Governor Mark Dayton and Department of Employment and Economic Development Commissioner Katie Clark Sieben will meet today with area elected officials and members of community response teams about the 265 local jobs terminated because of the shutdown last week of three machines at Boise Inc.'s paper mill in International Falls.

The meeting is 11:15 a.m. Wednesday at the third floor courtroom in the Koochiching County Courthouse. International Falls Mayor Bob Anderson told the International Falls City Council Monday an agenda for what is scheduled to be a brief meeting has yet to be determined. See Saturday's edition of The Journal for coverage.

Council business

On Monday, the council unanimously agreed to seek bids for installing utilities to a parcel in the city's multimodal district, but only after it was revealed no bids had been sought earlier.

Councilor Gail Rognerud accused Anderson of overstepping his authority when she realized he put on hold action taken in May by the council to seek bids for installation of utilities to a part of a multimodal warehouse district. The action authorized city staff to seek bids from contractors for the utility installation on Parcel A of the district, which is now in the city limits. Other portions of the district are not in the city limits and discussions about annexing those parcels have begun.

Following council approval to seek an extension to the 2014 end of a $657,000 grant provided by the state to assist in the district development, Rognerud sought action to schedule a date to open the bids "so we can start preliminary work this fall if the weather permits." She told the council the city needs to begin to spend the grant to avoid risking the state withdrawing it. "It's too much money to give up," she said.

Anderson asked whether contractors would be held to the bids sought six months ago and said it would be unfair to reveal the bids in a public process if they were not still in effect.

Councilors discussed the issue and Rognerud said she was told by city Public Works Director Gary Skallman the bids would not be "good" if they were not opened and awarded soon. She urged the council to set a bid opening date or seek new bids if they were no longer valid.

Anderson said the bid opening was not on the agenda and said other issues may play a role. He handed out a report on a meeting he attended Sept. 30 with county officials and residents who live near the district and described how annexation, rock removal at the site, a new radio tower and a desire to restore Second Creek could affect the development of the district.

Rognerud said those issues do not impact opening bids for installation of utilities to Parcel A of the district. She said some of the issues have been verbally resolved.

As the council considered its next step, Shawn Mason, city economic and community director, returned to the meeting to tell the council Skallman, via telephone, had just informed her he had no bids.

"He said he was told to pause it by the mayor," she said, adding Skallman told her he needs authority to allow him to seek bids and set a bid opening date.

Rognerud asked how and why a council motion on a public process was stopped. Anderson replied he had questions about the grant agreement and did not think it wise to proceed with bids until he had answers.

"Should that have come back to the full council?" asked Rognerud. "I don't think that you had authority to stop a motion of the full council."

Anderson said he serves as chief executive officer of the city and was required to sign documents for the grant and would "not do it without a clear understanding of what funds we have (to do the project)."

Rogernud said she was very disappointed and his action may have delayed development of the district.

But Anderson said he had not delayed anything since there is no official client for the district. He acknowledged a client is interested, but has not moved forward formally.

Councilor Paul Eklund encouraged better communication between the council and urged it to move forward with seeking bids.

Anderson said he would like items, like the bid issue, to be placed on the agenda, rather than be brought to meetings as a "surprise."

"The surprise is that we don't have bids," said Rognerud.

"That's no surprise," replied Anderson.

The council also on Monday agreed to accept and install playground equipment at the Sixth Avenue East playground. The action was based on request from Robin Bjorkquist, event coordinator, Backus Community Center, who said the center plans to conduct a "Pennies for Play" fundraiser, as was conducted a couple of years ago and resulted in a donation of playground equipment at the Kerry Park Playground.

Bjorkquist told the council a carnival will likely be associated with the fundraiser, which will collect pennies and other change in receptacles placed around the community.

The goal, she said, is to collect $20,000 by spring, but added donations will be accepted until the goal is reached. Backus will act as fiscal agent and will seek donations from other sources, as well, she said.

In addition, she raised concerns about the delay of installation of equipment provided for Kerry Park Playground and asked that the Sixth Avenue equipment be installed as soon as possible. Bjorkquist said she would also look for other resources to install the equipment.

Councilors said the equipment would be installed as staff time allows and thanked her for the her efforts to help improve the community.

In other business, the council will ask Koochiching County officials to provide a conditional use permit that would allow the addition of four campsites for pop-up style campers on the west side of City Beach.

In 2008, the county approved a CUP to allow tents at City Beach.

The council also agreed to sell timber from city property on the Van Lynn Road in a November timber auction conducted by Koochiching County.