Now, I'll call this meeting to order of the International Falls City Council. It's 5:30 p.m. on March 2nd. Please rise. We'll 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. For the record, all members of the council are present
this evening. And we will move to the agenda. Are there any additions or deletions for consideration? Seeing none, I' ask for a motion at this time to approve the agenda as presented.
>> So moved. Oh, second. >> Thank you, councilors Wagner and Kaylor. Is there discussion? >> Call the question. >> I >> I >> I. >> I'll vote yes. The agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. Minutes from previous
meetings for approval. First, minutes of the Tuesday, February 17th, 2026 special city council meeting. and second minutes of the Tuesday, February
17th, 2026 regular city council meeting. >> Move to approve. >> Thank you. Councelor Buller. >> Second. >> And councelor Holden. Is there discussion? Seeing none, call the question. >> I I
>> I. >> I'll vote yes. And both minutes are approved unanimously. Thank you again. Moving to payments and claims and approval for transfers. We'll begin with transfers. City of
International Falls transfers to fund number 101 general fund from fund number 812 lodging tax $881.86 for transfers. Accounts payable and claims. City of International Falls
claims $470,22266. Airport Commission claims $74,89040. Airport major capital project claims 97,1 even for total accounts payable in claims of $642,1146.
>> I'll move to accept the payments. >> Second. >> Thank you, councilors Kaylor and Buller. Is there discussions or questions on accounts payable? Seeing none, call the question. >> I I >> I vote yes. And those payments are
approved unanimously. Thank you. At this time, we will move to the open forum session uh for anyone who would like to come forward and address the council. There'll also be an opportunity um at the end of the meeting as well
should anyone wish to come forward. Moving to old business, consider second and final reading of the contract ordinance setting water and sewer rates. >> I will move second.
>> Thank you. Councilors Kaylor and Holden. Is there discussion? I would add this is the second and final reading. Call the question. >> I >> I >> I. >> I'll vote yes. And that ordinance is
approved unanimously. Thank you. There is no business this evening on our consent agenda. And we will move and invite Mr. Rob Ecklund forward, our city lobbyist with an update.
Good evening, Mr. Mayor and council members. >> Good evening. >> Good to be in front of you on this uh beautiful day. The snow's melting. >> Anyway, I'll just I'll just jump right in. The start of the session. Um well first off the November forecast showed
that there would be a slight budget surplus in the budget and a significant deficit in the tales and the tales are two years out the ne the next the next uh budget. So the start of the session
didn't start off so good. Um in the Senate they seem to be doing some work. Senate moves pretty slow but they they seem to be getting some of their work done. In the house at the start of the session, the two things you heard was fraud and
uh ICE, depending on which side of the aisle you were talking on, what what bills were up with the House at 6767. They alternate chairs every other every other committee hearing. So when the GOP chairs up, they have all their fraud
bills lined up to here. And when the when the DFL is up, they have all their ICE anti- ice anti- whatever is going on with project metro surge or whatever it's called. So, it's been kind of ugly in the house in most committees. There are some committees that are getting
some work done. Bonding is one of them. Bonding is doing a lot of work and commerce is doing a lot of work. Uh commerce is generally a committee where even if they don't like each other, they kind of get along anyway. So, so that's where we're at with the start of the
session. Now uh what's called the February forecast came out last Friday and all of a sudden the budget picture looks a little bit better. They've got uh a pretty sign significant budget surplus for this bianium and it looks
like in out years two years out that there's about somewhere less than half a million dollar surplus in that rather than a deficit that they were facing at the November forecast. uh that's generally because revenues have been have held steady or have gotten better
and and so the money is still coming into the state. So it'll be interesting to see what comes up in the next couple weeks now because with some money to spend the attitudes might change change a little bit down there where they can actually maybe start working on some of the projects that that they're interested in. So
it'll be it'll be interesting to see what's going on. Now, as far as bonding, where the city of International Falls uh comes in, we're in a good position in the house. We've we we testified last year at committee. Uh Mayor Dill, Councelor Wagner, and I made several
meetings with with bonding committee members down there last last year. So we we've got our message across and the bonding chairs have made it clear that if your bill's been heard in committee and we saw it on the bonding tours which both are we has happened with both ours
um they're not going to give it another hearing because there's so many requests for other stuff. So, um, I've been making regular contact with repres Representative Scraba. Um, I go to the capital investment meetings, at least part of them, every day, so the two
chairs see me and know the this project and the other bonding project for the another city that I'm working on so they know what our concerns are. Um, so I think we're in good shape. the strategy that I think needs to happen. It looks like the bond the House is pretty intent on getting a bonding bill passed,
especially now that they have more of a budget surplus. Their concern was how are they going to pay the debt service on a on a bonding bill because they had the numbers that they want to put in after last year's bonding bill that they passed, but the debt service was a major consideration because they
were looking at a shortfall. Well, that shortfall isn't there anymore, so I I'm guessing they probably have that figured out anyway. Um, so I think what we need to do is we need to concentrate on the Senate. Um, I'm meeting with Senator Hoschild tomorrow at 2:30. Senator
Hoschild is a supporter of this of the IFalls project and has pushed it with Senator Papus, the capital investment chair in the Senate. Um, and I'm going to get his advice on who we need to talk to in the Senate to try to make sure that we can come up with the votes to
pass a bonding bill in the Senate because that that's that uh seems to be where the hang-up might might be on getting one done. For folks that don't know, a h a bonding bill, capital investment bill has to has to initiate in the House and then they send it over
to the Senate and the Senate either adds or subtracts whatever they want to do with it. makes the changes and then then they have to vote it out to to uh pass and go to the governor. So, um I will be getting advice from Senator Hostile tomorrow on the Republican senators.
They'd be good to talk to. Um I'm working the same strategy with uh my other client, which is a city of Eagle Lake. And two of the senators that they recommended that that their center recommended I talk to are were uh I'm fairly well acquainted with. So, I'm
going to try to get I'm going to try to talk both projects with them and see where they're at and what members of the Senate on the GOP side that I may need to talk to to try to uh convince them that we need a bonding bill passed. I went over the budget forecast. The other thing that the mayor and I have
talked about as well as city administrator is legacy. Um there are no according to representative Scraba there are no legacy funds available this year in the legacy bill because it's not an appropriation year. Last
year they passed their appropriation bill out of legacy. So what they're funding right now is just the grants that Legacy has money for. Um, there are some grants that I've talked over with Betty that that might be interesting for for the city of International Falls to apply for, but we will not get a ba a
legacy bill in this year's legislature to try to get some help with the band shell project if that was a possibility. It was just something I threw out and the mayor and I and a couple of the counselors have talked about it. So, that's about what's going on. I think we're in a good position on bonding if
there is a bonding bill. Um, we've we've made our case and uh we'll just have to see what happens. And you know, legislating is like sausage making. They say you may like the product, but you may not want to see how it go how it gets done. So anyway, so with that, I'm
willing to take any questions from counselors and the mayor. >> Water is open. And just uh the amount that um if you could that we're we've applied to for bonding. >> It's uh Mr. Bay, I I believe I'd have to
look the bill number up, but it's 4.8 or 4.6 million somewhere in there. And um we all uh they've already told us that haircuts are going to need to be made, but so I'm just we're looking for something out of the out of the capital investment committee for the for the project,
>> right? And that would be for the water >> water treatment plant. Yeah. >> That project. So, >> Hope Springs Eternal. >> Yep. One thing I forgot to me mention looking back at my uh notes, uh we could use a letter from the council to both uh
Senator Hoschild, Representative Scaraba, just to remind them. They they know perfectly well, but uh hard copy letters sometimes do get their attention. And if if the council members want to send individual either text messages or or emails, that would be
that would be good, too. Um I'm not sure he'll see emails. I know when I was in the legislature, LA looked at a lot of my emails and and and and clean them out for me, but they they will see letters. So, >> and you'd like to see that letter
drafted um to Senator Hoschild and Representative Scraba? >> Yes. I don't think it would do any good to sanitating the chairs. They get so much they get so much correspondence. I you know it's they like I said they wouldn't they might they might see it briefly but
I it definitely is good to go to our our own elected officials. So >> fantastic. >> And and then the other thing I look Mr. mayor is um we should take take a look at getting down possibly after uh somebody after the Easter recess just go make a few rounds and and say hello so
they can see it. So if you guys look at your calendar and let me know when somebody might be able to come down I'll get I'll get going on some uh on some uh meetings with with legislators. So because that's after the Easter recess
is when they'll where if there is a bonding bill where the traction will really be starting. So >> we can we can do that. >> It takes a lot. We got got plenty of time to to look at when look at schedules and that sort of thing. So >> thank you.
>> Yep. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Um do you want me to stick around for the end end public hearing because I'm heading down tomorrow. I think if if you don't have any other questions, I'm going to I'm going to take off unless you guys want me to stay. >> Are there any other questions? >> No. >> Thanks for all your hard work.
>> Thanks for the update, too. >> You bet. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Well, uh, obviously I'll be in touch and um before we move on, Betty, if we could have a letter drafted, um, I'd be happy to sign it. Um, because we've
already approved the project and whatnot. I don't think we need to take formal action. Um but just as a reminder to um our rep and senator about our uh desire to have some aid to this project.
Thank you. We can move on now at this time to item two of new business for the water treatment plant rehabilitation project. um with Likula and
>> Mr. Mayor, uh mayor, members of the council, I am on. Apologies, my camera is not working for whatever reason, but can you hear me? >> We can hear you. >> Okay. Apologies. Uh you won't get to see my finished face today, but I will do my best to give you an audio update. Um
sorry, sorry I can't be there in person tonight. We're at a rural water conference. I'll be down here with uh Sean Kelly and and staff. Um but we we are making progress. We did have our pre-construction meeting up uh a couple weeks ago there. Uh what that enta entailed was um the general contractor
Rice Lake Construction was on site. Numerous subcontractors were on site. Um we did a walkound of of the treatment facility there and uh we got a good start on on things where we're going where we are headed in March here. Uh
lab work is kind of first on the order of business. We're going to do some demolition of the current lab. So staff has been working hard on getting all of their pertinances out of there. They're going to set up a temporary lab in their operator's room there. Um cabinets have been ordered up and we'll be on site.
We'll get new uh new ceiling in there and other things. Elevator work has been the demo has been completed if you remember. Uh the doors and frames have been set in in place and the masons have been there doing block work. For the most part, most of the block work is done. Uh we pulled a high high service
pump can out and uh checked out that to see the condition of it. It was in pretty good shape. So I don't think we'll have to add anything to that high service pump motor and uh part roof demo. That's kind of the biggest thing that that's on there. We we really wanted to get that done last fall.
However, uh the HVAC unit is really what set that back there. It was it was about a three-month lead time that will be delivered this week. So once that gets in, we will now finally have all of the HVAC materials and roofing materials on site to start. We just need about 3
weeks of good weather. Um so if if we have that at this time in the spring, uh that would be really nice. We'll get moving on that roof for you all. Um little bit later in this schedule, I I wanted to run this by you all. There's um the filters will be delivered right
around June. And what I'd like to do is try and see if we can set up a date where uh mayor and council could could possibly look at touring the facility. I think that'd be a good time for you all to get in there and take a look at that. Maybe we get that posted and and and try and get a good quorum out there and just
walk through um see where we're at, things like that. And as that gets closer, if that that sounds like a good deal, um we we'll kind of throw some dates by you if that runs if that sounds good. >> Yeah. Um, >> yeah, that would be excellent.
>> Okay, >> progress. >> If you guys would like to, you know, show up sooner, do a, you know, quarterly or whatever, just let us know. Rice Lake is a really good superintendent. They're more than happy to have you all on site. We can do single tours as well. I know it's a
little bit easier with with uh not having to post public meetings and whatnot. Um, just what whatever you guys want to do. just know that we're really open to that and we can really accommodate anybody's schedule to get you out there and take a look at it. >> I think we would all enjoy that very
much if you could um communicate that information through our administrative staff. Um they can keep us in check with quorums and legality and uh whatnot.
>> Okay. Yeah, we can do that. And then um and vice versa too. If there's any of you singularly who wants to get out there a little sooner who's a little more curious, just run that through Betty and whatnot and we can get in contact and touch and we'll get you out there. No problem. It is still a little bit slow right now, but after the precon, we do expect things to start
ramping up, especially as the weather starts changing here and and whatnot, too. So, um our next meeting is scheduled for March 12th. We do have a scheduled monthly which is the first uh it's the second Thursday I'm sorry second Thursday of the month at 1:00 we'll be
up there and what we do on our monthlies is essentially that's when all the contractors try to be on site who are working currently um our engineering staff your staff will be there of course um and we just talk about work completed work forecasted we try and do coordination um for for uh different
contractors and things like that um and with the reading of the uh eight study tonight. Once that resolution is taken care of, we'll get that turned off to to funding and we should be able to start doing draws on our funding package now with PFA as well. That was the last piece that was kind of hanging that up.
So, that's really good news for us there that that those will be available for us now here in April. So, I'll pause for questions there. I know there was a lot there. >> Thank you, Luke. Please, questions from council >> if any. I'm just glad to hear I can also just go
stumble around there without you guys if I feel like it. I keep threatening Sean Kelly with that. >> Do you have uh first of all um thank you for your time, Luke. Do you have additional to share with us?
>> Uh I do not have anything additional to share with you at this time. What we will be doing is these monthly updates now that we're in the construction season and we we will get new schedules at the monthly meetings and we will post those to the monthly um updates for you all. So you'll see those in the packets.
They will change just based on lead times and weather and things like that. So um when you're looking at those schedules, just know kind of that substantial and end date completion is the end all beall, but everything inside kind of just fluctuates as as we move along. But we'll update that with you all monthly.
>> Thank you. All right. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Have a good evening. >> Yep. You too is all >> any discussion on this topic before we move on other than if we could be kept
in the loop. It uh would be a good thing so we can >> go visiting and see the progress. Next item on the agenda this evening, um item three, budget and finance
committee meeting recommendation um that we had heard at committee of the whole which is by resolution to designate city monies um into depositories which this would be for
Morton Capital Markets LLC. Is there any um additional info that you would like to add? Uh Emma? >> No, just that this is a more of a formality and correct >> just to establish them as a depository. I'm not looking to make any major moves
right now, but just to get that step taken care. >> We'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Is there discussion? Would call the question. >> I I >> I
>> I'll vote yes and that repository is approved unanimously. Thank you. Item four, to adopt a resolution approving the Minnesota Deer Hunters Association
Trails End Chapter application for exempt permit to sell raffle tickets with the drawing to be held Friday, April 24th, 2026, Bakis Community Center. >> I'll make that motion. >> I knew you would. Thank you, Councelor
Holton. Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Is there discussion or anyone that would like to come forward? Call the question. >> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And that is approved
unanimously. Thank you. Next item five, new business to acknowledge and accept letter of resignation from Charlene Tomzac, EMT defective immediately.
>> So move. >> Thank you, councelor Buller. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, councelor Kaylor. Is there discussion? Would like to thank Mrs. Tomzac for her service. Yes. For a
long period of time uh on our ambulance service and wish her the best. >> Always made me comfortable. She was right behind me when I was running around town in the 5Ks and whatnot. Not to be a joke actually between us.
Yeah, I concur with the mayor. Any more discussion? I will call the question. >> I I I >> I'll vote yes. And this letter of resignation is acknowledged unanimously.
Thank you. And on to item six to acknowledge and accept letter of resignation from Kain Kic police officer effective date March 10th 2026.
>> I'll move. >> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor >> second. >> Thank you. Councelor Wgner would like to offer the same to Mr. Costic um for his service and role uh in the department and
>> yes >> chief >> I'd like to thank him as well for his dedicated service over the last few years and he was a good guy to work with >> and he also started he started like everybody started out in the jail
working for me and he did a good job and probably All the good stuff came from when I taught him life skills being his pee-wee coach. And there's only one left. No more connected. >> At this time, if there is no further discussion, I would ask the question.
>> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And that is resignation is acknowledged again unanimously. Thank you. Item seven of new business
to approve quote from Forest Land Sales and Service and authorize purchasing a Hustler Super Z lawnmower for $14,51426 as a budgeted item payable from 402
capital outlay, I believe. >> Thank you. I needed that. >> Um, >> so move. >> Thank you, councelor B. Thank you, councelor Wagner. Is there discussion? >> This is budgeted funds using used for a
routine uh lawnmower replacement from 2008 >> and bought locally >> and bought locally. Thank you for adding that. And I would ask the question at this time. >> I I I >> I'll vote yes. And
one more purchase is approved again unanimously. Thank you. Item eight is consider a letter of support for the Voyager Country ATV Club Federal Recreational Trails
Program Equipment Grant. This is um a federal grant that the state administers um a different organization that I chair uses it regularly to put towards the
purchase of grooming tractors. And uh in this instance, the ATV club is uh looking for support for some purchases that they want to make as they try uh aggressively to get um our city
and other areas of Cooching County hooked up to the main um trail system that is currently in the Ash River Cabatoma area. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, councelor. Second.
>> Thank you, councelor Wagner. Is there discussion or questions on this letter of support? Seeing none, asked a question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. That letter can be drafted as it's approved unanimously.
Thank you. Item nine. Is there other business? I would like to point out that and councelor Kaylor can fill in a couple gaps here.
We have a local Bronco hockey team headed to the state tournament. >> The Peewee >> the Pee-Wee's. >> Yeah. >> In Farbo. >> That I do not know. I just see that they won. Yeah. So kind of exciting.
>> Yes. >> And good luck to them and congratulations. >> Absolutely. Moving on. Um we have packets printed. If anybody didn't get one or would like to receive one, we can get that info to
you. But there is a very detailed um report that looks like this that is the year in review of 2025 um
from our new police chief Scott Worley. Would like to thank you for putting that together um and in the manner that you did. Obviously, you uh have been quite busy in the last couple months. So, thank you for that.
And I would encourage uh everyone to take a look at this when you have the chance. Any other reports before we move to open forum? Seeing none, um would move back to open form, which if anyone would like to come
forward, please do. Seeing none at this time, we'll move to reminders. There is a public hearing to take public comment concerning the proposed street improvement project located at 6th Avenue West between 17th
Street and 19th Street. It's scheduled for Monday, March 16th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. Uh just to note that this was a project uh that begun via petition for improvements.
And second reminder is that on that same day, March 16th, at 5:30 p.m., there's another regular city council meeting. Seeing no further business for the council this evening, the meeting's adjourned.