City Council Agendas & Packets

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2025 – 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Council Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, February 4, 2025 was called to order by Council President Larson at 5:00 P.M. CALL OF ROLL: On a Call of Roll the following members of the East Grand Forks City Council were present: Mayor Mark Olstad, Council President Brian Larson, Council Vice-President Tim Riopelle, Council members Tami Schumacher, Ben Pokrzywinski, Dale Helms, Donald Casmey, and Karen Peterson. Staff Present: Karla Anderson, Finance Director; Jeff Boushee, Fire Chief; Maggie Brockling, Economic Development Director; Nancy Ellis, City Planner; Steve Emery, City Engineer; Ron Galstad, City Attorney; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief, Charlotte Helgeson, Library Director; Reid Huttunen, City Administrator; Jeremy King, Parks and Recreation Superintendent; Keith Mykleseth, Water and Light General Manager; Megan Nelson, City Clerk; and Jason Stordahl, Public Works Director. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM: The Council President Determined a Quorum was present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: OPEN FORUM: Council President Larson stated the open form was an opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on items not on the current agenda and items requiring Council action maybe deferred to staff or Boards and Commissions for research and future Council Agendas if appropriate. He asked if anyone would like to address the City Council, please come up to the podium to do so. No one came forward. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Consider approving the minutes of the “Council Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of January 21, 2025. 2. Consider approving the minutes of the “Work Session” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of January 28, 2025. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE (1) AND TWO (2). Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. City Council Meeting February 4, 2025 SCHEDULED BID LETTINGS: NONE. SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS: NONE CONSENT AGENDA: Items under the “Consent Agenda” will be adopted with one motion; however, council members may request individual items to be pulled from the consent agenda for discussion and action if they choose. 3. Consider approving the Exempt Gambling Permit application for the Northern Lights Figure Skating Club to hold a raffle and bingo on April 17, 2025 at the Eagle Club located at 227 10th St NW East Grand Forks, MN 56721 and waive the 30 day waiting period. 4. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-13 approving the following Board and Commission appointments as presented by the appropriate elected officials. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO APPROVE ITEMS THREE (3) AND FOUR (4). Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: NONE COMMUNICATIONS: NONE OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: 5. Consider approving the update to the Parks and Recreation Commission bylaws changing the meetings from monthly to quarterly. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, TO APPROVE THE UPDATE TO THE PARKS AND RECREATION COMMISSION BYLAWS CHANGING THE MEETINGS FROM MONTHLY TO QUARTERLY. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. 6. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-14 supporting and approving the 2025 BUILD Grant application towards planning activities for the East Grand Forks-Grand Forks Bridge crossing project an authorize the City Administrator to submit the application. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-02-14 SUPPORTING AND 2|Page City Council Meeting February 4, 2025 APPROVING THE 2025 BUILD GRANT APPLICATION TOWARDS PLANNING ACTIVITIES FOR THE EAST GRAND FORKS-GRAND FORKS BRIDGE CROSSING PROJECT AN AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO SUBMIT THE APPLICATION. Mr. Huttunen told the Council this resolution recognized the name change of the program from RAISE to BUILD. He stated some of the goals of the program were changed slightly so some adjustments were made. He added the application had been submitted by the deadline, the resolution would be submitted once it was signed, and they would know in June if the project was awarded grant funds. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. 7. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-15 awarding the 2025 Annual Sewer Cleaning to Johnson Jet-Line Inc for a total of $103, 952.92 for Project Areas 1 and 2 and rejecting the alternate option. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-02-15 AWARDING THE 2025 ANNUAL SEWER CLEANING TO JOHNSON JET-LINE INC FOR A TOTAL OF $103, 952.92 FOR PROJECT AREAS 1 AND 2 AND REJECTING THE ALTERNATE OPTION. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. 8. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-16 ordering improvement and preparation of plans and specifications for the 2025 City Project No. 3 for the Lift Station 13 Rehabilitation. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-02-16 ORDERING IMPROVEMENT AND PREPARATION OF PLANS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE 2025 CITY PROJECT NO. 3 FOR THE LIFT STATION 13 REHABILITATION. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. 9. Consider approving the Opinion of Council which will be filed with the Federal Transit Administration (FTA) along with the application for the City of East Grand Forks for federal transportation assistance. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO APPROVE THE OPINION OF COUNCIL WHICH WILL BE FILED WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA) ALONG WITH THE APPLICATION FOR THE CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS FOR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. 10. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-17 authorizing the filing of applications with the Federal Transit Administration for federal transportation assistance. 3|Page City Council Meeting February 4, 2025 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-02-17 AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF APPLICATIONS WITH THE FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION FOR FEDERAL TRANSPORTATION ASSISTANCE. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. CLAIMS: 11. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-02-18 authorizing the City of East Grand Forks to approve purchases from Border States Trophy the goods referenced in check number 43899 for a total of $80.00 whereas Council member Riopelle is personally interested financially in the contract. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-02-18 AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TO APPROVE PURCHASES FROM BORDER STATES TROPHY THE GOODS REFERENCED IN CHECK NUMBER 43899 FOR A TOTAL OF $80.00 WHEREAS COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE IS PERSONALLY INTERESTED FINANCIALLY IN THE CONTRACT. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. Abstain: Riopelle. 12. Consider authorizing the City Administrator/Clerk-Treasurer to issue payment of recommended bills and payroll. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR/CLERK- TREASURER TO ISSUE PAYMENT OF RECOMMENDED BILLS AND PAYROLL. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: Mayor Olstad thanked everyone that had reached out giving condolences after the passing of his mother which was appreciated and he also said thanks for the plant that was given. Council Member Schumacher thanked the community for their support. She explained she had recently adopted four kids that were their foster kids, they had something like a shower, it was incredible, and they felt very supported. Council Member Helms said thank you to Council member Schumacher because it took a special kind of person to do those things. He added he was looking forward to going down to St. Paul and see what they could find out. 4|Page City Council Meeting February 4, 2025 Council Member Peterson stated she had the opportunity to attend the Chamber’s annual meeting, it was a new experience for her, and the keynote speaker had an amazing message about he was able to take personal tragedy, from being a UND athlete to becoming a paraplegic, and with the help of the community he was able to create new life goals. She explained his experience helped him recognize the importance of community and home. She continued saying how important the message was for the sense of community and the importance of home because last week was the Midwestern synchronized skating competition which was held in Kalamazoo Michigan. She told the group the preliminary team placed second among 21 teams and based on their score they placed second in the nation. She added the open juvenile team placed seventh out of 18 teams which was also an amazing accomplishment. She stated what people may not recognized is that these teams came from a community of 9,000 people, they competed against teams from communities that were 10 times plus that size, and it was our community and home that made this happen. She thanked the East Grand Forks Parks and Recreation Department for offering the program, she thanked coaches many of whom grew up and graduated from East Grand Forks, she thanked the VFW for providing meeting space and meals for the Northern Star competition, and to Tom Barrett and Brian Enright for flipping pancakes. She also thanked Triangle Bussing for getting the skaters to the competitions safely, she thanked the parents, families, and community members who support the skaters, and she thanked the skaters for making their community and home proud. She said this was just one of the many examples of why they call East Grand Forks home. Mr. Huttunen thanked Council member Peterson for her comments. He told the Council they should have received an email from the Chamber about the Intergovermental Retreat that would be held on February 20th at the Spud Jr. He stated they would need to RSVP from that email, lunch was available, and this event was scheduled from 12pm to 4pm. He added that if anyone had issues to contact either himself or Ms. Nelson but try to RSVP through that link. He reminded everyone the following week would be Legislative Action Day with the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities, there were a few of them that would be traveling on Tuesday, they would be participating in meetings all day Wednesday, and traveling back on Thursday. He stated as of now there was a plan to hold a work session, but there was a possibility it could be canceled which would happen by the end of the week. He reminded everyone the strategic planning session would be following the meeting in the training room. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO ADJOURN THE FEBRUARY 4, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:15 P.M. Voting Aye: Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Helms. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Megan Nelson, City Clerk 5|Page