8-18-25 Council Meeting Minutes
Pembina Council Meeting Minutes for August 18, 2025
Date: Monday, August 18, 2025, 6pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Mayor Fitzgerald, Flores, Snitker, Norby, Needham, Carattini (late 6:01pm), A Huttunen
Guests: G Koropatnicki, City Super; T Stoiber, City Auditor; R Fleming, City Attorney; B Eisenbeis, PVFD;; Sharp Shears by Nicole—new lease (arrived 6:37pm);; Phil Hall and family; Garrett Masloski—pets & chickens; Ben Kneeshaw; Ted Symington
Public Portion called to order 6pm by Mayor Fitzgerald.
Garrett Maskloski asked how ordinances, such as lawns, pet licensing, loose pets, chickens, etc. would be enforced
Ted Symington asked about filling in potholes in alleys—who’s responsibility?
Public Portion closed at 6:02pm by Mayor Fitzgerald.
Regular Council Meeting Called to order at 6:07pm.
Changesto Agenda—motion by Snitker, 2nd by Needham to accept changes to agenda; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/Changesto July 21 and August 6, 2025, MeetingMinutes—motion by Snitker, 2nd by A Huttunen to accept minutes; all ayes; motion carries.
o 2025 Citywide Cleanup Day 7/30/25—final numbers/comments A. Huttunen: until City receives invoices from vendors, can’t tell if there will be a profit
o Valley Landfill abilities A Huttunen tabled to next month
o Gastrak contingent approval for liquor license—motion by Snitker, 2nd by Norby to approve an initial reading of adding a second Off-Sale License to the ordinance. Ayes: Snitker, Flores, Norby; Nays: Needham, Carattini, A Huttunen; Mayor Fitzgerald broke tie by voting Aye. 2nd reading will be held at September Regular Council Meeting.
o Final info on CaNDak—came in, stayed at campgrounds, saw sites—overall had great time
- Campers paid $980—Norby questioned who monitors who’s paying; fishing people short paid; why is City paying for pumping out of septic when CanDak paid and Rec Board received the money; City paying for porta-potties from mid-July to mid-August, and for one septic clean out.
- Ambulance raised $3972 between dinner & breakfast—due to vendor donations all but $150 was pure “profit”
o Vacant Lot fees not currently billed on utility billing—A Huttunen motioned to Table, Fleming reminded A Huttunen he has been tabling this issue for several months—it cannot continue to be pushed out; Norby motioned that Auditor needs to follow ordinances and procedures and start billing vacant parcels; 2nd by Snitker; all ayes; motion carries.
o Dam Modification Project/Houston Engineering—Motion by Snitker to approve and sign off on flood plain permits; 2nd by A Huttunen; Ayes: Snitker, Carattini, Needham, Flores, A Huttunen; Nay: Norby; motion carries.
o Rear wall of Professional Building has been repaired—need to put in flooring and covebase; thanks to Trails End and Pembina Painting & Drywall
o Shed moved from FPHS church in S Pembina assisted by City Super
o Ice Rink—August 7, 2025, meeting minutes attached
o Cemetery—no meeting—need someone to do minutes, fund raising, etc.; re-organizing
o Library—no meeting;
- Professional Building—no meeting
- Daycare Committee—no meeting
- EmployeesReport/Concerns
o Koropatnicki:
- Mosquito spray is on sale so purchased a 55 gallon drum
- Clear well inspection—went well
- A Huttunen noted that the summer help did an outstanding job helping with City Wide Clean Up Day and they and Koropatnicki are much appreciated
- Fire Department—burn permit approved for inert landfill; requesting annual $7000 fee from City; waiting on grant from State to start repaying City on loan; looking at bids on repairing firehall.
o Pet Enforcement/Chickens—city will address when the time comes—if someone has an issue with a dog or cat running loose, they need to contact law enforcement to have animal picked up
o Verbiage on citizen benefit events and gaming permits—very broad generic statement written for Stoiber to post on City website and in vestibule.
o Clarification of budgeting process: City cannot just say they’re going to do a preliminary budget of 3%--this is because it depends on how much the mill value increases and how many mills are available.
o 1% Special Sales Tax amount to support children’s activities/sports through Ice Rink-Golf Course-Rec Board and support ambulance & fire department ballot wording—sample given out for Council to look at and bring to next meeting with comments—A Huttunen feels it’s beneficial and will reduce requests for funds from City
o Chickens in Pembina? First readiing of proposed ordinance change. Motion by Snitker to accept the ordinance as shown; 2nd by Flores; Ayes, Carattini, Snitker, Flores; Nays Norby, Needham, A Huttunen; Mayor Fitzgerald broke tie vy voting Aye; first reading carries; 2nd reading at next regular council meeting.
o DFA Condemnation proceedings—has been in discussions with DFA about processes; has given deadline
o Golf Carts/Electric Scooters on City Streets—sample ordinance given to Council to look at and bring to next meeting with comments
· Update&Business: Mayor Fitzgerald
o July 2025Bills& Financials—Motion by Snitker, 2nd by Needham to approve; all ayes; motion carries
o Delinquent Accounts Update: Two accounts disconnected;
o SP Propane Fill—who is responsible to check tank? Stoiber to get tank put on keep full; who pays for fill? Rec Board said they would pay for the fill.
o People not paying for staying at campgrounds or not paying correctly—enforcement? Rec Board should be enforcing payment; Stoiber to look into some kind of online software for payments
o Building Permits: 252 W Ramsey; 242 N 2nd St; motion to approve by Carattini, 2nd by Snitker; Norby recused himself; all ayes; motion caarries.
o Transient Merchant License: Doodling Dixie’s
o C Volk letter
o PVFD would like $7000 annual payment—A Huttunen made motion to pay; 2nd by Snitker; all ayes, motion carries
o Carattini—City mowing of residential properties; thanked Koropatinicki for all his hard work but feels the ordinance needs to be revisited as enforcement is difficult
o Carattini—Liquor License Rule for one-time public events (wine tasting w cheese + sell bottles of wine, Christmas party with liquor/wine)—Fleming states this is illegal; potentially could get sponsored by someone who holds a liquor license, but would probably have to hold it at their location, but as a gov’t entity, FPHS cannot get liquor license or special event license.
o Enforcement of ordinance violations—will only be addressed if filed on complaint form by concerned party with details—addresses, people concerned, etc.
o Is alley gravelling City or citizen responsibility? The City only gravels by the water tower & post office; if citizens want to gravel an alley, they need to discuss with their neighbors and follow ordinances
o Community Center toilets—they’re not flushing correctly or all the way; Koropatnicki to call plumber to increase flushing pressure of toilets
o Sharp Shears doesn’t want to sign new lease; Fleming stated she will be month to month, and subject to increases as stated in lease; Sharp Shears says she expects to be in different location by January.
Motion to adjourn at 7:40pm by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini
By: Mayor Fitzgerald
Attested to Stoiber, City Auditor
Special Council Meeting (public discussion of budget) to be held September 10, 2025, 6pm at the Professional Building
Special Council Meeting (final budget meeting) to be held September 15, 2025, 5:30pm at the Professional Building
The next regular City Council Meeting will be held on September 15, 2025, 6pm at the Professional Building