the ambulance and the bans of things, we'll meet with uh
Rakan in the band shell and start working on an agreement, find out some cost. We were we're waiting on uh >> uh we're also waiting on the uh >> they're going to give us a >> their idea of what
>> idea of how to operate >> uh and being in charge of operations and until we can really that's also comes down to how all our public works and parks that get shook out during these hires.
>> Thank you. >> So I guess there was more than I started out with. Is there other business at this time? Okay, seeing none, it is uh
4:47 p.m. and I'll adjourn the meeting.