UNOFFICIAL 2-17-26 COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Unofficial Pembina City Council Meeting Minutes for February 17, 2026
Date: Tuesday, February 17, 2026, 6pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Snitker, Needham, Carattini, A Huttunen (via phone at 6:05pm, arrived 6:10pm)
Absent: Fitzgerald, Norby, Flores
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney; Keney, Pembina County Tax Director; C Hart (via telephone), FPHS; L Roy (via telephone), ND Dept. of Water Resources; D Moore, PFA; T Foy, Bridgestone Bar & Grill; J Tryan, NB Eagles Boosters; R Ott, Waste Mgt.
Changes to Agenda—motion by Needham, 2nd by Carattini to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/Changes to January 19 and 27, 2026 Meeting Minutes—Motion by Carattini, 2nd by Needham to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
· FPHS Application for an Abatement or Refund of Taxes—C Hart explained long-term goal is to have building 100% or close to that as Museum; FPHS is having to invest thousands of dollars into necessary renovations; Fleming—how much is rented vs. how much is available for rent? Z Hartje had filed as zero taxes, but there was no exemption form filed so Keney kept valuation. Z Hartje to go measure, re-evaluate Federal building for what can be rented (regardless of whether it is currently rented or not) vs. what is the “museum” and present that information to the Council at the March meeting. Final determination tabled until March meeting.
· Change of use for Pembina River—NDDWS cancelling part of the Pembina River water permit—Stoiber to tell NDDWS to proceed with partial cancellation.
· Gambling permit at Bridgestone—Foy was unaware that PFA wanted to be a part of the gambling; Tryan stated NB Eagles is small not for profit and would appeal to Attorney General if City denies their permit; Fleming stated it is entirely the City’s decision whether or not to allow a gambling permit; Moore indicated that Eisenbeis had stated that Foy agreed to allowing PFA to do the gambling; explained PFA needs to raise funds due to age of equipment; Eisenbeis stated he had reached out to NB Eagles to do partnership/split but nothing ever confirmed; Foy stated that she wanted to stay with NB Eagles as the beneficiaries of the gambling funds. Council asked that Foy-Tryan-Moore meet and try to have a “meeting of the minds.” Tabled to March meeting
Old Business
o Revisit electric bicycle/scooter ordinance; also safety training options for riders. Tabled to March meeting.
o Food pantry (Feed the Need) – started contacting entities for funds, working with Great Plains to get shelving, etc.
o Waste Management—price increases—Ott stated they used CPI for water-sewer-garbage, but didn’t indicate if he was using rural or metropolitan rates; will raise rates every year until existing contract terminates, then will determine how they will proceed with rates going forward; motion by Carattini to accept new rates; 2nd by Needham; Ayes: Carattini, Needham; Nays: A Huttunen; motion carries.
o Valley Landfill—A Huttunen proposal and information: Huttunen hasn’t received much for responses about recycling; possibly Friendship out of Grafton would be an option; confident VL could provide regular trash service for less than WM. Tabled to March.
Committee Reports
o Rec Board – minutes attached; motion by A Huttunen, 2nd by Needham to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
o Ice Rink—minutes attached; motion by A Huttunen, 2nd by Needham to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—no meeting
· Professional Building—no meeting—interest in “purple suite” for tattoo business $390/mo – Stoiber to continue contact with interested party.
· Daycare Committee—no meeting
Employees Report/Concerns
o Koropatnicki:
-> Snowplow needed $5000 in repairs in the last 2 weeks; provided quotes on similar plows; recommended NOT using current plow as trade-in just in case something happens and new one is out of commission for a bit; Motion by Carattini to go with TranSource option and Stoiber to find financing; 2nd by Needham; Role Call: Ayes—Carattini, Needham, A Huttunen; Motion carries. Plow wb ordered and will arrive next week.
->Fargo Continuing Ed—super has to have 12 credits in 3 years, so Koropatnicki goes every other year to some kind of continuing ed. Learned some new things, was interesting, and did some networking.
Fire Department—
* Two firefighters will be attending the State Fire School in Minot as well as Flores & Snitker
* The Assistant Fire Chief is attending Chief 101 & Strategy and Tactics for the first arriving company.
* The Fire Chief wb attending the ND Firefighters Association Fire Instructor Course & meeting Fire Chiefs from around ND.
Engineer Report –absent
Attorney Update
o DFA Condemnation proceedings—3/16/26 will be condemnation meeting
o Purchase agreement for parcel 33-0720000—working on it
o Kneeshaw Circle Camping/Mobile Home Park rules/policies/ordinances—can mix use, good news is City already has permits
o Roger Bellerive (Roger’s Sewer from Canada) turning parcel 33-1640035 over to City—they will have to come to ND to sign paperwork or get it done in Canada and sent back to Rob. Strange parcel as city owns part already.
o Ballot documents for chickens and sales taxes—will have at next meeting so Stoiber can send to Gapp.
o NFIP Ordinance changes and agreement to stay involved—working on it—will bring to next meeting—some issues with the verbiage.
Update & Business: Mayor/Fitzgerald; in-absentia, Snitker/Council President
o L Steyn application FT PW Asst.
o J Ferris application FT PW Asst
o Discussion on applicants; starting rates $21-22/hr. with 4 incentive raises after getting certifications; Carattini motioned to offer to Steyn; motion died by lack of 2nd. Stoiber to schedule interviews March 3 at 3pm and 4pm with Fitzgerald, Snitker, Koropatnicki, A Huttunen. (**Wed morning Mayor informed Stoiber he had interviewed Ferris and Koropatnicki had spoken with Steyn, and decision would be announced at March meeting.)
Update & Business:CityAuditor/Teri Stoiber
o January 2026 Financials—motion by Carattini, 2nd by Needham to accept as presented; 2 ayes; 1 nay; motion carries.
o Delinquent Accounts Update:—see notes
o NRWD rate increases—see below
o Water/Sewer/Lagoon/Garbage/Recycling rates—tabled to March meeting
o D Reis complaint about recycling—doesn’t think she should be charged as a business; researched--found not being charged correctly for her 2 of her properties; 415 S 2nd St—going forward wb charged $28/mo for trash & $7.49/mo for recycling—she’ll need to contact Super to pick up totes & take to her property; 333 W Stutsman—going forward wb charged $28/mo for trash & $12.80/mo for recycling; 172 W Stutsman will remain as is; 163 E Rolette will remain as is.
o Working on $200,000 grant—visit expected from Dept. of Commerce—should be approved within the week, so Community Center can get new furnaces asap.
o Housing Community Meeting 2/19/26 6pm—council is invited to attend & give feedback.
Motion by Needham to adjourn at 8:16pm
By: Council President/Snitker
Attested to Stoiber, City Auditor
The next regular council meeting will be held on March 16, 2026, 6pm at the Professional Building.