9-21-2026 Unofficial Council Meeting Minutes
9-21-2026 Unofficial City Council Meeting Minutes
Date: Monday, September 21, 2026 6pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Helland, T Steyn, Carpenter, Flores, Carattini
Absent: Snitker, Needham
Guests: Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney; Helstrom, City Engineer; C Volk; T Foy
Absent: Koropatnicki, City Super; L Steyn, Asst. City Super;
Public Portion Called to order 6pm by Mayor Helland
· C Volk: suggestion for snow removal: use gasoline truck to haul snow where it needs to go—that’s the way it was done years ago; isn’t cost of diesel a concern? Where did the $ for the bridge repair go? City is getting a bond so we don’t bankrupt the city. The funds are going to be put into a higher interest bearing CD once the repair project is completed. It’s hard for people to drive/do business when they can’t use the bridge. Why haven’t the repairs started? Helstrom will address.
· T Foy: 30-45 vehicles will be coming to Pembina on 9/24/26 for the Valley Cruisers Auto Club. Citizens can bring their vintage/classic/unique vehicles as well. Requesting Stutsman St be closed from the bank to the corner before the closed bridge, and Cavalier St. between Corner Parcel and Bridgestone from 4pm-8pm on the 24th.
Public Portion closed at 6:09pm by Mayor Helland.
Regular Council Meeting opened at 6:10pm by Mayor Helland.
Changesto Agenda—motion by Carattini, 2nd by T Steyn to accept changes to the agenda; all ayes; motion carries.
· Approval/Changesto August 7 and 17, 2026 MeetingMinutes—motion by Carattini to accept the minutes as presented except that the 8/17/26 minutes need to have Norby removed and T Steyn added; 2nd by T Steyn; all ayes; motion carries.
· Old Business
o Rec Board—upgrade to 50amp service—Stateside quotes? Signage about costs at campgrounds Tabled.
· CommitteeReports
o Rec Board – no meeting
o Ice Rink—no meeting
o Cemetery—no meeting
o Library—no meeting
o Professional Building—no meeting
o Daycare Committee—no meeting
· EmployeesReport/Concerns
o Koropatnicki:
· Fire Department—
o Financial concerns—tabled to Oct; 9/11 Remembrance at Eagles football game—2 firefighters and football player presented flag. Still don’t have all of the $23000 equipment purchase; Oct w/b training Neche FD; 9/11 MS ND Teen USA—presented PVFD with care package; geared her up and let her run obstacle course and let her hold hose; Water spigot repair/plumbing; Certificate of Existence depending on $ available will determine how much PVFD will get. How to get Rural FD set up? Working on process but complex and won’t be done this year. Fleming: ask others how they did it. If PVFD needs assistance, Fleming can aid.
· EngineerReport—Helstrom—Update on NDDOT concurrence/communications; requesting authorization to put out quotes for bridge repairs (5 year repair); Discussion NDDOT recommended replacement funding: 2027 wb engineering costs, 2029 wb replacement construction funding—this is for a long-term, permanent fix. Would like to leave current signage as is—NO semis, 10 ton maximum (doesn’t apply to city equipment). Carattini—what is the timeline? Within a week, hoping to get quotes back and concurrence from NDDOT; If costs are $250,000 or less for repairs, we expect the repairs will be done by November 20, 2026. Fleming: If the repair is over $250,000 we have to do statewide advertising and bid packages. If the design fails, B-M carries insurance. Regarding mapping of city, does anyone know what the Pembina corporate boundaries are? Ask Z Hartje. Fleming: once we know where we want the borders, there are just some hoops to go through to make them legitimate.
· Attorney Update
o Dam removal—City agreed to this project provided there was no cost to the city. Water board is sponsor. Would like to make to changes to the agreement: delegate everything to the water board to handle; contractors would get paid by water board within 10 days. Motion by Carattini, 2nd by T Steyn to make those changes in the agreement; role call vote—ayes: T Steyn, Carpenter, Flores, Carattini; motion carries.
o Discussion on “Wednesday before regular council meeting” special meeting: have to publish at least 2 hours before; agenda is limited; open to the public. A better solution might be to handle through the various commitees. Special council meetings should be handled case by case.
o Questions on vacating portion of city land where Clow’s home/driveway/garage sit—can offer to sell him land; cannot include tow of dike or any portion of the dike; it needs to be measured and drawn onto an ariel view of the area; we need to vacate like we did G Kneeshaw: for example E 15’ of right of way or whatever the description is. Ask Z Hartje if she knows why his property is offset.
o No information from building inspector on 5 properties
o EBike/Scooter Ordinance: Motion by Carattini, 2nd by Carpenter to make the following changes: Item 2. Operator must be 12 and in possession of safety class permit if under the age of 14 years; Item 9. First violation $75, second $150; third $250 and loss of privilege. With each violation scooter or bike is impounded until fee is paid for. All ayes, motion carries.
· Update&Business: Mayor/Gary Helland
o Constable for violations of ordinances?
o Emergency Shelter and equipment to support it (cots, blankets, etc.): After the 2 rescues performed last winter, think we need to re-evaluate emergency shelter. Suggest get more cots or roll up mattresses; emergency blankets; food. Stoiber to research costs and possibilities. Helland and T Steyn to inventory supplies in Community Center.
o “Vehicle” Safety program having the parents involved, either at the school or at the Community Center. Fleming suggested www.aceable.com
· Update&Business:CityAuditor/Stoiber
o August 2026 Financials—motion to approve by Carattini, 2nd by T Steyn; 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—owe rent & utilities—need to send more forceful legal letters (from Fleming?); 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. Auditor to enforce late fees on storage units and lot rents.
o FD Siren quotes vs Automated Calling System—tabled to October
o Street closure for Bridgestone event—motion by Carattini, 2nd by T Steyn to approve; all ayes; motion carries.
o Bridge Repair Funding: 5 year bond for initial repair is best option so funds aren’t depleted…Can get bond pretty quickly, and we wouldn’t have a payment until 2028 when another bond has been paid off—we can do a 5 year bond; that gives time to save towards the major bridge repair, which will be here within 5-10 years. Need firm numbers including engineering costs from Bolton & Menk. Tabled to October.
o Building Permit—L Steyn, G Wilmer, Elfstrom; motion to approve by Carratini, 2nd by Flores; T Steyn abstained; all ayes; motion carries.
o $200,000 grant—Waiting for invoices from Stateside and Northdale. Received slight increase on grant to cover 2 situations that weren’t bid on or noted as being needed by main contractor. Once we get the balance of invoices, will be requesting another reimbursement, and once the 3 contractors have submitted their Davis-Bacon wage reports, will cut their withheld 10% and then request the final payment.
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. Funds must be used for specific purposes.
o Sparks Program—Lisa R says anyone looking to purchase one of the Sparks homes should apply with USDA to get loan at very low interest cost.
o Fish Cleaning Station—will continue looking for subsidiary grants
· No New Business
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn 8:16pm by Carattini
By: Mayor Helland
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
The next City Council meeting will be held on October 18, 2026, 6pm in the Professional Building.