City Council Agendas & Packets

APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, OCTOBER 21, 2025 – 5:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Council Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, October 21, 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: ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF COMMISSIONER MIKE POWERS FOR YEARS OF SERVICE ON THE EGF PLANNING COMMISSION, THE POLK COUNTY PLANNING COMMISSION, AND THE METROPOLITAN PLANNING ORGANIZATION EXECUTIVE BOARD. Council President Larson stated Commissioner Mike Powers was being acknowledged for his years of service to the city serving on the East Grand Forks Planning Commission from January 2009 to September 2025, serving on the Metropolitan Planning Organization Executive Board from January 2010 to June 2025, and serving on the Polk County Planning Commission from January 2013 to September 2025. He said in total that was 43 years of dedicated service to his community. He thanked Mr. Powers for his service to the community and the county. He asked him to come forward and receive his plaques. Mr. Powers said thank you and it had been an honor and privilege. He added he enjoyed every bit of it. 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. City Council Meeting October 21, 2025 APPROVAL OF MINUTES: 1. Consider approving the minutes of the “Council Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of October 7, 2025. 2. Consider approving the minutes of the “Work Session” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of October 14, 2025. 3. Consider approving the minutes of the “Special Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of October 14, 2025. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE (1) THROUGH THREE (3). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 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. 4. Consider approving the Exempt Gambling Permit application for the Red River Snowmobile Club to hold an excluded bingo event on January 22, 2026 at the VFW Club Post 3817 located at 312 Demers Ave East Grand Forks, MN 56721. 5. Consider declaring the list of vehicles and bicycles from the Police Department as surplus and authorizing the items to be sold at auction. 6. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-10-77 appointing Chad Grassel to the Planning Commission as of October 2025 with a term ending on December 31, 2028. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO APPROVE ITEMS FOUR (4) THROUGH SIX (6). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: 7. Regular meeting minutes of the Water, Light, Power, and Building Commission for October 1, 2025. 2|Page City Council Meeting October 21, 2025 COMMUNICATIONS: 8. Reminder that November 4th is Election Day but there are no Federal, State, County, City, or School elections scheduled for our area. Residents may hear about special elections taking place in Minnesota or other places around the country, but there are none for our area. Anyone with questions may contact the Administration Office by calling 218-773-2483. 9. Included in the packet is the Parks and Recreation Investigative Report Summary and Findings, a summary of the Parks and Recreation Policy Updates, a draft of the coaching policy updates, and the conduct and discipline policy. OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: 10. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-10-75 approving the assignment of Justin Roue as the General Crimes Investigator for a three-year rotation starting at a salary of $44.95 per hour. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER HELMS, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-10-75 APPROVING THE ASSIGNMENT OF JUSTIN ROUE AS THE GENERAL CRIMES INVESTIGATOR FOR A THREE-YEAR ROTATION STARTING AT A SALARY OF $44.95 PER HOUR. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 11. Consider authorizing the start of the promotional process for the rank of Corporal for the East Grand Forks Police Department. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO AUTHORIZE THE START OF THE PROMOTIONAL PROCESS FOR THE RANK OF CORPORAL FOR THE EAST GRAND FORKS POLICE DEPARTMENT. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 12. Consider approving the replacement of the East Grand Forks Police Department sign and Kenneth M. Olson Memorial with new signs from Grand Cities Monument for a total of $9,572.00. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE THE REPLACEMENT OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS POLICE DEPARTMENT SIGN AND KENNETH M. OLSON MEMORIAL WITH NEW SIGNS FROM GRAND CITIES MONUMENT FOR A TOTAL OF $9,572.00. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 3|Page City Council Meeting October 21, 2025 13. Consider approving Ordinance No. 50, 4th Series repealing sauna requirements from Chapter 114 Massage Parlor and Amending City Code by adding Chapter 118 Sauna Establishments and by adopting by reference City Code Chapter 10 and Section 10.99 which, among other things, contain penalty provisions (1st Reading). A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE ORDINANCE NO. 50, 4TH SERIES REPEALING SAUNA REQUIREMENTS FROM CHAPTER 114 MASSAGE PARLOR AND AMENDING CITY CODE BY ADDING CHAPTER 118 SAUNA ESTABLISHMENTS AND BY ADOPTING BY REFERENCE CITY CODE CHAPTER 10 AND SECTION 10.99 WHICH, AMONG OTHER THINGS, CONTAIN PENALTY PROVISIONS (1ST READING). Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 14. Consider approving the advertisement for Request for Proposals to consider the sale or lease of the decommissioned Wastewater Pond and surrounding property. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO APPROVE THE ADVERTISEMENT FOR REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS TO CONSIDER THE SALE OR LEASE OF THE DECOMMISSIONED WASTEWATER POND AND SURROUNDING PROPERTY. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 15. Consider approving the purchase of an ABS Pump from Minnesota Pump Works for a total of $49,924.00 for the K15 Stormwater Lift Station. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER CASMEY, TO APPROVE THE PURCHASE OF AN ABS PUMP FROM MINNESOTA PUMP WORKS FOR A TOTAL OF $49,924.00 FOR THE K15 STORMWATER LIFT STATION. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 16. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-10-76 choosing Option 1 and not waiving the statutory tort limits for excess liability coverage in 2026. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRZYWINSKI, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-10-76 CHOOSING OPTION 1 AND NOT WAIVING THE STATUTORY TORT LIMITS FOR EXCESS LIABILITY COVERAGE IN 2026. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. 4|Page City Council Meeting October 21, 2025 17. Consider approving the request to start the hiring process for a City Clerk position in the Administration Office. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO APPROVE THE REQUEST TO START THE HIRING PROCESS FOR A CITY CLERK POSITION IN THE ADMINISTRATION OFFICE. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. CLAIMS: 18. Consider authorizing the City Administrator to distribute payment for accounts payable invoices by issuing 71 checks totaling $413,598.07 and the October 17, 2025 payroll totaling $241,674.85. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO DISTRIBUTE PAYMENT FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES BY ISSUING 71 CHECKS TOTALING $413,598.07 AND THE OCTOBER 17, 2025 PAYROLL TOTALING $241,674.85. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: Mayor Olstad thanked Mr. Powers again for all that he did and for all the time spent working on items for the city. Council Member Pokrzywinski stated he would not be at the next meeting and thanked Ms. Nelson for her service. Council Vice-President Riopelle said he would miss Ms. Nelson. Council Member Helms said Ms. Nelson was his go-to person, she had been as asset to the city, he didn’t want to see her leave, but wished her well. Council Member Casmey said he already spoke to Ms. Nelson and appreciated everything she had done. Council Member Peterson commented it wasn’t just going to be the Council that was going to miss her and wished her good luck. Council President Larson added he thought she was the go-to person for more that just the Council, he thanked her for all that she had done and wished her the best. Mr. Huttunen stated there would be a reception before the work session next week for anyone that wanted to wish Ms. Nelson well. He added that the ice arena projects were in the design phase, the first bid package was the ice plant package, it had received council approval, it was close to being fully designed, and would be advertisement would be out by the end of the week for a three week period. He said the bids were expected in the middle of November, they would be reviewed, and then brought before the 5|Page City Council Meeting October 21, 2025 Council to award the contract. He added the second bid contract information for the structural work at the buildings would be brought forward at a future work session and right now everything was on schedule. Mr. Galstad stated he has worked with Ms. Nelson for many years, saw progress and growth, and he would not be able to do his job as efficiently without her so she would be missed. Mr. Emery congratulated Mr. Powers and how it was hard to find people that were willing to put the time into public service. He added he was going to echo comments and congratulate Ms. Nelson. He said anytime he had ever needed something she was able to find the information in a very timely manner and wished her the best. Mr. King told the Council after the approval for the R22, the work started last Wednesday on firing up the system, the current supply was added into the system, a leak detection test was completed, and without finding any leaks they added more R22 into the system. He explained how they ended up adding all the R22 into the system, they were able to get a frost on the floor, and they were able to start building ice which was right on schedule. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADJOURN THE OCTOBER 21, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 5:18 P.M. Voting Aye: Riopelle, Helms, Casmey, Larson, Peterson, Schumacher, and Pokrzywinski. Voting Nay: None. _______________________________________________ Reid Huttunen, City Administrator 6|Page