Big Falls public meetings in 2025

Council

The City Council will meet to review and approve the 2026 Water & Sewer Budget. The body will also discuss MN PL policy and review reports from the Fire/EMS and Maintenance departments.

• 2026 Water & Sewer Budget review and approval
• Annual Tobacco License for Pritchard’s Corner
• Resolution 2025-11 acknowledging a $1,500 donation from Big Falls Lion’s Club to CERC
• Building Permit #226 for Jeff Wickstrom
• Boundary change for Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District IV to encompass the entire city

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included the annual tobacco license, a $1,500 donation acknowledgment from the Lion’s Club, building permit #226, the LRIP Project Grant acknowledgment, and a boundary change for the Koochiching Soil & Water Conservation District. It also approved $142,540.79 in disbursements and payroll, the water and sewer budgets, and the MN PL policy. All motions passed with all members in favor.

• Approved consent agenda (unanimous) – includes tobacco license, $1,500 donation, permit #226, LRIP grant acknowledgment, soil district boundary change
• Approved disbursements and payroll totaling $142,540.79 (unanimous)
• Approved water and sewer budgets (unanimous)
• Approved MN PL policy (unanimous)
• Approved liquor report (unanimous)
• Approved fire/EMS report (unanimous)
• Approved maintenance report (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Council

The council approved Resolution 2025-10 adopting the final general fund budget for 2026 and establishing the levy for that year. It also adopted Ordinance No. 228 creating a lodging tax for the Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp. Disbursements and payroll totaling $185,546.63 were approved, and the consent agenda items, including the ATV trail support, were adopted. No decision was made to close the municipal liquor store.

• Approved Resolution 2025-10 adopting 2026 general fund budget and levy (unanimous)
• Adopted Ordinance No. 228 establishing lodging tax on campground and horse camp (unanimous)
• Approved consent agenda items, including ATV trail plan support (unanimous)
• Approved disbursements and payroll of $185,546.63 (unanimous)
• Approved liquor store operational report (unanimous)
• Approved Fire/EMS by‑law additions (unanimous)
• Approved Fire/EMS report (unanimous)
• Approved Maintenance report (unanimous)

Council

The Big Falls City Council will vote to approve the regular meeting minutes, the financial statements, cemetery lot agreements involving Linda Dey and Joan & Troy Nelson, and Building Permit #225 for Jason Nelson. They will also approve disbursements and payroll. An FMLA discussion is scheduled but not decided.

• Approve regular meeting minutes
• Approve financial statements
• Approve cemetery lot agreements (Linda Dey; Joan & Troy Nelson)
• Approve Building Permit #225 (Jason Nelson)
• Approve disbursements and payroll

Council

The Big Falls City Council will meet to approve minutes, financials, and several resolutions including a 2026 preliminary general fund budget and an airport maintenance grant. Discussions include Campground Phase III plans and FMLA policy, while routine reports on liquor, fire/EMS, and maintenance will be presented.

• Approve Resolution 2025-08 for Airport Maintenance and Operations Grant with MN DOT
• Approve Building Permit #222/Pfannenstein
• Adopt Resolution 2025-07 setting 2026 preliminary general fund budget and tax levy
• Campground Phase III Discussion
• Preliminary Budget Discussion

Council

The Big Falls City Council will meet to review financial reports and departmental updates. The body is scheduled to discuss Campground Phase III and vote on a Memorandum of Agreement involving the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe.

• Memorandum of Agreement with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe
• Campground Phase III discussion
• Building permit for Olsen/Pierson

The council adopted the consent agenda, which included approval of Building Permit #220 (Olsen/Pierson), Building Permit #221 (Budrow) and a Memorandum of Agreement with the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe. A motion to approve disbursements of $144,567.07 and a $604.01 claim to Maggert Machine passed, with Councilmember Kennedy abstaining. The liquor, Fire/EMS, and clerk reports were each approved by unanimous vote. The meeting was adjourned.

• Approved consent agenda, including Building Permit #220 and #221 and MOA (unanimous)
• Approved disbursements of $144,567.07 and $604.01 claim (Kennedy abstained, others in favor)
• Approved liquor report (unanimous)
• Approved Fire/EMS report (unanimous)
• Approved clerk report (unanimous)
• Adjourned meeting (unanimous)

Council

The Big Falls City Council held a public budget hearing for the Fire Department. The council approved the 2026 Fire Department budget and taxing district levy.

• Resolution 2025-06: Fire Taxing District levy set at $11,500
• Discussion regarding grants to reinstall the tornado siren

The council approved the consent agenda items, including meeting minutes, financial reports, a building permit, a Greater MN Legacy grant application, a $48,730.01 retainage payment, and a municipal tort liability waiver. It also approved $385,032.36 in disbursements (with one abstention), the liquor report, the Phase 3 Legacy Grant application, and the maintenance report. The meeting was adjourned.

• Approved consent agenda items (minutes, financial reports, building permit, grant application, retainage, liability waiver) – motion carried unanimously
• Approved disbursements of $385,032.36 and $681.51 – motion carried with Kennedy abstaining
• Approved liquor report – motion carried unanimously
• Approved Phase 3 Legacy Grant application – motion carried unanimously
• Approved maintenance report – motion carried unanimously
• Adjourned meeting – motion carried unanimously

Council

The Big Falls City Council will meet to review financial reports and approve several resolutions. Key items include a donation to the Special Projects Fund and a raffle permit.

• Resolution 2025-03: Lions Club donation of $20,000 to Special Projects Fund
• Resolution 2025-04: Lions Club One-Day Off-Site Raffle Permit
• Resolution 2025-02: Approving TruStar Bank Signatures
• Cemetery Lot Agreement for Angela Boes

The council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included regular minutes, financial reports, a cemetery lot agreement, several resolutions, and a $108,418.75 payment for the pavilion project. Disbursements and payroll totaling $563,879.13 (plus a $1,228.85 claim) were approved with one member abstaining. The liquor, maintenance, and clerk reports were each approved unanimously. The meeting was then adjourned.

• Approved consent agenda items (including $108,418.75 pavilion payment) – unanimous
• Approved disbursements and payroll $563,879.13 and $1,228.85 claim – motion carried with one abstention
• Approved liquor report – unanimous
• Approved maintenance report – unanimous
• Approved clerk’s report – unanimous
• Adjourned meeting – unanimous

Council

The Big Falls City Council will hold a special meeting to discuss Phase II and future Phase III of the Campground Project with SEH. The meeting includes a discussion on a Phase III GMRPTC Grant.

• Campground Project Phase II questions
• Phase III GMRPTC Grant

Council

The Big Falls City Council will consider approving Resolution #2025-01, which delegates cannabis business registration and enforcement authority to Koochiching County. The council will also approve the 2026 CERC annual budget and a cemetery lot agreement. Routine reports on liquor, fire/EMS, audit, maintenance, and clerk-treasurer are on the agenda.

• Resolution #2025-01 delegating cannabis business registration and enforcement to Koochiching County
• Approval of 2026 CERC annual budget
• Approval of cemetery lot agreement/Hufnagle
• BradyMartz audit report
• Disbursements and payroll approval

Council

The Big Falls City Council will receive a status report from SEH on the Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp project, presented by Jason Chopp in person. The council will also consider approving a $10,000 purchase for a fireworks display and review routine reports from departments.

• SEH Status Report for Big Falls Campground and Horse Camp – Jason Chopp (in-person)
• Approve purchase of Fireworks display in the amount of $10,000
• Consent agenda includes approval of minutes, financials, and the fireworks purchase
• Review of Liquor, Fire/EMS, Maintenance, and Clerk-Treasurer reports

The council approved the consent agenda, which included a $10,000 purchase for a fireworks display. A motion passed to disburse $57,069.37 for March payroll and related claims, with one member abstaining. The clerk’s report was approved, adopting a $200 Chamber of Commerce membership and directing $513.97 tip money to the Playground Fund, while a proposal to set a new pavilion price was tabled for the next meeting.

• Approved consent agenda (meeting minutes, financial reports, $10,000 fireworks purchase) – motion carried unanimously
• Approved $57,069.37 disbursements and March payroll; Kennedy abstained
• Approved liquor report – motion carried unanimously
• Approved Fire/EMS report – motion carried unanimously
• Approved Maintenance report – motion carried unanimously
• Approved clerk’s report, joining Chamber of Commerce ($200) and allocating $513.97 tip money to Playground Fund – motion carried unanimously
• Tabled proposal to set new pavilion price – postponed to next meeting
• Adjourned meeting – motion carried unanimously

Council

The City of Big Falls will hold a public hearing to provide updates on the Small Cities Development Program. The body will discuss grant-funded activities, project costs, financing, and beneficiary locations for multi-family housing rehabilitation.

• Public hearing on Small Cities Development Program multi-family housing rehabilitation

The Big Falls City Council held a special meeting on March 10, 2025, to receive an update on the Small Cities Development Program-funded multi-family housing rehabilitation program. Shannon Kishel-Roche of WIDSETH presented grant activities, beneficiary locations, project costs, and financing details. No questions were asked, and no formal decisions were made.

Council

The City Council will meet to approve disbursements, payroll, and financial records. The session includes reports from the liquor, fire/EMS, and maintenance departments, as well as the 2024 Clerk’s Financial Report.

• Approval of disbursements and payroll
• Review of 2024 Clerk’s Financial Report
• Liquor Report
• Fire/EMS Report
• Maintenance Report

Council

The Big Falls City Council approved the consent agenda, disbursements and payroll totaling $42,163.58, the liquor report, maintenance report, 2024 Clerk's Financial Report, and a time allocation sheet for maintenance. All votes were unanimous. No items were denied or tabled.

• Approved consent agenda including meeting minutes and financial reports (unanimous)
• Approved disbursements and payroll of $42,163.58 (unanimous)
• Approved liquor report (unanimous)
• Approved maintenance report (unanimous)
• Accepted 2024 Clerk's Financial Report (unanimous)
• Accepted time allocation for maintenance (unanimous)
• Approved Clerk's Report (unanimous)

Council

The Big Falls City Council will meet to consider a consent agenda that includes approving minutes, financials, an audit agreement with BradyMartz for $14,500, and acknowledging an LMCIT rebate of $2,446. The council will also receive reports from the liquor, fire/EMS, and maintenance departments, and consider mayoral appointments including CERC. The meeting includes standard approvals and disbursements.

• Approve audit agreement with BradyMartz for $14,500
• Acknowledge LMCIT rebate of $2,446
• Mayoral appointments including CERC
• Liquor and fire/EMS reports
• Approve disbursements and payroll

The Big Falls City Council approved the consent agenda, including the audit agreement with BradyMartz for $14,500 and acknowledged an LMCIT rebate of $2,446. They also approved disbursements totaling $94,154.18, with one abstention. Reports from liquor, fire/EMS, maintenance, and clerk were accepted, and appointments were made for watershed committee participation and bank statement review.

• Approved consent agenda including audit agreement with BradyMartz for $14,500 (all in favor)
• Approved disbursements of $94,154.18 (Kennedy abstaining)
• Approved liquor report (all in favor)
• Approved Fire/EMS report (all in favor)
• Approved maintenance report (all in favor)
• Approved clerk's report (all in favor)
• Appointed Veronica to watershed committee, Brenda as backup
• Appointed Ken Warner to review bank statements