Unofficial 6-15-2026 City Council Meeting Minutes
Unofficial Pembina City Council Meeting Minutes for June 15, 2026
Date: Monday, June 15, 2026, 6pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Fitzgerald, Norby, Needham (via telephone), Flores, Carattini, A Huttunen
Absent: Snitker
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney; Fanfulik, City Engineer; Greg Kneeshaw, Dean (Bolton & Menk), Gary Helland, Theuns Steyn, Cody Carpenter, Lyndi Needham, Phil & Louise Hall
6pm Public Portion called to order by Mayor Fitzgerald
Public Portion:
· P Hall: 5th St needs a yield/stop sign due to all the traffic for the Meeting Hall—it’s a safety issue.
Public portion closed at 6:01pm by Mayor Fitzgerald
Regular Council Meeting called to order at 6:01pm by Mayor Fitzgerald
Changesto Agenda—motion by Carattini, 2nd by A Huttunen to approve changes to agenda; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/Changesto May 18, 2026 MeetingMinutes—motion by Carattini, 2nd by NOrby to approve; all ayes, motion carries
· Old Business
o Valley Landfill—A Huttunen term with VL ends 7/15/26 unless he’s elected to be at large, is willing to continue working on that committee; A Huttunen will meet w Stoiber to update $ to Valley Landfill and provide rates for city pickup of dumpsters.
o Citywide Cleanup Day—took about 4 hours or so. Will get Stoiber billing info before the 25th.
· CommitteeReports
o Rec Board – no meeting
o Ice Rink—no meeting
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—minutes attached
o Professional Building—no meeting
o Daycare Committee—no meeting
· EmployeesReport/Concerns
o Koropatnicki:
§ Crack Sealing by JetBlack —weather permitting will finish 6/16/26—what’s been done so far looks really good—only blacktop was done this year. Next year wb cement streets; about $20,000 for that, so need to set aside those funds.
§ Knife River street repair quote (Stutsman St): $107,330; motion by A Huttunen to approve, use the set aside funds from 2025 property taxes to help cover cost; 2nd by Carattini; role call vote—ayes: Carattini, Needham, Flores, A Huttunen; nay: Norby, motion carries.
· Fire Department—
o Annual pump and SCBA testing cost $5000
o Did vehicle extrication training
o Going to fire camp in Minot
o Need to come up with $25000 in repairs for quick attack
o Thanks to Wilwant Grant for new crib it and rave struts for vehicle extrications
o Have started getting in 4 sets of gear—thanks to City for donation
o PFA Steak Feed July 3—approximately 400 steaks donated by Bridgestone/Wilwand Farms—free will donation
· EngineerReport—Fanfulik—Widseth findings in line w GFT (state inspectors)—Stutstman St/Pembina River bridge is in “serious” disrepair with south ½ being far worse than north half. Fleming: at 3:30pm today received letter from State that says it is permanently closed—if it cannot sustain more than 3 tons, it cannot be open to anyone, even pedestrians. Fanfulik—a feasibility study needs to be done. A Huttunen—what about a pedestrian bridge? Really not feasible and still wouldn’t be quickly completed. Fleming—ownership of the bridge was supposedly transferred from the state between 1979 and 1981, but can find nothing stating City agreed. No inspection reports since 1997, however, in 2020 Lisa Hall sent Fleming the inspection report. It appears the reports were being sent to the County. Steyn—if we want the bridge, who is the cost born by? Possibly County. Needham—people crossing after closure, what needs to be done? Call sheriff’s dept and report trespassing.
· Attorney Update
o 2nd Street vacate request by G Kneeshaw: Motion to approve by Norby, 2nd by A Huttunen; all ayes, motion carries. Public hearing to be set.
o Stutsman St/Pembina River Bridge—in letter from State (posted on City Website), they have closed the bridge to all traffic; only the state can re-open it, and they are following federal regulations out of safety concerns. If bridge can’t handle at least 3 tons, it must be shut down.
o Fish & Game dam removal memo of understanding with water board: water board grants the right, it’s a city project with a cost share of 60% with water board and the balance with F&G; no cost to the city. Motion by A Huttunen to sign memo of understanding, 2nd by Carattini, all ayes, motion carries.
o During the elections the ordinance for the supplemental 1% sales tax increase to aid the rec board, ice rink, golf course, ambulance service, and fire department passed. The new ordinance will need to be read in July & August, then it will be sent to the ND Taxation division to start collecting it by 1/1/27.
· Update&Business: Mayor/Mike Fitzgerald
o Thanks to Koropatnicki and Stoiber for all their hard work.
o There have been issues with City Staff being stalked—if it continues, staff members are to report to Pembina County Sheriff’s Office, and file a complaint.
· Update&Business:CityAuditor/Teri Stoiber
o May 2026 Financials—motion by Carattini, 2nd Norby to approve—4 ayes, nay—A Huttunen, motion carries
o Delinquent Accounts Update:—see notes
o Asst City Super—parents pay health insurance—does City still reimburse? A Huttunen—no, not the way it’s set up—employee must pay their own insurance to get reimbursement.
o $200,000 grant—Community Center is completed; next up wb fire department (Northdale wb replacing the “crinkled interior lines” on the exterior of PVFD with black iron as per code) and Professional Bldg. Ricards was held up due to “emergencies.”
o Building Pemit—G Kneeshaw, S Cosley, Helland. Motion by A Huttunen to approve all 3, 2nd by Carattini; all ayes; motion carries.
o Special Sales Tax disbursement information—final rules will be discussed in July.
o Sparks Program—will increase property tax revenue, new homes, etc.—looking for 2 lots to be donated by city—tabled to July.
o Fish Cleaning Station—still looking for grants to help cover part of it—F&G stated original estimate was too high and it should be able to be done for $30,000 less.
· New Business
o A Huttunen—city employees and supervisory roles—don’t let personal agendas, view points, etc. affect how staff are managed. Grudges may surface—with a new council, pay attention to what’s happening and protect the staff.
Adjournment—Motion to adjourn at 7:39pm by A Huttunen
By: Mayor Fitzgerald
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
The Next City Council Meeting will be held on July 20, 2026, at 6pm in the Professional Building.