2/11/2025 UNOFFICIAL PEMBINA CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
Date: February 11, 2025
Council Members Present: Mayor Fitzgerald, Snitker, Carattini, Needham, A Huttunen, Watts (late), Norby
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; R Fleming, City Attorney; B Eisenbeis, PVFD; D Fanfulik, City Engineer; Tanya Rivera; Ben Kneeshaw
Public Portion called to order at 6:00 pm
Close Public Portion 6:01pm by Mayor Fitzgerald.
Regular Council Meeting called to order at 6:01pm by Mayor Fitzgerald.
- Changesto Agenda: remove Valley Landfill; remove Gaming Permit Approval; remove Tracy Foy; add change Council meeting date under Snitker/New Business. Motion by A Huttunen, 2nd by Snitker to make changes to agenda; all ayes. Motion carries.
· Approval/ChangestoJanuary 14 and January 22, 2025, MeetingMinutes Motion by A Huttunen, 2nd by Needham to accept minutes; all ayes, motion carries.
o Community Center and Professional Building: Create “departments” under general fund as these are not revenue generating profit centers? State Auditor concerned about funds showing deficits? Motion by A Huttunen, 2nd by Snitker to move related accounts to General Fund, and track as “departments.” All ayes. Motion carries.
o Tanya’s Tots: Lease is up March 1, 2025. As the City wants to keep Tanya’s Tots active and growing, motion by Snitker, 2nd by Needham to charge $150/month rent for 1 year, then review in 2026. All ayes. Motion carries.
o S Pembina Septics: no updates from State
o Rec Board – no meeting—need budget for 2025.
o Ice Rink—minutes attached--need budget for 2025 as they are separate entity
o Cemetery—no meeting; reorganizing; need someone to do minutes, fund raising, etc.; need budget; Stoiber found $12260.73 that appears to be mills never transferred to the Cemetery. A Huttunen directed a check be cut to Cemetery to remove those funds from General Fund.
o Library—no meeting—still need budget, checks, and deposit slips (will receive in Feb as they’re working on their mandated reporting)
o Professional Building: no meeting—waiting on bids from 3 contractors for repairs; so far have 1 bid strictly for interior painting, 1 bid for carpet cleaning; & 1 bid for combination of repairs. Waiting on insurance claim and Frank Moll monies.
o Greg:
- Truck replacement—ordered submitted, will be 90+ days before it arrives; Stoiber looked into finance options, most reasonable Stock Growers at 4.75%; Koda Bank was 6.75% and Ford was 8.49%; once we are 30 days out will discuss options again; Stoiber to look into funds to see where money can be drawn from to pay cash for the truck, if that is what Council decides.
- Stateside Electric Quote to R&R ramp and interstate lights to LED had to get re-bid so it follows Davis Bacon wages as per grants being requested; got 2 more bids. Motion by Snitker, 2nd by Needham to go with State Side Electric quote for 70 watt Light Fixtures; all ayes. Motion carries, Stoiber working on grants.
- Crack Sealing: requesting 4 barrels of product at $619/barrel to start. Motion by Snitker, 2nd by A Huttunen to approve purchase; all ayes. Motion carries.
- Fire Department—no report—Blaine wb gone Feb to March
o radios ordered—will go to Stone’s until programmed—hope to receive by year end
o Auditor needs budget for 2025
· EngineerReport – Dustin Fanfulik
o Brought new large maps with boundaries removed—County/State has wrong information
o Lagoon project—meeting with DEQ, this is fundable city facility plan
o City Engineer contract—reviewed by Fleming and pretty standard; motion by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini to accept contract; all ayes. Motion carries.
· Attorney Update
o MidContinental Lease—they are thinking about the proposed increase of $15,500/year.
o Daily Rental/Occupancy & Sales Tax: hotels and daily rental rooms are subject to Sales Tax and Occupancy Tax; 155 S Cavalier said they had 4 daily rentals and 4 apartments; there have been no Sales Taxes or Occupancy Taxes remitted to the City. Fleming to contact state for direction.
o 151 N Cavalier St hasn’t transferred Spot Bar Lot to his name; wasn’t assessed property taxes as still in City’s name; Fleming brought quit claim deed, had Mayor & Auditor sign it and will certify it to County—cost will be $20.
· Update&Business: Mayor/ Mike Fitzgerald
- Update&Business:CityAuditor/Teri Stoiber
o Jan 2025Bills& Financials—motion to approve by Needham, 2nd by Snitker; all ayes; motion carries
o Delinquent Accounts Update: city is not a bank. City needs to discourage late/delinquent accounts—see notes
o Working on January 2025 reports to State Auditor.
o Building Permit approval: received 253 W Hayden culvert permit back & 222 W Rolette culvert permit back
o 2023 W2s: Rec’d letter from Social Security the 2023 W2s were never submitted to the Feds; discovered 17 people’s W2s were overstated for income. Amount on 941 (quarterly Federal report) awas $20,000-ish less than what issued W2s stated. Discovered 1 payroll in December was duplicated, then removed, but it didn’t adjust the accumulated totals for the affected employees. Have completed W2c (corrected) and sent to the 17 people along with letter of explanation. Also sent corrections to Feds and State. Carattini stated this was prior to Stoiber being on board and Banyon didn’t explain how to correct payroll nor did they help to submit W2s and make sure all correct. Carattini & Stoiber very happy we’re moving to Black Mountain, which should eliminate many of the accounting issues.
o Snitker has been doing snow removal to help Koropatnicki out. Motion by Carattini due to a shortage of manpower to remunerate Snitker for his assistance to the City Superintendent at $27/hour; 2nd by Needham. Roll Call Vote: Snitker abstained. Ayes—Carattini, Watts, Needham, Norby, A Huttunen; motion carries.
o Researching County Tax Rolls for vacant buildings/homes and vacant lots not on the utility billing. Found 4 more buildings/lots not on UB.
o Multiple properties have same addresses, would like permission to adjust addresses to avoid confusion. Told by County Auditor it is up to City Auditor to make sure no duplicate addresses. Tabled to March so Fleming can research to determine whose responsibility.
o Snitker—1st reading to change Regular Council meeting to 3rd Monday of the Month. Motion by Snitker, 2nd by Carattini; Ayes: Snitker, Carattini, Norby, Needham; Nays: Watts, A Huttunen. Motion carries.
o Flag pole in front of Community Center is broken—suggestion to get outside pulley system? Koropatnicki looking into options, possibly Trails End can help?
o Combination door lock outside of Community Center to Legion room is broken—Legion to contact lock smith and send bill to City.
Motion to adjourn 7:15pm by Carattini, 2nd by Watts.
By: Mayor Fitzgerald
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
