It's 5:30. I'll call this meeting of the International Falls City Council to order. 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. [Music] All members are of council are present
this evening. For the record, we have two additions to this evening's agenda as presented. The first for consideration would be an agreement regarding
um IT services for consideration and the second would be a soil boring proposal for the band shelf. Are there any other additions or deletions?
Is there a motion to approve the agenda with the two additions? >> I'll make that motion. Thank you, councelor Holden. Second. >> Second by councelor Wagner. Any discussion question? >> I I >> I
>> although yes. Agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. Next, moving to approval of minutes of the previous city council meeting which was Monday, October 20th, 2025.
If there is nothing noted, I then entertain a motion to approve those. >> Move to approve them. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. Any discussion? >> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I
>> I'll vote yes. Minutes from the previous meeting of October 20th are approved unanimously. Thank you. Next, moving to payments, claims, transfers. First is transfer city of International Falls transfers to
fund number 101, our general fund, from fund number 812, lodging tax fund of $1,65. Accounts payable claims, City of International Falls claims $614,56560. Airport Commission claims $147,9716.
Major airport major capital project claims 537,787.91. Annual capital project claims again $324,116.65 65 and airport annual capital project
claims I believe this is revenue back $412,544.90 for total accounts payable and claims of $2 million $36,932. >> Is there a motion to approve? >> I'll make that motion claims. Thank you, Councelor Holden.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Is there discussion? >> Question. >> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the payments, claims, and transfers are approved. Thank you. At this time, we will begin audience
open form, which is an opportunity to address the council limited to five minutes. Seeing none at this time, we will move on to new business with a very special presentation from Mrs. Katrina Hibel of
the Convention and Visitors Bureau. Thank you. >> Thank you, council. Mayor Dill, thank you for letting me present tonight. I am Katrina Hibel. I'm the executive director here at International Falls Reineer and Rainy Lake Convention and Visitors Bureau.
I've been in this position for a year now and even after living here my whole life, I am constantly discovering new things and it has been very eye opening to look through the lens of tourism. So I have for eight years I co-owned retail on Main Street and from that
perspective I know how vital tourism is to our community. We relied heavily on our busy season to help us carry through the slower ones. I'm married to Chris Hibel. He's worked for Voyagers National Park for more than 10 years. He is also a volunteer firefighter and a board
member of the snowmobile club. We have two children and love to spend every chance we can get out on Rainy Lake. We love the area. We're invested here and we want to see it do well. My goal is to see the off season increased and I love
being able to promote promote this area. The CVB, who we are and what we do, our mission is to promote travel and tourism that generates overnight and economic impact for our servicing area. The CVB is a nonprofit organization that is
funded by a 3% lodging tax. So when a visitor comes and stays at our lodging, hotels, the houseboats, the operators remit that to the city or reineer and the county. It is Minnesota state law that these
funds must be spent to promote the area. A lot of the time our work goes unnoticed because we are promoting outside the region. So being in the CVB chamber office building, I have seen over 600 visitors walk through the door this past year. I've seen people from
all across the US and even different countries. I've seen people from Australia, Spain, and Holland. They're we're seeing a trend in guests wanting to visit all national parks. They're coming to get their stamps. So, without the park, we wouldn't see a lot of these people coming into the area, and that is
very cool. According to the National Park Service, the 2024 report, just under 200,000 visitors came to Voyagers National Park. Explore Minnesota stated that there is a 24.2 billion dollar annual impact from tourism in the state
of Minnesota. And every Minnesota household saves just about $1,000 in taxes because of tourism. So it matters. Why are people visiting the area? We know for outdoor wreck, fishing, the national park, wildlife, they're coming
for the northern lights. Voyagers National Park is an international dark sky sanctuary and it is amazing. People are coming from all over for that. They're coming for RVing, camping, parents dropping their kids off at camp coach and picking them up. I've had
people coming specifically for geocaching from other states which is wild. um they're coming for Nexus interviews, business meetings, working on infrastructure, and then they're going into Canada and they like to do over to Thunder Bay Northshore. They're doing
that loop. So, I'm seeing a lot of that and of course fishing. We have a total of 38 lodging facilities in the region, eight hotels in International Falls and short terms. Reneer, we've got Canalver and then cabins and short terms there. And then
on Rainy Lake, we have two help boats houseboat operations, four resorts, and 12 short terms. Lodging tax. From 2010 to 2020, lodging tax averaged about 165,000 annually.
Since the new hotels and short-term rentals, there has been a 57% increase in lodging tax over the last 5 years. This past fiscal year, we officially broke $260,000. And we can estimate that millions of dollars are flowing into our community through the five to seven% ripple
effect. They're not just staying at restaurants or at lodging, but they're also going to restaurants, retail, attractions, gas stations, and more. And when visitors come to the area, they often fall in love with the area. They come a second time, a third, some even 40 years. Some return to buy a cabin.
Others even start businesses. And that's the long-term halo effect at of tourism at work. This next one is our marketing budget. 40% is into digital marketing. 20% into print print media. We still see value in
that especially with the older generation. They want the travel guides. They want the magazine still. 30% into broadcast media, 5% into direct and memberships, and then 5% into content creation. The last few years we invested
heavily here for professional video content, but a majority of it is done in-house. Now, this next one is our Google Analytics to our website. Views to the website have increased tremendously since starting our digital
campaign in April. We now see 125,000 views for this current year verse 20,000 views last year. users by state. Minnesota is high, but also Illinois, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Texas. Onto the
next slide, we have social media. Our Facebook page has over 17,000 followers, and it's rapidly growing. Many of our reels are consistently hitting over 10,000 views, some 50, some even over 300,000, and it's helping us reach a broader audience beyond our region. We
use engaging seasonal content to spotlight events, attractions, and local businesses. and it's working. These are some of the publications that we work with. Magazines and newspapers, Iowa Sportsmen, Minnesota snowmmoiling,
outdoor news, snowgoer magazine, Midwest Outdoors to name a few. The next one is broadcast media. We do a large campaign with the Minnesota State High School tournaments. They do ads for us and then we run commercials during the games for hockey
and basketball, girls and boys. This combined got us a total of 2.6 million views. People love to see Rainy Lake up on the jumbotron. Then we do a Midwest Outdoors where they come and fish a spring and fall episode
and then they air that the following year that's broadcast regionally. And then we also do a campaign with KSTP down in the cities and a Twin Cities live 10-minute segment with them in the springtime. So, we are doing commercials with them as well.
Travel guides. We had 16,000 guides printed last year. We mail these directly from requests from the website and Explore Minnesota. We give them to the visitors when they walk into our office and then we show them all the places that they can check out
and then we distribute these to visitor centers across Minnesota. We share these at events, trade shows, and with local businesses. These guides are also available digitally on rainy lake.org. We are currently in a new phase of making a new website and
we are so excited about this. It's been years since it's been updated. And it's going to be mobile friendly and travel-minded design. It's going to have advanced lodging searches. So then the visitors can filter by location. So they can select either international falls.
They can select rainer or the lake. And then they can check amenities that they're looking for specifically like pet friendly, need a hot tub, or closer to Voyagers. It'll also have an interactive map like Smokey Bear on it and then they can learn more information about that. And then I'm excited about
this one is curated itineraries. So a person can really get selective with what they're wanting to do when they come here. I want to go fishing. I want to hike. And then it's basically like a shopping cart where it turns it into a PDF and then they can print that out and
their trip is basically planned. The CVB can also see how many people are visiting our individual partner pages and help guide future marketing decisions and support. Ways to get involved. We encourage businesses to share visitor friendly
updates and events with the CVB. We have an events page on our website. And we also do a monthly newsletter. Share the CVB resources. We have lots of maps in our office. So if you ever need ATV or snowmmoiling or Minnesota maps, we've got them in there. And then please share
our content on Facebook, Instagram. Share your love with the area with your friends and family and welcome visitors warmly because the littlest interaction make the biggest impact. And then if you have any photos or videos of the area, please send them my way. Do I have do we have any questions?
And this is our board of directors as well. I can go through that too. Joanne Dorne Hecker is our chair. She's the International Falls representative. Jim Macowski, he is the vice chair for International Falls Lodging and he is with American by Windom. Eric Johnson is
the treasurer with Voyagers Outfitters. And then we have Kate Severson, she's an interp at Voyagers National Park. Steph Heinley for Rainy Lake Lodging. Joanne Kelner, she is our Reineer representative. Adam McIntyre, Cooching County representative. Ashley Lavine,
Cooching Historical Society. And then Kelly Friends, she's with Cantalver and she's Rainineer Lodging. >> Very good. >> That is my story and I love it. >> Nice. Well, thank you. And it's very noticeable locally the work that you're
doing, especially on >> social media. >> I appreciate that. >> And I was on the board down in Crane Lake as the chairman of our VTB. >> Yeah. >> And uh I wish we would have been generating this much revenue to promote the community, but
>> Yes. It's been really great. >> So, thank you. >> Thank you. I appreciate >> just like to add another Please just say mention about how long this has been gone going on. working with the visitors bureau in this city. It was probably 10 12 years ago that it was Eric Johnson
and maybe Doug Franchel came to promote >> through National Geographic the triangle trip that you were talking about that people come here go to Thunder Bay and uh >> yeah they're doing it a lot. >> Yeah. So the things do work when people
come and ask for I guess was my point there that >> Yep. They're also looking for the international international waterfalls. >> Yeah, that too. Well, that's always always a little disappointing. >> Yes. >> Thank you guys.
>> Thank you. Next on this evening's agenda is to approve hiring for one of the two approved seasonal parks and facilities assistant position at Kerry Park Arena.
>> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Is there discussion? >> I would just like to say it's in full swing. Kerry Park. The parking lot was full all day Saturday with hockey going
on. I think there's a girls tournament or something or games going on. >> Good. Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. There's no further discussion. We'll call the question. >> I I >> I vote yes. And that is approved
unanimously. Thank you. Third item on our agenda is a reappointment for your consideration of Cindy Yuso to the Housing and Redevelopment
Authority Board of Commissioners. This is a 5-year term which would commence January 1st, 2026 and end December 31st, 2031 as requested by Kim Nutac,
executive director of the H. >> So move. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. Is there discussion about this reappoint? >> Please. Do they advertise this or do we
know that or do they just uh keep that in-house or do we know? >> Um I know here's what I'm privy to is that Cindy would like to continue to serve. The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend
her reappoint. Um as to what their exact process is, I I can't answer. Um, >> is there more discussion? >> That was just my qu I didn't know.
>> Great question. >> Call the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And Mrs. You is reappointed unanimously. Thank you. Fourth item for new business
is to consider the appointment of Todd Ogula and Glenn Davis to the charter commission. Is there discussion or a motion? >> Mayor, could I >> Oh, go ahead. But I just add that um
their terms would be effective today and would be through um December 31st, 2028. And that would give us um six people with that term. And then the other five that are on the charter commission, their terms do end um December 31st of
2026. So to keep them pretty even and it would be submitted to the judge for approval. >> Thank you. I'll move >> Would you second? I believe councelor Taylor did. Or did you not? I was going to, but that's fine. I can be number two. >> I'll second either one. >> Yeah. All right. I'll move.
>> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor and Wagner. Is there discussion on the appointments? >> Question. >> I I >> I'll vote yes. Uh members of charter commissioner approved unanimously.
Item five this evening is to consider a letter of support for Voyager Country ATV in the Cooch County Trail Plan. Tom Dherty is here. I'd like to invite him forward um for some information. Thank you, Tom.
Thank you, Mr. Mayor and Council. I apologize for having to come in and and uh go before you again, but some of these things get a little bit complicated and uh we're trying to hit the ground running. And uh we formulated this trail plan to put all three
segments of the trail uh um of the plan forward to connect to the Blue Ox. And in the future for the third segment, we wouldn't have to come before you for a resolution, providing we uh get a resolution supporting the trail plan
tonight. Is there any questions that you may have about it? >> Thank you. >> You're welcome. and for your service and it's a growing sport and um and I don't remember the exact area but the University of
Minnesota had done a study on the Arrowhead region and the trail system and many of us ride ATVs and I want to say that the net economic impact was north of $30 million. Does that sound right? >> That's correct. Um so for our area, our
city and portion of the county to capture or grow that would be a good thing, right? And right now we have the opportunities to trailer to the sheep ranch road >> and and you can unload from there and
access virtually the rest of Minnesota. And once we get a few segments completed up to here, uh that access will be available right from your doorstep. Um we're anticipating construction might begin on phase one this fall, which is
that's uh County Road 122 in St. Louis County to Cooch County uh road 3, the Ray North Road. And uh we're also we've begun on the second phase as well, which is from County Road 3 to uh utility road
119, which is the access road in Ericsburg. And that essentially gets us to Rogers Corner. And then from there, uh phase three is going from uh the North Galvan line onto the old Nakota line to uh the Nakota junction on the
Blue Ox. and then we'll be in business and and Katrina's phone will hopefully be ringing off the hook. I know she's really excited about it. I've had several conversations with her and they also presented a letter supporting uh the trail plan as well. The goal is to
try and get all of the communities in the county to support it and that way to the folks down south who think we get too much money up here for the trail system will we'll uh be more inclined to support it. I would think all the
UTVs and ATVs I saw riding salt here a few weeks ago, they'd be happy to have a farther place to go up here cuz I was down around Emily that area and all the way up to 46 and to North was Yeah,
they're all over. So that'd be nice if you can get them all connected. >> Yeah, agreed. >> Absolutely. Well, thank you um Mr. Dohy. And at this time, is there any more questions for
Tom? >> If there isn't, I would ask for a motion to approve a resolution of support for the Voyager country. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Is there discussion?
>> Question. >> I I vote yes. And that resolution is approved. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks, Tom. >> Thanks, Tom. >> Item six on this evening's agenda is to
consider a letter of support for International Falls Recreational Hockey Association for a Rotary grant application to help fund building repairs at Kerry Park Arena, which the city owns. Is
there um we do have a letter. Is there a presentation this evening? Um seeing none, um the city is not being asked for any funds to match the grant. Rather, the recreational hockey
association has funds available that they would like to use to match. We planned on applying to get funds to pay for sand blasting and painting of the beams as well as insulating the roof. Would it be possible to get a
letter of support from the city to apply for the grant? We are continuing to look for opportunities to help with Kerry Park. Discussion on this matter. >> I'll move. I'll second. >> Thank you, councilors.
and just that yeah, we had a meeting with and they are trying to help where they can't uh cocky cuz they know the situation it's into and so and those are things that need around the list the
beams and if you could get insulation on the roof that would be a big help in there but >> yeah and thank you councelor Legner and Kaylor for engaging with them and Betty and Chelsea as well >> and they and they all know they you know
then we made but they're doing all this and clearing it through public works and stuff so everybody's on the same page which is one of the nice things with it all being centered in one place and all the wreck you know that was one of the
reasons they uh dissolve the commission for that and other reasons so >> thank you so it's a good step of collabor collaboration. >> Good. Call the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I
>> I'll vote yes. And that letter is approved to be written unanimously. Thank you. Item seven this evening to approve a memorandum of understanding related to Minnesota paid family and medical leave between the city
district lodge 5 and its affiliate woodworkers local lodge 33 representing firefighter engineers and paramedics. Um, this is something that the city
through our human resources department negotiated and understood with those union bodies as there was new legislation that's been enacted that affected our contracts with the union.
Is there any clarification that the council needs to seek um in regard to this matter at this time? Okay, >> motion to approve. >> Thank you, Councelor Wagner. Thank you, councelor Miller. Sherry, was there
anything you felt necessary with theou to bring forward? >> Um, just to say it's consistent with the policy in the other unions. >> Okay. Thank you. Call the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. Thisou is approved. Thank
you. Next is a resolution for an exempt pit exempt permit, excuse me, for Rainey River Community College Foundation to conduct a raffle on December 7th, 2025
at Bakus Community Center. Is there a motion to approve the move? >> Thank you, councelor Buller. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. Discussion, [Applause] question. I >> I >> I >> I
>> I'll vote yes. The resolution is approved unanimously. Thank you. Moving on to item nine on this evening's agenda. Another resolution. An application for premises permit for lawful gambling for International Falls
Recreational Hockey Association to conduct this lawful gambling at Cobblestone Hotel and Suites. I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> I'll second >> and councelor Kaylor. Is there
discussion? >> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. Approved unanimously. Thank you. Next is item 10. And I'd like to invite Chief Manassa forward for a resolution opting to
increase the benefit level for firefighters who are vested in the statewide volunteer firefighter plan. Thank you, mayor. Uh just maybe an overview of what this is. Uh
pursuant to state law, uh volunteer fire departments, uh all fire departments actually are eligible for a retirement plan. uh paid through kind of managed on their own. Um about five years ago we transitioned to
a parah plan. So we were uh allowed to do that and part of what we did is we moved our private money into parah's account pursuant to their rules. One of the things that we did with that is uh our investment plan also moved over. So our investment policy is that we
maintain 105 to 100% 110% funding. And what that means is we try and stay above the line on contributions. So the reason that the city has to approve what we do is you are the fiduciary backer, so to speak. So if we go short or if we go say
95% funded, the city of International Falls is essentially on the hook for the 5%. We've tried very hard not to have that happen. I think since I've been on the fire department 17 years, I think that's happened one time. That was on a year where we had a lot of retirements.
So, we try very hard to stay above that. The raise we are seeking for uh that you guys would need to approve puts us from $5,500 per year service to $6,000 per year service. Uh and in that that follows into our investment policy, puts us at $
105% funded and would not require a city contribution. So, again, we try very hard to not have the city contribute in any way, shape, or form. So, we've done our homework, we've done our schedules, and uh we think this is a reasonable move. Uh in the attachments, I think
it's about page three there, there's a a email address to me from the PAR SBU and that explains the it's not the full report, but it does outline the process for applying for a increase. And then it shows that we did have a cost impact at
the level increases of $100,500 and a thousand. So it shows what the effect of each of those would be based on the levels of each individual firefighters age and years of service. So there's a lot in the background that goes into the calculation. And again, we're fairly
confident in our numbers that we will be good on that. In the past, um, we've kind of shifted our model to, you're hopefully going to see me most years here asking for increases. And the
reason for that is when we shift to parah, they've suggested doing small incremental increases when available versus not doing increases. So, in the past, we used to wait a handful of years and then have large increases. And that doesn't work as well as just the small
incremental ripples on the lake versus waves on the ocean is kind of the analogy that was used. So, the when we're slow and steady, we do better and we keep everything at an even keel. So, that's why I'm in front of you today. Again, we have the numbers to back that. The only note I would make is on the
sample resolution, we do have that should be $6,000, not 6,500. So if approved, we will correct that before submission. And again, by the approval on this, this would become effect January 1st of 26.
>> Thank you, Chief Manassa. Um, and I just want to point out that this is so important because volunteers make up the majority of our overwhelming majority of the department. They go to training. They respond to
calls. And this is the 101 reason to try and get on a fire department and serve the community in some way. This is the >> correct >> the bone so to speak of Yep. for serving. >> Yep. When done properly, it's absolutely
can be used as a recruitment tool. Recruitment retention tool. But it's a it's a benefit for the the calls on holidays, birthdays, all that other stuff. So, questions for Chief Manassa from councel.
Seeing no questions. Um, thank you, Chief Manassa. And I would ask for a motion to approve this. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Is there discussion?
>> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. and that is approved unanimously. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Item 11 on this evening's agenda is to discuss the International Falls
Ambulance Service. There was a roundt two weeks ago. Uh councelor Kaylor sat in. Um it's televised on KCCTV. Since then, uh, in the last week,
um, I've had some discussions with relative parties and I'm optimistic, very optimistic. Um
we've all been here with this journey so to speak and we have been clear of what we're pursuing and um what needs to happen to continue the level of service that we have been providing. Please was there any there was some
discussion that there could be another round table coming up this next week. Was there the last time we >> there had been um administrator Bergstrom, Chief Manasa and I had a virtual meeting
with a provider that is very well-versed um in legislation and it's been determined that there's a couple different avenues that could be um sought out for a
district. um one which likely can be feebased and I think that was a maybe a hotter discussion point so to speak at the round table was that there seemed to be a lot of interest in
a per parcel charge um to subsidize the service rather than a general property tax levy uh like the school district is a general property tax levy and versa flat fee
So that there was more interest in the fee. Am I correct? >> If that's what I gathered. Yes. >> Um so those are the details and there'll be significant amounts of information coming out uh I'm certain by the next
city council meeting. >> Okay. If there's no further discussion on the ambulance service, is there any other business to come before the council? >> Your number 12 and 13, your additions. >> Additions.
>> I always forget. >> Okay. Well, item 12 will be an addition that administrator Bergstrom had asked for which I will let you present. Thank you. >> Sure. Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um,
in speaking with um, Mr. Demetrios Hilton with our Minsk who we approved our agreement with a while back and then renewed up for the end of the year to work with us for security purposes um, along with the SEIS, which is the um,
criminal justice security. um he's very well verssed in that, understands the importance of our city data, making sure it's um secure through our transitional period of our current IT person uh resigning. And he was very we had a
conversation last week and kind of got me on edge a little bit, you know, knowing that we're in a transition period. So, we talked through what we should probably do on a temporary basis to cover this uh the city's data in making sure that we are safe and secure
in having someone on on hand. Um we we still have the agreement that we can reach out to our previous IT person in the event that you know we need to and there's information he can help with and provide. Um, however, we did talk with a
vendor and are looking to approve a temporary um, three-w weekek um, agreement to have somebody on staff um, to help us through this transition, seeing where we're left off and making sure we get to that end
point with coverage and not leaving the city liable for any, you know, sort of security breach or if the need is there. some of the department heads still have IT issues, IT needs every single day. And so with that, um, Demetrios, I
believe, is online. Um, if you could, um, good evening, Demetrios, if you could or want to add into that, um, please do so. >> Good evening, Mayor Dell, council members, and administrator Bergson. Uh, my name is Demetrius Hilton, and I run
the Minnesota Security Consortium. I think the biggest issue facing all of you uh and you did take some initial action two weeks ago at your city council meeting is at this point in time you have zero IT professionals assigned
or contracted and Todd is able to consult but the implication there is there has to be somebody uh on site in order to do that a city your size really needs that and I've prayed and crossed my fingers that nothing bad happens but
uh you really need to take that seriously. However, money is not abound. Um there are lots of pressures and lots of uh obligations you have. One of the biggest which was mentioned is your obligation under sieges. The police
department is heavily reliant not only on existing IT functions but you have a mountain of pressure and budgetary considerations in the future you need to deal with. And so to have no it is a real concern. With that in mind,
um we also want to respect from what I've learned through your city dealing with administrative Bergstrom is uh it appears as though your wishes is to ultimately um look at some options either hiring W2 staff uh and then
augmenting that with um smaller auxiliary services including Todd, but also uh the option that many people fall back onto is managed services. Uh one of the benefits of any managed services, no matter how short or long, is that they
have to provide the staff and the backup staff. Uh whereas if you're managing a W2, as you just experienced with with Todd uh leaving even with his notice uh to depart and leaving in good standing, um you still uh are not guaranteed
anybody and you still actually in the past 2 weeks don't have anybody. So, this is a short-term solution that will allow us to uh start to wrap our hands around and assist you in your ultimate RFP and your quest. Um pending your approval
that tonight uh we have tenatively uh set uh time for both this emergency tenative um contract with your managed services provider for IT services uh to show up on site uh the same day
that I have scheduled. I've reorganized my schedule um with some effort in order to make sure that uh I can be uh in the city all day. So, I'd be driving up and spending that day. But a lot of this is contingent on you approving that
short-term contract. And then from there, we would start uh working on a more long-term solution for you guys to the end of the year and then ultimately into 2026. So, with that in mind, that's my brief presentation. I hope I'm not sounding like uh I'm exaggerating the
need for it. I don't understand how any organization can't uh can uh really operate without having uh you know reliable it. But this is the situation you're in and I do commend administrator Bergs room for acting really quickly. We
really have pulled this together in less than a week in conjunction with your police chief. So with that in mind, um I'm open for questions and then I believe administrator Bergstrom has u a proposal from that third party managed
service provider for three it would essentially be 15 business days from the time that you authorize that to go into effect. It's >> 15 days. Betty, give us uh the time we
need to be in the process of making a permanent decision what we're going to do. This is just a temporary. >> Yes, this is just temporary. Thank you. Um councelor Holden. The the temporary is to get us through and um have them on staff now for the three weeks um three
consecutive weeks. And then we are also already have a draft RFP that Demetrios is looking at and guiding and putting together. We will have that in front of committee of a whole on Monday a week from today and to be able to move that forward and you know move the process
quickly so we aren't left with nothing. >> So 15 days is enough >> for the time being. Yes. >> For the time being. >> Yes. >> Okay. >> Questions for Betty or Demetrio? And right now we with Todd's resignation, we don't have anyone for a
position that we >> as long as the city has police and fire and all the things we would normally have, we >> we have computers and whatnot. >> Yeah, it's very necessary. >> Yeah. >> Thank you, Demetrio. Do you have anything to add at this time?
>> No, I I just wanted to demonstrate that we respect your need to go through a process. So the reason we picked 15 days is to ensure that I can get a really good head start on the project you authorized me uh to do two weeks ago.
But because you actually have no it, I actually can't start that project. So from my point of view, it'd be essential to have this short-term contract so that I can complete my work um this week and in the following weeks. So thank you for your consideration.
>> Thank you. Any more questions? There a motion to approve. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, councelor Holden. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Discussion. >> Does this in any way
um when the RFP comes out? This is one of the probably that's going to put in for RFP. I mean, is it biased now? >> No. You know, I mean, they explained that they will have to go through and do an RFP process just like anybody else.
They they will be treated as just like any other um candidate. >> And then it says 5 days. So, is there nobody available on the weekend if we need somebody if something happens or what? >> Yeah, >> in the contract there is after hours um
value. Okay. Um agreement um fees, excuse me. Yes. available if the need is there for after hours and weekends. >> Correct. >> Mayor and councel, I'd like to uh also indicate that the going rate is easily
uh $125 to $150 per hours uh closer to the cities, but given the fact that we're not in the metro area, um technology is still expensive. I was able to negotiate at the direction of uh administrator Bergstrom to get them to
lower the rate from their standard 120 down to 100. And I thought that was u a good faith move on them. But I also agreed and also in my uh evaluation of their short-term contract made it quite clear that there is an RFP uh process.
It also gives you options to extend this if everything is going well for the short term so that you can actually conduct a a proper RFP and evaluate uh that whole process >> and the the billing is on an as needed basis as well
from what I >> well it's three weeks okay >> three full weeks >> okay >> the short term 15 days >> okay so we pay for the 15 days correct Okay, they'll assign a full-time person to the
city effective the first day, which is really important. My criteria is the MSP uh needs to spend significant time on site at the beginning, and they've agreed to that. So, unfortunately, you're in this bind, but I made it very clear to them, just like uh
administrator Bergstrom has made it clear to me and to them, that there is going to be an unbiased RFP process. And um there are rules to the RFP to make sure that that process is sanctified and in the best interest of being fair since
you're a government organization and I'm well aware of those. Uh so thank you. >> Any more discussion from the council question? >> I vote yes. And that is approved
unanimously that contract. Thank you Betty. Thank you Demetrio. >> You're welcome. Have a good night. >> The final addition is regarding the band shell. We have a proposal from Brun Intertech
for soil borings on site and um I had spoke with you Betty about this. The total estimate was was it $8,600? 80 >> 8,400
>> 8450 I believe. >> So >> 8480 >> and that would be paid for out of the account that we have the band shell proceeds. >> That is correct. >> Um so having just done a project like this down in ore before we proceeded with
any finalized draft and cost we had to board the soil to know what time of type of foundation was appropriate. Um, so that's what this addition is. Do you have any additions to those comments, Betty?
>> I do not. Um, Councelor Kaylor was there at that meeting as well. If you had anything additional, but that covers it. >> Yeah. No, that and that's the reason. Yeah. Before we start pouring the new, uh, foundation and
um, stage area and that. Yeah. Just like you say, find out what's there, what's under it. Well, one of the nice things that came up from Mr. Lucache was us having the foresight to take that down
for one to make sure we could build what we wanted there and that was one of the reasons we did that. But along with that comes the boring and check the soil and stuff like that. So, thank you.
And that being said, if you're looking, I will move. >> Second. Thank you. From the band shell committee, councelor Kaylor and Wagner. Discussion. >> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes.
Soil boring is approved unanimously. Thank you. Um in our packets are reports from administrator, attorney and department heads. Um
other reports at this time I think the we haven't had keta yet this month. No. And we had a couple weeks ago we went I was down in Big Falls and we met there. Heard about some of the stuff they got going on down in Big Falls
which um going to hopefully expand the park down there to have like call them camper cabins, you know, like some parks have. So if you don't have a trailer and uh you can stay in a cabin rustic, I'm
sure. and uh things are busied with hunting season and all that stuff and then there wasn't a whole lot other uh key to business that we didn't already know going into that. >> Great. Thank you. when um
yeah, we already touched on it, but there's all the related parties um as we speak are heavy in discussions about what is go what we're pursuing um for the ambulance
service to keep that service viable and it's very important service and everyone uh knows that and so like I said I'm I'm optim optimistic and I think that um we'll have a lot more meaningful
discussion here by the end of the week, let alone next week. And I am going next week to the one day of the uh coalition of greater Minnesota cities conference. And the reason I'm going is the first afternoon the presentations on
from the I can never get all the acronyms straight anymore but the ambulance statewide issues with ambulance and uh rural health in general just to see if there's anything new on the horizon for
us or ideas or I'm sure it'll be more of also no everybody's in the same boat but just to see if they're coming up with anything or thinking. So, I figured that was worth the trip. >> I look forward to your report. >> I almost wasn't going to say nothing cuz
now I feel like I was in school and had to come back and give a report. >> I'd like to um Mayor, I'd like to thank Pete Kaylor for taking my spot on the ambulance uh while I was flying around in a helicopter. Um but, uh he covered
for me. I hated to not make because I think I've had this thing, this ambulance thing at the top of the list for priority. It went way back into the former um mayor before when he asked each one of us that was on the council
what our high highest priority was and that was to get the ambulance taken care of. And so it's been on my mind things happen in life that are out of your control. And so I didn't make that meeting, but I want to thank Pete for
covering for me. So you're welcome. Yes, it was >> educational and a good meeting. >> Got enough control though, so you don't have to go nowhere during deer season, >> right? >> Yeah. >> Exactly. Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. At this time, we'll
move back to um audience open form, which is the opportunity for anyone to address the council. Seeing none at this time, reminders. City offices will be closed in
observance of the Veterans Day holiday on Tuesday, November 11th. And our next regular city council meeting is Monday, November 17th, right here at 5:30 p.m. >> Mayor, I remembered one thing that you mentioned Veterans Day. Once again, the
Elks is going to be having a Veterans Day breakfast for all veterans. They eat free and there and a fee for others. And any money we happen to make will go to veteran service programs in the county. And uh it will be from 8:00 to 10:30 at
the Oaks Club on Veterans Day. If you're around, if you're in getting your first weekend shower from the shack, whatever, come have breakfast and head back out. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. This meeting's adjourned.