I'll call this meeting of the International Falls City Council to order. It is 5:30 p.m. Please rise. Let's 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. I it can be noted for the record all members are present this evening.
Are there any additions to this evening's agenda? Seeing none, I'll call for a motion to approve the agenda as presented. >> I'll move. Thank you, councelor Kaylor. >> Second. >> Thank you, councelor Buller. Is there discussion?
>> Call the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I. >> I'll vote yes. Agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. Moving on to approval of minutes for two meetings. First,
from Monday, November 3rd, 2025, which was a regular city council meeting. Second, November 10th, 2025 committee of the whole meeting. Is there questions [snorts]
or concerns of the minutes as presented? Seeing none, I'd ask for a motion to approve the minutes. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Discussion question
>> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. Minutes are approved from those meetings unanimously. Thank you. Payments claims approval transfers and claims. [clears throat] First transfers
to fund number 401 permanent improvement $66,666 $33,333.33 out of water and sewer 601 and 603 to fund that transfer to fund number 403 reserved for capital outlay
$29,1667 to fund that from number 601 water $16,6667 as well fund number 603 sewer [clears throat] $12,500 total transfers of $95,833.33 3 cents.
Moving on to accounts payable. City of International Falls claims 2,232,15046. Public library board claims $8,653.36. Total accounts payable and claims of $2,240,00083 [snorts] and 82.
Is there a motion to approve these payments, claims, and trans? >> Motion to approve. >> Thank you, councelor Wagner. >> Second. >> Thank you, councelor Buller. discussions or questions on this matter. All the question >> I >> I >> I
>> I >> I'll vote yes and this these transfers are approved unanimously. Thank you. At this time there's a fivem minute opportunity uh for anyone in attendance tonight in open form to come forward and address the
council if you wish to do so. >> [snorts] >> Seeing none, there will also be an opportunity at the end of the meeting as well. [clears throat] Next, we move to the consent agenda to approve 2026
business license renewals as presented for the Big Rainy Cafe, a restaurant license. Cater for Hugh LLC, itinerant restaurant license. Massage by Megan Bo massage individual license.
Sarah Nevelinan Massage Individual License, TK Taxi, a taxi license, and Tom Zach's Brick Oven LLC and itinerant restaurant license. [snorts] >> I'll move.
>> Thank you, Councelor Kaylor. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wagner. Call the question. >> I I >> I vote yes. Consent agenda is approved unanimously. Thank you. Moving to new business.
The first item to consider a request to subordinate lean position for KO properties LLC commercial loans as requested by David Alderman, commercial loan banker, National Bank of Commerce.
Roma Corzinski owner. Is this something that is there going to be a a presentation or any direct information for the council on this? >> Uh mayor, yes, Mr. Corinski is in the audience. If you would like, he can come
up and explain projects he's working on. And um that Mr. Alderman [clears throat] did reach out and ask, you know, for this subordination as he is um refinancing with them and doing um additional banking with them for improvements and Roma is here and uh
ready to explain and visit with the council and answer any questions. >> Please, Mr. Corzinski, come up and join us. >> We're happy that you're working on some projects. Yeah, absolutely. So, uh uh like Miss
Bergstrom said, we're looking to uh um build out uh three two-bedroom apartments and put a common laundry facility in, uh 204th A, the old Strikes Floral building. Um, and so part of that refinancing,
uh, we're we're looking to subordinate the [music] loan, um, with the city to be in second position in order to save some dollars on the top end. And just for clarity, when we here a few years ago started this, True Star
originally carried the note the city came in with our program and second. Now True Star will be paid off. NBC would open a new loan. We would subordinate to second because of the change. >> That is correct. and in that
your first position mortgage with um NBC will be larger because you're making the improvements. >> Correct. >> Okay. Questions from the council. What is the total value of the improvements and just
>> about $400,000 roughly? >> Thank you. >> Discussion. >> Is there a motion to approve the request? >> Move to approve. >> Second. Councilors Buller and Wagner. Back to discussion. [clears throat] Just
and that's just so everybody this doesn't affect our part of the loan in any way. >> Yep. >> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I vote yes. This is approved unanimously. Thank you. >> Yep. Thank you so much. >> Good luck and thank you.
>> Yeah. Item two, request approval of year 2026 license renewals that may include tobacco and/or liquor applications as presented. Citizens for Bakus AB Edwards Oil Little
Brown Jug Edwards Oil B L B L B L B L B L B L B L B L B L B Lucky 7 The Elks Club if Properties American in Midwest Abin Cabin Miners [clears throat] Incorporated Northdale
Oil for both beer wine spirits and cigarettes and Super One Liquor. Is there a motion? >> I'll make the motion. Thank you, Councelor Holden. Second. Thank you, Councelor Wgner. Is there discussion? >> Just that um I'm aware that our new fees
are in place. >> Yes. >> Yeah, >> it's correct. [clears throat] >> Call the question. >> I I >> I'll vote yes. License [clears throat] renewals are approved unanimously. Thank you.
[snorts] Item three, adopt a resolution approving designation of polling places for 2026. I do not believe anything has changed. East Ward will be Evangelical Covenant Church Gymnasium
Center Ward Union Hall. Westward St. Thomas Aquinus Hall. >> I'll make the motion. Thank you, councelor Holden. >> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor [clears throat] Wagner. Is there discussion?
>> Call the question. >> I I >> I. >> All vote yes. Polling places are approved. No changes. Thank you. [clears throat] Fourth, to acknowledge and accept letter of resignation
from emergency medical technician Elizabeth Loren, who has tendered her resignation [snorts] effective immediately. Is there a motion to acknowledge this resignation? >> I move. >> Thank you, Councelor Bullard.
>> Second. [snorts] >> Councelor Wgner with a second. Is there discussion? >> Question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> I'll vote yes. The resignation is acknowledged unanimously. Thank you.
Number five, approve removal of an emergency medical technician from the ambulance service. Chief Manassa has requested to remove Brooklyn Tomzac from the ambulance
service. Is this something the council would like to hear on or would if you would not please make a motion to move forward? >> I'll move. [clears throat] >> Thank you. Second, >> councelor Kaylor and councelor Buller.
>> Is there discussion? Question. >> I I >> I'll vote yes. And that removal is [clears throat] approved. 50. Thank you. From legislation and land use recommendations, consider first reading
of ordinance to prohibit deer feeding within a described area of International Falls. We started working on this quite a while ago. I don't remember if it was June or last March. Um, I would
have to look back. >> I'll make the motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Holden. If there's support for Councelor Holden's motion, >> I'll second. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller. Discussion, please. >> Yes.
>> Well, go ahead. Um, I would like to uh move this back to committee of the whole before we move forward in order to define the process for the ordinance. Um, give us a chance to look at who's going to enforce this, the PD or someone
else within the city or that's the biggest hangup right now with with the ordinance. Everything else is is ready. Thank you, Councelor Wagner. Um, I would like to explain
how we got to where we are. Um, irregardless of the outcome here, um, there has been a significant amount of citizen input about the number of deer
in town. Um the council has investigated a um in town deer hunt at least twice now, maybe three times, and this goes back a few years. Um the options appear
to be limited because of parcel size that would actually be eligible to hunt on. So it would be very few parcels and would likely have very little impact on the population itself. The city council has worked with the DNR
um to explore the options available to cities. This isn't the only city that there's an abundance of deer in. Um the city it has been indicated to us that
we can't reach out uh for example if we wanted to exterminate deer uh or have the DNR come in uh and remove them or or any other process as such until the city has an ordinance on the book. Um so
that's how we got to that point. The last place is um the map of where the ordinance would take um effect, which I don't think it
uh I can explain it like this, but I hope that there's packets in the um that are available that will have the map in there to review. And that's where we are now today. And I and I just like to add on the that
we need to change it to Third Avenue East in the ordinance. It's Third Avenue, but that'd be Third Avenue East over there. >> That's perfect because we need to change some other language. >> Yeah. And Yep. And I'm glad you want to
bring it back to the committee of the whole or public because uh who's going to enforce it cuz it looks like the um police are going to be down an officer from where they were. So I don't know if they need more of this, but that's stuff we can
talk about there. >> Yes. >> Would you be comfortable rescending your motions? >> Yes. >> Yes. Um, and with that, I would ask that you, Councelor Wgner, um, amend that well, we
that you make a motion to remotion to send back to committee of the whole. >> I would like to, uh, make a motion to send the deer ordinance back to the January committee of the whole meeting for further process of the ordinance. >> Thank you. >> I'll second that.
>> Thank you, Councelor Holden. >> January or December? >> January. Is there discussion? Call the question. >> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes.
Unanimously, this will be sent back to committee of the whole. Item seven, new business, committee of the whole recommendations approving internal posting of the vacant excavator and sweeper
position. We have discussed this um at several meetings how to go forward with it and I believe that the path that's been discussed is to work to find an internal candidate. >> Yes. So I move.
>> Thank you. Councelor Kaylor second. >> Councelor Buller seconds. Is there discussion? >> Call the question. >> I >> I >> I >> I >> vote yes. We can post that is approved unanimously. Thank you.
And item B from committee of the whole to approve plumbing mod modifications to the equipment garage to allow for the installation of the refurbished hot sea pressure washer. >> I'll make that motion. >> Thank you, Councelor Buller.
>> Second. >> Thank you, Councelor Wagner. [clears throat] Um, this is routine. Uh, we need hot water. We need a pressure washer. $1613. Is there discussion?
>> Question. >> I I >> I vote yes. That is approved unanimously. Thank you. Item seven, letter C, approve moving forward with the request
for propo, excuse me, for proposal process for information systems services. >> I'll move second. >> Thank you, councilors Kaylor and [clears throat] Wagner. Is there
discussion [snorts] >> question? >> I I >> I >> I'll vote yes. That RFP is approved unanimously. Thank you. Item D, to approve extending the
temporary IT support services agreement with 3S Design LLC until a full-time replacement has been approved. Is there a cost estimate
um in here from to extend because originally we had extended or hired 3s for I think was like 15 days or >> correct? >> Correct. >> So it would be the same rate. >> Yes.
>> Okay. and and we came to that. This is why I waited to discuss it is we're not we're unsure how long we're looking probably at least January at the beginning to have somebody to fill the IT position. We thought we still got to keep going here and to keep running.
It'd be good to have somebody on board still. So, we're still up and running and then if they [music] need to be around also for uh transitioning and stuff like that, that's where this came from. Okay. Is there a motion to approve?
>> So move. >> Second. >> Councilors Buller and Holden. Discussion. Question. >> I >> I >> I. >> I'll vote. No. That is approved. 41. Thank you.
Item eight, update on water treatment plant facility project. Um from Jason Fiser, Bolton and Mink. [clears throat] [snorts] >> Thank you, Mayor Council. >> Thank you. Um just a couple of
highlights in your packet. You do have a uh memo with we're completed and uh project forecast along with a schedule. Um this is a preliminary schedule that uh we think will be pretty close and
it's the project is uh preliminarily scheduled to be completed um July of 27. So, um to date we have brought in uh roofing material and a job trailer um
for the for the um Seamar contractor to be they'll be on site come next March when we uh get into putting in the um the roof. So, the roofing materials on site and uh we'll
be ready to hit the ground running in March. Um, [snorts] if you recall, we approved a change order a couple meetings ago to because we originally were hoping to get started on the roof this year, but we weren't able to get the HVAC equipment and rather than put
the new roof on and put the old HVAC equipment back on, we just kind of push back the schedule a little bit. So, with that, I'm open for any questions if you guys have. I don't have any other than um with the
change orders that still doesn't affect the guaranteed maximum right? >> Not at all. >> Yeah. >> It'll actually help us stay on budget. >> So, this is good. >> Yes. >> Thank you. >> Thank you, Jason.
number nine to discuss the International Falls Ambulance Service. Back around the 1st of July, the council began holding a series of meetings um to
investigate the feasibility of continuing to run the ambulance service with only us providing the service as the taxpayers. Um we have held several meetings in regard
to the service. We did set a date I believe um for the end of the year to decide as a council how we should go about that. I have received some very well first of
all I'd like to thank Chief Manasa and Administrator Bergstrom. We've had many ambulance [snorts] um meetings with other related parties about how their services run. Um we've reached out to some private contractors that have
expo been a real wealth of information um of taxing districts and levels of service in other areas of the state. There has been indicated to me verbally um
from other governmental parties that there is intent uh to form an ambulance taxing district. I believe keyword believe that the county did pass a resolution
in Octo September or October in support of forming the district. Um, we still need to make a decision and have some sort of um, let me back up. If to the best of our knowledge, if a
taxing district is established, it would take effect on one of 2027. There's no way around that. whether we started it 8 months ago or a day ago. >> Um, so with that,
unless there's other discussion, I'd ask the council for a motion to have Betty draft a letter that I will sign asking the county to present us with a letter of intent and ask that we be included in that
district. I will move. >> Thank you, councelor. I second. >> Thank you, councelor Holden. >> Is there discussion? just that when I I went as I told you this morning, I keed to the coalition um conference and they had the panel
discussion on the ambulance and some other senators there talk about other things and this came up more than once rural health and the ambulance and this is pretty much until something changes that ambulance uh services are needing
to do to keep solvents cuz there's a lot like in our situation. So >> I there's some investigation going on um at the county level over if a district is formed, how that taxation occurs,
whether it's a general property tax levy or a per parcel fee. Uh that that's also apparently up for interpretation. There seems to be a significant amount of interest in a per parcel fee. There's
a general tax levy. Um, at the end of the day, we need an ambulance service. Um, and I would leave it at at that that I genuinely hope we can
>> move this forward. It you have any thoughts, Chief Manassa or Administrator Bergstrom? [clears throat] >> Anything to add at this time? >> Thank you. >> No. Uh just hopefully this moves in a positive direction. I echo your comments that we need to have an ambulance
service. Uh I believe it was Saturday we had three rigs out the door. Very busy day. Uh lots of stuff going on. So we're we're not going to avoid it. >> Call the question. >> I >> I >> I
>> I'll vote yes. And The [clears throat] letter is approved unanimously. Thank you. Is there any other business that was not on the agenda to discuss at this time? We'll move on to reports, boards, committees, and department heads. Um,
I'd like to start with councelor Kaylor because I believe you were going to put a plug in for the Elks. >> Well, I was going to. Yes. How did you guess? Yes. The first of all, yeah, the
Elks uh Thanksgiving Day dinner will be Thanksgiving Day on the 27th from 12 to 2. And if uh you need deliveries for uh inbound pe housebound, that's who it's
for. Nobody else. And if you someone shows up with the meals and it looks like you could have came to the elks and got them yourselves, they're going to turn around, I'm guessing. So, cuz it's just for the inbound PE house bumpy cuz the whole purpose of it is to get people
there and have some camaraderie and talk and visit and things like that. But if you do deliver I should have brought my uh handle with me, but there's a number to call. It's not the Elks, but it's in the paper. I believe that was Friday. So, we're looking forward to that. But
everybody's welcome. You don't have to be an Elks member. So, hope to see you all there. >> Thank you. >> Yes. >> And >> and oh, and if you want, I can uh talk about Kea. >> Please do.
>> Status quo for this time of the year. Commissioner Hansen was hunting from his stand when he and uh but he he uh he was zeroed in. Yeah. But uh just that uh sounds like cold weather's going to be
hitting it pretty soon and uh Jaguar Land Rover is actually going to be here on the ground which I haven't been for the last few years. So that's good. And like I said, I went to the coalition conference for the one day, sat in on some panel discussions.
Uh some were general. It was uh couple of senators from our area, Senator Hoschild and Durant from uh Lake the Woods and Senator uh Flity. Is that it? From Hibing
were there and they were just a discussion about the session, what's going to be coming, what we can look for. As we all know, it's not really the they're hoping to have a bonding bill for different things um to get in, but they did comment how it was different
this year with the close and divided Senate and House with having to work together to get things done and had uh talk about rural health to uh panel. a lot of the same stuff we talk about all the time, which some of the things
they're already doing, like having the high school kids have a program where they can go [music] and uh see what medical uh fields are if they're interested. I know they can be in the CNA program at the college. All these things help our rural communities
that need these positions and ambulances. and I went in on paid leave and what's going to be coming on the first of the year and Sherry I know just enough now that I'd just be trouble
for you I bet you but no but that was interesting some of the information there [clears throat] >> thank you councelor any other reports seeing none at this time we can move back to the audience open form. If there
is anyone that would like to come forward at this time, please do. [clears throat] >> Good evening. >> Good evening everyone. U my name is Lois Lundine. I live at 2222 3rd Avenue East and um I have a couple of questions,
couple of comments. First of all, thank you for the continued efforts to move us forward in the ambulance world. um the community is encouraged and we're very hopeful that um that there's a good resolution soon. So, thank you for that. Um councelor Kaylor, thank you for your
announcement on the Thanksgiving dinner. You know, there are some difficult decisions in making those kinds of events happen and um I support your encouragement of people to come and dine in that social interaction is very important. So, um, so kudos to you for
making the call on limited delivery and really encouraging the public to come out. >> Okay. Um, I, um, also want to thank you for your continued work on the deer feeding ordinance. Um, but I have a I have a question. I'm looking at the map and I see that it doesn't encompass the
entire of the city of International Falls. And I'm curious as to why. Um there are areas within the city where a street divides where houses are where on one side of the street they're going to be able to feed the deer and on the other side they will not. Um I think it
it can get a little confusing. I think the deer population in our community for my house for example is outside of the is within the feeding area and I'd really like to buy some flowers. I'd like to not have to spray my plants so hard. like to do some of that stuff
again. So, I'm really I'm curious if you can help us to understand why it's not the entire city but only a part of. And if you have the answer for that tonight, great. If it if not, if it's something you can take back to committee
of the whole for continued discussion, I think that that the comm the community would appreciate that. >> Um, Councelor Wagner and I both sit on land use. We had an open house. um about the proposed ordinance that at that time
was citywide and to back up prior to that when whenever we started the process I without looking I don't it was several months ago um is what we found in the open house was that deer were an issue
in town which we all know there's a lot of them um but there was a lot of push back from many on the periphery of town that wanted to keep feeding [clears throat] um the animals.
There was almost unanimous consent in the the core of the city uh particularly around Stenberg um 6th 7th 8th 9th 10th 11th street um that there be some type of ban in that area of
town. So that's what we heard. Um it went back to land use and legislation. Um Chelsea worked on the legality of that. Um one of the questions
uh was can we do what we were proposing which I think to a degree might be selective enforcement or a certain area. Um the answer we got was that we could do that and that's how we got it to this
point and now it's going back to committee level. Interesting. So it was by community input that there were people on the outskirts of town that didn't want it. They did not want a deer feeding restriction on the outsides
[music] of town. Like all down Shorewood from Third Avenue East back, there will not be a deer feeding ordinance, but people on the other side of the street may correct. Correct. >> According to this map, there there could
be. Okay. This will come back to committee of the whole in January. Is that correct? >> That's correct. As of this evening? Yeah. >> Okay. Right. Very good. Um I just I think it's um frustrating for people like me that are
I'm [music] I'm tired of it. I'm really tired of it. Um I haven't bought flowers out at Nicholson's for many years simply because I'm tired of feeding the darn things. So I just don't um and I know that there are others that are in the same position that I'm in. So I would encourage those people to reach out to you as well and voice the other side of
the opinion if there is one. Okay, you you're all hearing mine tonight. >> Okay, very good. Thank you. >> Thank you. [clears throat] Seeing no further at this time, [clears throat] we'll move on to reminders.
I will be giving my first state of the city address as mayor on Wednesday, November 26th, which is next Wednesday, 6:30 p.m. at Bakus Auditorium. I would like to thank them uh for graciously
offering to do so, and I hope that anyone interested will attend. City offices will be closed the very next day for Thanksgiving, Thursday, November 27th, and again on November 28th, which is the Friday after Thanksgiving.
The next regular city council meeting is December 1st. And the city council truth in taxation public hearing and input meeting is scheduled for Monday, December 1st at 6 pm or immediately following the
regularly scheduled city council meeting. Seeing no further business to come before the council at this time, meeting is adjourned.