Unofficial 4-20-26 Council Meeting Minutes
Unofficial Pembina City Council Meeting Minutes for April 20, 2026
Date: Monday, April 20, 2026, 6:07pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Fitzgerald, Snitker, Norby, Flores, Carattini, Needham, A Huttunen
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; R Fleming, City Attorney; Phil Hall (public); Z Hartje (City Assessor); L Keney (Pembina County Tax Director); C Hart; P Caley; G Helland; J Loeffler; M Gruenberg; D & G Reis; C Volk; City Engineer absent
6:08pm public portion called to order.
Public Portion:
· P Hall—City needs cardboard recycling, whether it’s with Waste Management or someone else.
Public Portion closed at 6:10pm by Mayor Fitzgerald
Regular Council Meeting Called to order at 6:10pm by Mayor Fitzgerald.
Changesto Agenda.
· FPHS abatement discussion—at the 4/20/26 Tax Equalization, it was agreed the taxable value of the Federal Building for 2025 and 2026 should be reduced to $31316.35 for the building and $17010 for the land, for a total of $48326.35 taxable value. The property tax amount would be amended to a reduced amount of $701.59, with the difference for 2025 refunded to FPHS, and $701.59 is the amount due for 2026. Needham made a motion to amend the values for 2025 & 2026 as stated and to approve the abatement; 2nd by Snitker. Role call vote: abstain—Carattini; nay—Norby; ayes—Snitker, Needham, Flores, A Huttunen. Motion carries.
· Approval/ChangesMarch 16, 2026, MeetingMinutes—motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
Old Business
· Revisit electric bicycle/scooter ordinance—motion to remove from agenda by A Huttunen until new information comes forward
· Valley Landfill proposal—A Huttunen, no responses, will continue to work on proposal for May meeting
o A Huttunen proposed June 2-4 for Citywide Clean Up Day. Will bring more info to May meeting.
· CommitteeReports
o Rec Board – no meeting—Mayor resigned from committee; Mayor appointed Justine Masloski and Marcus Hagness to Rec Board Committee; A Huttunen: was septic being auto dumped at campgrounds—no, excessive use resulted in septic being filled more often; could City move the concession stand over by the picnic canopy—must be done by Twamley at Rec Board’s expense—City equipment isn’t capable of moving it. Power to the picnic canopy? They should use an extension cord.
o Ice Rink—no meeting
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—no meeting;
· Professional Building—no meeting
· Daycare Committee—no meeting
· Fire Department—
o Took Grain Bin Extrication & Rescue Class—have the equipment to save people
o Only Junior Firefighter took class also.
o Turn out gear is expired—expires every 6 years; need to replace because expired gear means firefighters can’t go into burning buildings. If PVFD can’t get gear, City would be liable if someone is trapped inside and PVFD can’t get them out due to expired gear. Need 4 sets of interior turn out gear which will run $23,231. Norby—what about fund raisers or grants? Flores—the ones I looked into required memberships. If PVFD doesn’t fit certain parameters, everyone’s insurance will go up. This was a reason we requested the gaming permit, but Bridgestone turned down. Norby—we just got told at the Equalization Meeting that people were upset about taxes going up, and how is the City funded? What will this do to City funding? Fitzgerald—could the PVFD do a loan? No, we don’t get enough funding. Some townships haven’t even paid for 2 years. Norby: Has PVFD contacted any of the businesses—MCI, Polarcomm, Otter Tail, etc. Flores: It’s a waste of time. At least ½ the turnout gear will expire this year. Request City pay for this gear. Motion by Carattini to give PVFD $23,231.80 for the 4 sets of turnout gear out of the Public Safety Fund; 2nd by Snitker; Role call vote: Ayes: Needham, Carattini, Snitker, Flores; Nays: A Huttunen, Norby; motion carries. Stoiber will help locate grants.
· EmployeesReport/Concerns
o Koropatnicki
§ 2017 Sander repairs/replacement—legs are deteriorating; repairs may give it a year, but not much more—more effective to replace at some point. New one will not come until Sept 2026. Snitker—is there something that is a higher priority for this summer? Koropatnicki—possibly the Gator—it can come out of the Mosquito Fund. Also something with a 10 ft box for snow removal. Snitker made motion to go with new one from Bert’s East Grand Forks $9354.40 (includes $3000 trade in of old sander and no freight charges); 2nd by Carattini; Ayes: Norby, Flores, Snitker, Carattini, Needham; Nay—A Huttunen; motion carries.
§ Curb stops—working on Kneeshaw Cir, also 5th St to prevent shutting down entire block; adding risers to some.
§ JetBlack—test run last year, really holding up well; Snitker—cold patch doesn’t hold up near as well—City is wasting money & time using cold patch. JetBlack can do ¼ of City $15,000; $50,000 for entire City. Snitker—what would it take to start with clean slate? Norby—concerns that blacktop is drying out and should be chip sealed. After this, get on rotation. Longterm maintenance needs to be addressed. May not be feasible to chip seal due to cost. Snitker: Could we focus on concrete and blacktop crack sealing first? Koropatnicki to get bids on chip seal and concrete repairs.
§ Need to think about a generator for the clear well at some point, about $50,000 for appropriate one.
§ Summer Help—for Mensch & Santiago, motion by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini to hire back at $20/hr. All ayes, motion carries. Rec Board help—Z Flores at same rate as last year for Rec Board and fish cleaning station.
· EngineerReport – absent
· Attorney Update
o DFA Condemnation proceedings—DFA is waiting on asbestos remediation, expects to be done with demolition by mid-May
o Quirarte bought land on spec, didn’t realize couldn’t build on it; quit claiming parcel 33-3000005 to City (near golf course)
o Kneeshaw Circle Camping/Mobile Home Park rules/policies/ordinances on hold until Michels Construction is done with it.
o Michaels Construction lease of 18 spaces in Kneeshaw Cir for 16 months, 2 campers per space. Will send them contract about all repairs/upgrades at their cost and any upgrades (electrical upgrades) are to be left at Kneeshaw Circle when they’re done, they’re responsible for lawn maintenance & snow removal on the lots, they must ensure water lines don’t freeze (heat tape?), sewer lines are sloped so there’s no risk of them freezing, lots must be returned to same or better condition when they leave—need to make sure City isn’t losing money on this deal—and part of the money earned should be designated to capital improvements, equipment purchases, and general fund; Motion by Snitker to charge $1500/lot which includes all utilities and with the stipulations above; 2nd by Needham. All ayes, motion carries.
o Gladen Construction is in need of 10 spaces—if they do the repairs/upgrades, what would they be charged? Motion by Snitker to waive rent contingent on Gladen Construction do the repairs/upgrades to the 5 lots available at 5th St. and $250/camper/month for utilities; 2nd by Needham. All ayes, motion carries.
o Motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to approve the 2nd reading of the NFIP Ordinance changes and agreement to stay involved; all ayes; motion carries.
· Update&Business: Mayor Fitzgerald
· Update&Business:CityAuditor/ Stoiber
o March 2026 Financials—motion by Snitker, second by Carattini to approve; 5 ayes; Nay—A Huttunen; motion carries.
o Delinquent Accounts Update—Rocha is abandoning property; Honeycutt not making payments.
o Water/Sewer/Lagoon/related rates—NRWD increased their rates 3% in 2025 & 2026—next year will be a true up—when should the rates be raised on city utilities? Motion by Needham to raise water & related rates by 5%; 2nd by Norby; all ayes; motion carries.
o $200,000 grant—installations to start this week.
o “Sparks Program”—brings increased property tax revenue, new homes, etc. They request the City donate 2 lots. Suggested Parcel 33-0390000 + 33-0710000. Motion to table until a until we can get a parcel map to see where there are vacant lots owned by the City.
o Building Permit—DFA Condemnation Permit—motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to approve; all ayes, motion carries. J Anderson/183 W Stutsman St. Remove 15’ of old building & add 15’ of new building; motion by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini to approve; all ayes; motion carries. Nunez/Sexton 453 W Stutsman St: Permit to demo garage; build mother-in-law suite; add metal fencing to existing fence, new fence; since ½ block on either side of Stutsman was zoned commercial, they need to get a variance from City. Tabled to next month.
o Transient Merchant License—The Wok (for all class reunion)
o Gaming Permits: Catfish Committee and Golf Course: Motion by Needham, 2nd by Snitker to approve both gaming permits; all ayes; motion carries.
o Propane Info: only 2 companies responded; Motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to accept Northdale as City’s preferred propane carrier; all ayes; motion carries.
o 2025 CCR for informational purposes to tell citizens.
· New Business
Motion by Carattini to adjourn at 8:13pm.
By: Mayor/Fitzgerald
Attested to Stoiber, City Auditor
The next regular council meeting will be held on May 18, 2026, 6pm at the Professional Building.