3/11/2025 UNOFFICIAL PEMBINA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Date: March 11, 2025
Council Members Present: Mayor Fitzgerald, Snitker, Carattini, Norby
Absent: Watts, A Huttunen
Guests: G Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; R Fleming, City Attorney; B Eisenbeis, PVFD; D Fanfulik, City Engineer; Darcy Reis (Questions on apt from last City Meeting; wants meetings live-streamed); Phil Hall, Deputy Corey Mortensen
Public Portion called to order at 6:02pm
- Mayor Fitzgerald: It’s a courtesy for the Council to allow the Public to speak—normally the Public aren’t allowed to speak during Council Meetings; there’s to be a limit of 5 minutes per person; if there are multiple people representing the same topic, one person needs to be chosen to speak on everyone’s behalf so the meeting doesn’t drag out, beating a dead horse on the same subject.
- Darcy Reis: recorded her portion via Facetime (19 min); wants video and audio recordings of Council Meetings; property was discussed in Feb meeting—not for mosquito fee, but for sales tax/occupancy tax; requested copy of letter to state and Dec-Jan-Feb meeting minutes from Stoiber (rec’d); apologized for stating sleeping rooms being daily rentals; Ms. Crystal Volk has nothing to do with Darcy’s properties; spoke to Tax Dept about audit—will get back to Council on results; transcribed parts of the recorded minutes—feels remarks were “bar talk,” and inappropriate, laughter by council over different remarks, comments by Fleming; what does Council have against their businesses? Threats were made by Council. What is culvert issue involving Ms. Crystal Volk? Why is Council making inappropriate and unprofessional comments?
- Mayor Fitzgerald: If daily rentals, need to pay sales tax/occupancy tax; else needs to pay per door for mosquito fee
- Darcy Reis: So this is personal?
- Mayor Fitzgerald: No, it’s because it’s one way or the other—either mosquito fee or sales tax/occupancy tax. And any citizen can do video recording; City will not do it.
- Phil Hall: Shouldn’t debate issues during public portion of meeting
Public portion closed 6:21pm
Regular meeting called to order 6:21 pm
- Changes to Agenda: motion by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini, all ayes motion carries
· Approval/Changes to February 11, 2025, Meeting Minutes—motion to approve by Carattini, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries
- EngineerReport – Dustin Fanfulik
o Lagoon project—kick off meeting with State, working on reports
o Update about City boundaries—county needs to update; county has inaccurate information—look at old maps?
o Bringing large maps next time
o Left early
· Old Business
o CanDak Bike Tour--Ambulance Service/Stoiber—working on fund raising for Bike Tour in August to get free goods. Fire Dept might have 4-5 people available to help with breakfast.
o 2nd Reading to change Council Meetings to 3rd Monday of the month. Motion by Needham, 2nd by Snitker to change Council meetings to 3rd Monday of the month; all ayes; motion carries.
· Committee Reports
o Rec Board – minutes attached—budget for 2025 attached.
o Ice Rink—no meeting—Stoiber generated budget for 2025.
o Cemetery—no meeting—need someone to do minutes, fund raising, etc.—need budget—Ms. Kris filled out Larry J Wilwant grants; created 2nd CD (7 mo) with starting balance of $10,000
o Library—minutes attached; budget attached, checks & deposit slips needed (will get in March--working on mandated reports); hired Kayla Schiltz and Nicole Ver to help out; A Huttunen made motion to raise to $17.50/hr for all librarians, approved by board. Motion to approve by Needham, 2nd by Snitker; all ayes; motion carries
- Professional Building—no meeting Waiting on bids from contractors. Use previously collected rents for repairs? Waiting on info from company fka WedgCor about repair to the rear—B Skinner to remove sheetrock to get codes & provide accurate quote for repair. Norby expressed concerns about updating building; possibly selling; are we spending wisely? Received $139 check from insurance, as initial payment towards repair of rear of building; once we get final quote and submit to State, will get about $12,000 more towards to repair to rear of building, depending on cost.
- Employees Report/Concerns
o Greg:
- Street Sweeper: Stoiber working on grant to help pay for this piece of equipment.
- Community Center Flagpole issues quote/Stoiber to applied to Larry Wilwant Grant. Snitker motioned pending receipt of grant to purchase commercial pole; 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries; if City doesn’t get grant, will go a different direction. 6-8 weeks to receive new pole once ordered.
- Sewer cleaning—company that does sewer cleaning didn’t come in 2024; company needs help; City staff could possibly help; this is part of the maintenance program; Greg meeting with companies about costs—current company does ¼ of City at a time—emergency calls are extra; Snitker made motion to budget $10,000/yr for sewer maintenance; 2nd by Carattini. Role call vote: ayes—Carattini, Snitker, Needham, Norby; motion carries.
- Crack sealing—lasts longer—good option due to lack of City Staff; $2048/day is what it costs City to do repair—this is a hot mix, and lasts 2-3 years—this is not the same as what Knife River did last year.
o Fire Dept—
- Radios—two more months before they arrive and have to be paid for
- Gave budget to Stoiber to load into new software
- Taught CPR & fire extinguisher training at GHY
- Building inspections coming up, including businesses and apartments
- 2 new fire fighters, now maxed out, removed 4 about a month ago, 3 more may be let go.
- Rural fire Depts are dying due to lack of funding, no one wants to be chief.
- Blaine going for training in Bismarck & IN.
- Sleeping rooms/hotels—once deemed sleeping rooms/hotel rooms, must be inspected by State, then report given to Blaine, he must ensure they are brought up to fire code
· Attorney Update
o MidContinental Lease—no response on proposed increase—not concerned yet, they may want to negotiate pricing
o Daily Rental/Occupancy & Sales Tax: sent letter to State; open records request by Ms. Reis—this is State’s investigation now, City is out of it and will likely not hear results. Not going to respond to Ms. Ries’s questions as this will be handled by the State
o Office Protocol
- City hasn’t done enough to protect staff from verbal assaults and aggressive behavior
- Conversations to be recorded when people are/have been antagonistic—this keeps things on an even keel, and there is a verbatim record of what was said
- Stoiber to understand, if feeling harassed, annoyed and alarmed by unwanted act or gesture that serves no legitimate purpose, and seems intended to affect safety, security, and privacy, that is a crime, and needs to call Sheriff’s Office and report it.
- If there are people who come into the Office and cause problems, they can be prohibited from coming to the Office without an appointment. Recommend limiting access to the Office; however Citizens with legitimate business needs may make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. This allows a second person to be available to address any concerns.
- Security camera option to point at window, motion activated, keeps recording for 1 month. Audio/Video security camera that holds up to 30 days of recordings; Stoiber to contact Polar Comm and Stateside for quotes.
- City is under no obligation under open records request for employees to have to work nights, weekends, etc., to provide requested information. AG says have to respond in “reasonable time” (days/weeks); factors include volume of information requested, how accessible information is, workload—staff isn’t to drop everything to fulfill requests.1st hour is free, $25/hour after plus $.25/copy payable in advance.
- Motion by Snitker to give the Mayor discretion in restricting access to the City Office when necessary to de-escalate situations. People who are limited in this manner who need to transact business with the City of Pembina at the City Offices shall be allowed on the premises provided they make an appointment at least 24 hours in advance. Anyone prohibited from accessing the Office by the Mayor will be automatically placed on the agenda for the next council meeting; at which time the Council will affirm/disallow the Mayor’s action; person will get a notice of prohibited entry. 2nd by Needham; all ayes, motion carries.
· Update & Business: Mayor Fitzgerald
o Snitker made motion hire T Steyn at $28/hr. full-time, reviewed at 6 months, potentially offer a raise at that time; 2nd by Carattini, all ayes, motion carries. He is to start 3/17/25.
o K Schafer: wants to start before school lets out; motion by Snitker to hire K Schafer at $18/hr. to start asap; 2nd by Needham, 3 ayes, 1 opposed, motion carries.
o 2nd part-time helper will be addressed next month.
o Jeff Watts resigned—motion to accept resignation, Council and Mayor thank him for his service, and vacancy declared by Snitker; 2nd by Carattini; all ayes; motion carries
- Council cannot do anything until 15 days pass; Pembina citizen can bring petition with 5% (11+) of electors from previous election to require special election for that position; if not received, then Council can call for special election or appoint successor to sit on Council until next election.
- Update & Business:City Auditor/Stoiber
o February 2025 Bills & Financials—motion to accept by Needham, 2nd by Carattini, all ayes, motion carries.
o Delinquent Accounts Update: see notes
o Working on February reports to State Auditor.
o Had first payroll with new software, went smoothly; have been entering bills, checks, and revenues into new software.
o Truck Financing: Can transfer $20,000 from the Sales Tax Account/Water + $10,000 from Pembina Court + $30,000 from General fund. Snitker made motion to transfer as per above to cover cost of truck, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries.
o Building Permit—183 W Stutsman—motion to approve by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini, all ayes, motion carries
o Gaming Permit—Golf Course Calendar—motion to approve by Snitker, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries
o Submitted Grant—Grant to help with cost of converting ramp lights to LED. Potentially $16,560
o Texas 4000 for Cancer—coming to Pembina on June 24. Will stay overnight at campgrounds. Ambulance Service will provide 2 meals. Motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to allow visit; 3 ayes, 1 abstain, motion carries.
o Researching County Tax Rolls for vacant buildings/homes/vacant lots not on the utility billing. Found 80+ more not on the Utility Billing. To be revisited next month.
o Needham asked City to pay for Council Member class/travel—motion by Snitker to cover cost, 2nd by Carattini, all ayes, 1 abstained, motion carries.
Motion to adjourn 8:15pm by Snitker, 2nd by Norby.
By: Mayor Fitzgerald
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
