UNOFFICIAL 8/17/26 CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Unofficial Pembina City Council Meeting Minutes for August 17, 2026
Date: Monday, August 17, 2026, 6pm
Location: Community Center
Council Members Present: Helland, Needham, Flores, Carattini (via telephone), Carpenter, T Steyn
Absent: Snitker
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; L Steyn, Asst. City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney; Helstrom, City Engineer; T Symington; C Volk; J & N Feldman (LaMoure Golf Course)
6pm Public Portion called to order by Mayor Helland
· Public Portion:
o C Volk: What is status of bridge? Cost? Will it be repaired by mid-October? How long is this repair expected to last? Mayor Helland: will be addressed by Helstrom.
Public portion closed at 6:01pm by Mayor Helland
Regular Council Meeting called to order at 6:01pm by Mayor Helland
Changes to Agenda—motion by Needham, 2nd by Flores to approve changes to agenda; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/Changes to July 1, 2, and 17, 2026 Meeting Minutes—motion by Needham, 2nd by Steyn to approve; all ayes, motion carries
· Old Business
o Public Hearing for Street Vacate (G Kneeshaw): no public objections.
o Rec Board—upgrade to 50amp service—waiting on Stateside for quote; signage about costs—who pays for upgrades & signage; enforcement of payments—Rec Board needs to come up with a system; who purchases new picnic tables? Rec board purchased in past; someone unplugged tube in toilet and drained water continuously causing septic to fill.
· Committee Reports
o Rec Board – no meeting
o Ice Rink—minutes attached
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—no meeting
o Professional Building—no meeting
o Daycare Committee—no meeting
· Employees Report/Concerns
o Koropatnicki:
§ 8/17-18/26 JR Valves has been exercising valves—will be around $2000ish—motion by T Steyn, 2nd by Flores to increase to $2500/year in anticipation of higher costs. All ayes. Motion carries.
§ New tower pump needed—squealing; is 20+ years old; needs entirely new motor; getting quotes from AE2S
§ Repair of Water Valves—8/18/26 Thorlakson going to do repairs
· Fire Department—
o Can city align with Fire Dept financially? PVFD can’t survive on $ currently being generated. Not a rural fire department—Fleming—should look into renewing Rural—5 mills much higher than what currently billing annually. Need $158,000 next year. 1 township hasn’t paid in 2 years—contacted Mr. Hart and it’s being looked into. Did 3 ambulance assists recently.
o Lost 3 firefighters, but gained 3; training in Cavalier & Manvel; will have truck at Back to School event and allow kids/parents to use hose.
· Engineer Report—Helstrom—On-site field evaluation has been completed, billed and paid $16,500.50; reviewed available inspection documentation and identified observed deficiencies; repair proposal will be for a 5-10 year repair that should allow 16 ton load rating—needs QA/QC completed and submitted to NDDOT along with model and calculations for review and concurrence; it will take 4-6 weeks to get the requested plans to NDDOT; hoping to get quotes early-mid-September. Need to get into the funding cycle for future repairs; with such short timing, may not be able to get grants—best option either direct cash outlay or bonds/loans. It will be about $250,000; if more than that, project will be delayed as bids will be required; by the end of August, will need a special meeting to approve and move forward. Working on certified plan details to stabilize substructure, which will be used to get quotes and determine contractor—these plans must be sent to NDDOT for review and concurrence. The quote package will include repair details & specs. Still estimating these repairs will be completed FY2026.
· Attorney Update
· Motion by Carpenter to vacate 10’ of right of way of Renville from South Cavalier to South 2nd St., 2nd by Flores. Role Call Vote: Ayes—T Steyn, Carpenter, Flores, Carattini; Needham abstains; Snitker absent; no nays; motion carries.
· Update & Business: Mayor/Gary Helland
o Haugen weed complaint—addressed by Koropatnicki.
o Council Pay—in the past, it was done monthly. Motion by Carpenter, 2nd by T Steyn to issue council pay every month; all ayes; motion carries.
o Golf Course Assistance—with the closure of Stutsman Bridge, the golf course has been losing money because no one will come to pop up lunches/dinners, and overall has lost 75-80% of regular revenues. Golf Course handles all of its expenses and generally raises all funds without City help. Requesting financial assistance from City in the amount of $35,000.
o Children are endangering themselves and others riding e-scooters and e-bikes. Wish to re-address E-scooter & E-bike ordinance
§ Motion by Flores, 2nd by T Steyn to read original (previously vetoed) E-Scooter & E-bike ordinance for first time: all ayes, motion carries. 2nd reading will be in September with any changes/corrections to ordinance submitted to Stoiber by 9/9/26 to get incorporated and coordinated with Fleming prior to meeting.
§ Helland and Stoiber will coordinate safety program having the parents involved, either at the school or at the Community Center. Needham: Who will enforce violations of golf cart & E-Scooter/E-bike ordinances? Fleming: Council can appoint a “Constable” who can write up tickets and turn over to Sheriff.
· Update & Business:City Auditor/Stoiber
o July 2026 Financials—motion by Carattini, 2nd Needham to approve—all ayes, motion carries
o Delinquent Accounts Update: Largest past due, owner has relinquished property to bank; 2 that are past due are 5th Street trailers; 2 never pay, so past due amount is added to property taxes; 3 perpetually make partial payments. Any with balances of $250 or more by 9/30/26 will be added as special assessments to property taxes. Five properties need to be inspected for condemnation concerns: Motion by Carattini, 2nd by T Steyn to get buildings inspected; all ayes; motion carries. Stoiber to provide Fleming with list of properties. Fleming—Building inspector will estimate condition of building—will try to go inside to get more information; will then file a report with City—is it structurally unsafe/insufficient? Health hazard? What needs to be fixed. 50% or more damage needs repairs within 30 days or condemnation. After 30 days, City will hold formal condemnation proceedings.
o $200,000 grant—Daycare & new pumphouse completed; Ice Rink & Golf Course in August; as soon as recent checks are cashed, will request 2nd reimbursement from Grant. Waiting for invoices from Stateside and Northdale.
o Building Permit—Hammers Construction fbo Pembina State Museum—elevator upgrade; motion by Needham, 2nd by Flores; all ayes; motion carries.
o Water Tower Generator—ordered—will arrive before Prairie Dog Funds are received; will contact Stock Growers Bank about loan again 1 month before the Generator is scheduled to arrive to cover difference between Prairie Dog Funds and actual cost & to have the $ in place before needed.
o Special Sales Tax disbursement information—set up similar to Wilwant Grant; applicants have to provide budget, how much they’re asking for & for what purpose. Only 5 entities may apply for the funds: Rec Board, Ice Rink Committee, Golf Course, Ambulance, and Fire Department. All funds do not have to be disbursed; discussion still in place about maximum that can be requested per entity (Wilwant Grant states $5000, with option of giving more, if available). Estimated funds will be announced October 20 approximately each year, starting in 2027; applications taken from October 20 to November 10; Council makes allocations at November council meeting; checks will be distributed December of each year. Solidifying rules September meeting.
o Bridge Funding: at a standstill until we get more info from Engineers; have contacted Brian Osowski regarding possible bond options & Austin at Stock Growers about potential loan—trying to avoid depleting the bank accounts and spreading cost over 10 years to give time to save up for the more expensive repairs. Can’t dig into grants until more is known and Pre-engineering report, plans, quotes, etc., are received from Bolton-Menk. Given the short time frame, bond and/or loan may be the best option.
o Sparks Program—Lisa R is very grateful for the donation, & has started writing an application to get the first house started, hopefully this fall, but possibly not until Spring; the second house will be applied for in the Spring.
o Fish Cleaning Station—still looking for grants to help cover part of it. F&G stated original estimate too high—working with Blake to get more firm costs.
· New Business
o Needham—5th Street Trailer Park—feels it’s unjust to require struggling citizens to be uprooted. Requested council to reconsider motion made in July. Council declined. What if they don’t move the trailers? City will move them and bill them.
o Carattini—South Pembina—concerns referred to Rec Board—need to have meeting with Snitker & Flores to discuss all concerns and come up with solutions.
Adjournment—Motion to adjourn at 7:45pm by T Steyn
By: Mayor Helland
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
The next City Council Meeting will be held on September 14, 2026, at 6pm in the Professional Building.