The International Falls City Council agreed Monday to hire a director of economic and community development as a city employee.
The position was recommended by the city’s Economic Development Authority. Falls Mayor Shawn Mason abstained from the vote, saying she planned to apply for the position. Councilor Gail Rognerud was absent form the meeting.
The annual salary for the position is $40,000 to $55,000, depending on qualifications, plus benefits. The position would perform technical, administrative and professional work supporting the city and the EDA in implementing current and long-range planning goals and programs related to economic development, community development, housing, infrastructure, land-use planning and related work as apparent or assigned by the council or the EDA, according to the job description.
Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride, who serves as the EDA president, said the needs of community and economic development have become too much to be handled by councilors, city Administrator Rod Otterness and staff.
“It’s needed and it’s time,” McBride said. “The EDA states it needs to be proactive and strong. We can be more proactive and stronger with a director.”
McBride said the city had been funding the Koochiching Economic Development Authority with $50,000 annually, until this year when both Koochiching County and the city decided not to fund it at all. The KEDA is expected to operate on cold weather testing revenue and from other sources.
Councilor Paul Eklund supported the proposal, saying that several developments need someone’s full-time attention. “This is the next step to keep the momentum going,” he said.
Councilor Cynthia Jaksa said she was most concerned about costs, and the last of the council to be convinced that it made sense. She said a low level of operation won’t allow ongoing developments to grow.
“Some possibilities take a lot of work and the economy is turning around,” she said. “This is a wise move.”
Mason called the job description ambitious and Otterness said that he has not been able to do everything on the list of essential duties and responsibilities listed in the job description.
In other business Monday, the council heard the first reading of an amendment that will require landlords to hire garbage service for their rental units.
The council has been discussing the issue in committee after staff said garbage hoarding by many tenants was becoming an issue.
A second reading of the amendment is planned for the May 21 meeting of the council, after which the amendment will be published. It will then take immediate effect, according to city staff.
The ordinance being amended outlines requirements for a dwelling unit rental licenses and reads, “The owner of any dwelling unit requiring a license under this section is required to contract with an approved garbage and rubbish disposal contractor to remove from the premises all accumulated garbage and rubbish on at least a weekly basis.”
