City News, I Falls

International Falls EDA would be lead agency in economic development efforts

International Falls will refocus its efforts and resources by resurrecting the city’s economic development authority.
The International Falls City Council Tuesday proposed a draft amendment to its strategic plan that would redefine the city’s relationship with the Koochiching Economic Development Authority and define members of a city EDA.

The International Falls City Council is expected to hear about a Minnesota Court of Appeals ruling regarding Minnesota Highway 332.
The Falls council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the council chambers of the Falls Municipal Building.
The council is expected to hear an update on the Highway 332 issue from its Finance and Legislation Committee tonight.

The Falls International Airport may be losing its third daily commercial flight, at least from November through April, according to the International Falls-Koochiching County Airport Commission.
The cancellation could not be confirmed by either Northwest or Mesaba Airline, however, the commission secretary Susan Baratono said Wednesday that scheduling for the third flight does not appear during those months. She believes the end of summer schedule flights in combination with high fuel prices brought the cancellation.

The International Falls City Council Monday agreed to focus its efforts on more intense economic development initiatives.
As a result, the council agreed to keep $25,000 of the $50,000 it annually provides to the Koochiching Economic Development Authority for use on intensive efforts toward job creation and retention.
The reduction in money to the KEDA puts the city on par with the amount of money that the Koochiching County Board has agreed to provide. The county board recently cut by $25,000 the amount it will provide to the KEDA and will instead use the money to fund a city alliance.

International Falls City Council will consider a recommendation to contract with a consulting firm that would help to generate business leads.
The Falls City Council is scheduled to meet at 6:30 p.m. tonight in the council chambers at the Falls Municipal Building.
Called site consultant services, the service is intended to attract businesses to locate to International Falls. The council is scheduled to hear a recommendation from its Economic Development Committee to use money dedicated by the city for the Koochiching Economic Development Authority to pay for the service.

The architecture firm slated to provide design services for the proposed amphitheater along Rainy River is bringing in a landscape architecture firm as a part of the project.
The Falls City Council agreed Monday to accept DSGW Architects Inc.’s proposal to subcontract with SRF Consulting Group after a review of the costs by Councilor Cynthia Jaksa, who serves as the chair of the Finance and Legislation Committee. Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride was absent from the meeting.

The International Falls City Council is scheduled to hear a proposal for the architectural design services for the Irvin N. Anderson Amphitheater when it meets tonight.
The Falls City Council meeting is scheduled to begin at 6:30 p.m. in the council chambers at the Municipal Building.
The amphitheater is a part of the city’s plans for the waterfront area along Rainy River, which is expected to include the headquarters for Voyageurs National Park, a marina, boat launch, walking and biking trails and picnic areas.

Council selects Cynthia Jaksa for West Ward position

Acknowledging a tough decision, International Falls City Council Monday selected a firm based in International Falls to develop a comprehensive wetlands management plan.

Past dealings involving employee of developer raise questions

Bill Rieser, an employee of Ultimate Development LLC, says his past dealings with failed companies has no bearing on a plan to develop property along the Rainy River.
Rieser is the focus of an anonymous package of information sent to city officials and others recently in the community. The package presented information about Rieser’s involvement in business dealings in the 1990s.

Additional money from county would be used to add ALS to service

International Falls City Council will ask Koochiching County to provide more money to the ambulance service in 2009 than it has provided in the past.
The additional money would be used by the service to transition from providing basic life support to advanced life support.