The Falls City Council Monday unanimously agreed to support naming the airport terminal the Francis Einarson Terminal and naming the airfield Einarson Field.

Mayor Shawn Mason called the naming of the terminal and the field a “longtime desire of many leaders in our community.” She noted that dozens of people supported the idea.

Mason continued that the city of International Falls, which co-owns the airport with Koochiching County, plans to eventually build a new terminal and wanted to name it after Francis Einarson, who along with his brother, Jim, purchased the airport operations in 1948 — one year after the facility opened.

“Instead of waiting for a new terminal, we thought why not just name the existing terminal right now and then when we build new, that name will transfer over to the new facility,” Mason explained.

Francis and his son, Thor Einarson, airport manager, were both at Monday’s meeting and agreed the council’s support was “an honor.”

“I’m honored and I’m pleased,” Francis said. “It’s kind of cool, you know, some of these people call you and they’ve heard the rumor. They ring you up and say, ‘How did you do it?’ I said, ‘I didn’t try that hard, I just enjoyed what we were doing and tried to do it correctly.’”

“The Einarson family thanks you very deeply for this honor,” Thor said to the council. “It’s very humbling. We certainly didn’t expect this.”

Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride, who represents the city on the airport commission, said naming the terminal and the field was “a no brainer, it’s about time.”

McBride reflected on his first time in an airplane — Francis was the pilot. McBride smiled as he recounted that flight and said he wasn’t scared “one bit.”

“I think it’s a time for celebration,” Mason said. “The Einarson family has certainly formed aviation in our community of International Falls. We need to ensure that generations to come understand how the Einarson family, specifically Francis, helped shape our community.”

The Koochiching County Board will also vote on the decision to name the terminal and field at its meeting Aug. 30. Official action will be taken following the board’s decision.

In other business, the council agreed to accept a letter of resignation from Gary Indahl who serves as a police civil service commissioner.

Indahl has held the position since January and is resigning because of health reasons, according to International Falls Police Chief Mike Musich.

Mason said the resignation was effective immediately and that she would like to see the spot filled as soon as possible.

“We will rely on your expertise, chief, on the procedure for that,” she said to Musich.

The council also agreed to appoint Steve Blair to the North Koochiching Sanitary Sewer District Board. Blair will fill the open seat left by Jack Murray.