Unofficial 1-27-26 City Council Meeting Minutes
Unofficial Pembina City Council Meeting Minutes for January 27, 2026
Date: Tuesday, January 27, 2026, 6pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Snitker, Norby, Flores, Carattini, Needham, A Huttunen
Absent: Mayor Fitzgerald
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; R Fleming, City Attorney; Ben Kneeshaw (public)
6pm quorum called.
No public portion.
Regular Council Meeting Called to order at 6:01pm by Council President Snitker.
Changes to Agenda—motion by Norby, 2nd by A Huttunen to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
Approval/Changes to December 15, 2025, Meeting Minutes, and December 22, 2025 Special Meeting Minutes—motion by Carratini, 2nd by Flores to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
Old Business
o Propane Company bids: still need to find out what other companies offer as far as what they’ll repair at their expense, cost of propane, prebuys, etc. Fleming to assist Stoiber to get the information as calling the companies was ineffective.
o Revisit electric bicycle/scooter ordinance—motion to table by A Huttunen
o Food pantry (Feed the Need) – still working on flooring; Fleming to create the lease agreement. Contact will be made this month again with Great Plains, then start grant/funding requests. Motion to table by Snitker.
o Schafer’s application to be PT City Works Asst. accepted.
Committee Reports
o Rec Board – no meeting
o Valley Landfill: A Huttunen asked if new truck could go into shop—won’t fit. Koropatnicki gave other options.
o Ice Rink—no meeting
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—no meeting;
· o Professional Building—no meeting--Stoiber scraping floor in Ste 5 and getting ready to install flooring; once flooring is installed, Red Roost Motel/Needham will order double sink from Webstaurant Supply and have Brandon Patterson install it in preparation for conversion to food pantry “Feed the Need.”
· o Daycare Committee—no meeting
o Fire Department—Flores is new Chief, Snitker is new Asst. Chief; opened Community Center because there were over 30 stranded motorists, plus 3 emergency rescues throughout the blizzard January 16-17. No cots, perhaps city should get 20 for future issues? Stoiber to contact Red Cross and Dept of Emergency Services to see if they can assist with obtaining same. Community Center was full—Eisenbeis’s stayed with stranded people, PVFD/PFA provided pizzas, coffee, and water for them. Flores/Snitker/Moore working on fundraising ideas, and hoping to get gaming at the Bridgestone.
Employees Report/Concerns
o Koropatnicki
o Training in Fargo Feb 10-12; B Eisenbeis to do snow removal if the need arises; Koropatnicki won’t be using city pickup, so will be submitting mileage, class, hotel, and meals for reimbursement; motion by Carattini, second by Needham to approve; all ayes; motion carries. ND Rural Water will reimburse costs to City.
o Sander is having issues due to lack of care by previous employees; plan is to repair it and hopefully get through this winter then see how much it would cost to refurbish it and how long that will potentially last vs. purchasing a used or new one.
o In need of more land to push snow to. There’s a parcel that’s been for sale behind D&K; Stoiber to find out if it’s for sale, asking price, how many lots in the parcel, and would they accept $10,000 offer from the City to purchase it. (Special Meeting to be held depending on response)
o Trails End Services: has snow removal/sanding services; motion by A Huttunen, second by Carattini to approve up to $1500/month of services at Koropatnicki’s discretion before council needs to be involved; all ayes; motion carries.
o Team Labs Quote—Motion by A Huttunen, second by Norby to approve broadleaf spraying program costs; all ayes; motion carries.
Engineer Report – Dustin Fanfulik: unavailable
Attorney Update
o DFA Condemnation proceedings—DFA representative is to come to March 16, 2026 council meeting to explain why building hasn’t been removed
o Roger Bellerive (Roger’s Sewer from Canada) turning parcel 33-1640035 over to City—parcel has unusual legal description, working on paperwork.
o Ballot documents for chickens and sales taxes—will get to Stoiber so they can be sent to County to be put on the ballot.
o Snow being blown into the streets after Super has cleaned the streets is causing hazards and is of major concern; anyone violating the ordinance, and blowing their snow into the streets, should be cited. Snow from sidewalks/driveways/property is to be blown onto own property—not onto city streets. Super to call Auditor and have her call law enforcement—it is $500/violation.
Update & Business:
Mayor Fitzgerald
o L Steyn application to be FT PW Asst.—tabled until Fitzgerald can interview and make decision
City Auditor/Stoiber
o December 2025 Bills & Financials—motion by Carattini, second by Needham to approve; 4 ayes; Nay—A Huttunen; motion carries.
o Delinquent Accounts Update—names to be included going forward
o NFIP ordinance changes and agreement to stay involved—motion by Needham to implement flood plain ordinance as per ND Century Code; second by Carattini; 4 ayes; Nay—A Huttunen; motion carries. Fleming to create/amend City’s ordinances and send to Stoiber to submit to NFIP.
o 2026 Fish Cleaning Station agreement with Fish & Game—motion by A Huttunen to accept new contract; second by Flores; all ayes; motion carries.
o Change of use for Pembina River? Need surveyor, other requirements: Stoiber to tell Water Resources contact City isn’t interested; he can come to February 17, 2026, meeting to explain why the City should do it, what the benefits are, and potential issues.
o Info on Bicycle Safety and related—tabled to February meeting
o Water/Sewer/Lagoon rates—losing $, people with no or minimal usage do not pay Lagoon fees; sewer is in the hole due to low revenues compared to costs (expenses weren’t fully accounted under sewer fund in the past); water is losing $ because wages weren’t completely allocated and all expenses for operating water weren’t accounted for under water fund—and rate increases weren’t projected appropriately. Tabled.
o Working on $200,000 grant for hvac in 10 city buildings—sent preliminary numbers in, waiting for Energy Savings Analysis and quotes from propane and electrical companies.
o Letter to send out about potential housing assistance. Going to wait until new plan is assessed.
New Business
o Elections this year for council members (4 positions) and Mayor. Current members given documentation needed for running. Citizens interested in running for any position must get documentation from Auditor and complete it and return it by March 31, 2026.
o Norby voiced concerns about City “giving away lots” and people purchasing lots not putting them to use/improving them. Need to set reasonable, fair value for lot prices. Set an ordinance that improvements must happen within a specific time frame. What is the plan for the 5th St. lot that the city spent money demolishing the building?
o Application for snow removal assistant (winter work only “seasonal”)—motion by A Huttunen to approve a trial basis part time seasonal hire at $18/hour at Super’s discretion and re-evaluate in March; second by Needham; 4 ayes; Nay—Norby; motion carries.
o Waste Management—price increase—there is a provision in the current contract there must be a discussion for any rate increases—if an agreement can’t be reached, City has the right to give 120 day termination notice to WM; one issue is Valley Landfill can’t recycle; A Huttunen will look into having a MN company do the recycling—Stoiber to see if Citizens would like to discontinue the recycling; tabled to February 17, 2026, council meeting to negotiate with WM representative.
o Carattini—Law Enforcement Discussion—Stoiber to call Cavalier to find out how much 2 daytime and 2 night deputies would cost FT to patrol; what if on call?
o Gaming Permits—motion by Carattini, second by Flores to approve 4th of July Committee gaming permit; all ayes; motion carries. PFA Gaming at Bridgestone tabled to February 17 meeting as Bridgestone, PFA, and NB Eagles need to talk before Council can make informed decision.
o All Class Reunion 7/3-7/5/26—Stoiber to call Ottertail about short-term electricity or 1 meter for the entire strip. Can put 2 rvs/site, will need to do “Y” connections for water, sewer, electricity; there are rules and will need updated ordinances from Fleming. If they want to “dry camp,” it can be done; however, NDCC states there must be a fly-free privy, refuse disposal, and other sanitary conditions that must be met. Can’t camp on 5th Street as water lines don’t work.
o RRCHDO wants the Kneeshaw Circle lots 2-3-4-6 subdivided to be sold to new home owners. Kneeshaw Cir can be subdivided; there are concerns about the water and sewer lines that run down the middle of the lots; all water and sewer lines are connected. Motion by Needham, second by Carattini to set prices at $10,000/lot with cost of engineering/surveying/and any other legal matters to be the responsibility of RRCHDO; Ayes—Needham, Carattini, Flores; Nays: Norby, A Huttunen; motion carries. Issue about garages to be discussed in February. Fleming to update mobile home park ordinance as well—do they have to have set back same as “regular homes?”
Motion by Needham to adjourn at 8:30pm.
By: Council President/Snitker
Attested to Stoiber, City Auditor
Special Meeting will be held on February 3, 2026, 6pm at the Professional Building.
The next regular council meeting will be held on February 17, 2026, 6pm at the Professional Building.