MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 18, 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 18, 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 Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the October 4, 2022, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
1. Purchase of Kubota Snow Broom
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:02 p.m. to discuss the Petition to Vacate an Alley.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 82, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Vacating an Alley Located in Block 9 of Watson’s 2nd Addition and Block 1 of Watson’s 4th Addition in the City of Redwood Falls.
Mr. Dammann stated the City received a land use application from David Klabunde requesting to vacate the alley running east and west in Block 9 of Watson’s 2nd Addition and Block 1 of Watson’s 4th Addition with access located between 504 and 508 N. Lincoln St. There are five parcels adjacent to the alley. David and Gina Klabunde own four of the five adjacent parcels. The only other adjacent property owner has been sent a notice of the proposed vacation and City Staff has not received any objection to the request. The public reservation of the alley no longer serves a clearly identified public purpose. City Staff is requesting the adjacent property owner, Mr. Klabunde, provide a 20 ft. utility easement in place of the alley, to which he has agreed. Staff recommends approval contingent on the landowner providing a recorded utility easement.
David Klabunde was present.
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 Ordinance No. 82, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Vacating an Alley Located in Block 9 of Watson’s 2nd Addition and Block 1 of Watson’s 4th Addition in the City of Redwood Falls. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce Resolution No. 59 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.
Council Member Buckley declared a conflict of interest due to his ownership interest in the Redwood Falls Nursery and abstained from the discussion and vote of Resolution No. 59 of 2022.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 59 of 2022 is accepting a financial donation in the amount of $2,800 from the Redwood Area Library Foundation and $2,500 from the Friends of the Library. The hydrangeas and coneflowers in the area of the Library under the stained glass window and to the end of the building (Homestead side) have needed replacing for several years. It was advised by Matt Buckley of Redwood Falls Nursery to install commercial grade edging and river rock for longer lasting landscaping and somewhat less maintenance than replacing mulch every couple of years. The Gloria Dei Church group volunteered to remove the old plants and edging to save $1,000. Staff is requesting approval to accept the financial donations from the Redwood Area Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library to fund the entire landscaping project. Since the Redwood Area Library Foundation increased its donation amount there wouldn’t be any budgeted funds needed to complete the project.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 59 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Council Members Smith, Arentson, Sandgren, and Kerkhoff
NO: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Buckley
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 59 of 2022 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Council Members Smith, Arentson, Sandgren, and Kerkhoff
NO: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Buckley
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the agenda item 9B - Declare Fire Truck Surplus Property and Authorize Sale.
Mr. Muetzel stated on July 12, the advertisement for bids closed for the sale of the 1992 aerial fire truck and no bids were received. On August 2, the City Council approved a listing agreement with Brindlee Mountain Fire Apparatus to list, market, and attempt to sell the truck on our behalf which has yielded no results. On October 5, the Morgan City Council approved a proposal to purchase the truck for $7,500. The proposed purchase price represents a fair market value for the truck in its current condition and staff recommends accepting the proposal.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda item 9B - Declare Fire Truck Surplus Property and Authorize the Sale in the amount $7,500. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Redwood Electric Cooperative Service Territory Agreement.
Mr. Muetzel stated Minnesota Statute provides electric utilities the exclusive right to serve customers within an assigned service territory and prohibits the provision of electric service by another utility within that service territory without written consent and agreement. The location of the Reflection Prairie Subdivision and Reflection Ridge Business Park is within Redwood Electric Cooperative’s electric service territory. Being this property has been annexed into the City of Redwood Falls, the City desires to adjust the Cooperative’s assigned electric service territory boundaries in order for the City to provide electric service to the development sites.
Mr. Muetzel stated state statute authorizes electric utilities to enter into agreements to revise their electric service territory boundaries subject to approval by the MN Public Utilities Commission. Within these agreements, the utility that is “giving up” the service territory is typically compensated for potential future lost revenue by the utility that is gaining service territory. In January of 2022, staff began having conversations with representatives from the Redwood Electric Cooperative regarding the transfer of service territory rights. Negotiations have been ongoing, and the Cooperative’s board of directors recently approved an Electric Service Territory Agreement.
Mr. Muetzel further stated under the terms of the proposed agreement, the City will compensate the Cooperative over a ten-year period. The ten-year period begins when the City’s first metered service is installed in the affected area. The City would compensate Redwood Electric Cooperative with a one-time payment of $1,700 for each single-family lot, a one-time payment of $2,700 for each commercial lot, and a one-time payment of $800 for each meter in a multi-family apartment building to which the City provides electric service. Legal counsel has advised that the proposed compensation is in line with other recently approved service territory transfer agreements and staff recommends approval.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Redwood Electric Cooperative Service Territory Agreement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 60 of 2022 – Designation of Annual Polling Place.
Ms. Klages stated all cities and townships must pass a resolution each year establishing the polling places for any elections scheduled for the following year. An annual resolution is required even if the polling place does not change. Resolution No. 60 designates the 2023 polling place as the Redwood Area Community Center located at 901 East Cook Street, Redwood Falls.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 60 of 2022 – Designation of Annual Polling Place. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 60 of 2022 – Designation of Annual Polling Place. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 61 of 2022 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2022-5 For the Wastewater Phosphorus Reduction Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 61 Authorizes Task Order No. 2022-5 for the Redwood Falls Phosphorus Reduction Project with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide a listed scope of services for 2022 in the amount not to exceed $633,000.00 without further Council approval. The Task Order project scope covers plan development through bid development and contract award. Council approved the facility plan and PSIG grant application to the Public Facilities Authority on March 15, 2022. This grant, once received, would cover up to seven million of the total project cost. The total project (plan development, bidding, construction, and testing) is estimated at $9.9 million with contingency. The estimated schedule puts the construction start in spring of 2024, with this task order covering activities from time of approval out to September of 2023.
Mr. Doering stated the current grant application was approved and submitted in March of 2022 but is currently in limbo. Since the legislature did not pass a bonding bill, the grant program wasn’t replenished and thus the application has not been processed. The next legislative session may elect to pick up and fund what was proposed in last year’s bonding request, or they may start over and we would have to re-apply again in March of 2023 if the bill is passed in 2023. The scope of Task Order 2022-5 is eligible for reimbursement of up to 80% once the grant is received.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 61 of 2022 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2022-5 For the Wastewater Phosphorus Reduction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 61 of 2022 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2022-5 For the Wastewater Phosphorus Reduction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering gave an update on the Lake Redwood dredging project. As of October 22, dredging of Lake Redwood is complete. A total of 682,880 cubic yards of sediment has been removed from Lake Redwood, surpassing the bid quantity of 657,329 cubic yards. The Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area Board of Directors approved the extra yardage as grant funding remained. Brennan’s crew has begun preparing the dredge for demobilization, and removal of the pipeline. The dredge will leave Redwood Falls the week of October 24 as well as the pumps and other ancillary equipment. Brennan has subcontracted with Mathiowetz Construction Company to remove the pipeline and restore the driveways, field approaches and township roads the week of October 31 through November 4. Affected owners will be notified by door hangers of their scheduled date, and contact numbers provided if other arrangements are needed. Brennan will continue to monitor the Confined Disposal Facility until the middle of 2023.
Mr. Doering further stated City Staff and other local authorities recently met with the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) regarding management of Lake Redwood now that the dredging is completed. The City has authority over the boat landing and that area will be maintained by the City’s Parks and Rec Department. During the meeting, a 40 ft. fishing pier was discussed as well as fish stocking, and enforcement of wake zones and speed limits. The DNR also informed City Staff that funding is available to provide the City a 40 ft. fishing pier/dock as long as a cooperative agreement is in place for the City to maintain the dock.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering gave an update on the Drew Street Project. Contractors are ready to start installing curb and gutter along Drew Street followed by the flat work, driveway, and alley approaches. Bituminous installation is scheduled to start on November 1 and be completed no later than November 23. Contractors will return next year to complete the final layer or bituminous.
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 Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:42 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.