Red Lake Falls council approves amended Ordinance 118, schedules $10.4M improvement hearing and OKs limited aerial mosquito spraying

Mayor Allen Bertilrud and the Red Lake Falls City Council met on Feb. 9, 2026, and unanimously approved a set of administrative and policy actions including adoption of an amended Ordinance 118, acceptance of a feasibility report with a $10,431,350 estimate, and authorization for limited aerial mosquito spraying.

The council adopted the amended Ordinance 118 after a first reading and by waiving a second reading. Council member Joyce Kalbakdalen moved for the first reading; Kalbakdalen and Neil Knaack later moved and seconded the waiver and approval. All motions reported in the minutes carried unanimously.

Council member Cheryl Matzke moved to approve Resolution #02-01-2026, receiving a feasibility report from Moore Engineering with an estimated cost of $10,431,350.00 for the proposed improvements; the council set a public hearing on the improvement and assessment of abutting properties for March 2, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. The feasibility estimate appeared in the motion language in the minutes and will be the basis of the public hearing notice.

On administrative and financial matters, the council amended the Dec. 8, 2025 minutes to record acceptance of a contract amendment with Eckstein’s Enterprises LLC dba Sanitary Service & Recycling increasing the cost by $10.00 per ton (from $50.00 to $60.00), effective Jan. 1, 2026. The council also accepted the engagement of Northland Securities as underwriter and acknowledged related disclosures.

The council approved a motion authorizing aerial mosquito spraying up to two times during the summer of 2026 “if deemed necessary.” The motion was moved by Council member Neil Knaack and seconded by Joyce Kalbakdalen. The minutes do not specify operational details such as exact spray dates, vendor, pesticide product, or notification protocols; those details were not specified in the recorded motion.

Council member Neil Knaack also moved (seconded by Joyce Kalbakdalen) to adopt Resolution #02-02-26 calling a hearing on the Final Assessment for the Kankel Addition, scheduled for March 2, 2026 to follow the improvement hearing. The council later recessed into a closed meeting at 6:40 p.m. to discuss attorney–client legal information; attendees listed for the closed session included the six council members and several staff/participants. The public meeting was reopened at 7:06 p.m.

The meeting adjourned at 7:21 p.m. The minutes were signed by Mayor Allen Bertilrud and City Administrator Kathleen Schmitz. The minutes are a summary; the full text is available at City Hall or by request.

Votes at a glance

- Approved amended Ordinance 118 (moved: Joyce Kalbakdalen; second: Neil Knaack for the final approval) — For: Joyce Kalbakdalen, John Kleven (via interactive technology), Neil Knaack, Cheryl Matzke, Kyle Thibert, Allen Bertilrud. Outcome: approved. - Approved Res. #02-01-2026 receiving feasibility report (moved: Cheryl Matzke; second: Joyce Kalbakdalen) — For: Kalbakdalen, Kleven, Knaack, Matzke, Thibert, Bertilrud. Outcome: approved. Public hearing set for March 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. - Approved contract amendment to increase sanitation charge from $50 to $60/ton effective Jan. 1, 2026 (motion to amend minutes reflecting prior acceptance; moved: Kalbakdalen; second: Matzke) — unanimous. - Authorized aerial mosquito spraying up to two times in summer 2026 if deemed necessary (moved: Neil Knaack; second: Joyce Kalbakdalen) — unanimous. - Approved Res. #02-02-26 calling Final Assessment hearing for Kankel Addition (moved: Neil Knaack; second: Joyce Kalbakdalen) — unanimous.

Next step

The council will hold the improvement and assessment hearings on March 2, 2026 at 6:00 p.m. in the Council Chambers, where proponents, opponents and affected property owners may address the proposals.