MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022
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 4, 2022, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and John T. Buckley were present, constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet.
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 Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the September 20, 2022, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda.
1. Fire Department Appointment
2. City Assistance with Celebrate Redwood Falls – Haunted Hotel
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:03 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts & maintenance charges.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 57 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts and Resolution No. 58 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs.
Ms. Klages stated the proposed Resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts and maintenance cost charges that are more than 30 days past due. Similar resolutions are brought to the City Council on a quarterly basis in order to improve the time between the delinquent billing and the ability to disclose the information to new property owners. The delinquent account resolutions will be presented each year at the first meeting in January, April, July, and October.
Ms. Klages further explained the delinquent process. Delinquent letters are first mailed to the utility account holders. Delinquent letters are then mailed to the property owners if not collected from the account holders. Electricity consumed by a tenant is not assessable to the property. Any unpaid balance is then brought to Council to be approved by resolution. Any pending assessments passed by resolution and still outstanding as of November 1st will be charged a $50.00 fee and are then transferred to Redwood County to be assessed on the tax rolls.
Ms. Klages stated City Staff received a request from the property owner of parcel #88-423-0640 to postpone the hearing regarding that account because the owner was not able to attend the hearing. Council will discuss the proposed assessment of $410.08 for parcel #88-423-0640 at the November 1, 2022 City Council meeting.
No one was present to voice any concerns.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:05 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 57 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts with the exception of the proposed assessment of $410.08 on parcel #88-423-0640. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 57 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts with the exception of the proposed assessment of $410.08 on parcel #88-423-0640. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 58 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 58 of 2022 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:06 p.m. to discuss the closure of Eastwood Estates Mobile Home Park.
City Attorney Trenton Dammann introduced the Eastwood Estates Mobile Home Park Agenda Item.
Mr. Dammann stated on or about July 13, 2022, the City of Redwood Falls received a closure statement from the owner of the Eastwood Estates Mobile Home Park. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 327C.095 Subd. 4, within 90 days of receiving notice of closure statement the governing body of the affected local government authority must hold a public hearing to review the closure statement and any impact that the park closure may have on the displaced residents and the park owner, and to appoint a neutral third party to facilitate the process for requesting funds to help with the cost of relocation of displaced residents who may be eligible for payments from the Minnesota Manufactured Home Relocation Trust Fund as compensation for reasonable relocation costs. Applications for payment from the trust fund were mailed out with notice for this hearing to each residence within the park, as provided to the City by the park owner. Notice of this public hearing was published in the Redwood Gazette and mailed to each residence on September 22, 2022.
Mr. Dammann stated City staff recommends Council appoint Thomas Kramer, Kramer Law Office, as the neutral third party. Mr. Kramer is a former county attorney with over 35 years of legal experience. Mr. Kramer will work with Annie Reierson, Manufactured Housing Program Manager for Minnesota Housing, to ensure that all applications are processed correctly. Most of the work needed to collect and process applications can be done by administrative staff. Mr. Kramer’s rate for paralegal time is $75 per hour. Review and approval of submitted applications would be done at Mr. Kramer’s rate for his services.
Mr. Dammann further stated an electronic search of the City’s Code of Ordinances was conducted for the terms “park closure,” “manufactured home,” and “mobile home.” No ordinance was found as result of this search that was in effect on May 26, 2007, that would provide compensation to displaced residents.
Eastwood Estates Property Manager Chris Bengston along with three residents were present at the hearing. The residents in attendance did not address the Council with any concerns.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:13 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the appointment of Thomas Kramer as the neutral third party for the closure of the Eastwood Estates Mobile Home Park. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the request from Women’s Rural Advocacy Program (WRAP) – Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
Brittany Miller and Becci tenBensel with Women’s Rural Advocacy Program were present via electronic means to discuss WRAP’s request. October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. To raise awareness, WRAP is requesting to hang flowers and ribbons along the railing at the Ramsey Park Falls overlook from October 17th to 21st. Each ribbon will have the initials and ages of each victim of homicide due to domestic violence. The ribbons and flowers will be taken down on October 21st. The site will be checked daily by WRAP staff.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve WRAP’s request to place flowers and ribbons along the railing at the Ramsey Park Falls overlook from October 17th to 21st. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced the Request to Waive Sanitary Sewer Charges.
Ms. Klages stated City Staff received a request from Meghan Harrington, utility account holder at 902 Sunrise Boulevard, requesting that $246.92 in sanitary sewer charges be waived. Staff review of these requests focuses on whether the water entered the sanitary sewer, which requires treatment. Water introduced into the sanitary sewer system is treated regardless of the cause. Staff was able to determine that the water did not enter the sanitary sewer system and recommends waiving the sanitary sewer charge as is consistent with past practice.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Request to Waive Sanitary Sewer Charges in the amount of $246.92. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated a meeting with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources will be taking place on October 5 at 2:00 p.m. to discuss the management of Lake Redwood after the dredging project.
City Administrator Muetzel invited Council members to view the Fire Department’s new ladder truck following the 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 Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:23 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.