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The City of Ranier‘s City Council Committee of the Whole convened on Tuesday, February 10, 2026, at the Ranier Community Building. Mayor Dennis Wagner called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
Present were Mayor Dennis Wagner, Councilmembers Todd Coulombe, Jennifer Lahmayer, and Ron Wilcox, who participated remotely. Councilmember JoAnn Kellner was absent. Also present were City Administrator Sherril Gautreaux, Deputy Clerk Edith Jenkinson, Liquor Store Manager Jenn Seegert, Darcy Sullivan of KCC-TV, and Tammy Toratti.
The council unanimously approved the agenda, the minutes from the January 20, 2026 Regular Council Meeting, and the January 2026 claims, on motions by Councilmember Coulombe, seconded by Councilmember Lahmayer. January claims were approved in the following amounts:
The council also unanimously accepted the Profit and Loss statements for each fund as of January 31, 2026, and voted to accept a $4,000 donation from the Ranier Recreation Club.
John Winkel of Edward Jones Investments presented a proposal for investing city funds. Under Minnesota Statute §118A.04, public funds may be placed in certificates of deposit (CDs), which Winkel described as the safest available option. CDs can be laddered across terms — 3-month, 6-month, 1-year, 18-month, and 2-year — to keep funds accessible as spending needs arise, with current rates ranging from 3.7% to 3.9%.
Edward Jones can spread investments across multiple banking institutions to stay within the $250,000 FDIC insurance limit per bank. The council will review city fund balances and determine how to move forward.
Liquor Store Manager Jenn Seegert reported that a live band is booked for Valentine’s Day on Saturday, and that the store has seen a welcome boost in business from visiting snowmobilers enjoying the season’s snow. Councilmember Coulombe suggested looking into on-call bartenders for peak days.
January 2026 net profit came in at $6,531.02, up sharply from $2,527.46 in January 2025. Councilmember Lahmayer moved to approve the January Operating Statement; Councilmember Coulombe seconded, and the motion carried unanimously.
The City of International Falls has issued proposed water rate increases for 2026 and 2027. A 3% increase in base water rates is proposed. As background, Ranier is already charged a rate 20% higher than what International Falls residents pay for the same service.
International Falls is also introducing a new “Debt Service Rate for Water Treatment Plant.” Ranier’s debt service rate is set at 20% above the International Falls resident rate, while commercial customers face an increase of 300% over the base rate. Further increases to the debt service rate are proposed for 2027.
City Administrator Gautreaux has requested documentation from International Falls explaining the rate-setting methodology and a copy of the debt service payment schedule. Mayor Wagner said he would like to arrange a meeting with International Falls officials to discuss the proposal directly.
Mayor Wagner reported feedback from four contractors who declined to bid on an unspecified project, citing disagreement with the bin wall design — they would prefer driven pilings. The council had previously sought input from the engineering firm S.E.H. on the lack of submitted bids.
Kramer NA, the company constructing the new CN bridge, has asked to access the Rainy River from the Duluth Street landing area in order to build a crane platform. Mayor Wagner will obtain a written proposal from Kramer and invite the company to make a formal presentation before the full council.
Public Works Supervisor Nick Hagen was unable to attend and will present his report at the following week’s session.
Berta Wilcox of the Ranier Recreation Club asked that the Recreation Club be included in planning decisions related to pickleball court placement and rink rehabilitation.
The committee adjourned at 7:05 p.m. on a motion by Councilmember Coulombe, seconded by Councilmember Lahmayer, carried unanimously.
View on City of Ranier Website →
Ranier is a charming small town that offers the quintessential Northern Minnesota experience!
The City of Ranier
Ranier is a small city on the shores of Rainy Lake, just a few miles east of International Falls on Highway 11. Population is around 570. It sits right where Rainy Lake narrows into the Rainy River, and it’s the gateway to Voyageurs National Park from the Rainy Lake side.
For a town its size, there’s a lot going on.
Getting There
If you’re coming from the Falls, it’s a short drive east on Highway 11. There’s also a paved bike trail that runs from International Falls through Ranier and out toward the Rainy Lake Visitor... Read more
