International Falls City Council will move forward with advertising its city administrator position, despite two no votes from members who said delaying the process would be prudent following Thursday’s Boise Inc. announcement that it will eliminate 265 jobs from its Falls paper mill.
Mayor Bob Anderson and Councilor Pete Kalar voted against a motion to advertise the position. Anderson recommended the council delay advertising and filling the administrator job until the full scale of the impact of the announcement is known.
In addition, he said in a report to the council, he said candidates who may have been interested in applying will not have the same interest after the announcement. He said he’s discussed with the position with staff and had been assured the duties of the position can be handled during the interim.
The administrator position was left vacant in March with the resignation of Rod Otterness, who left to take a city manager job at Union Gap, Wash.
Other councilors said they felt filling the position can be a lengthy process and could be stopped if needed. They said summer brings vacations which could make handling the additional duties by existing staff difficult. They also said that some people may apply for the position after the announcement, providing a wider variety of candidates to choose from.
Pay for the position ranges from $61,00 to $85,000, according to the advertisement.
The council agreed to increase the hourly rate of the interim Administrator Betty Bergstrom from $25.33 to $29.33 retroactive to April 8 until the administrator position is filled. In related business, the council, with a few changes, approved a job description for the administrator position.
The council agreed to work with Community Education to develop on city property at Eighth Avenue and Third Street, a community garden that would measure about 40 yards by 18 yards.
The council agree to provide water free of charge if it is available at the site. The location, the council agreed, must be approved by city Public Works Director Gary Skallman
Community Education Coordinator Rachel Amdahl met Monday with the council, supported by several members of the community in the audience, to discuss the location of the garden and details of the proposal. She said a two-year grant from the Northland Foundation would offer $20,000 to help fund four Community Ed projects, of which the garden is one.
Kalar, who with Anderson met in committee about the proposal, said he likes the idea of involving different aged community members who would work together on the gardens.
Amdahl added that the garden would encourage healthy habits, nutritious food choices and bring generations together.
The garden would offer raised beds measuring about 8 feet by 4 feet where members of the community could plant vegetables, said Amdahl.
Anderson said he agrees with the proposal, but disagreed with the proposed location, instead offering other sites. He said the property on Eighth Avenue may attract animals and need fencing to protect the gardens. In addition, he said it is a favorite site of many people to watch parades. Other sites he suggested included near the Riverview playground, on Riverside Drive and across from Falls High School.
But Amdahl said the Riverside location would be concerning for young children because of its proximity to Rainy River, and Riverview may cause difficulties for older people because of a hill. The property across from the high school would involve tree removal and the soil there is very wet, she said.
Falls Police Chief Mike Musich said the Eighth Avenue site could inhibit vandalism because it is open to the view of the public.
Also Monday, the council approved an agreement with Menards Inc. on a street project. The agreement allows for Menards to stabilize 300 feet of Valley Pine Circle with its own contractor, while stabilizing an additional 300 feet on its own, to provide access to the Borderland Humane Society animal facility proposed by the city and Koochichng County and allow for a new entrance and gate to the company’s lumber storage yard.
Menards asked for the agreement to get the work done before the city would be able to do the work. The city will pay Menard’s contractor for the work at a cost not to exceed $50,000. Menards has proposed to place bituminous material on all 600 feet of Valley Pine Circle, at no cost to the city.
Fire Chief Jerry Jensen reported about a gas line break Monday near River’s Edge Villa and encouraged the council to relocate the animal facility as soon as possible because of dangers for BHS volunteers and the animals during the renovation of the nearby sewer district.
Kalar announced his cell phone number, 218-244-2267, saying constituents have voiced concern because he has no phone number listed in the telephone book.
