4/21/25 UNOFFICIAL PEMBINA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Date: April 21, 2025
Council Members Present: Mayor Fitzgerald, Norby, Kneedham, A Huttunen
Absent: Snitker, Carattini
1 Vacant Seat
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney; Eisenbeis, PVFD; Dustin Fanfulik, City Engineer; Phil Hall, metal detectors on public lands; Jason Tryan, North Border Eagles gaming request
Public Portion called to order at 6:00pm.
Public Portion closed at 6:01pm.
Regular meeting called to order at 6:01pm
- Changesto Agenda: motion by A Huttunen to approve changes, 2nd by Needham; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/ChangestoMarch 11, 2025, MeetingMinutes: motion by Needham to approve; 2nd by Norby, all ayes, motion carries.
· North Border Eagles Gaming Permit: motion to approve by Norby, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries.
o Texas 4000 for Cancer Bike Tour: confirmed, 18 people coming, wb camping in tents; Ambulance wb providing dinner and breakfast.
o CanDak Bike Tour--Ambulance Service & Stoiber—125-140 people coming; wb camping in tents; working on goods and fund donations so Ambulance doesn’t have to pay for out of pocket.
· CommitteeReports
o Rec Board – no meeting
o Ice Rink—minutes attached
o Cemetery—no meeting—need someone to do minutes, fund raising, etc.
o Library—no meeting; checks & deposit slips received by Stoiber
- Professional Building—no meeting. Bids from contractors for repairs—1 for interior painting, 1 for carpet cleaning, & 4 bids for a combination of repairs--attached. Suggestion to use previously collected rents for maintenance/upkeep. Due to under insurance, probably won’t get more than $3000 more towards repair. Motion by Needham to approve Trails End Enterprises to fix back wall with condition they need to be insured, built to code and completed within 90 days; 2nd by A. Huttunen; all ayes; motion carries. Stoiber can do any repair under $500 without council permission.
- EmployeesReport/Concerns
o Greg:
- Community Center Flagpole issues/quote—motion to proceed by A. Huttunen; 2nd by Needham; all ayes, motion carries.
- Quote for replacement grinder pump “just in case”: motion by A. Huttunen, 2nd by Needham; all ayes, motion carries.
- Crack sealer—going to do trial on Rolette this year $3200—motion by Huttunen to approve, 2nd by Needham; all ayes, motion carries.
o Fire Department—getting some new equipment due to LJW Grant; someone has been burning in town—not allowed; fireworks going off were discussed with people involved and sheriff—no fireworks in town; 8 extinguishers donated to Federal Building; Grass Fire Turn Out Gear is $1400/person—current gear is more than adequate; department is fully staffed.
· EngineerReport – Dustin Fanfulik
- Lagoon project: working on preliminary engineering reports; city audits need to be done and current to receive funding
· Attorney Update
o MidContinental Lease—countered with $9000—motion by Norby to approve $9000, 2nd by A. Huttunen, all ayes, motion carries.
o Citizen suggested if golf carts being used for other than home to course & back--$25/year “permit” to allow adults ONLY to drive within town. Declined because no one to enforce it. Fleming will create ordinance to enforce golf carts/side by sides/ATV usage in town. Up to concerned citizens to report to Sheriff. No more than 2 in front and 3 in back; everybody must be seated; must be 16+ to drive; must have driver’s license; must be insured; liability due to unsupervised/underaged drivers, not following traffic rules will fall on owner/parent: owner/parent that knowingly allows it to be driven by unlicensed/non-credentialed driver is guilty of crime.
o Effective 8/1/25 State has made ruling that allows golf carts on city streets subject to city ordinances above; day time hours only; cross highways at right angle, & not allowed to drive along the shoulders of highway.
· Update&Business: Mayor/Mike Fitzgerald
o Recommend appointing M. Flores to council; motion by A. Huttunen to appoint Flores, 2nd by Norby; all ayes; motion carries.
o Metal Detectors: will need ordinance meticulously drafted by attorney; not allowed on baseball fields; can issue no trespassing if not filling in holes and can ban individuals.
o Public Works Asst.—hired one, stayed 3 weeks, then called back to Port; wb looking for new person.
- Update&Business:CityAuditor/Teri Stoiber
o February 2025Bills& Financials: motion by Needham to approve; 2nd by A. Huttunen; all ayes, motion carries
o Delinquent Accounts Update: Delinquent accounts need to be reduced; MCI is sending funds.
o Black Mountain Utility Billing: first penalty assessment happened this morning; first utility billing will occur on 4/25.
o Receiving $2500 from LJW Grant and received $1500 from American Legion towards LJW Comm. Ctr. flagpole; receiving $16,000+ grant for LED lights at ramps. Grant for $67,550 towards the Street Sweeper has passed the first stage, it is now in the State’s accounting department to see if City will receive full amount or just part.
o Gaming Permit—Pembina Community Network; motion to approve by A. Huttunen, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries. Catfish Committee; motion to approve by A. Huttunen, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries.
o Building Permits—423 W Stutsman; 252 Hayden St.; NB School; motion to approve all by A. Huttunen, 2nd by Needham, all ayes, motion carries.
o Quotes: State Side Electric & PolarComm on camera for front window—motion by Norby to approve States Side Electric system; 2nd by Needham; all ayes; motion carries.
o Researching County Tax Rolls for vacant buildings/homes and vacant lots not on the utility billing. Found 80+ more that were not on the Utility Billing. See list. Have not put these into UB yet, would like approval to do so. Still researching.
o A. Huttunen to bring Bridgestone’s events/street closures to May meeting.
o Needham discussion on what was learned at Bismarck event.
o Needham discussion about strays—ultimately up to citizens to report to Sheriff.
o 2025 Citywide Cleanup Day—A. Huttunen to bring date to May meeting.
Motion to adjourn at 7:30pm by Needham, 2nd by Norby.
By: Mayor Fitzgerald
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
