International Falls Mayor Shawn Mason resigned as mayor Monday prior to accepting the newly created position of city director of economic and community development.
Mason, who left the meeting after the council accepted her resignation, said she planned to accept the council’s offer for the director Tuesday morning.
Mason abstained from any votes relating to the director position.
A two-page resignation letter passed out by Mason at the meeting credited the council for 10 bulleted items “highlighting positive movement due to your leadership and our dedicated employees and fine citizens.” She also credited city Administrator Rod Otterness for his assistance and leadership during her time as mayor.
“It’s been an honor and privilege to serve our fellow citizens and work with each of you and our entire city family,” said Mason’s letter. “You should all be very proud of what has been accomplished to date.”
The director position will start at an annual salary of $46,750 with benefits, said Tim “Chopper” McBride, who serves as the president of the city Economic Development Authority, which recommended in May the city establish the position. McBride, who was Monday appointed to fill out Mason’s term as mayor, which ends Dec. 31, said the salary will be brought to $55,000 over 36 months.
The city’s EDA Board, made up of city councilors, selected Mason and Paul Nevanen as finalists among a field of 11 applicants. 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.
The council agreed to advertise for candidates to fill out the term of the McBride’s at-large council position.
“I’ll do my best and try to help the city for the duration of the term,” said McBride.
Rental issues
In other business Monday, the council adopted an annual rental fee licensing structure and inspection fees that will be waived until after Dec. 31.
The annual rental license fee scheduled calls for landlords to pay $20 for a single unit, $25 for two to three units, and $30 for four or more units.
Inspection fees were set at $20 per unit up to three units, and $10 each for four and more units.
The inspection process, which is to be developed by a yet-to-be-established task force made up of tenants and landlords, will be reviewed two years after implementation of the inspections.
Councilors reiterated that the inspections are intended to ensure that renters are living in safe conditions and not intended to violate anyone’s rights. Landlords will be asked to provide contacts for their renters so city officials may schedule inspections. And councilors said that the best time for an inspection may be when rental units are vacant.
The council heard from attorney Dan Griffith and rental unit owner Dave Hausmann who questioned the council’s intentions about the inspections.
Griffith presented a petition he said was signed by landlords and tenants asking that the council set aside enforcement of the ordinance governing rental units until those affected can comment on it.
Griffith also questions whether inspections were a violation of renters constitutional rights and whether the city’s right to inspect will someday cross over to private homes.
Renters reluctant to discuss safety issues with their landlords have alternatives, he said, which include moving, reporting safety violations anonymously, contacting an attorney for information, and contacting society service staff.
Councilor Cynthia Jaksa said a court decision expected in August on a Red Wing inspection case would address constitutional questions.
She also said that the state has given cities the right to regulation commerce, which is what rental units are considered. She said the city licenses gas pumps and restaurants also for safety purposes.
Jaksa encouraged tenants and landlords to contact her via mail and email if they are interested in being a part of the task force, which may be limited to two tenants, two landlords, herself and city building inspector Kelly Meyers.
Jaksa can be reached at 1315 14th Avenue International Falls, MN 56649 or cynthiaj@ci.international-falls.mn.us.
July 16, 2012
Dear International Falls City Council Members:
I will be resigning from the position of Mayor prior to the close of this evening’s meeting.
It has been an honor and privilege to serve our fellow citizens and work with each of you, and our entire city family. You should all be very proud of what has been accomplished to date.
Your leadership is outstanding and has resulted in many positive results. Some of the highlights are:
Creating a citizen-friendly atmosphere: It is the taxpayers who own City Hall. Thank you for encouraging, welcoming and honoring citizen input and creating useful citizen task forces.
Good stewardship of taxpayer dollars: The annual audits speak loudly about how you value sound fiscal stewardship, balancing LGA cuts, while still providing quality services to our citizens.
Investing in economic growth: Establishing the Economic Development Authority and recognizing the need to expand upon our current investment in economic development has and will spur job growth/retention and create a healthier tax base.
Evolving the culture between Voyageurs National Park and our gateway community: You joined with park leadership at the local and national level to begin down the long road “to meet in the middle”. The result was historic, with both parties understanding and agreeing more economic benefit can be created by the park at the same time it is being preserved for future generations.
Innovatively managing wetland hurdles: Instead of solely depending upon changing federal wetland legislation, you were proactive and innovative in creating a wetland bank and a plan that has resulted in expeditious permitting for important projects.
Waterfront development: Investing in the waterfront was a turning point in the right direction. Not only did it solidify our relationship with the park, it created a community waterfront venue, improved public access and has attracted interest from other investors for the remaining property.
Improving upon our work environment: You have been intentional on how to continually provide quality services with limited resources. Staff count is down; yet, the city is providing quality services. City employees are provided the tools they need to be successful and great strides have been made in ensuring a respectful workplace exists. The relationship between the elected officials and staff is productive. Contract negotiations are done respectfully and professionally, with both sides compromising.
Relationship building: The city has been very successful in building relationships and advocacy on the local, state and national levels – with elected officials, administrative officials, organizations and businesses. We are proud to co-own the airport, cold weather testing infrastructure and KEDA with our county counterparts. Our state and federal elected officials know us by first name, and know our needs and have assisted the city because of advocacy.
Emergency services expansion: At virtually no cost to the taxpayer, the city was able to add paramedics to the EMS/Fire Department. Taxpayers deserve this high level of emergency service.
Community conversations: Your proactive leadership in securing the League of MN Cities to conduct “community conversations” was instrumental in furthering the conversation of collaboration with other entities. This effort will lead to more leading to more opportunities to work as productively and efficiently as the taxpayers deserve.
I could go on and on, highlighting positive movement due to your leadership, our dedicated employees and fine citizens. The bottom line is I thank you for making my job as Mayor a joy, honor and privilege. I respect each of you for your individual talents and for tirelessly working for your constituents. I applaud you for consistently leading with character, honesty and integrity.
Respectfully,
Shawn Mason
