MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, AUGUST 4, 2020
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order in the Municipal Chambers on Tuesday, August 4, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Jim Sandgren, John T. Buckley, Larry Arentson, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet. Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer was absent.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the July 21, 2020, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda.
1. Approve Block Party Request
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:02 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 32 of 2020 – Resolution Adopting Assessments
for Delinquent Accounts.
Mr. Muetzel stated on July 7, 2020 there was a public hearing held to discuss delinquent utility account assessments. There was one account that was removed from the agenda and tabled. The utility account is held by David Widmer. The account was removed and tabled because Mr. Widmer had questions regarding the assessment process and what data could be released. Council Member Smith and City Administrator Muetzel met with Mr. Widmer to address his questions. The specific concern was regarding the data of customers and MN Statute 13.685. The tabled delinquent utility account is being presented to Council for approval.
Mr. Muetzel stated staff is recommending the approval of Resolution No. 32 of 2020.
Dave Widmer was present to address the Council regarding concerns with the utility billing and assessment process.
Council Member Smith stated the Council will discuss the assessment process at the next scheduled City Council Work Session on Tuesday, September 30, 2020.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:20 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 32 of 2020 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 32 of 2020 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced the Community Center Parking Lot Entrance Reconstruct Project – Final Pay Request.
Mr. Doering stated the final contract price for the 2020 Community Center entrance reconstruction totaled $69,530.00. During construction, it was revealed that current curb lines have sunk around a catch basin and along the entrance that would not enable it to enter existing catch basins. The total replacement of 58 feet of curbing plus aggregate base totaled a project add-on of $3,132.00. In addition, an inquiry of cementing the new median rather than replacing the landscaping rock was made. A project add-on of $1,560.00 was negotiated.
Mr. Doering further stated project additions totaled $4,692.00 above the original contract price of $64,838.00 and was approved under the authority of the City Administrator by Resolution No. 27 of 2020 and approved procurement policy authority. Staff recommended for approval the Final Pay Reimbursement No. 2 to Voss Plumbing and Heating of Paynesville, MN for the Community Center Parking Lot Entrance Reconstruct Project in the amount of $5,566.50.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Community Center Parking Lot Entrance Reconstruct Project – Final Pay Request in the amount of $5,566.50. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced the Community Center Parking Lot Expansion Project – Final Pay Request.
Mr. Doering stated the final contract price for the 2020 Community Center lot expansion totaled $69,249.00. During construction, it was revealed that the removal of the original curb left a straight bituminous edge that would allow the extension of concrete to meet the edge rather than forming and pouring the cement parking area, pulling the forms and returning later to patch the gap with bituminous. A decision was made to cement the area and the difference between concrete quantities and bituminous patching resulted in the negotiated deduction.
Mr. Doering further stated the project deduction totaled $3,854.00 from the original contract price of $73,103.00 and was approved under the authority of the City Administrator by Resolution No. 27 of 2020. Staff is recommending for approval the Final Pay Reimbursement No. 2 to Voss Plumbing and Heating of Paynesville, MN for the 2020 Community Center lot expansion in the amount of $9,733.40.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Community Center Parking Lot Expansion Project – Final Pay Request in the amount of $9,733.40. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Proposal for the Liquor Lodge Outdoor Digital Sign.
Mayor Quackenbush declared a conflict of interest due to his employment by Daktronics and did not
participate in the discussion by removing himself from the Council Chambers.
Mr. Muetzel stated during the last several budget development cycles, staff has explored various advertising options for the Liquor Lodge. According to MnDOT traffic counts, approximately 10,000 vehicles per day drive past the Liquor Lodge location making it an ideal location to utilize an outdoor digital display.
Mr. Muetzel stated the 2020 Operating Budget does not include funds to install a digital sign at the Liquor Lodge. However, the Liquor Lodge has recently seen an increase in sales that warrant the consideration of a sign purchase in 2020. As of June 30th, 2020, year-to-date sales totaled $1,294,565 which represents an increase of $223,250 over the same period in 2019. This represents a sales increase of 21% over 2019 sales and provides an opportunity to absorb the cost of this unbudgeted purchase.
Mr. Muetzel further stated staff received quotes from Quick Signs of Willmar for several sign configurations. Quick Signs is the area supplier for Daktronics sign displays. Daktronics was selected as the sign product of choice because of their product reliability, customer service availability, and 5-year product warranty. The proposal is to install a 50” x 104” 10mm resolution digital sign on the existing sign pylon. The cost of the proposed installation is $41,134.00.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to
approve the Proposal for Liquor Lodge Outdoor Digital Sign in the amount of $41,134.00. Motion passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Quackenbush returned to the Council Chambers upon conclusion of the voting process.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering gave an update regarding the sanitary sewer collapse on Northwood Drive on Friday, July 17. Mr. Doering stated the sanitary sewer line has been repaired and cleaned. City Staff will be getting a quote to televise the sewer to determine if any other repairs are needed.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering gave an update on the Lake Redwood Reclamation Project.
A pre-construction meeting was held with Mathiowetz Construction on August 3rd to create the Confined Disposal Facility (CDF) prior to starting the lake dredging. Mathiowetz Construction was previously awarded the bid and will begin construction of the CDF on August 17th. Mathiowetz Construction is responsible for the CDF and will be monitoring the site for any issues. Bids will be solicited for the dredging portion of the project in December 2020 or January 2021.
Bills and Claims were presented to Council for informational purposes. No questions, comments, or concerns were raised.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:47 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.