Votes at a glance: Red Lake Falls council approves pumper purchase, grant application and planter donations

At its June 22 meeting the Red Lake Falls City Council recorded unanimous votes on three actions: purchase and repair of a 2005 International Pierce pumper truck, authorization to submit a Water Infrastructure Fund grant application, and acceptance of $2,585 in donations for city flower planters.

Fire apparatus purchase: Councilmember Cheryl Matzke moved, seconded by Joyce Kalbakdalen, to approve purchasing a 2005 International Pierce pumper truck for $162,500. The minutes record the council’s plan to apply $48,671 from city reserves toward the purchase, yielding a net city cost of $113,829, and to approve repair work at Thibert’s Chev Inc. for $9,000. The motion was recorded as contingent on Rural Fire reimbursing the city $61,415 (noted in the minutes as 50% of the total cost). The motion passed unanimously; all six members present were recorded as voting in favor.

Grant authorization (Resolution #06-04-2026): The council approved Resolution #06-04-2026 authorizing the City to apply for Minnesota Public Facilities Authority Water Infrastructure Fund financial assistance and authorizing the mayor and city administrator to execute the grant agreement on the city’s behalf. The minutes record the vote as unanimous (For: Kalbakdalen, Kleven, Knaack, Matzke, Thibert, Bertilrud).

Donations (Resolution #06-05-2026): The council approved Resolution #06-05-2026 accepting $2,585 in donations for city flower planters; the minutes record the vote as unanimous with the same six members voting in favor.

Other business: The minutes note three municipal terms are up for election in 2026 and that the candidate filing period is July 14–28, 2026. The meeting adjourned at 6:24 p.m.

All votes and motions are recorded in the city minutes; the full files and supporting documents are available for public inspection at City Hall or by mail/electronic request, according to the minutes.