Move should save city $10,000 annually

International Falls animal pound services will be provided by the Borderland Human Society under a contract that will save the city $10,000 annually.

The International Falls City Council Monday agreed to contract with the society beginning July 1 for pound management services. The city will provide $27,000 each year to the society, in addition to the annual $5,000 that has been allotted by the city, for management of the pound.

The society also sought to retain dog and cat license fees, but city Administrator Rod Otterness advised the council to consider the fees separately at a later date.

Otterness told the council that the idea to contract with the society came with the retirements of former Police Chief Chris Raboin and Deputy Chief Daryl Waller. Raboin and Waller were two of the city’s three pound officers.

Otterness estimated the city would see an overall budget reduction by about $10,000 each year with the contract.

In other business, the council heard an overview of the recently adjourned legislative session from Rep. Tom Anzelc and Sen. Tom Saxhaug.

Much of the discussion by the area’s state lawmakers centered on actions taken by the Legislature in an attempt to balance the state budget by raising revenue and cutting spending.

However, both said Gov. Tim Pawlenty’s rejection of the budget plans means that he will begin to “unallot” or withdraw money anticipated by cities in the form of local government aid and by counties in the form of in-lieu-of-tax payments. The state funding is provided to cities with low populations and to counties containing a large public land base.

Anzelc told the council he believed that when the decisions in the unallotment process become tough, Pawlenty will call in legislative leaders prior to July 1 in an attempt to compromise on balancing the budget.

Saxhaug pointed to reductions in state funding, cuts to rural hospitals and nursing homes, and higher education as targets for Pawlenty’s cuts.

Also Monday, the council agreed to begin the process to vacate the block of Seventh Avenue between Fifth and Fourth streets, as requested by Teresa Jaksa, representing the Koochiching County Board.

The county has asked the city to vacate the street to allow it to develop a county veterans memorial park and to extend parking for use by visitors to the memorial and to the courthouse.

City Attorney Joe Boyle told the council that the council must schedule a public hearing, after a period of notification, to take input on whether the vacation serves in the best interests of the community.

After the hearing, should the council proceed, a vacation commission would be appointed to consider compensation details, Boyle said.

The county has asked the city to donate to the memorial any compensation the city could seek through vacation of the street, but Boyle told the council that compensation and other options should be explored after the hearing is held and the vacation commission is established.

The council Tuesday voted to ask the county board to support the city’s request to place the city’s police force under the authority of the county sheriff for 30 days.

Councilor Paul Eklund, who serves as chairman of the city’s Human Resources Committee, said the action is spurred by retirement of the former chief and deputy chief. In addition, he said the city’s Civil Service Commission has not tested yet to replace the positions.

Boyle noted that the commission must approve the action when it meets Wednesday.

The city has agreed to pay the county one half of the sheriff’s monthly salary, which Otterness estimated would be about $3,300.

The council heard an update on the “fight on blight” from Fire Chief Jerry Jensen. Jensen told the council that 64 letters on blight, 24 on grass maintenance, and three on hazardous houses have been sent to city property owners between May 7 to June 1.

“That's a ton of letters for this time of year,” he told the council. Jensen also noted that the city is often able to help property owners comply with the city’s blight ordinance and suggested people contact him for assistance.

Jensen told the council that the city has demolished 130 buildings since 2003, making way for new construction in many cases.

Also on Tuesday, the council appointed Crystal Clance, Joy Gillespie, Betsy Jensen, and Ramona Johnson to the city’s Cable Commission.