MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 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, October 20, 2020, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, John T. Buckley, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum. Council Member Matt Smith was absent.
Also present were City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet. Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer was present via electronic means. City Administrator Keith Muetzel was absent.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren 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 October 6, 2020, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Zoning Administrator Tim Hanna was present to introduce the request to Vacate Utility Easements – 814 East Oak Street.
Mr. Hanna stated the City received a request from Redwood Design & Contracting on behalf of Redwood Falls Industries Inc. to vacate two 5’ utility easements located on the east side of Lot 1 and the west side of lot 2, Block 1 of the Zimmer Subdivision. These easements do not currently hold utilities. Redwood Design & Contracting has applied and been issued a building permit to construct a two-family duplex on the lots.
Mr. Hanna further stated the property owner has also applied for a Minor Subdivision to combine Lots 1, 2, & 3 of Block 1, Zimmer Subdivision and split the lots into two larger lots in order to construct two duplexes. The applicant has agreed to relocate the two 5’ utility easements along the new property line as part of the Minor Subdivision application. Planning Commission recommends approval of the Vacation of Easement for the two 5’ utility easements.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the request to Vacate Utility Easements – 814 East Oak Street. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Human Resources Coordinator Sheila Stage was present to introduce Resolution No. 51 of 2020 – 2021 Employee Health Insurance Renewal.
Ms. Stage stated staff worked with the City’s Insurance Broker, Justin Kroeger, from Gallagher Insurance Consulting to obtain a Group Health Insurance proposal for 2021. Mr. Kroeger renegotiated with the current health insurance provider, Preferred One. Staff recommends accepting the renewal of the current group health plan with Preferred One at an increase of 12.84% in premiums. The increase in contributions is due to a much higher than normal claims utilization for 2020. The proposal for 2021 maintains the same coverage provided in 2020.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 51 of 2020 – 2021 Employee Health Insurance Renewal. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 51 of 2020 – 2021 Employee Health Insurance Renewal. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced Resolution No. 52 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Task Order 2020-6 for Professional Services for the Sanitary Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation.
Mr. Doering stated Empire Pipe Services was contracted and provided staff with a Sanitary Sewer Inspection Report and supporting videos. The results of the report and videos indicated the 15” reinforced concrete pipe is in poor condition due to hydrogen sulfide gas deterioration. Staff along with the appointed City Engineer, Owen Todd P.E. with Bolton & Menk, Inc., have reviewed options to address the deterioration of the 1976 installed concrete pipe which at the time was installed through open farm fields.
Mr. Doering stated staff determined the best and most cost-effective option is to utilize the new Cured-In-Place-Pipe (CIPP) lining technology that is being used throughout the industry to revitalize failing underground piping. The lining system will be as strong and will reinforce the host pipe as if it was replaced with a new pipe. CIPP lining has testing data that supports a 50-year life span and has been referred to as a 50-100 year product. The additional life span comes from the host pipe protecting the liner.
Mr. Doering stated repairing this pipe is imperative as it will receive all the flow from the newly proposed development area. The total cost of the project is estimated to be $480,000 to $500,000 in addition to the task order amount of $68,500.00. Alternative methods to repairing or replacing the pipe by mechanical digging and shoring for a new pipe replacement were estimated to be in the millions of dollars due to close proximity of the residential housing.
Mr. Doering stated in addition to the pipe lining estimated at $85 per linear foot for 4,000 feet totaling $340,000.00, the project will also re-line the existing manholes with a Spectra Shield technology. The cost is $400 per vertical foot with an average of 30 feet in depth. There are 12 manholes which yields an estimated additional cost of $144,000.00. The lining of the sewer was included in the proposed 2021 budget with an estimate of $224,000.00 for the first 1,400 feet of Northwood Drive. However, the original northeast interceptor project in 1976 extended 4,000 feet and the surveillance video of the current condition of the pipe warrants a full lining project.
Mr. Doering further stated Resolution No. 52 authorizes Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to perform the scope of work outlined in Work Order No. 2020-6 for the Sanitary Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation in the amount not to exceed $68,500.00 without further Council approval. The scope of work includes preparing the bid documents to be developed with Northwood Drive being the base bid, with an add-alternate 1 of the north-south leg and add-alternate 2 of the east-west leg through the race track.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 52 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Task Order 2020-6 for Professional Services for the Sanitary Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation in the amount not to exceed $68,500.00. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 52 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Task Order 2020-6 for Professional Services for the Sanitary Sewer Lining and Manhole Rehabilitation in the amount not to exceed $68,500.00. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced Resolution No. 53 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition.
Mr. Doering stated the Redwood Falls Airport has been applying for a utility maintenance vehicle grant for the past five years. The grant application has been accepted by MNDOT Aeronautics. The accepted grant contract is for 70% of the cost for the Airport maintenance utility vehicle. The vehicle includes a 66” broom attachment along with a 68-gallon boomless sprayer.
Mr. Doering stated the total project cost per the quote submitted to MNDOT was $34,187.00 with a State share of 70% or $23,931.00 covered by the grant. The local share of $10,256.00 was budgeted for in 2020 and will be funded through the Airport project fund 401.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 53 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 53 of 2020 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Council Member Sandgren requested an update on the Airport lift project.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated the Minnesota Department of Transportation will possibly have grant money available to partially fund the project but they will not know if those funds are available until late November. There are currently airport funds available to purchase and install the lift at the airport if the lift is necessary before the State funds become available. The airport has a potential customer interested in leasing the 2nd floor office space contingent on the lift being installed. If the customer agrees to a lease agreement before State funds are available Council will see a proposal to approve the use of airport funds for the lift installation at a future meeting.
Mayor Quackenbush requested an update on the surplus squad vehicle being repurposed as an airport vehicle.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated City Administrator Muetzel is evaluating the needs of an additional vehicle in all the departments. Mr. Muetzel will have an update for Council at a future meeting.
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 Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to adjourn the meeting at 5:31 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.