City of Red Lake Falls
City Council Meeting
May 22, 2017
Minutes
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Red Lake Falls, Red Lake County, Minnesota was duly held in the Council Chambers of said
City on the 22nd day of May, 2017.
Members Present: Allen Bertilrud, Kevin Brevik, Sara Kenfield, Justin Carriere, Cheryl Matzke
Members Absent: Neil Knaack
Others Present: Kathy Schmitz, Delray Sparby, Carol Seeger, Barry Glienke, Colleen
Hoffman, Deb Derouin, Penny Williams
The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA
Brevik moved, seconded by Carriere, to approve the Agenda with the addition of 6.05 – Siren
and GVTC Proposal and 6.06 – 3
rd Street Lift Pump.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
CONSENT AGENDA
Brevik moved, seconded by Kenfield, to approve the following items in the Consent Agenda.
5.01 Approval of the May 8, 2017 City Council Meeting Minutes
5.02 Approval of the May 8, 2017 Board of Appeal & Equalization Hearing Minutes
5.03 Approval of the Bills and Disbursements
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
NEW BUSINESS
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to approve the property tax abatement for the property
described as Block 2, Lots 1-6 and 19-24, Salisbury Addition to the City of Red Lake Falls in
the amount of $2,446.54 for the year 2017.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Colleen Hoffman, Hoffman, Philipp & Knutson, PLLC, gave the audit report for the year ending
December 31, 2016. The last few years the City has made improvements in “leaps and
bounds” in their financial situation. She noted that the City has a General Fund Balance of
$460,000 (three years ago we had a balance of -0-). We have three proprietary funds,
Garbage, Sewer and Water. All money flowing through these funds are correctly coded and
taxes to sewer and water show correctly so we have a clear picture of what’s happening to
pay the sewer and water debt. She also went over the basic financial statements.
Matzke moved, seconded by Brevik, to accept the 2016 Audit Report by Colleen Hoffman.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Brevik moved, seconded by Kenfield, to authorize Bolton & Menk to submit advertizing for
bids for the Airport Lighting Project with a bid opening of June 22, 2017, 2:00 pm at City Hall.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Attorney Sparby explained the MMCDC Development Agreement. We need to rephrase a
portion, but we can approve it with it being subject to review. (MMCDC plans to put a house
on a lot in the Kankel Addition.)
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to approve the MMCDC Development Agreement with
changes being made by our legal counsel.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
The City sirens quit working. There was a relay issue and an electrical part issue which were
fixed. Two bills were received, one from GVTC and one from Ken’s Electric. GVTC proposed
to us that instead of charging us the $747 bill, they would charge us a monthly maintenance
lease for three years at $22.25 per month which covers both sirens. Do we want to pay the
bill in full or choose the lease option?
Kenfield moved, seconded by Carriere, to go with the three-year GVTC maintenance lease and
revisit it after three years.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
The 3rd Street sewer pump is in need of repairs. Two bids were received: $7,920 from
Minnesota Pump Works and $6,745 from Electric Pump.
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to go with the Electric Pump bid to repair the 3rd Street
lift pump for $6,745.00.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Barry Glienke, Bolton & Menk, is still trying to get the City money so he is sending a letter to
keep us on the list for getting funds in the 2018 state bonding bill. He is also sending a letter
to keep our sewer project on the list for the 2018 bonding money.
Matzke moved, seconded by Brevik, to authorize Engineer Glienke, Bolton & Menk, to send
letters to the State.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Kenfield moved, seconded by Carriere, to authorize an inter-fund advance of $150,000 from
the General Fund to the Mall Fund.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
Brevik moved, seconded by Kenfield, to adjourn the council meeting.
On vote being taken, the motion was unanimously passed.
The meeting adjourned at 7:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________________ ______________________________
Allen Bertilrud, Mayor Kathleen Schmitz, City Administrator
