[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6299214,"mediaKeyId","2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc","parentId",2498145,"title","Residents raise decorum, audio and neighborhood safety complaints during public comment","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",442000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc&start=442&end=442","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc/thumbnail_442000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299214/International-Falls-City/Koochiching/Minnesota/Residents-raise-decorum-audio-and-neighborhood-safety-complaints-during-public-comment","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299214-d4bdc795e21723660449a5aa82dbc2f3/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204739&Signature=EK0xBu8PTD5E6KswzxiOBvGPPgmHPCsW82LdfmoIlCytNW1p1y9YXGcygZOzzjBsRrPkYnPaz08eg8ZOka0HmUdkqyJzLLUYjC0QcvB6ZKRVAAXEJmmsC8AGPnyOqDav9Kr6iXZc4q~nt6fd~E9MtD92EfImgU0hXbDXsA99HcR0mIsyOj~D-iB96aMED5KUrBzLCsEr7eOEmMiw9q2r5XM7zB1PKKbaE8DZeGO3ILLVx--QZSQAUY6J3miVENjHJhmOZkgvikWvW6KAkfU6A-v-NADuB-NSONQxUp5fhPJYPuGb5oAXQGjKE9giUsCcKPPdEV7DFBQSB6MMdl1EWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of International Falls, MN","date","2025-03-04T16:11:06Z","article","Several residents used the March 3 public comment period to press the council on meeting decorum, audio-recording questions and local safety concerns.

A longtime resident (identified in the meeting as Ms. Benedix) accused a council member of mouthing a derogatory slur and of using profanity toward her during the Feb. 18 meeting. The resident said she has video and explicitly told the council she would pursue the matter. “I have the video, and I can prove it,” she said, adding that she had been called a “c u n t” (spelled at the microphone) and that the experience left her “shaking.”

Councillor Kaler responded that he did not recall saying the word and offered an apology for any unprofessional remarks. “I apologize; I should never have done that,” Kaler said. The mayor and other councilors also urged decorum. City staff advised that allegations involving council conduct be routed to the city attorney for review; the mayor suggested residents reach out to the city attorney because resolution of the matter was beyond the scope of the evening’s session.

Separately, several residents raised operational and safety concerns: Austin Schaff, Tom Shoff and Elden Boy said the intersection at Shorewood and Highway 1171 is dangerous and asked the council to send the item to the Public Works Committee for engineering review; the mayor said the request would be entered into the record and forwarded to the Public Works Committee.

Other commenters described concerns with kids throwing debris at a demolished playground area, perceived lack of police follow-up, and requests for improved communications from staff. Ed Bates and a camera operator questioned whether the council’s recording system captured whispers and whether an external microphone disables the camera’s onboard microphone; the technician explained the system records to a single track and that whispering in the room can be picked up by the mics.

Councilors repeatedly reminded speakers of the five‑minute public‑comment time limit and urged residents to pursue formal complaints through the city attorney or appropriate law‑enforcement channels for issues beyond open‑forum testimony.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting for March 3, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Multiple residents used the March 3 open forum to allege councilor profanity on an earlier recording, to report threats and neighborhood safety issues and to request traffic review at Shorewood and Highway 1171; the mayor and council responded and staff advised legal follow-up.","taxTitle","International Falls City, Koochiching, Minnesota","taxId",71436,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299221,"Council approves routine permits, agreements and ordinance on 4–0 votes; payments and minutes approved earlier",4177,73000,4250000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc&start=73&end=4250","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc/thumbnail_73000.jpg","/articles/6299221/International-Falls-City/Koochiching/Minnesota/Council-approves-routine-permits-agreements-and-ordinance-on-40-votes-payments-and-minutes-approved-earlier","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299221-70a5c4547d5e0387e053ee6fe252c2de/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204739&Signature=O4fvDYyhDxlbLQ1Hx~xkLn1-6s~ttKqExmXxawFFqy~rhzsPgwOYaKU-fOolhE9J9asuCz8dtswmRJyjjhMfqApHPUI4wgTSsFP-RffmHpLWeX3Wlh43EOoh9NPlfhxdPJKXh1Nm9u6Ecj9CI6xV7xvq6NCsO1ZwCXAJvOGIEG4iNtWhqtTjK48dXUo8Qr13~E-mQZUu-XTA-dnD~9JD~OgJvTSlP8aKVfW2ihEChEPLzwKF-m3Hap0V-ygKknoZn6ZrQsTmF6kA0T3WmnSiv4hGOvjgubgUNhKTEtVLjOt~bv0Cj~ja91E~1U---M0WGpD1Y3BUk697zGuBW0DFtQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The International Falls City Council on March 3 approved a package of routine items including a second reading of an ordinance enabling the Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) to exercise powers on the city’s behalf, event permits and agreements, and a collective bargaining agreement.

Key votes recorded on March 3 (all items below passed unless otherwise noted):

- Second and final reading of an ordinance authorizing the Housing and Redevelopment Authority in and for the City of International Falls to exercise powers under Minnesota statutes on behalf of the city. Motion by Councillor Wagner; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Approval to use Irvin and Anderson Amphitheatre for Riverfront Concert (Backus Community Center / Fourth of July). Motion by Councillor Kaler; second by Councillor Wagner. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Resolution approving an exempt permit for the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation raffle (Ash River Trail; drawing 04/04/2025). Motion by Councillor Holden; second by Councillor Kaler. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- One- to four-day temporary on‑sale liquor license for Saint Thomas Aquinas Catholic School gala (05/02/2025). Motion by Councillor Wagner; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Continued participation in the Northeast Minnesota Home Consortium Joint Powers Agreement. Motion by Councillor Kaler; second by Councillor Wagner. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Approval of International Union of Operating Engineers Local 49 collective bargaining agreement. Motion by Councillor Kaler; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Letter of congratulations to Maisie Russo (honorable mention, League of Minnesota Cities mayor‑for‑a‑day essay contest). Motion by Councillor Kaler; second by Councillor Wagner. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

- Motion to pursue a community project funding application (Congressman Stauber’s office) for the water plant rehabilitation project (staff to work with Public Works director and Bolton & Menk). Motion by Councillor Wagner; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (approved to pursue application by March 14 deadline).

- Referral of a new business item to Public Works Committee (item postponed / referred). Motion by Councillor Kaler; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (referred).

- Approval of a restaurant business license for America’s Best Value Inn and Suites. Motion by Councillor Wagner; second by Councillor Holden. Vote: 4–0 (approved).

Earlier in the meeting, while only three councilors were present, the council approved the agenda, minutes of the Feb. 18 meeting and payments of claims. Those votes were recorded as 3–0 before Councillor Kaler arrived; later votes listed above were taken with a four-member quorum.

The council did not open or award any construction bids at this meeting. Several residents used the public comment period to press the council for clearer cost estimates on a separate capital project (police facility), which councilors and staff said would be presented before further contract actions.","At its March 3 meeting the International Falls City Council approved an ordinance second reading for HRA powers, multiple permits and agreements, and a collective bargaining agreement; payments and minutes were approved earlier in the meeting.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6299226,"International Falls debate over police facility focuses on Kutaska renovation, cost uncertainty",5895,1435000,7330000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc&start=1435&end=7330","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2498145-bcb5e791ca5a275c2413b621a5173dcc/thumbnail_1435000.jpg","/articles/6299226/International-Falls-City/Koochiching/Minnesota/International-Falls-debate-over-police-facility-focuses-on-Kutaska-renovation-cost-uncertainty","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299226-e55908cab5b0bdb4ea95c29eb4dd39f4/orig.mp4?Expires=1775204740&Signature=DnsD~Ec1acLFFnKJf0QnHYUp-HLQgglwfndY-oXZFUYwRZb9G-RnOKFJezxL7AviRF6qrZiy6ng00jKSi3OM-HeBbKNRZru-~5O1UYw~VQXBEaKg9ZsvavCeW-e-2sLbgv2Vo67qbAaBiA11lPqIEy7ZTMHb-AnyRuZCv~vgzIoy15iW~lLBOb8TQ0sjockw1BNCVVw4zg6L02dREDURxi29iWKq1~XEwdk8TT8OiTU-r9ONhE4XJDkZZ675NnO0oVNuxC665wfZczzdrAx-7vZWl9gHZb40nvia1w0aUZDlEGAm5YcbD1ivs3Rpsi1vmf5CS9-b6vGSjqi4jvZUZQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","International Falls City Council members and residents spent large portions of the March 3 meeting disputing whether to renovate the city-owned Kutaska building for the police department or to occupy space at the county Law Enforcement Center (LEC), with citizens demanding firmer cost estimates before construction proceeds.

Council had voted 4–1 at its Feb. 18 meeting to move forward with Kraus-Anderson for design and construction services for the Kutaska project; several speakers at Monday’s meeting sought to rescind or delay that course until the city provides a line-item cost analysis and clear comparison to the LEC option.

The dispute centers on how much space the police need, the projected construction and renovation costs and whether the LEC — which the county owns — could be reused. Resident Bill Valentine and others told the council they had been given or had found conflicting figures: a $1.6 million figure discussed by the council, separate higher contractor estimates and a two‑phase proposal that would raise total costs above $1.6 million. “There is currently no bid for $1,600,000. The 1.6 was being represented as the entire project,” Valentine said while reading a letter from another resident that questioned where the $1.6 million number came from.

Chief Kostrick told the council he has not requested or authorized any construction expenditures and said staff plan to present a detailed cost analysis before work proceeds. “I just wanted to let everyone know we haven't spent or approved any money yet,” the chief said. He also described two independent space studies the department commissioned — one by BKV and one by Kraus‑Anderson — and said the studies used different planning horizons and produced different space recommendations.

Council members and several residents debated projected square footage. Citizen Reynold Calder cited a comparative study and urged the council to explain why 13,000 square feet was being considered; others pointed out that the sheriff’s department and the city’s police department operate out of substantially smaller footprints now. Chief Kostrick said, on a typical night, the department generally staffs three personnel and that the earlier analyses included 20‑year growth projections.

Multiple residents warned that an open-ended authorization to a contractor could let costs escalate. “You have to be realistic,” resident Dennis Van Ryno told the council, noting construction estimates frequently rise. Several speakers asked the council to rescind the prior authorization or attach a dollar cap to future actions. No motion to rescind was made at Monday’s meeting.

City staff said the next practical steps are to complete and present an itemized cost breakdown (design, windows/door security, HVAC, roofing, interior security treatments, bullet‑resistant glass or film, mechanical/electrical work and contingency) so the council and public can compare options. City staff member Emma (staff) summarized the process: “This is one of many steps. This is a phased approach. One meeting doesn’t mean the police department’s moving tomorrow.”

Councilors and residents also discussed secondary concerns tied to the building: number and type of windows (chief’s office counted roughly 60), security upgrades, roof and mechanical repairs, and whether county departments would use unused LEC space if the city did not occupy it.

The meeting record shows the Feb. 18 motion to proceed with Kraus‑Anderson stands; councilors said they will schedule presentation of the requested cost and scope items so the public can review numbers before future votes.","City council previously voted to proceed with renovation of the city-owned Kutaska building for a police facility; residents and councilors pressed for clearer cost estimates and comparisons with the county-owned Law Enforcement Center during the March 3 meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents raise decorum, audio and neighborhood safety complaints during public comment

Council approves routine permits, agreements and ordinance on 4–0 votes; payments and minutes approved earlier

International Falls debate over police facility focuses on Kutaska renovation, cost uncertainty