--------- I'd like to call this meeting of the International Falls City Council to order. It's 5:30 p.m. July 21st. Please rise as we say the pledge. I pledge alce 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. It can be noted for the record this evening that all members of council are
present. Next is to approve approve, excuse me, the agenda with any additions or deletions. I'll move second. We have a motion by councelor Kaylor to
approve this evening's agenda as presented. Support by councelor Wagner. Is there any discussion? Question. I I I'll vote yes. Agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. Next on this
evening's agenda, approval of minutes from prior meetings. First, minutes of the Monday, July 7th, 2025 regular city council meeting. Second, minutes of the Monday, July
14th, 2025 committee of the whole meeting. Third minutes of the Monday, July 14th, 2025 special city council meeting. I would ask for a motion that these be approved.
Moved to approve. We have a motion by councelor Buller. Second. Second by councelor Wagner. Is there any discussion on approving the previous minutes from prior meetings? Seeing no question questions, call the
question. I I I I I'll vote yes. Minutes are approved unanimously. Thank you. Next on this evening's agenda. Payment of claims and approval for
payment of accounts payable. We will begin first of all with transfers. City of International Falls Transfers 33,333.33 from both water and sewer to fund 401
permanent improvement. Also transfers from number 601 water of $16,6667 and transfers from number 603 sewer of $12,500.
These are both to fund number 403 reserved for capital outlay for a total of $29,1667 for total transfers $95,833.33. Next, accounts payable and claims. City of International Falls claims
599,581.32. International Falls Public Library Board claims $9,738.91. This brings us to total accounts payable in claims 609,000. $32023.
Is there a motion to approve these transfers and payments of claims? I'll make the motion. We have a motion by councelor Holden. Is there a second? I'll second. Second by councelor Kaylor. Um, two items while
discussion is open. Is there any discussion amongst the council at this time? My first question is um I believe some new pickup trucks have shown up that the city purchased under our lease program
and is that reflected in these transfers and payments of claims. Um I mayor I I am unaware of it but um I believe I remember seeing some 2025
pickups in um while I was reading. I'm I'd assume those are them. I don't think we've gotten any others this year. Does the council typically approve the purchase of vehicles or is
it in the program? It's in the program. Okay. The lease program. and they just happened to this is when they showed up. Thank you. Second question is I've it's been
brought to my attention about the parking lot reconstruction for the fire department and administration. Um, if there is an overage for that, I would hope that it would be presented to the
council. That was bundled as a part of larger projects. So, um, I think the engineer would be able to speak better to that, but that was already discussed and um, the totality of the package came in
where was anticipated and budgeted overall. Okay. For the parking lots. Yes. The parking lot portion came in. Yes. Okay. There hasn't been an overage of 80,000. I I don't know what you're speaking to.
Okay. Thank you. Any questions from council? Question. Call the question on approving payments and claims. I I vote yes. The bills are paid 5. Thank
you. Next, at this time, we have open forum for anyone who would like to come forward and speak. Name and address for the record. And if I may, is there someone that
would like to keep time for please come forward if you'd like to speak, sir. Um, I'm questioning my ability to run the meeting and run a stopwatch. Hello, my name is Jim Lucach. Um, I am
going to start with uh about four months ago, I came before you folks and offered my services. Um, I do live in Baiji, but I'm a taxpayer in Cooch County. I own property on Rainy Lake. also have old homestead property down in southeast
corner a cooch where my grandpa homesteaded in 1906. So my roots are here and if you remember I I said I'm on the way to retirement and going to move back to the falls. I I do have a small office on Third Street.
Get to the point March 17th I came to you folks said hey I'll donate my services. I'd like to get involved with the replacement of the band shell. Um, I didn't get a lot of information. Uh, didn't receive much of anything from
that request. Uh, I continued to kind of ask and look into it. Have now uh I was in on the the fir the second virtual meeting and I'm not sure how close the council or the general public in international falls is following this,
but that committee is I I just had a question mark. I didn't understand the meeting. Um they showed examples of other parks and they were doing a master plan concept. They're looking into other uh ideas. Uh I I was asked to say, well,
you know, you got to keep your mind open. And I kept saying, well, the bandell is a historic piece of our town and it should be a s this should be a very simple situation. replace the band shell with something
that looks and acts like the band shell in our historic Smoky Bear Park and make sure that it meets all current codes. Your your insurance policy should be a replacement policy concept. I I think this kind of a decision should come from
the community and it should come from the people that vote you folks in. You should be watching that very closely and you should be listening to what they say. Um, the other thing I was a Belramby County Commissioner for 14 years. I won four elections, four
four-year terms. I watched huge budgets of 50 to$und00 million. Um, balancing budgets, watching contingencies, countless committees. I I've sat in more committee meetings than I ever cared to ever again. But I just kept reiterating
in that meeting, that virtual meeting, and they are going to have another one tomorrow. and I've been invited to that one. But they brought so many case studies and this and that. And I just kept asking the simple question, why aren't we just simply rebuilding the
band shell the way it was, where it was, make it look like that, but need accessibility codes? It it could be just that simple. The public sector tends to do that. they tend to try to figure out better and
maybe well now we take the the possibility of doing something different and adding this and adding that and and keep your mind open and make it you know that's all great do a do a master plan if the band shell was still standing
would the city have money and resources to put towards a master plan to redesign Smoky Bear Park to do new amenities and get new facilities I probably I would answer that question probably not. You just you have other things in the
boiler, right? You have other things to that are important. You have health, welfare, safety of your citizens. Those things come first. Uh fun stuff and that amenities, those are all secondary. You need to take care of those basic
services first and foremost. So, um I also asked for some information, which I haven't really gotten any. I did get some minutes from the first virtual meeting that they did, but I also requested how much money have you paid your engineering firm to get us to the
point where we are now, which is nowhere. We've torn down the bandell. There's there's no plan. There's no direction on how you're going to move forward. They're in the process now, the committee of exploring possibilities and thinking
about what to do when I think if you ask, you know, straw poles and and when we're out in the community talking to folks, I think everybody just kind of has it that we lost the band shell. We're going to build a new one, make it look like that, put it back in the same
spot so that we can do the bass tournament and music uh poem reading, whatever. But that band shell was put there for a purpose to be part of the the historic Smoky Bear
Park. So that's five minutes. It should be a simple solution, simple design. Thank you very much. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening. Good evening. Hi, my name is Margie
Iraqi. Um, I also reside in Baiji but am a property owner in International Falls. I just set my timer. Pardon me. And um I also want to reiterate,
you know, I grew up with the bandell here. I heard stories from my dad when he was younger of how important the bandell was to the community. It was devastating to me and a lot of the folks in town
when the band shell burned. And when I go out and talk to people, the resounding um everyone just is assuming of course we're going to replace the bandell
how it was. It was historic important part of the community and I'm just would like to know how we're moving forward for that process to happen. And I'm kind
of surprised to hear that with the insurance money that other things are being discussed when it should be as simple. I agree. It should be simply you replace the band shell
and make it historically as accurate as possible following code. my livelihood. I'm an inspector, so I understand about code and following rules, but to
take the insurance money and go a different direction doesn't seem like the correct focus. It was an historic band shell. Everyone loved it. And if it didn't burn
down, it would be there and people would be happy and we wouldn't be talking about going different directions. Or if we did, they'd be the city would have to find the money elsewhere. Shouldn't be looking at the insurance money that I believe should be used to
replace the band shell historically as accurate as they can. And if there want if the city council or if the community wants to eventually have a master plan and focus on doing other amenities
that's great but I think the focus should be replace the band shell historic band shell as accurate as can be follow the code and not go other directions and I mean I'd
like to know how much money have we spent so are to the engineer. Can anyone tell me what has been spent so far? Because I don't I don't see results besides the foundation being
torn down and that was a big surprise because I'm in construction and I feel that that possibly could have been saved and handicapped accessibility, you know, that that was a waste of money, I feel.
But can can anyone just answer me how much money has been spent on consulting fees this far? Is is there any that I mean has any there's no I don't have the exact number in front
of me. No, I can get that number and share it. Absolutely. Yeah. I I think the public would like to know that's public record because um right now it's empty space. I don't see the path going forward. I I I think you
can spin your wheels and spend a lot of money on consulting fees. And here we have a person with a construction background in Jim Lucachic volunteering his services at no cost to the community. And it's sad to me that he's not being fully utilized and he's not
being given the information that he's requested for months. That that's sad to hear. So that's just my two cents. I thank you for your time. The community wants the band shell replaced as it was. They
won't don't want a bunch of fluff in another direction. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Dell. Alyssa Hackin Mueller is online and would like to speak. Mayor Dell, I've got Alyssa Hackin Mueller that had raised her hand prior
to the last person um requesting to speak online. So, just Okay. Um is it my turn or not? We're going to let Alyssa go first. Just Apparently, she had raised her hand virtually, but I think you can you can sit there online.
Oh. Oh, okay. Thank you, Alyssa. Can Yeah. Can you hear me? Yep, we can hear you. Okay, I don't have the best service, so I'm going to leave my um my video off so I can hopefully stream better. I'm I'm just getting off
the lake, but I wanted to be here tonight. Uh thank you, Mayor D, and council members. Um I'm here on behalf of the Borderland Treatment Court to formally invite you to join us um at Smoky Bird Park on Tuesday, August 5th at 5:00 p.
We are joining forces with National Night Out to celebrate our 20th year anniversary of treatment court right here in Cooching County. Um I believe Miss Bergstrom was kind enough to help me provide you all with copies of our actual invitation. Um and if not, I can
certainly send those out again. Uh but just a little background. Um, borderline treatment court originated 20 years ago through the hard work and dedication of the honorable Charles Leuke, retired district court judge, probation agent
Troy Radio, who is still our um, amazing agent here um, for the treatment court, and Jim Everser, who you may remember, he was a probation officer at the time, turned coordinator for our treatment court, um, and is now actually the
division director for DWI courts at fallrise, the National Agency on Treatment Courts, which is pretty amazing. He kind of started his career here in International Falls. Um, so we're going to be recognizing their hard work and all the hard work of staff for the past 20 years. Um, and the
participants who have been um in and out of our program and successful as well. So, at 5:00 at Smoky Bear Park on National Night Out, we're just going to have a little um ceremony. It'll be short and sweet, but we would love to see you all there. And it's also open to the public as well.
Thank you. We Yes. Thank you. We look forward to it. Awesome. I look forward to seeing you all there. Have a great night. You as well. Thank you. Next. Good evening. Sure.
Nancy Hoff 3393rd Street. Um, how who on the council here is on that band shell committee? Me and councelor Wagner. Okay. Okay. Um, I'm just going to ask
outright questions as to numbers. What was the band shell insured for? I don't know right off hand. How can you not know? I don't have the exact number. I don't have the policy in front of me. You got
to have okay an estimate. How what do you think it was insured for? Because nobody knows how much it was insured for. How much has been spent? Nobody answers any questions.
I I do not know what has been spent to date. I that I can't answer without Well, I just think it's a pretty sad state of affairs when nobody knows anything about an issue like this. Um, and it's been going on for months and months with no information. I also agree
that we just need to rebuild a band shell. I don't see how with the economics the way they are and the shape that our city is in, how you could even consider doing anything other than that, like a a bigger facility or
whatnot. We're going to be lucky just to get a band shell rebuilt by the sounds of it. I just think it's time to I don't think it should take very much time to figure this out. Why is it being drugged out? I mean, and the other thing the other two had mentioned about it being a
historical uh structure. It was also named after a person who served the community as band director for years and years and years. Is that supposed to just disappear now too by building some other sort of I don't know what what you guys have
planned but that's something to take into consideration too. That's that's not right just to do away with why it was built and who it was named after. But I don't don't understand how you can
think that you can do anything. I mean besides in addition at this point maybe somewhere down the line when things are better but at this point just to get this structure up and to use the money that is supposed to be used for a band shell it you should just be moving
forward with that. We don't need a bunch of studies. It's like like they I want to reiterate everybody just wants a band shell. If you want to expand on that down the road someday that'd be great. M Mrs. Immhof. Um, couple items of note.
The band shell is currently in committee discussions with councelor Gaylor and councelor Wagner. Um, at some point something will be coming back to the council to vote on hopefully
with the budget. Um, to the best of my knowledge I have I just looked here. My understanding was the band shell was insured for $79,000. Okay. Contents of 15,552.
Okay. Well, hopefully that'll be enough. I have no idea. I also think the cement foundation would have been fine the way it was and could have been made handicapped accessible. But but I just feel that you
should just go back to trying to rebuild the bandell as is because I don't think the city is in a position to drive t try to do anything more than that financially but
it's I feel it's the wishes of most of the people to keep it close to as is and should be still carry the name of Pete Peterson. Thank you. Thank you. Rhonda Benedicts, 9096 Street. My
question is for Chelsea. I would like to know who you think you are by coming out after me after the last city council meeting to just to have a discussion with you after No, that was no discussion. That was no discussion. Oh, okay. I consider a discussion.
No, I'm sorry. Lots of witnesses. No, no discussion. You came out after me, hollering at me. Nope. No. I was trying to catch up with you. No. Yes. If unprofessional, Miss Mrs. Miss Benedicts, if there's a
complaint um against someone, whether it be a contractor or a city employee, I think that that needs to be addressed to the council um in which then we would address that in return. Okay. Then I'm complaining because she
came out after me after the last city council meeting. And Chelsea, is that something um that we would typically request from a council in writing? I have no idea.
Okay. I don't more than willing to speak with Miss Benedict, but I I doubt she'd like to speak with me. Would that suffice for you? As in what? Like where? Um I would I don't want to suppress you.
So I would like to continue is what I'm concerned about is that if we're going to receive complaints about people who work for the city and it's a bigger issue then we would that we would have to take action on. I don't know this would be the appropriate time. So please continue. So what would you like me to do? Like
what are the steps you would like me to take? You want me to say it now or what would you like me to do? I have to ask Chelsea what steps those are. She's our counsel. I have no idea. I I don't do complaints. Mayor, if I may, I would suggest that
something in writing addressed to myself or to you and then we could handle it internally working with our HR director on how to resolve that matter and work with the individual whether it's a contracted employee or a full-time regular employee, we would work through that through our HR director.
That that's what I was getting at. that is if it's going to be something in that nature that's what um I would ask for. All right, I can do that. Thank you. Okay, thanks. Hello, I'm Bobby Bernath and I live at
19006th Avenue and I have a few questions for the people that are on the band shell committee. I hear rumors out there and why I'm here is I just want to know is it true that one of the plans cuz we don't see any of
the plans has a splash park and some things like that. I know I'm you know rumors so that's why I'm here to ask those questions that's for the committee. Uh if you would please. Uh, no,
no, no. There is no plans for a a splash park to go there. It might have come up at the meeting that people have saved money for a splash park and whatnot, but there's no plan to put it there. And while we're here, I'll just continue
with our plan. The plan is cuz um I just want to touch on the engineer who keeps coming. Our insurance company re required us to uh get an engineer involved so we could carry on with the process. This is last summer when this
began. That's why he's there and luckily they were there. uh they found things that they didn't think were correct with from the adjusters point of view and ever since then I'm not blaming at all on the insurance or not but that's been kind of the holdup and we're still
waiting for the final tally and we don't plan on spending any more money than we get for the um band shell but we also you know cuz I we took this as an opportunity if we can do something
different maybe and use a more versatile type of band shell, music venue and all this other stuff about a bigger plan is just talk about other possibility way down the future and that's what that is and as far as
Pete Peterson uh we have his plaque that it will be named at whatever version it ends up being being built it will be still named after him and that will be up and that's where that's kind of how we got here to where we are today. And
if uh councelor Wagner has any other we uh we've we've reached out to community members. We've talked to a lot of them. I know what we've been told here tonight is everybody wants a band shell. Well, they don't. Not everybody does. And we have to look out for the entire community, not just band shell
people. Um so we're trying to get something that's covers both. Yeah. and but stay under the budget the cost. Um, and it's not easy, but we're trying. So, as a a public person, how do you I
mean, did I miss a meeting or something on your plans? Is there I mean, no, it's still in committee. So, there is no plans yet. There was a big picture presentation and that's all. There's no actual plans yet.
Okay. So, in these committee meetings, how, you know, there's rumors, rumors all the time, and then we get here and all we do is complain to you guys. Is there a way that we can get minutes or something to the public so we're more
informed so that when we come here, we can maybe get things done other than saying, "I don't know." Um, do you see what I'm asking? Yeah. and and you're they're open meetings. They're not secret meetings.
They said tomorrow is the meeting, but I think it's actually Wednesday at 9:00. Okay. Here. Okay. Yeah, I would recommend that if you're up to it to ask administrator
Bergstrom um for those meeting notices or um since it's rather an informal committee meeting that if that's something you'd like to sit in on or attend, you have every right to do that. Okay. Are those are all those meetings
on the face or uh website? I don't think so. The times of those? No. Do you Well, the times would be and what meeting it is. I think they're on the calendar. Yeah, not I'll make sure they're on the calendar, but I think they're on there. Okay. Okay.
Thank you. Thank you. At this time, I would like to move on to our consent agenda. There will be another opportunity to come forward towards the end of this meeting.
We have one item on the consent agenda this evening, which is to approve a 2025 license renewal, Twisted Tacos and itinerant restaurant license. Is there a motion and second to approve?
I'll make the motion. Second. Motion by councilors Buller and Wagner. There is no discussion. I would like to call the question. I I I I I will vote yes. This license is
approved unanimously. Thank you. Next on this evening's agenda, we move to new business. Item one, set canvasing meeting date as per Minnesota statute 204D.27
27 for Wednesday, August 13, 2025 at 4 p.m. I'll move. We have a motion on the floor by Councelor Kaylor. Second. Second by councelor Wgner and this would
be to canvas the votes from the referendum on the 12th. Correct. Yes, sir. Is there any discussion? Just for clarification, mayor, it's not a referendum. It's just a special election of the city of International Falls. A special election. Correct. Thank you.
Thank you. Any discussion? Question. I I I. I'll vote yes. The special election is approved. 50. Thank you. New business item two. adopt a
resolution for exempt permit for the local 33 to conduct a raffle on October 10th, 2025 at Bob Walls Memorial Union Hall, 509 3rd Street.
I'll make that motion. Motion by councelor Holden, second by councelor Buller. Discussion. And is there anyone here to speak in support of this? I don't believe there is. I would like to call the question now.
I I I I'll vote yes. This is permit is approved 50. Thank you. Item three, public works committee recommendations.
A item A, excuse me. Consider approval of public works excess property list and allow sale through Mclofflin Auctioneers LLC. I'll move second. Motions by councelor
Kaylor and Wagner to approve this. If this is approved to have call it the public works auction, is there any place that the funds will be kept from
the sale of the property? You want to answer? I'm Yeah. The sale of property will go back into uh capital outlay for purchase of future acquisitions of equipment
of anything or just public works. Um typically I would be putting it into a public works dedicated line. Okay. Um, I would like to offer the council I think that it would be
stewardly to consider what we do with the funds if there's an auction. Um, particularly where we came in with the budget last year and the situation with the ambulance and the situation with the
general fund. Um, I know that money moves around at times as it needs to because there's different needs citywide. Um, but I think it I would ask that it be a consideration by council
and the only comment that I would make in in opposite point of that is when we have vehicles that are sold directly to enterprise those go back against those respective departments. So when the police have sold vehicles, they have had those in kind in exchange for the
vehicles that they acquire. So that is the anticipation for that department. Um so just so the council's aware of that. Okay. Um understand and are we is it consistent with if that department comes
looking for money and other departments? I'm sorry I didn't quite understand what the question was. Say that again. I just my my ask is that it's consistent with other departments. It would be consistent with other departments that if the fire department
or the police department or another department trades in a vehicle or sells a piece of property, they receive those funds. Okay. Question. I I I'll vote no. Motion carries 41. Thank
you. Public Works Committee recommendation item B, update on Stenberg addition project. I'd like to welcome city engineer Jason Fischer forward. Thank you, Jason. Hi, Mr. Mayor. Um, council, I'd like to
have uh my associate Dean Hellstrom. He's a senior project manager that he's actually managing these projects. Um, so I'd like to have him give an update on the Stenberg that you requested. Mayor and council, thank you for your
time this evening. Uh we have uh originally our plan for the Stanberg edition included a millin overlay along with full depth patch over the area that if you're aware
out there is the storm sewer line that has uh that's what we have looked at is that area where we're going to do a full depth patch over the storm sewer And upon
further investigation this year or this spring, we're looking at what would that be if we relocated the storm from the street into the green space in the rightway. So we have obtained some
numbers associated with that, but we're also looking at now what side makes better sense. Uh initially we were looking at the uh east side on 15th Avenue and then the
south side. Uh today uh we did not have information on this this gas line is in a pretty good location there. So, I'm going to meet with the contractor to see if that is still a possibility uh to go on that side or if we need to look at
the other side to relocate that. Uh the funds uh from that, what we would look at doing is using the funds from the full depth patch uh and transfer those over to paying for the storm improvements.
Uh so overall we'll be approximately about uh we have some other cost savings within the project. So we'll we'll probably run a little bit over on that portion but I think we'll be able to make up for it in
the other areas of the projects that we have going on. Thank you. This has been a concern for many residents who live in that addition the storm sewer that for lack of better terms appears to be pushing out of the
ground. One of the things that we we in looking at is the cover on this storm. Uh the vast majority of it was under 3 ft of cover. Uh we're looking at and the other thing that we noticed is it
was oversized. Uh but I think it was oversized to include future developments coming in from the south into that storm line. Uh but when Keenan came through uh that storm an additional trunk storm line
came through and therefore the need for that additional storm water in that development is not needed. So, we are looking at downsizing some of those lines uh for that and allows us to have more cover on the pipe, therefore
prevent it from hopefully moving uh in the future. Thank you. And um will you be presenting once we know what the new estimate is or if it's feasible to move the current
storm sewer in that project to the green space. How will that process work? Mhm. Um we can we we wouldn't typically bring that type of but we can bring it to the next public works committee meeting and then okay the decision from there how to if we
want to bring it back to the council for a decision further any questions or concerns amongst counselors I know that everybody will be excited when this project is complete. Yes, I will too. Uh the other thing I
wanted to let everybody know, uh today we handed out notices for a neighborhood meeting for the residents along 9th Street that will be held next Tuesday from 4:30 to 6:30 at uh the A Street Park. So we'll be setting up a tent,
have some refreshments, and uh explain to the property owners what will be taking place on the Ninth Street project. that uh work will probably start on the first week of August. They'll be starting most likely taking trees down throughout the project area,
grubbing those uh from 8th Avenue and to the west. Uh and again, the the area of work taking place will be from 8th Avenue to 14th. Uh 8th to 8th to 11th
will be sewer water storm and then from 11th to 14th will be the trail improvements and we'll provide uh updates on websites uh and uh have an ability for homeowners
to get text updates on progress of the project. Thank you. You bet. I just got one question about Steenberg. There's part of the problem just where it's at, where it's built, what Steenburgg, if you around my age or
maybe a little older, you'll understand what I'm talking about with what Steenburgg was before it became the addition. I mean, with what maybe just as part of the pro why it's happening, I guess, as I'm asking the question
because it used to be wall swamp and might have been some stuff dumped in there, stuff like that. It is my understanding that is potentially some of the the problem that we have uh depth again on the storm. We would be subcutting underneath it to prevent some
of that movement that we currently are experiencing. Okay. Thank you. You bet. Thank you. Next, we will move on to new business number four, recommendations from the committee of the whole.
Item A, consider approval of moving the roller hockey rink to the outdoor rink at Kerry Park. Is there any discussion? I'll move. Have a motion by councelor Wagner to second
and councelor Buller. Discussion on moving the roller rink. Well, I thought maybe me and you know a little more about others here. Uh the Ring Lake Pickle Ball Association uh has
been looking for more court space where they play up at and we where the roller rink pickle ball courts are up at Old Holler School and they get quite a group there especially on Sundays and Wednesdays and all around. And to make
it more conducive, they have offered to redo the roller hockey part of that um uh space to turn it into three more pickle ball courts. Is that the number? I don't have my thing in front of me.
And to pay for it and this will take place when they have raised enough funds, which we're working on. And then we are going the plan is to move the roller rink part of it to Kerry Park and use the inside of the outdoor rink
there. And it we checked that shouldn't be a problem. Just got to make sure it's open. And actually at one of the committee meetings we had uh for another reason had uh some wreck hockey board members and they thought maybe that might even encourage some more use with
it being at the hockey rink. If I forgot anything, please add. You covered all the bases, councelor. All right. Discussion from others. Question. I I I I'll vote yes. Item A is approved
unanimously. Thank you. Next. Item four from committee of the whole. Number four, item B. Consider approval to allow Rainy Lake Pickle Ball Association to resurface and convert the roller
hockey rink section of the outdoor facilities on 19th Street and Second Avenue East into three additional pickle ball courts at no cost to the city.
I'll move. I'll second it. motions. First by councelor Kaylor, second by councelor Holden. Again, I believe you just covered I was I'm just ask did my spiel cover it the first time. Yes,
please. Councelor W. We're not going to start this till we get the roller ring move to carry part. Right. Yeah, cuz they'd still have Right. Right. Yeah. Make sure that all works before Yeah. this goes. just to be sure.
And I just think it's great that we have a growing community-minded organization in town with uh if it's okay to say the pickle ballers. Um is this something uh Chelsea that you think would need a
contract or anything is what my question would be at no cost to the city or what if the project was left and not finished? If it's going to be city-owned property, I do think a contract of some sort should exist. Okay.
I'm not trying to complicate this. Um, but I think that we need to protect cover ourselves. Yep. I believe the motions were by councelor Kaylor and Holden. Is that correct? Yep.
And would you be amendable to adding with a simple contract signed by the association? Yes, sir. Thank you. Um, just to clarif I I was anticipating some sort of lease or something like
that. That's not what you're referring to. No, they're just going to pay for the they're going to pay for the uh coding going coding. Yeah. Yeah. About $9,600 to put the new quoting on there. Yep. So, I think that would be one
contract. I think we may have to visit later. Even if there isn't a lease amount, um I don't I don't recommend having a continuous set schedule to utilize city property without some sort of agreement. So, it would be twofold that you'd be looking at contracts.
No. Yes. And I would just say, well, they do that now up there. So we should have one now. That's what you're saying. So we're making all kinds of pro. Yeah.
At this point, um, I'll keep amending. Would you be amendable to both items that attorney Nelson has proposed to the original amendment? Yes. Okay. If I broke Robert's rules of order, please accept my apology, but I'd
like to call the question. I I I'll vote yes. This is approved unanimously. 50. Thank you. Next from committee of the whole item C, consider approval for the International
Falls Ambulance Service to conduct an emergency medical technician certification class beginning October 2025 through March 2026. Is there a motion to approve? I'll make that motion.
A motion by councelor Buller. I'll second for discussion. Second for discussion by councelor Wagner. Floor is now open for discussion for councel. So the question on this is it the class will run through March of 26.
We don't know where we're going to be at with the ambulance and that's the worry of uh what chief was asking. So um from committee. Yeah. Okay. Thank you. From the public safety committee. So, there's a question we got to ask
there. Yeah, I I I understand. Um, I've been thinking about the um if we could one thing I was thinking because was brought up to me before is
if whatever happens at the ambulance at the person that's will doing the instructing and if the fire department the city was aminable we could finish out the course with that person.
um teaching and just even if we don't longer have the service paying him to do that is was it going to be a paramedic that was had offered to teach or that were compensated to do so? Yes. And
in the new legislation, I believe there's some reimbursement for EMT training. Um I guess only thing I there's public safety committee where this stems from then it eventually makes its way here
that the importance of EMTs for for any ambulance service that if Rineer owned the ambulance or the county I feel like we would still be doing a good deed by trying to bring more EMTs.
The more the better and whether we have a paramedic base or EMT base, we're still going to need the the EMTs on both counts. That's a I don't know if that works. I mean, there'd be some, you
know, to continue paying for the for the instructor. So, that they do that. But yes, there is. I do believe there's reimbursement like you guys were saying. Any further discussion?
question. I I I I'll vote yes. This is approved 50. Thank you. Committee of the whole item D. Consider approval of the earned sick and safetime
policy, better known as ESST, in accordance with legislative updates. I'll move a motion by councelor Buller has been presented. Second.
Second by councelor Holden. This is an item that we've been briefed on that's mandated by the state. There is a cost to it, but there is uh no consideration other than to comply.
That's right. Any further discussion? Call the question. I I I. I'll vote yes. This carries unanimously. 5-0. Thank you. Committee of the whole. Item E.
Consider approval to submit an application to min OSHA safety grant for funds to purchase cameras for city hall and the adjacent parking lot. I'll make that motion.
Second. Motion by councilors Holden and Wagner. Now for discussion. This was presented last week at committee of the whole by Sheri Stenland. And my understanding is that the first
step is to apply for a grant in which if we receive the funds then we would move ahead with it. And if not we would have to address it in the 2026 budget when that time comes. Any discussion?
Question. I I I I'll vote yes. This carries 50. Thank you. Committee of the whole item F. Consider additional action on the property located at 2020 11th
Avenue. City Attorney Chelsea Nelson. The floor is yours. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor. This is the property that we took to trial. Um, it's a blight file with vehicles, scrap metal, all sorts of stuff on the property owned by
Olyri. Um, uh, I'm trying to explain where it is, but I'm not good at that, and I wish Jared was here because he's better at that than I am. But it's essentially got, um, multiple unlicensed vehicles on it, a lot of scrap metal, a lot of different things. He used to own a
construction company, Bill Larson. Um, so we went to trial, we won trial, he was convicted. He has a $1,000 fine stayed. That's the max that we can find on that level of charge. And he was ordered to comply with cleaning the
property up. We've had our first review hearing review hearing. Um nothing's been done. I um can't get him to get anything done. So, you have a couple options. One, I can um bring what's essentially called a probation violation
and ask that the entire fine amount um no longer be vacated. and he have to pay the $1,000 fine. The problem with that is it's still not going to be cleaned up and I can't charge that same thing again. Um that's called double jeopardy. So that would be
the end of it. The other option is what's called a civil abatement process. That essentially is a civil action related to the criminal action where we bring a request to the court that the city be able to abate or kind of fix that
nuisance is what it's going to be and um ask for reimbursement to the city. We would also ask that it would be able to be assessed against real estate taxes. That last portion is not guaranteed. we could simply just get a judgment and the the court won't allow us to assess based
on the size of how much it costs to fix it. Um, and it it's it is going to cost some money. It's a large project and it's going to it's going to cost quite a bit. So, I I'm just looking for guidance on which avenue you'd like me to pursue. If
you'd like me to pursue neither of them, that sort of thing. What is your first recommendation? It really depends on how much you want to spend. Um, and it comes down to council policy. If it is more important to um, enforce
blight, make sure people are cleaning it up, I would recommend doing the abatement, but that obviously comes with a cost. My main concern being um, setting a precedence that we will take you to court, you'll get the max fine, we won't
follow through and actually make the property be cleaned up. Um, but like I said, it really comes down to the priority of the council if that's something you want to make a priority right now. Not saying we can't do it in the future. I just do have some concerns about um the likelihood of cooperation
going forward if there's no teeth in it. Under understand. Thank you, Chelsea. Um, does everyone councelor Buller please you go with the abatement end of way way of it? Is that is that
scrap iron everything ours then right away to get sold? Um so we could reclaim some of our Not right away. It would be part of the court action that we can ask to be able to sell it. I don't have personal knowledge of how
much money's worth of scrap metal or anything like that is. Um certainly it's you can just drive by and take a look publicly and make your kind of determination there. But I have absolutely no experience in estimating values of stuff.
And the concern is is that if the council votes to just accept the fine of $1,000 that then there's precedent set that anything going forward that may be the the end result.
That may be the expectation. So, a lot of my practice, how I I work my cases is I'm able to give them an expected result. Um, and if this is our only case and the expected result was a thousand dollar fine, that that's fine. But
everyone else would be able to have that precedence knowledge that they may choose to not clean up the blight, have the fine outstanding, and that be it because we can't fines don't aren't assessed or anything like that either. They just go to collections and potentially never get paid.
Do you have an estimate if civil abatement action is pursued for my costs or how much it's going to be to clean it? Clean it. Whatever we're on the hook for. Um, might as well throw yours in there, too. Yeah, I I don't think mine would be any
higher than going through um similar to the repair or raise orders I've done in the past. Um, those are less than 2,000 usually. Um, unless they're really contested. it might be most beneficial to um set this over to perhaps when um
Fire Marshall Baldwin can be here. He would be a much better resource to have that sort of idea. Um I think or he may just ask contractors potentially what they would charge. Do we have a deadline now?
We have no deadline. So we can postpone it and we can all get a look at it too then. Moving this back to committee of the whole would be an option when there's uh more info available from both fire marshall Baldwin and yourself. Yes.
Is there a motion to do so? I move motion by councelor Buller to refer this back to committee of the whole second. Second by councelor Holden. Discussion on the topic. Question. I I I vote yes. This moves back to the
committee of the whole next regularly scheduled unanimously. Thank you. New business item five. Is there any other business to come before the council? Seeing no further business, we'll move
on to reports of boards, committees, and department heads which are in our packets. I don't think since our meeting last week is there anything we probably haven't even met for most of our um
items. No. At this point we can move back to any comments um under our open forum if anyone would like to come forward. Nancy Yimhoff 3393rd Street. Just one
final thought on the band shell. So if the insurance policy isn't specific about replacing that structure with something very similar and you feel that there's a lot of people in the community that want
something different than that, then perhaps we should you guys should initiate a survey, a poll, a vote by the public as to what kind of structure they want to see since the community, the citizens are the ones that are going to
be using it and enjoying it other rather than waste months and months and months on talking about it. Just a thought. Thank you. Thank you. Good evening.
Good evening. Lisa Mortonson, 1826 10th Avenue East. I just have some clarifications on the EMT class. So, we're going to hold an EMT class that goes from October to March.
A paramedic is the instructor for this class. If by chance we don't have ALS starting December, January 1st, you can you clarify what do you mean by
paying the instructor cuz he teaches this outside of his normal job? And do you expect him to stay in our community for an extra three months just to teach
a 4-hour class every two days? like I want you to really think about this and I understand what you're saying and I mentioned that and I also said we'd have to talk to him and the fire
department to see if they're immenable to that and if not we'll have to so but we can we can always come back and change our okay what we decided here I just want to clarify that understand there's no guarantee that he will be
here after January ary. So I don't want CL unless you get something in writing from the school that he's teaching through, there's no guarantee that he might not stay.
I think you have a very valid point. Yeah. And thank you. and for those EMTs taking that class and paying out of pocket for their money or for their classes cuz they have to pay through the school to take this class
and if they don't get to finish this class who's going to reimburse them I think that we want to make well before we go ahead with all your valid points and thank you for giving us a place to start but the first thing we're going to
have to do was was going to have to talk to the fire chief and the person doing it. See, and even if we can do it and if he's doing it through a school, maybe there's some way if he does leave and isn't here that they can have somebody
else come and finish. I mean, I just want to make sure that we're protecting the people that we're coming to ask. As a former paramedic for the city of International Falls, Yep. those EMTs that go through those classes are indispensable.
Yeah, a agreed. And that's why we are trying to work something out so we can do I just want to make sure that we have a full picture of what's going to happen. Yep. Before we make commitments to people that we may not be able to follow through on. Thank you.
Thank you. Yeah. Thanks, Lisa. Good evening. Good evening. Alan Cruz, 3077 County Road 20, International Falls, Minnesota. Um, in regards to the band
shell conversation, and I may, you know, make enemies on this one, but I graduated from high school here. I was part of the dirty dozen. I am firmly aware of the legacy of of Pete and uh
and I even played in the band shell in the 95 all class reunion with the all class reunion Dirty Dozen. My question is, if the city has no money
and is in a deficit and we're talking about getting rid of lifesaving features, how far does 700 grand go to paying off the bills that we have to the EMT uh bucket or to the three ambulances that are on
order? The bandshell is a want. The Banshell is a is a luxury. A luxury that this city can't afford. It's a it's it's horrible that it burned down that it ha that what happened
happened, but it happened to where I've talked to several people across town and I'm kind of with councelor Wgner is not everybody wants it rebuilt and it's not about whether I
think rebuilding it is a good idea or not. If we if the community was flushed with cash and and had no other actual emergent need for things and wasn't upside down
in terms of its budget to the ambulance fund, that's one thing. But you're not. I don't know how this council could actually vote in good confidence to spend money on rebuilding a building when
it has bills that it can't paid now to where I don't think it's a it's a band shell whether we should or shouldn't thing. I think it comes down to is the city needs to get a hold of its budget, which I know all five of you know this. And I think it comes down to
is it's an unfortunate thing, but that money should be looked at to plug holes where you're taking on water. Thank you. Thank you. Just a response to that. Does that
insurance money need to be spent on rebuilding that? I mean, I agree with the financial situation and whatnot, but if that money from the insurance company can only be spent to rebuild the band shell, I I
know it would be legal Minnesota insurance through a certain local office. I Betty, do you know the answer to that question? I don't know the exact answer. That is something the committee has discussed um
and we have not reached out for that until we got the dollar amount to understand that. Okay. We still do not have the dollar amount from the league and and which we will be getting you know for the Thank you. But but I believe you are probably on the right track.
Pretty sure. But we don't have official word. Okay. Yeah. Yeah. So that kind of clarifies a little bit. If you have to spend it on that Yes. Then I would spend only that amount and not any extra. Exactly. That is our plan. That's our plan. Yeah.
Or less. Thanks. At this point, seeing no further comment, I will move to reminders. First, there is a special committee of the whole meeting
which is Monday, July 28th at 5:30 p.m. Also that same evening at 6:00 p.m. there is an open house to discuss the proposed deer feeding ordinance. The next regular city council meeting is
Monday, August 4th, 2025 at 5:30 p.m. There is a special committee of the whole meeting Monday, August 4th, 2025. Immediately following the regular city council meeting
this evening. After this city council meeting, there is an EDA meeting and then a special committee of the whole meeting. Is there any other business to come before this council this evening?
This meeting's adjourned. Thank you. Part: 2
I'd like to call this meeting to order. A special committee of the whole meeting, July 21st, 2025. The time is 79 p.m. We can begin with roll call. All members
of council are present. The point of these meetings are last Monday, July 14th, the council had a
special city council meeting in regards to the International Falls owned city ambulance service and some various concerns about the debt and operating costs associated
with it. Um, so this meeting uh has one item under new business, which is the status update of it, but it is more of an open discussion time for the council and city staff to meet and discuss
as we go forward. There has been a date set, I believe, of December 31st, 2025. if a solution um is not reached for providing ALS service whether it be
internally uh the solution or or externally. Um so the first thing I would like to do this evening is give any city staff or chief manasa the opportunity to present um anything that
they may have in regard to the service. Thank you, mayor. Um, I don't have any additional information tonight than I did from last week. Uh, again, I guess I would just challenge the council to ask me what you're looking for for an
agenda item and I will make sure you will have it for the following meeting. Uh, give me an idea of where we're going and I will get you the information you need. Um, I do have we did have a meeting at our public safety meeting earlier today with councelor Holden and councel Wagner and
I think we have an idea of um just some generic talking points or or a direction we're going with the I believe the uh ambulance steering committee. So uh mayor I believe that's you and councelor Holden on that. So I again I just whatever information you
need prior to that or in lie or while that's going please reach out so I can provide you with that. Uh other than that I guess I if any questions pop up I'm obviously here to address those. Thank you chief.
Thank you. The first um thing that comes to mind um of of many many things is have we addressed a taxing district formally
with any parties that may be interested in creating one recently? Not a loaded question. if if that's something that we want to pursue to try and save ALS service in any capacity,
whether we own the service or not, um I would think that we would reach out to another municipality who could help us form one. If I may, mayor, back in 21 and 22, there was a task force of I think there was 14 or 15 members on it. I had the
whole pile of papers with me the other day, but we had met almost I think it was every other week for numerous weeks and into 2022 into 2023, I believe. And we had given um the county board a
resolution of the city asking to create a taxing district and also outlining the joint powers agreement and everything that would be necessary according to state statute to do that. Those talks begin in February of 2021.
Understand? Um is what I would like us to consider is sending um a fresh letter to the county formally um engaging them.
It's one thing if councelor Holden or councelor Kaylor or any of us talk to a commissioner or the mayor of Rineer, but I think it would I would ask council that we send something in nature of what we have agreed to do at the previous
city council meeting that this is really on the front burner and we are looking for a solution and we'd like to invite them to be a part of it. Um, and I would I would hope that that's open-ended whether whether they end up
with the certificate or whether we keep it or um or or whether Rainineer ends up with it. I'm not trying to be facitious, but trying to rather explain that that would still be a solution. So,
is there a motion to do so? I'll make that motion. We have a motion by councelor Holden. Second. Second by councelor Buller. Floor is
open for discussion. Please. We've got to include uh St. Louis County in that letter, too. That wasn't mentioned. There's a corner of it that's in our prescribed area down there. And to the best of my understanding,
they were then and most likely now from just vocal feedback, I've got interested accepted. Um, accepted in that because of I believe concerns with the limited scope of their service in Kabatoma
and we service them farther south. So any discussion mayor if I may to clarify. So you're asking within the motion to to reach out to all the entities that our PSA are
provided or service area covers asking to re-engage in talks to of um collaboration for the ambulance service district to create a taxing district or taxing district. Um anything they want
to send us a check or we send them a check. Yeah, I would think. Yeah, that start with the a taxing district. Yeah. Go from there. Okay. I think would be good just to keep it
streamlined, you know, with not getting too many things cuz I think that would be the and maybe that'll be at least a start with like you said, however it ends up, but that'll be a start. That's my motion. I want to get moving. Cool.
In your packets last week, I included the weather from February 11th, 22. Y is that something that can be modified or updated or do you need change to that? Obviously, the people need to be updated, but uh and and the dates, but just is that kind of what you're looking
for here? I'm I I read through the letters on the staffing somehow. I I I counselor can I look at Thank you. It's asking Okay, I have read this tax. Yes, that's the
basic basic same thing. It would be an update. Um, I think the idea is there's been all of this talk uh, rightfully so about the situation that we're in with the ambulance and at the
moment or at least as of a week ago either nobody was aware of it or not enough people were aware aware of it and I don't think that any political subdivisions necessarily had it on their radar whether it had been addressed prior or not. So
that would be the I think the nature of the letter council. Yeah, that'd be good. Any questions or discussion? Now to clarify before we take a vote, I believe we had originally set up special city council meetings.
This is not a special city council meeting. So, it being a special committee of the whole meeting, does the motion have to refer it to a regular council meeting or can we take a direct action this evening? If it's something that's coming directly
from mayor and council, it should have council approval. Okay. Yes. So that's going to delay us a week unless mayor if you direct me to reach out on my you know on behalf of the city and write a letter
um that I can do that as conversation because there's no official action that you're asking to do except to start conversation. I I'm fine with that. I think we can
reach out and then uh put it on the agenda for the next meeting if we think we also need the there's anything further the need official you more official I think the invite should come from the two that we have representing the city
council also the invite coming from councelor Holden and Mayor D are you amendable to that yeah I'm amend yeah that's fine Yeah, the sooner we get going the better. So,
understood. Um, I believe we should still vote on this to send it to the regular council just to continue the discussing discussion because I assume there there will be more letters or right even after she reach out we'll probably have to have something more
official. Not that you're not official enough question. I I I vote yes. That carries that motion carries unanimously with the amendments 5.
Thank you. I did receive a phone call over a week ago from a former high school classmate of mine who
is a flight medic that works for North Memorial Ambulance Service. I am led to believe that they are very interested in addressing our service.
Um I don't think it means anything more or anything less. Is that something that we would like to reidentify at a time, date and place to meet with the private company over the service?
I would say at this time with Yeah. just to talk and see what they're offering. An option. What? Yeah. What do we have for an option? Is there a motion to move that discussion for future discussion to the
next regular scheduled city council meeting? So move. Have a motion by councelor Wagner. Second. Second by councelor Bullard. For reference, mayor, what's changed
from last time we did this till now? North Memorial has taken over the Grand Rapids service from meds one and I believe they're in the process of taking over Nashwalk. So their resources are probably moving north. Um so that
position has changed you assume from last time last time I while the discussion is open um what I am going to share is informal uh
my friend noted that um and then later a gentleman by the name of Kevin Lee reached out uh who I believe sets up ambulance services for North Memorial and indicated what you
did uh that they've bought PSAs, they've helped services with all facets of operating um is what I thought was the most interesting in the discussion
which was um excuse me they with the Nashwalk service whether that became became hostile or not. It was I remember hearing councelor Kaylor was at the conference and Nashwalk was in trouble and they've been
in the newspaper and of course now we are maybe but they worked out a solution on a subordinate taxing district in which the county ended up with the certificate and the PSA and then taxed
certain areas to provide the service through North Memorial. Um that was I believe a much different avenue than the joint powers um taxing district that is in legislation.
Um that is pursuable as well. The idea of that Mr. Lee pointed out was that the legislated joint powers taxing district can be opted out of by parties. The
subordinate service district can't be. And again, this is I don't want to speak from 100% fact. This was conversation on the telephone. Um but the information is there I think if we investigate it.
Okay. Discussion. Floor is open. Question. I I I I Yes. Motion carries. 5 0.
I received an email on July 16th that the county would be interested in dispatching the service at no extra charge. I don't know more or less than that.
Um, but that is again another informal offer that I would hope is worthy of some investigation. Councelor Kaylor, do you have insight on that being that you worked um across the street for
I I know it's they're capable of doing that and right right now the n that's where the 911 calls go and then they call over here or radio over here and our engineers page out the ambulance or the fire department as a case may be.
Of course, that's four and a half years ago, but I'm pretty sure it works that way still. So, police counselor, who who would we contact on that um for discussion? That that information came from for the
dispatching. Um we had discussed this today. Excuse me. We can reach out to the county board on that. Okay. Um, again, we could uh see if that would be something that we
could formally have an offer on in writing. Okay, that's why we need to get that committee going and get a group some group discussion with them. [Applause] again because this is a committee of the
whole meeting. Um, how if we're going to engage another letter over dispatch service from the county? Do you would you find that action appropriate, Betty, or would you we can
move it to a city council meeting? Well, I guess my I'm not understanding then the the motion that was made at the last city council meeting for the two of you to be on the committee. Would that be part of that discussion or are you asking to meet or ask this question
independently? Well, we certain councelor Holden and I can meet in the committee. I think some of these question other than the uh other than the uh taxing district letter which is a little time sensitive that
were I think a lot of these questions when you set up a meeting with your counterparts you could bring them to them there and I think that would be sufficient and proper and those things if everybody think that work.
Yeah. Yeah. that help. That's kind of the reason to have to, you know, streamline it a little and Yeah. Uh, absolutely. Yeah. So, I mean, we have a start that the email that so
um that option is there. That's the totality of the notes that I have for this evening. Are there any from council thoughts, choice, concerns? Um, as we
work forward on this, I'd just say what uh councelor Holden and I today we discussed at public safety meeting committee meeting with uh Chief Monasa a lot of the aspects and um we need to prepare be prepared to what
what we have to do to continue the service if a taxing district or whatever you call it is unsuccessful. Right. And that would be one thing I want to add tonight. So to piggy back on that is one thing I like the chief should do when he gets a
chance is just to start preparing for the inevitable and how this works and if we have to have more talks and discussions so we can be prepared. Yeah. And that is what we're trying not to do. But we're trying to avoid but
avoid it but we need to be ready if it does happen. [Applause] I think that on subsequent city council agendas if there could be a placeholder for the ambulance
discussion as well. I don't see why we would need to take any formal action being that it can be added at any time. So, y and we and then uh use that for extra meetings or are we
still going to have the that's where we'll do it at the council meetings, our regular scheduled council meetings? We where we can take action and um if we don't have anything at these meetings or leading up, we don't have to to have them.
But I think it's important that we convey um that this is getting to the ninth inning where we're at. And so I think that at least from some perspectives that we
want to get the word out that we're looking for solutions and um we we want to continue the service. If yes, you want your phone to ring off the hook. Talk about not having an ambulance
or the possibility of not having ALS. Um, and as you said a year ago, counselor, uh, that that is becoming a possibility. Yeah. Betty Emma or Chief Manassa, do you have any
forward at this point in time? I have nothing additional this evening. I have nothing additional. Council, this meeting's adjourned.