City Council Agendas & Packets

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025 – 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Work Session of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, August 12, 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: 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; Ron Galstad, City Attorney; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief, 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. 1. Request for Police Mobile Radios – Michael Hedlund Chief Hedlund informed the Council they were working on replacing radios over three years because the radios had reached their end of service life and were no longer going to be supported. He stated the cost was approximately $46,000 for the radios, $55,000 had been budgeted, and there would be some incidental costs, but they would not exceed the budgeted amount. Council member Pokrzywinski asked how long the service life was on the radios. Chief Hedlund said they had replaced radios when he had become Chief 17 years ago and again about 8 to 9 years ago. Council member Pokrzywinski commented how much technology changed in 10 years. There were no further questions. This item will be referred to a City Council Meeting for action. 2. Requesting Approval for the 2025 Update to the Title VI and Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Plan – Nancy Ellis Ms. Ellis reminded the Council how these plans were required for transit, they were updated every three years, and there have not been any changes to the plans. She stated they had not received any complaints, Grand Forks had already submitted the plan to the Federal Transit Administration (FTA), the FTA had approved the plan, and the City just needed to adopt the plan because it was a part of the Cities Areas Transit. There were no questions. This item will be referred to a City Council Meeting for action. Work Session August 12, 2025 3. Consider Renewal of Solid Waste Disposal & Management Agreement – Jason Stordahl Mr. Stordahl told the Council this was an agreement between the cities for the use of the Grand Forks landfill, it used to be a five-year agreement, it was now a 10-year agreement, and the City would be paying the current landfill rates. Council member Helms asked why it changed to 10 years and if the City received a break for signing a 10-year contract. Mr. Stordahl said he was unsure about the change, and this agreement did not lock the City into anything but allowed continued use of the landfill. Council President Larson asked if there were other options. Mr. Stordahl said Countrywide had a landfill, but they did not accept municipal refuse. There were no further questions. This item will be referred to a City Council Meeting for action. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADJOURN THE AUGUST 12, 2025 WORK SESSION OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:06 P.M. Voting Aye: Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, and Peterson. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Megan Nelson, City Clerk 2|Page  APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2025 – FOLLOWING THE WORK SESSION CALL TO ORDER: The Special Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, August 12, 2025 was called to order by Council President Larson at 5:08 P.M. CALL OF ROLL: On a Call of Roll the following members of the East Grand Forks City Council were present: 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; Ron Galstad, City Attorney; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief, 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. 1. Consider approving the request to start the hiring process for a Supervisor for the Public Works Department. 2. Consider approving the request to start the hiring process for a Truck Driver for the Public Works Department. Council President Larson asked for a motion to table both of these items until the August 19 th council meeting. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, TO TABLE BOTH ITEMS UNTIL THE AUGUST 19TH COUNCIL MEETING. Voting Aye: Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, and Peterson. Voting Nay: None. Council member Helms said he was happy this process was slowing down, he felt sometimes they moved way too fast, but that was also because help was needed. He added he would be gone for the next two weeks but would be joining the meetings. Special Meeting August 12, 2025 ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADJOURN THE AUGUST 12, 2025 SPECIAL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:10 P.M. Voting Aye: Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, and Peterson. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Megan Nelson, City Clerk 2|Page