It's 5:30. I will call this regular city council meeting to order. Please rise and we will say the pledge. >> I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America [clears throat] and to the republic for which it stands,
one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. For the record this evening, all counselors are present. We will move on to the agenda. A new
agenda was presented with an addition for item 11, which was to approve an appointment to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority board, which was a recommendation by their board.
Any other additions or deletions to this evening's agenda? >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor. [clears throat] Second, >> and Councelor Wagner. Any discussion? I would ask the question. >> I >> I
>> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the agenda is approved. 50. [clears throat] Next, we will move to approval of the minutes.
First minutes of the Monday, June 1st, 2026 regular city council meeting. Second, minutes of the Monday, June 8th, 2026 special city council meeting. And third,
minutes of the Monday, June 8th, 2026 committee of the whole meeting. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Any
discussion, questions, or changes? Motions were to approve as presented. And with that, I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the minutes are approved unanimously.
Thank you. Next to payments and claims. First, we have transfers. The city of International Falls transfers to fund number 101 general fund from number 812
lodging tax fund $528.35. Accounts payable in claims. City of International Falls claims $491,77.73. International Falls Public Library Board claims $11,5453. Airport Major Capital Project claims
595,312.78. Total accounts payable in claims 1 million 98,754. Is there any questions, discussion, or a motion to approve payments and claims as presented? >> I'll move. >> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor.
>> Second. >> Seconded by councelor Holden. Is there discussion? >> Seeing none, I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the transfers are approved. 50. Thank you.
This is an opportunity in our meeting for an open forum. If you would like to come forward and you're in the audience and you would like to address the council, please do so at this time. It is limited to five minutes. There is
also an opportunity at the end of the meeting to do the same. Seeing none at this time, we will move on to new business. Would like to invite JJ McBride forward.
She is here as we consider and approve a road closure in support for the annual Chamber of Commerce crazy days event. Good evening. >> Hello. Uh my name is JJ McBride, executive director of the International Falls Area Chamber of Commerce. We're currently planning this year's Crazy
Days event scheduled for Wednesday, July 29th. We're requesting the temporary closure of the 300 block of Main Street from Ronings to the Sport Shop from 7:00 a.m. to 400 p.m. I've already sent in the required paperwork to Mandot in anticipation of the city partnering with
us again for this year's Crazy Days event. We also appreciate the city's continued support with picnic tables and garbage cans as in years past. In addition, we are arranging for a sanitation unit and handwashing station to be placed just west of the workshop, similar to last year. Thank you for your
continued support of Crazy Days, and we appreciate the city's partnership in helping making this a community event. As always, >> thank you for all of your hard work in our community. >> Thank you. >> Questions or discussion from the council
while JJ is forward? >> Please, councelor. ebikes and bicycles on the sidewalks during this event. Will we be making sure that that's something you might want to add to this from going forward? >> Okay.
>> Just so maybe Chief can give us some insight on that. [clears throat] >> Yeah, we're going to be signing the sidewalks hopefully to keep off according to our ordinance in town here.
happen after I talk with Mike Wallace. >> Hopefully the ebikes can utilize the alleyways and things in the back. >> Okay. >> Okay. >> Hey, >> you need a motion, >> please.
>> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Councelor and Councelor Buller. Is there any further discussion? I would ask the question. >> I I >> I'll vote yes. And this is approved. 5-0. >> Can I just say one more thing? I just
want to thank all of you and Betty for partnering with us with uh Chamberfest that's coming up June 25th at Smoky Bear Park. We're really excited about it and working with Mike Wallace. He's amazing. So, um we're just really excited and appreciate the partnership with that.
So, we hope to see you all there. >> We will be there. [laughter] Thank you. The second item two is to consider a resolution which is a grant anticipation note
for international fallsled service line replacement project. I believe we have Mary Webster from Taft Law who has joined us. >> No, she's not on. >> She's not. at this time.
Um, Administrator Bergstrom, is this something that you'd like to give an explanation on? >> Yep, I can. This is all part of the the project and within the lead or excuse me, the Ninth Street project, the lead
service line replacement was um kind of melded with it. And this is the appropriations we received for that portion of it >> from the state um >> from the PFA. Yep. >> Okay. >> Yeah. [clears throat] >> And was that the >> anything you want to add?
>> And that was the grant bucket of money for some of the replacements for the lead service lines. >> This is a separate bucket of monies. This is separate from the original. This is the lead service replacement portion only. >> Okay. Yep.
I'll move. >> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor second. >> And councelor Wgner with a second. Is [clears throat] there any further discussion? Seeing none, I would ask the question. >> I I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And resolution is
approved. 50. Thank you. Item number three, to finalize job descriptions for the fire marshall building inspector and fire marshall building official
positions. At the last city council meeting, I believe it was the last city council meeting, we approved the job descriptions but not the pay grade for the positions.
Um after two or three meetings and some work by our human resources and safety director Sherry Stenland, um she has wrote us a memo
to read and to put it in a nutshell, the fire marshall building inspector job title remains at a paygrade 13, which is what the current fire marshal position is,
and a fire marshal building official, state licensed building official would move to a paygrade 14. Chelsea or Betty, do you have any um input or things to add to the discussion?
>> Um, I think the the pay grade numbers were approved. Um, part of the questioning was the actual pay offered to Jared Baldwin who is going to assumptively take the position I think or whatever how that ever however that's
going to work. But I think that's primarily what needed to be decided today because the pay grade was approved just contingent on you and I and Betty and Sherry all meeting and making sure the pay grade was right. So I think that part's done and we need to talk about the pay. Um, also, um, it's in the memo,
too, but, um, the paygrade 13 versus the pay grade 14, um, Sherry was super helpful in explaining that you can reassess those points once we actually see what his role is like in what those job duties actually end up being.
Maybe I'm wrong, but I think that's what we have to do today. >> Thank you for providing the detail and clarity needed to this item. [laughter] So, um my understanding of where we are at
this evening as time has passed. Um, first of all, Kelly Meyers uh still works for the city on a contract basis to cover our building code needs in which um the current fire marshall has
been assisting him for some time now with the inspections, which something that Kelly had asked for. um [snorts] and that is a significant amount of additional [clears throat] duties.
The second item would be that the current fire marshall is scheduled to go to class in October in which um after the class is completed you can sit the test to become a limited building
official. And so I believe that that's the clarity that you'd we would discuss um and assigning monetary values to those. >> Right. And I think we had um we had
Sherry run numbers um just to make sure that we're going to maintain pay equity compliance. And of course um the disclosure with that is currently based on the current set of circumstances. if this were the only thing to change um with we ran up to $6,000 per step, it's
maintains pay equity compliance, but of course that disclaimer is that's if nothing else changes that I want to make sure is clear. But that's what we ran and it is still in compliance up to the six the three steps of six. Did I explain that right?
>> That's my understanding and that's why I had you explain it. Thanks. Questions or discussion from council does I I want to be sure in this for the sake of the council that there's there's an understanding
on this path of what the the end's goal is that right now um well my belief is that Mr. Meyers is doing the work for the city on a
contract basis very reasonably and Jared's been assisting him Mr. Meyer's availability may not be forever. Historically, the city has either had someone to contract with or somebody internally.
When we can get to a point that we have a limited official that holds a delegation that works for the city, about 70 to 80% of Mr. Meyer's contract work ultimately goes away.
um in which Kelly has indicated that he would still stay. Uh he would have to or or we would have to find another licensed state building official um for new home construction, commercial
projects. And there's of course 20 other stipulations, but um just to to add to that um so I would like to make a motion um to approve
and finalize the job descriptions uh as presented with steps up in pay of 6,000 uh for inspections. $6,000 for the completion
of the limited building official qualification on receipt and $6,000 for obtaining a state building official license. I'll second the motion.
>> Councelor Holden seconds the motion. Discussion is open. >> I just want to add that these steps up to $18,000 will keep us in our current >> pay equity. >> Yes. If the disclaimer is if nothing
else changes. So the thing that Sherry wanted to make sure was clear is if some other aspect changes at the same time this changes then it's not guaranteed but yes the short answer is yes as long as everything stays the same >> as like we add more.
>> Yeah. I mean if we hire like three more males um >> oh yeah got this isn't necessarily going to throw it off but combination. Oh, I got you. Yeah. But at this current thought now I understand that >> okay
>> disclaimer >> and I would say that that was probably the [clears throat] trickiest part is that it's >> hypothetical. >> Yeah. >> And if we get busted it usually wasn't intentional. Yeah. >> Hasn't happened recently.
>> No. And that's all the hard work that's got into it. I Yeah. Just some stay on the good side. There's no further discussion. I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the motion carries
50. Thank you. Item four, to consider a recommendation to fill the vacant director of public works position.
Now, I've done this before. I had them backwards in my packet. Excuse me. I will read the memorandum that Sherry Stenland presented this evening for review.
The city received three applications for the director of public works position. the hiring committee including Mayor Dill, administrator Bergstrom, Mike Wallace, who is the current acting director of public works,
[clears throat] and Sherry interviewed two candidates. As one candidate withdrew prior to the start of interviews, the committee extended a contingent offer of employment to Mr. Rory Walker
with an anticipated start date of June 16th, 2026. Please add this city council to the city council agenda for consideration. I would just like to add that the
decision from the hiring committee was unanimous and that in that discussion uh I think we were very fortunate that ultimately we had three qualified applicants uh
that were um well two were interviewed one was not but that's the way that went. questions from council. Is there a motion to accept? I'll make the motion. Is there a second?
Is there any support for my motion? Seeing none at this time, the motion dies from lack of support. Is there any particular reasons um that we wouldn't accept a hire from the hiring committee? I think that if
that is the case that we should discuss now [clears throat] and I would like to lie out that with this the deputy director of public works is in [snorts] need of assistance in his
department. And the reason that we did this um was to make a recommendation. Um the hiring committee I would estimate spent
at least 20 hours um coming up with that recommendation. So is I guess I'm looking for the your direction for the path forward. There were four counselors that didn't want to
second the motion. Um if we're not hiring a public works director, whether we're restarting the process, um any of those things, I would like some clarity on. Um, >> but I would move to restart the hiring process.
>> And I'll second that. >> Okay. >> My concern was cost. That that was my concern with hiring one more. >> Okay. Councel or Boulder, >> I'd like to see the hiring process start
again, but maybe lower the qualifications and take off the the uh civil engineers license part of it. I think we can probably get more applications because the pay isn't civil engineers pay that we're offering. >> So, you want to offer less or more pay?
>> No, I'd say the say the pay I'm not complaining about, but it's not civil engineers pay. that pay is probably about 50,000 minimum more than what we were offering to for a civil engineer and that's why I think we didn't get applications. >> Okay. So,
we do have um motions by councelor Kaylor and councelor Holden >> to reopen the hiring process >> um for that position. >> [clears throat]
>> I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote no. And the motion carries 41 to restart the hiring process. [snorts] [clears throat and cough] Next on this evening's agenda,
item number five, to consider my appointment of Greg Lundine to the planning commission to fill a vacant two-year term commencing June 15, 2026 to December 31st,
2028. I would just like to add that Mr. Lundine, I believe, signed up um here at city hall and that the position had been advertised. We've had discussion about that and filling. >> I'll make the motion.
>> Thank you, Councelor Holden and Wgner. >> And do we we still need one more? >> Or are we good enough? >> We are good through the end of this year, but one of the members has indicated he does not want to return next year. So we will need at least one
more in 2027. >> Okay. >> Any discussion? Would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes and it is approved. 50 for
that appointment. Thank you. Item six to consider request to purchase new boots for all firefighters. Chief Manasa, is this something you would like to present? Sure.
>> Thank you, Mayor. Uh, as included in my memo, uh, our capital outlay, um, part of our capital outlay for this year was boots for the fire department. Uh, we decided on a a pair to go with here, and we got three quotes from, uh, three different vendors
for the same pairs of boots, same numbers, uh, as listed above here. So, Clary Safety Equipment came in at the lowest value, uh, $14,820 for 30 pairs. um followed by Safeware and Alex Air apparatus. So I'd recommend
um accepting the quote from Clary Safety Equipment for $14,820. And again, this is a capital outlay item that was previously approved for this year's budget. >> Thank you, Chief. >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. Is there discussion? I would ask the question. I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And this is approved unanimously. Thank >> you.
>> Item seven, to approve a 2026 cigarette and tobacco license for Northland Smoke, Inc. located at 6:15 Third Avenue.
>> I'll move. >> I'll second. Thank you. Councelor Kaylor and Buller. Is there any discussion? >> I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And the motion carries
5. Thank you to item eight from the band shell committee. Item A to reject bids for the band shell replacement. Counselors
Kaylor and Wgner. Is this something you could give an update on um where we're at in the process? What's happened? The bid came in high. Please do so. Uh yeah, the bid came in. Um I don't want to say high because that's might be
what it costs to rebuild the bandell. So, I don't want to say it's high, but it's more than what our insurance has processed. And the bid, I believe, has to either be accepted or declined, which is why we're doing this, because we're going back to the insurance company to
see where they're at with a new assessment of the cost of the band show. Y and because we have members of the public here and we did just have this conversation at the last committee of
the whole meeting. Um and please correct me if I misspeak. Um the band shell committee has met and essentially come up with a new band shell and at least this one the base bid is just shy of two million. We don't have that
much money to spend on the band shell. So, a couple of the options going forward are to either um go back to the insurance company and say, "Hey, we had this insured with you through the League
of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust. Uh it was the structure was compromised and it cost 2 million, but you gave us arbitrarily 7 or 800,000, which is what we're aiming to do. If we can't uh make hay there,
we would uh have the money and the band shell committee would have to uh come up with options >> different options. Yeah. >> Reassess [clears throat] after that. >> Thank you to the Banshell committee. [clears throat and cough] At this time I
would ask for a motion on item A. I move >> second >> motions from councelor Kaylor Kaylor and Holden. Is there any discussion? >> I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I
>> I. >> I'll vote yes. And item A 8A carries unanimously. Thank you. >> Number nine from budget and finance committee. Item A to approve setting special city council
meeting for Monday, June 29th, 2026 for the formal presentation and approval of the 2025 audited financials presented by Ryan Schmidt of Schlunner Wener & Company. And I
assume that this would be at a time uh an hourly time to be announced. >> Yeah. Didn't we say 4:30? >> Yeah. You said four o'clock. >> Okay. 4 o'clock. I remember I had to be reminded for a special meeting today. So
>> So June 29th, 2026 at 4 p.m. >> 4 p.m. >> Is there a motion to do so? >> So move. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. Is there discussion? >> I'll write it down on my calendar. >> Thank you. >> I would ask the question.
>> I >> I >> I. >> Although yes, it is approved. 50. [clears throat] Item B, to adopt a resolution committing to development of a long-term plan to address the ambulance fund
deficit. The resolution is in the packet. I have read through it. Um as we recall last year the auditor had asked that had given us
basically a year um to come up with how we were [clears throat] going to repay the interfer fund borrowing um and what the status was of the current ambulance fund deficit. This is the year and
this would be the plan. It would be obviously fluid in future meetings, but the set date would be by the end of the year to approve the budget. Is there a motion to do so? >> I'll move. >> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor. Second.
Councelor Wagner. Is there discussion? I would ask a question. I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. The resolution carries 50. [clears throat] Thank you.
>> Item 10 from committee of the whole item A to consider law enforcement center lease proposal from Cuchen County. >> I'll move. >> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor and Holden. Is there discussion?
Just to clarify the motion number 18. Um, and I think he references in the letter correctly, but I want to make sure everyone else is on the same page. It's five years that we're sending back. >> Correct. Correct. >> As we discussed for the amendment in committee of the whole.
>> Yes. >> So that's what the letter we will >> likely approve and send will read. >> Right. >> Okay. We're all on the same page. Thank you. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Chelsea. Is there any more discussion on this topic?
I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. And this is approved unanimously. Thank you. Item 11. This was the addition to approve the appointment of Susan Zarin
to the Housing and Redevelopment Authority [laughter] Board of Commissioners to fill a vacant position that expires December 31st, 2027. Any discussion or a motion to this appointment?
>> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, Councelor Wagner. >> Second. >> And councelor Bullard with a second. Discussion. Seeing none, I would ask the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. The appointment is approved. 5-0. Thank you. Number 12. Is
there any other business at this time? There are reports boards, committees, and department heads in your packet. At this time we will move back to the audience uh open forum portion of the
meeting. Hi counselor counselors and mayor. [clears throat] I just have a couple questions about what happened. >> We have your name and address for the record. >> Bobby Bernath, 1900 6th Avenue. >> Thank you. >> Sorry. I'd just like to ask a few
questions. What just happened here? Um, who wrote the job description for that hiring of the public works director? of the public works director.
>> Yes. The director of public works position. Who wrote that description? >> Well, um, our human resources department writes it and then the council approves it. Um, it
was subject to council approval, the description and, uh, ultimately we did approve it. And now you're going to lower the qualifications on that.
Am am I understanding that correctly? Because you didn't hire who was picked by the hiring committee. So now you're going to lower the qualifications. Am I understanding that correctly or I I
don't know. >> I I don't know what just happened. Um the hiring committee met um and made that recommendation. We did several interviews. We did second interviews. Um
my big thing uh in the group that was a part of the hiring committee was that whoever we were going to nominate that we came up with the unanimous decision. And that's what I know.
I feel for the hiring committee because you guys wasted a lot of time because why have a hiring committee if the council's not going to take a recommendation? I don't I don't understand that. counselors >> but just bec to be honest I didn't like
him as a choice and I have my reasons and if he wants to know them I'll gladly tell him and my this here tonight my vote is not a surprise I told I went when this came out I went and told
administrator Burstrom that I would not be voting for him. So, and if she shared it or not, I have no idea. Cuz I do not have questions about his [clears throat] longevity more than anything.
>> One thing I will say too, Bobby, is that when you have a committee and they come with a name, that doesn't necessarily mean that person's going to make it. Okay? Because we do a lot of homework, too. and we have our reasons if we don't vote
for somebody. So just because it went through a committee, yeah, it's nice that they give a recommendation, but that I've served on the school board, a lot of different things. That doesn't mean it's going to pass. >> Okay.
>> And that doesn't mean we don't appreciate their time and effort, >> right? >> We appreciate the committee's time. >> So what you're kind of saying is it's it's a personal thing. >> No, it's not a personal thing. It's just that we maybe don't think that person is
who we want. >> It's simple. >> Okay. Thank you. >> Yep. >> Hello, council. My name is Lois Lundine, 2222 33rd Avenue East, and I want to talk about the same thing that Bobby was just here for. I'm very disappointed.
Very disappointed. Can I ask please? Can I ask who was on the committee? >> Can I can we the public can we know that who was on the hiring committee? >> Yes. Um and I did mention it uh and I'm happy to remention it. The hiring
committee um consisted of administrator Bergstrom, uh Deputy Public Works Director Wallace, Sher Sten, our human resources director, myself. Um I believe that was the forum. Am I missing anything? anyone. Okay, so that was the
four. >> So it was a strong set of qualified people reviewing a candidate, interviewing, going back on the approved job description and making a recommendation to this group that they felt that the
candidate was qualified to do the job. And that job description did, I remember it going through city council meetings. You reviewed all of the qualifications that were necessary. I believe that there was a revision. It was passed and
I share Bobb's concern that now there was discussion. It has not been approved yet what the the rehiring or the opening of the hiring process is going to involve if you're going to re look at that that application that those job description qualifications again and
reduce them when you had a qualified candidate who met all of the qualifications in front of you and you're rejecting that. and reason was not given while he was here in the room. All of you were silent. The only one that was not was
Mr. Wgner and he said that he was rejecting it because of cost. I I'm just I'm very disappointed. You talk about transparency, you talk about public trust. And when I asked why, only one responded. It It's just It's very
disappointing. It's very disheartening to hear that from this council. you had a qualified candidate and you just you set it aside. I'm I don't know what to say. I wish you well. I would like to add a reminder that the
next regular city council meeting is Monday, July 6th of this year at 5:30 p.m. This meeting is now agenda.