Location of International Falls Police Department – Options Analysis

Background and Issue Overview

In early 2023, the International Falls Police Department (IFPD) faced a crossroads over its headquarters. For decades, the IFPD had been co-located with the Koochiching County Sheriff’s Office in a joint Law Enforcement Center (LEC) owned by the county (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). However, when the county embarked on constructing a new Jail and Law Enforcement Center, it asked the city to commit to a costly long-term lease to stay. In October 2022, county project managers informed the city it would need to pay $819,100 upfront, plus about 11% of soft costs and 12% of remodel costs for space in the new facility (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Additionally, the county signaled the annual lease would jump from $75,000 to about $112,884 starting in 2024, with an 18-year commitment and unknown future escalations (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). City officials felt this was unaffordable – Mayor Harley Droba noted the 2023 budget was already set with no room for an $819k surprise cost (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). On February 21, 2023, the City Council voted 4–1 to terminate the joint LEC lease with the county, rather than lock into the new terms (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Police Chief Mike Kostiuk had recommended moving out to allow the department to “build their own identity” and gain more space (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Councilor Jason Kalar cast the sole dissenting vote, expressing concern that ending the partnership would hurt city-county law enforcement collaboration (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Following that decision, the city needed a temporary home for the police. They struck an agreement with the Backus Community Center, a local nonprofit that manages the vacant Backus school and Alexander Baker (AB) building. Backus offered space in Suite 305 (900 5th St.) – formerly occupied by a counseling center – for roughly $6,200–$6,400 per month (about $75,000/year) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (April 17, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This rate was comparable to the old $75k county lease and about half of the proposed new county rent. The police began moving into Backus in June 2023, incurring about $32,000 in one-time moving and setup costs (e.g. IT, security modifications) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Backus proved to be a helpful stopgap: it was cheaper than the county space and available on flexible terms (October 21, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Even so, city leaders and Backus itself viewed this as a temporary solution until a permanent headquarters could be established (October 21, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). “Simply put, Backus is not made to house a police department” for the long term, Chief Kostiuk explained in late 2024 (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The building was not purpose-built for law enforcement, raising concerns about security, evidence storage, and adjacency to a public daycare on site (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By mid-2023, the City Council turned to evaluating four main options for a future police HQ, outlined below, with an eye toward balancing cost, functionality, and public safety needs.

Option 1: Renovating the Former Kootasca Building

One leading option has been to remodel the former Kootasca building at 2232 2nd Avenue East (sometimes called the “South Falls” building). This single-story structure, previously used by the Kootasca Community Action agency, became available after a roundabout property swap. In 2022, the city actually sold this building to Kootasca for $1.00 as part of a development plan (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). But Kootasca later found the facility didn’t meet its needs and relocated into the Backus center in 2024, leaving the 2nd Ave E building underutilized (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The city negotiated to buy it back for $5,000 (essentially covering Kootasca’s moving expenses) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Building Condition: City officials inspecting the building found it “in rough shape” but potentially adaptable for police use (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). A professional Facility Condition Assessment by Kraus-Anderson in 2023 confirmed the structure was in “poor condition.” Major deferred maintenance issues (estimated over $2 million worth) would need addressing (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Notably, the initial plan did not include remodeling the rear classrooms, garages, or surrounding land (owned by the Economic Development Authority, KEDA) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). One resident wryly remarked that renovating the aging facility without fixing everything would be like “putting lipstick on a pig” (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Kraus-Anderson’s cost estimate for full renovation to a modern police station came in around $4.6 million (and potentially up to $4.9–$5.0 million if all areas were included) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By contrast, constructing an all-new police building was projected at a staggering $35–$40 million (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) – essentially a non-starter. Given these numbers, the City Council deemed the full $4–5M Kootasca rehab too expensive and directed Kraus-Anderson to explore scaled-back options in late 2024 (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Cost-Reduction and Phased Plan: By early 2025, the council gravitated toward a phased renovation focusing on critical needs first (roof, HVAC, office and locker space, etc.) and deferring other upgrades. This trimmed the anticipated cost dramatically – from rumors of $5M down to roughly $1.6 million for the initial phase (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Councilor Tyler Wegner explained to the public on Feb. 18, 2025 that under this plan the city would effectively be paying about $9,000 per month (≈$110,000/year) on the project, which “accumulates to the estimated $1.6M proposed budget” over the financing term (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). (In other words, the city would bond or borrow $1.6M and service the debt at roughly $110k per year, comparable to a lease payment. (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota)) Councilor Bill Holden noted they also intend to save money by using city staff for some labor: “Potentially having city employees complete some of the work will help keep costs down” (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The goal, as Councilor Holden described, is to make the building usable as soon as possible by first tackling the leaky roof and constructing essential office areas, then moving the police in and finishing less critical renovations over time (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

On February 18, 2025, the City Council formally voted to proceed with this Kootasca building renovation plan. The motion to “move forward with Kraus-Anderson for renovation of the Kootasca Building… through project completion” passed 4–1 (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Councilors Holden, Berge (Buller), Kalar, and Wegner voted “yea,” while Mayor (Drake) Dill voted “nay” (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Along with that decision, the council approved switching the police’s Backus lease to a month-to-month extension going forward (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) – signaling that once the Kootasca remodel is done, the department will relocate there. They also authorized a transfer of local sales tax funds into a construction account to help finance the project (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). City Administrator Betty Bergstrom had consulted with the city’s financial adviser to ensure this could be done within existing budget streams (using what had been spent on rent and some capital reserves) without a special tax increase (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Support and Opposition: The Kootasca plan has had vocal proponents on the City Council. Councilors Holden and Buller championed the idea of owning a long-term home for the police rather than “throwing away” money on rent (October 21, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). They argue the annual cost to renovate (~$110k), while higher than Backus rent, would ultimately go toward a city asset instead of to a landlord (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Mayor Dill and many citizens, however, have been skeptical. Dill’s “nay” vote reflected concerns about the city’s debt load and preference to fully explore county solutions before spending millions (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). During public forums in late 2024 and early 2025, numerous residents criticized the Kootasca project’s price tag. “What are citizens supposed to believe when they hear the Kootasca building project will cost $5M, then $3M, and now $1.6M?” one asked, suggesting the true cost could easily balloon (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Others questioned pouring money into an old building that sits in a 100-year flood zone (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) and on property partly controlled by KEDA (raising potential land acquisition issues for parking or expansion) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Some feared the city was rushing in “such a hurry” to do this project at the wrong time (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) – especially when taxpayers were already burdened by other projects (a new school, water plant upgrades, etc.) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Despite the pushback, the council’s majority has maintained that, among the options on the table, a scaled Kootasca rehab appears to be the most cost-effective compromise: “It is very important to me to keep taxes down by pursuing the most cost-effective solution,” Councilor Holden told concerned citizens, emphasizing that all options (staying at Backus or rejoining the county) cost money (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). As of March 2025, the city is proceeding with architectural design and pre-construction work for the Kootasca site, while keeping an eye on public feedback. No construction contract has been awarded yet, so some checkpoints remain before the plan becomes irrevocable.

Option 2: Joining the County Law Enforcement Center (New LEC Facility)

The second major option is for the IFPD to rejoin forces with the Sheriff’s Office by moving into the new Koochiching County Law Enforcement Center once it’s completed. The new LEC, adjacent to the county courthouse in downtown International Falls, is a state-of-the-art facility under construction to replace the outdated jail. It will feature a 40-bed jail, modern safety systems, and about 5,000 sq. ft. of Sheriff’s department offices (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN) (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN). Construction began in mid-2023 and is expected to be substantially complete by October 2025 (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN). Early in the planning, the county’s project committee did consider including space for the International Falls Police as a partner (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN) (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN). In fact, Police Chief Kostiuk sat on the oversight committee during design discussions (New Jail and Law Enforcement Center | Koochiching County, MN). However, as noted in the background, the cost-sharing proposals made to the city in 2022 (upfront contribution and higher lease payments) were problematic for the city’s budget (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By early 2023 the city declined to commit funding, effectively withdrawing from the new LEC project.

Throughout 2023 and 2024, some city officials – notably Councilor Kalar and later Mayor Dill – signaled they hadn’t given up on working something out with the county. “The city never said we were not interested in working with the county,” Councilor Kalar stressed, adding that the city had saved about $75,000 over two years by moving out of the old LEC into Backus (since the county’s proposed lease would have been ~$42k/year higher) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). As public criticism of the Kootasca plan mounted in fall 2024, the council agreed to reopen communications with Koochiching County officials. In November 2024, Councilor Kalar formally requested the City Administrator to reach out to the county about PD space options, and Mayor Droba acknowledged the city should at least explore any new offers (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Shortly thereafter, a letter dated January 14, 2025 from the County Board circulated, extending an “open invitation” for city leaders to meet and discuss housing the Police Department at the new or existing LEC facilities (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). That meeting took place on February 3, 2025, between Mayor Dill, Chief Kostiuk, Administrator Bergstrom and several county commissioners (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Following those talks, the county sent a follow-up letter on February 13, 2025 (addressed to the Mayor and City Administrator) summarizing its position (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). While the full text wasn’t made public at the time, city officials and citizens referenced key points in the next council meeting: most of the repair issues the city had complained of in the old LEC building “have been completed” by the county (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In other words, the county had fixed many maintenance problems (such as leaking windows, HVAC, etc.) in the existing facility, which had been a sticking point for the city. The letter reiterated the county’s desire to find a “cost-effective solution for the taxpayers” (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) – a phrase directly quoted from County Board Chair Wade Pavleck’s correspondence. (From the county’s perspective, having the city and county law enforcement under one roof could save money overall by sharing resources and avoiding duplicate buildings (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).) The county seemingly indicated that if the city returned, it could do so either in the current LEC building (short-term) or by planning to occupy space in the new LEC once completed (long-term).

Cost Considerations: The exact financial terms on offer in 2025 have not been publicly detailed, but city officials have used an estimate of about $13,000 per month (≈$159,000 per year) as what it would cost International Falls to utilize county LEC space (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This figure likely represents the city’s share of operating a joint facility or a lease payment the county would charge to cover capital and running costs. It is significantly higher than the Backus rent and even above the $110k/year equivalent cost of the Kootasca plan (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). For context, the county’s earlier ask of $112,884/year was for an 18-year commitment and did not include the upfront construction contribution (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). It’s unclear if the $159k/year now includes any portion of new construction costs or if it pertains to using the old LEC space (which will be partially vacant once the Sheriff moves out). City residents like Susan Wadaga have urged the Council to at least “explore the costs for the remainder of repairs at the LEC” to keep the police there, noting it might be cheaper than a new project (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By all accounts, a county-shared solution would not require the city to borrow millions upfront; instead, the city would pay an annual lease or partnership fee. It could also potentially avoid duplicating facilities like evidence rooms, dispatch centers, and jail intake, which the Sheriff’s office already maintains (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). These potential efficiencies underpin why many in the community favor reuniting with the county: “The police department is here to serve the community; this is not about their identity,” Ms. Wadaga argued, referencing the city’s earlier rationale about needing its own identity (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). She and others believe the IFPD would have all the equipment and infrastructure it needs “at the new Law Enforcement Center” without the city spending extra millions (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Challenges and Stance of Decision-Makers: Despite the apparent olive branch from the county, as of early 2025 the City Council has shown reluctance to reverse course. Mayor Dill seems open to the idea of partnering – his vote against the Kootasca project and his participation in renewed talks with the county indicate he would prefer a cooperative solution if it proved financially prudent. Councilor Kalar also publicly supports giving the county option serious consideration (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In November 2024 he went on record that he “would not be agreeing to a $4.6 million upgrade” of the Kootasca site and pushed for more negotiations with the county instead (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). On the other side, some officials remain skeptical after the past negotiations. Councilor Holden and others expressed frustration in 2023 that the county “would not give the city a number” for how much space would cost, making it hard to plan (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). (The county, for its part, may have been waiting on final construction bids to determine accurate costs.) Additionally, when the city left the joint facility, Chief Kostiuk supported the move – citing operational benefits for the police department to have its own space and culture (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). There may be concerns about how day-to-day cooperation would work if IFPD essentially became a tenant again. For example, Councilor Wegner in 2023 worried about “housing of inmates and dispatching services” if the city pulled out (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota); those issues would be solved by rejoining, but new questions might arise about control of space and identity if they go back in.

At public meetings, citizens have repeatedly brought up that city and county officers had great “synergy” when housed together and that this separation has undermined that teamwork (October 21, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Former Mayor Droba responded that the relationship between the departments remained good and would not deteriorate even if the lease ended (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Still, community sentiment in late 2024 was strongly in favor of the city at least “getting back to the county” to talk – even Backus’s director, Lois Lundin, encouraged a mediated conversation, saying the people would appreciate the city being serious about a joint solution (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By tabling any irreversible decisions until the new Mayor took office (as Lundin requested) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), the city did allow time for those county talks. The result, however, was that in February 2025 the Council opted to proceed with the independent Kootasca plan, effectively passing on the county’s offer for now (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). No binding agreement with Koochiching County was reached in those winter meetings. In summary, the door remains open – but narrowing – for an LEC-based solution. If the Kootasca renovation falters (e.g. bids coming in over budget) or public pressure mounts further, the council could potentially revisit partnering with the county. As of the latest updates, though, the city’s leadership has chosen to invest in its own facility rather than rejoin the LEC.

Option 3: Utilizing the “Old County Law Office” (Former County Offices)

A third option sometimes mentioned is to repurpose an existing county-owned office building – colloquially referred to as the “old County Law Office” – as a police station. This idea seems to refer to any surplus county space (for instance, offices that might be vacated after the Sheriff’s department moves to the new LEC). In practice, this overlaps with Option 2, since the primary county facility in question would be the old LEC building itself. Once the new jail is finished, the county will have to decide what to do with the old law enforcement building (attached to the courthouse). It’s possible the county attorney or probation offices could expand into it, or it could be remodeled. However, no official proposal or cost study specific to using an “old law office” for the IFPD appears in city records from the past two years. The notion of “another building” being available has been raised by citizens – e.g. “maybe just waiting to see if there would possibly be another building available” instead of Kootasca (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) – but city officials have not identified any particular county-owned building (besides the LEC) that is suitable and ready. The Koochiching County Courthouse itself was noted to be ADA-compliant and fully accessible (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), which implies any space within it or nearby could meet basic requirements, but there is no indication the courthouse has room to spare for a police department.

In November 2024, citizen Erik Strand pointed out that about 200 × 433 feet of land around the Kootasca building is “landlocked” by KEDA (the economic development authority), implicitly asking whether the city might instead pursue that land for a new build or other use (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Mayor Droba responded that the city should be able to purchase needed land for $1 if it’s their own former property, though no formal request had been made yet to KEDA (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This exchange highlights that the city had not seriously pursued alternate sites aside from the known options. If the “old County law office” refers to some other county building (for example, an old public health building or former legal aid office), that option has not been fleshed out in any official minutes. In sum, no concrete data (cost estimates, size, feasibility) is available publicly for this option, suggesting it was not a front-runner. City officials have focused their analyses on the new county facility versus the Kootasca/Backus, rather than an entirely different county building. For the purpose of comparison, one can consider this option as part of returning to a county-provided space in general – with the potential benefit of avoiding major renovation costs, but the drawback that no such space has been formally offered or studied. As Councilor Kalar remarked, the city is open to “options available for the PD to be located at the county”, but until the county makes a specific proposal, this remains speculative (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

Option 4: Continuing to Lease Space at Backus (Status Quo)

The fourth option is to remain at the Backus Community Center on a longer-term basis. Backus has been the police department’s home since June 2023, and the arrangement has been positive in terms of community partnership. Backus’s Executive Director, Lois Lundin, affirmed that having the police as tenants is “an asset to the building” – the officers are great tenants and “they are welcome to stay as long as they need” (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In January 2025, Lundin clarified that the police lease (which was set to expire in March 2025) could be renewed for one year, six months, or month-to-month with no pressure from Backus for them to leave (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This flexibility has proven valuable as the city navigates its decision. The Council, as noted, chose to go month-to-month after March 2025 (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) to keep options open. Backus even ensured that its facilities met city needs – for example, installing an elevator to ensure the space is ADA compliant for a police station (the City Attorney confirmed Backus’s elevator makes it fully accessible) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

From a financial standpoint, Backus is the cheapest short-term option. The lease is approximately $6,400 per month in 2025 (it was $6,244.76/month in 2023) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (April 17, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), equating to about $77,000 per year. That cost has been covered within the existing police budget (essentially substituting dollar-for-dollar what used to go to the county) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). There are no upfront capital costs to the city aside from minor improvements – as mentioned, the city spent around $34,000 in 2023 to retrofit the Backus space (moving expenses, new secure windows and evidence storage modifications) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). However, unlike the Kootasca plan, these dollars do not build equity for the city; they are simply rent and sunk costs. Mayor Droba noted in late 2024 that the $75k/year that used to be paid to the county was now going to Backus rent – implying that money could potentially be redirected to a city-owned facility instead (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The Backus lease does not include utilities or maintenance beyond the rented area, so those are additional operational expenses to consider (though not extraordinary).

Pros of Staying at Backus: It is immediately available and fully functional. The police station at Backus is up and running, providing all essential services to the community without interruption. This means zero transition cost or risk – the department has already settled in. Furthermore, Backus’s central location in the city is reasonably convenient. Some citizens initially worried about response times or the station being farther from downtown, but Chief Kostiuk pointed out that location is no longer as critical in modern policing: officers are mobile and can cover the small city from any base, so “any location would not make that big of a difference” in response coverage (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Importantly, Backus has welcomed the police presence; the partnership has community support and even benefits Backus (the added security of having officers around, for instance). Financially, continuing to rent avoids a large debt obligation – an appealing point for those on fixed incomes. Ms. Lundin highlighted local demographics: 24.7% of city residents are 65 or older, and 15% live in poverty, so property tax hikes for a new police building are hard to swallow (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Keeping the status quo at Backus would be the least tax-impactful choice in the near term.

Cons of Staying at Backus: Both city officials and Backus representatives acknowledge that Backus is not a perfect long-term solution for a police headquarters. The building is a multi-use community center (housing arts, education, and nonprofit activities) and was never designed as a law enforcement facility (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The police are essentially occupying former classroom and office spaces. This means the station lacks some purpose-built features – for example, a sally port (secure garage) for suspect transport, detention cells, and specialized evidence processing areas. (IFPD currently uses the county’s jail for detaining arrestees, since Backus has none – a coordination that works but underscores that Backus alone can’t fulfill all law enforcement functions.) Security is a concern too; in 2023 Councilor Kalar voiced unease about a daycare center operating in the same building as the police department (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). While there have been no incidents, the intermingling of public community traffic and police activities is not ideal. Chief Kostiuk has been diplomatic but clear that the department really does need a dedicated space suited to police operations in the future (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Additionally, Backus rent, while modest now, represents a continuous expense with no end – unlike a bond for a city-owned building that would eventually be paid off. Some taxpayers have argued that if Backus can work, why not stay indefinitely, but the Council’s counterpoint is that rent money brings no long-term value and improvements made to Backus are “non-recoverable” when the lease ends (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In essence, staying at Backus delays the inevitable decision – the police will need a permanent home at some point, and building costs could rise the longer the city waits. Councilor Kalar summed up this dilemma by noting projects keep getting kicked down the road, which only increases costs when they eventually must be addressed (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

So far, the city has treated the Backus arrangement as a temporary holding pattern while evaluating the other options. The lease extensions being short-term reflect that intent. Both the city and Backus have amicably agreed to continue month-by-month for now (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). If for any reason the Kootasca plan falls through or the city changes course on the county LEC, staying at Backus longer (even years longer) remains a viable fallback. Backus has assured it will not kick out the police; in fact, Lundin said she is “proud to have them there” and will “be happy to assist the PD in finding their home” whenever the time comes (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). This cooperative spirit means the city isn’t facing an immediate crisis of losing its space. However, community voices – including Lundin’s – urge the city to use this grace period wisely. As she told the Council in late 2024, the city “cannot continue to spend money [it doesn’t] have” and should look at the broader picture: “We need to fill the buildings we have” before constructing new ones (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). That sentiment captures why many prefer a county facility solution. In the interim, Backus provides the city crucial breathing room to hopefully reach a well-considered, affordable resolution to the police HQ issue.

Financial Comparison of Options (2023–2025)

To contextualize the above options, the table below compares key financial metrics based on official figures and estimates from the past two years:

Sources: City Council meeting minutes and presentations (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (April 17, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). All financial figures are as reported in official discussions in 2023–2025.

(Note: The “annual cost” for Kootasca is effectively the financing cost – the city would presumably issue bonds or use a loan for the renovation. After the debt is paid, the ongoing cost would drop to maintenance and utilities. In contrast, the lease options (new LEC or Backus) would be recurring expenses indefinitely.)

Public Sentiment and Shifts in Position

Over the past two years, the debate over the police HQ has been highly public and sometimes contentious. Dozens of citizens have attended meetings or written to city officials to voice their opinions. A dominant theme from the public has been concern over taxes and spending. Many residents, especially seniors and those on fixed incomes, worry that an expensive building project (like the initially proposed $4–5 million Kootasca overhaul) would drive up property taxes substantially (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Indeed, one resident cited that her city taxes went up 40% and admonished the Council for “making decisions to spend more money that we do not have” (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The Council has repeatedly responded that they are trying to find the most cost-effective long-term solution, but trust has been a concern. The fluctuating cost estimates for the Kootasca plan became a point of cynicism in the community (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). By late 2024, a citizens’ petition was circulating urging the city to slow down and reconsider working with the county (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

This public pressure did yield some shifts: transparency and re-engagement with the county improved. In November 2024, Mayor Droba and Chief Kostiuk laid out the full timeline of how the city got here, step by step, to help residents understand the rationale (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). They openly shared the Kraus-Anderson study results and the county’s past lease demands, which helped explain why the city left the LEC. Also in response to citizen appeals, the city did pause to meet with the county in early 2025 as described, something that likely would not have happened without public input. Furthermore, the scope of the Kootasca project was reduced from the initial gold-plated version to a more frugal plan (from $4.6M down to $1.6M) in part because councilors heard the outcry and knew a big spend would not be acceptable to taxpayers (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Councilor Kalar emerged as a representative of the fiscally cautious viewpoint, explicitly saying he wouldn’t support the full $4+ million renovation and that the city should find a way to make it work without raising the levy (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Even councilors who supported the independent HQ have constantly emphasized their intention to keep the project as lean as possible so as not to spike taxes (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). For example, Councilor Holden assured residents that he “supports all departments” but also values keeping taxes down, suggesting that whichever option is chosen must be financially responsible (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).

It’s worth noting a change in city leadership took place in January 2025: Mayor Harley Droba (who had been in favor of the Kootasca plan during 2023–24) was succeeded by Mayor Drake Dill. Mayor Dill ran on a more cautious platform and, as seen, cast the lone vote against moving forward with the Kootasca contract (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). He has encouraged citizens to reach out to him and councilors with any concerns (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota), indicating he’s listening closely to public sentiment. However, the rest of the Council (four councilors) did vote to proceed, showing that the majority’s position – at least as of March 2025 – is set on the renovation approach despite some public opposition. The city has tried to address the transparency issues that citizens like Wayne Fuller and Sheryl Christianson raised (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). For instance, the February 13 county letter that was initially not on the agenda was subsequently discussed in open session after Mr. Fuller’s complaint (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The timeline and cost breakdowns were publicly shared. In short, while not everyone agrees with the decision, the process has become more open due to citizen involvement, and the council’s plans have been adjusted (scaled down) to reflect some of those concerns.

Current Status (March 2025) – Decision or Unresolved?

Has a final decision been made? In a practical sense, the City Council has made a tentative decision to invest in the Kootasca building and move the police department there. The key approvals – hiring the construction manager (Kraus-Anderson) and allocating funds – are in place (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). The Backus lease is being kept only as a stopgap month-to-month until the new HQ is ready (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). That said, this saga is not entirely over. As of now, no irrevocable construction contracts have been signed and no demolition or construction has begun on 2232 2nd Ave E. The city is in the design and planning phase. This means there is still an opportunity for course corrections if something changes. For example, when the project goes out for bids, if the bids come in significantly over $1.6 million, the Council would have to revisit its choice (they have indicated reluctance to increase the budget) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). Similarly, the county’s new jail/LEC is not yet finished; if, in the coming months, county officials were to formally offer a more attractive leasing package for the city (or if a mediator brought the sides together as some suggested (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota)), the Council could potentially pivot. Mayor Dill’s dissenting voice on the council means the option of a county partnership isn’t completely forgotten.

From a procedural standpoint, the motion to proceed with Kootasca passed and has not been rescinded (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). A citizen at the March 3, 2025 meeting urged the Council to “rescind their decision and rethink this”, calling the Kootasca choice “not a good choice” (March 3, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (March 3, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). However, no council member brought forth a motion to reconsider at that meeting. Instead, councilors defended their rationale, with Councilor Wegner confirming that the financial calculations (the $110k/year based on $1.6M) were solid in his view (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). In short, the Council’s official stance is set, but community monitoring continues. The issue can be considered partially resolved – the city has identified its preferred solution – but it will remain a topic of public scrutiny until the police are actually in a permanent home. City officials have committed to keeping residents informed through this process, and they have acknowledged that this won’t be a “quick decision” made lightly (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota). As of the latest information in spring 2025, the project to remodel the former Kootasca building is moving forward under city management, and the police will stay at Backus in the meantime. No formal agreement with Koochiching County has been reached regarding the new or old LEC, so the county option remains an open offer but not an active plan. The Council will likely provide further updates as design work is completed and as the true costs firm up. Ultimately, the success of the chosen option will be judged by the community in how well it balances safety, service, and stewardship of taxpayer dollars – the very factors at the heart of this controversy.

Sources: International Falls City Council meeting minutes (2023–2025) (February 21, 2023 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (January 21, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota); Koochiching County Board communications (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota); City of International Falls public records on budgeting and project estimates (November 18, 2024 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota) (February 18, 2025 City Council Minutes – City of International Falls, Minnesota).