Thief River Falls council approves four staff reclassifications, liquor-store roof change order and gambling permit; accepts prior findings

THIEF RIVER FALLS, Minn. — At its June 3 meeting, the Thief River Falls City Council approved four personnel reclassifications, authorized a change order to fully replace insulation on the municipal liquor-store roof, approved a gambling premise permit for the Goodridge area development and accepted findings of fact from its previous meeting.

The actions, each approved by voice vote with no recorded dissents, were taken during a regularly scheduled City Council meeting in Council Chambers. The personnel changes take effect June 4, 2025; the roof change order was approved as an additional charge under an existing roofing contract; and the acceptance of the record incorporates previously collected findings of fact tied to an RCA and resolution action.

Reclassification of four administrative positions The council voted to approve reclassification of four city administrative positions effective June 4, 2025, with no retroactive pay. The council’s motion identified four employees and their new grade/step or next scheduled step: - Joanne Olsen, listed as MAPS union IT coordinator, will move from grade 6 overstepped 8 at $45.71 to grade 7 step 8 at $46.57. - A nonunion HR coordinator (transcript lists the name as Lehi Bakker or Baker) moves from grade 6 step 5 at $38.86 to grade 7 step 3 at $39.80, with the next step scheduled for May 2026. - A Teamsters unit senior billing clerk (transcript lists the name as Jeremy [Trich's line]) moves from grade 6 step 4 at $37.40 to grade 7 step 2 at $38.27, with the next step scheduled for August 2025. - A Teamsters unit accountant, Jenny Davis, moves from grade 5 step 7 at $38.52 to grade 7 step 3 at $39.80, with the next step scheduled for January 2026. The council approved the reclassifications on a motion moved by Scott Pream, Ward 5 councilman, and seconded by a council member identified in the transcript as "Narud." The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Liquor-store roof: insulation replacement and change order The council authorized a change order to replace insulation across the entire roof of the municipal liquor store after the contractor reported widespread, permanent moisture in the roof assembly. Travis, the staff member who presented the item, said on-site investigation found that in excess of 70% of the roof was moisture-affected and that existing insulation needed full replacement.

The approved cost structure follows the contractor’s existing contract and was presented as material-plus-labor. The council was given the following cost breakdown in the meeting: - Material and delivery: $40,000. - Labor: one foreman plus six additional workers billed at $70 per person per hour (seven workers × $70 = $490 per on-site hour). - Fuel surcharge: $100 per truck per day for two trucks ($200 per day). The presenter and council noted the roof has been in place since 1989 and that commercial roofs typically are expected to meet an R-value standard (the presenter said an R-35 standard applies for commercial roofs). The council approved the insulation replacement and associated change order on a motion moved by a council member identified in the transcript as Councilwoman McBaldock and seconded by Michelle McCraw, Ward 4 councilwoman. The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote. The presenter estimated the additional change order at approximately $62,000.

Gambling premise permit for Goodridge area development The council approved a gambling premise permit application tied to the Goodridge area development. During brief discussion a council member asked why the permit covered an out-of-town location; a staff member responded that the applicant filed the application for that location and the city’s role was to approve or deny the permit application rather than to manage the applicant’s location choices. The motion to approve the gambling premise permit was moved and seconded (mover and seconder are identified in the transcript but with variable spelling). The motion passed on a unanimous voice vote.

Acceptance of prior RCA/resolution findings The council also voted to accept into the record the findings of fact that were gathered for an RCA and an associated resolution action at the prior council meeting. Councilmember Kelly Langness (identified in the meeting as having incorporated eight factors in the prior motion) was cited during the discussion. The motion to accept the findings was moved and seconded as recorded in the transcript and passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance - Reclassification of four administrative positions: motion moved by Scott Pream; second recorded in transcript as "Narud"; unanimous voice vote (no dissent recorded). - Liquor-store roof insulation replacement (change order under existing contract): motion moved by Councilwoman McBaldock; seconded by Michelle McCraw; unanimous voice vote (no dissent recorded); estimated additional cost ~ $62,000; material cost $40,000. - Gambling premise permit (Goodridge area development): motion and second recorded; unanimous voice vote (no dissent recorded). - Acceptance of findings of fact from prior meeting (RCA/resolution): motion and second recorded; unanimous voice vote (no dissent recorded).

The meeting also included routine board and commission updates, pothole and street maintenance schedules, and announcements about community events. Council members adjourned to the next City Council meeting scheduled for June 17 at 5:30 p.m. in Council Chambers.