Council to keep money for own effort, By LAUREL BEAGER, Editor

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.
Falls Mayor Shawn Mason said the money will allow the city to “get more aggressive” with economic development. She noted the effort is called for in the city’s strategic plan.
Councilor Tim “Chopper” McBride told the council that he believed the KEDA could continue to operate with money it makes from its cold weather testing operations. In addition, he said the city would continue as a partner in the KEDA on economic development. The KEDA is made up of county, city and state representatives and at large members.
The $25,000 cut from the KEDA is expected to help fund a plan to hire a consultant to help the city’s efforts at connecting with businesses looking to relocate.
The council is expected to hear presentations from the firms Site Location Partnership and WEDA, both based in Dallas, Texas.
Mason said that while she and McBride, who have heard the presentations via the KEDA, favor the proposal by SLP, it is important the entire council be comfortable in making a selection. The WEDA proposal focuses on lead generation and marketing, while SLP works with companies looking to relocate.
“We need more economic development troops on the ground,” she said of the effort.
Mason said the city’s effort must focus on the foreign trade zone and SLP would serve as a “matchmaker” between companies suited to the FTZ and the city.
Meanwhile, Mason said she was frustrated and disappointed with the KEDA’s efforts to site businesses in the FTZ. “If the KEDA is not serious, there are things the city can do,” she said.
In other business, the council agreed to a 2-percent salary increase, retroactive to Jan. 1, for salaried non-contract position. Those positions include the police chief, deputy police chief, administrative assistant to the police chief, fire chief, water commissioner, street commissioner, city administrator, city attorney, water plant chief operator, and director of public works.
The increase is in line with increases expected to be approved when labor contracts are settled with the city’s bargaining units.