City Council Meeting – May 7, 2024

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, May 7, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, and John T. Buckley were present, constituting a quorum. Council Members Jim Sandgren and Larry Arentson were absent.

Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet.

City Attorney Dammann requested to amend the proposed agenda by removing Agenda Item 8A and Agenda Item 9A because the agenda items require a four-fifths majority vote. Council will not be able to act on the agenda items with the number of Council Members in attendance.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the agenda with the removal of Agenda Item 8A and Agenda Item 9A. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the April 16, 2024, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the April 16, 2024, Board of Appeal and Equalization minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the April 30, 2024, Board of Appeal and Equalization minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

1. 2023 Drinking Water Report
2. Purchase of Electric Distribution Materials
3. Declare Electric Department Equipment as Surplus Property
4. Declare Police Department Equipment as Surplus Property

Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 28 of 2024 – A Resolution Setting and Adopting the Updated 2024 Pay Plans and Pay Step Structure for Part-Time & Seasonal Non-Union Employees.

Mr. Dammann stated on December 6, 2023, when this pay plan was originally approved, the Parks & Rec Department had intended to hire adult Soccer Referees who were over eighteen years old. However, they are finding that it’s difficult to find adults that are familiar with or that are interested in refereeing Soccer. Most of the interested candidates have come from younger applicants under eighteen years old. The MN Soccer Association is an activity that allows individuals to officiate starting at age 14 if they are certified. Those that we have been able to hire this year are under eighteen years old and need to be certified to become a referee. To hire these individuals the Parks & Rec Department is paying for their certification because most would not be willing to do the job if they had to incur the $60.00 certification fee.

Mr. Dammann stated due to the nature of the position, the age of the applicants, and the fact that the Parks & Rec Department is paying for the applicants’ certifications, it has been determined that applicants filling this position can’t be considered Independent Contractors under Federal DOL rules. Therefore, it has been determined that Soccer League Officials should be hourly employees instead of Independent Contractors. Staff recommends updating the 2024 Parks & Rec Seasonal Pay Plan to include this change.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 28 of 2024 – A Resolution Setting and Adopting the Updated 2024 Pay Plans and Pay Step Structure for Part-Time & Seasonal Non-Union Employees. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 28 of 2024 – A Resolution Setting and Adopting the Updated 2024 Pay Plans and Pay Step Structure for Part-Time & Seasonal Non-Union Employees. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Attorney Dammann introduced the Approval of Plat Correction Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §505.174.

Mr. Dammann stated on April 19, 2022, Council approved the preliminary plats and final plats for the parcels described as the Reflection Prairie Addition (Parcel #62-008-2020) and Reflection Ridge Business Park Addition (Parcel #62-005-4020). The approved final plats were filed with the office of the Redwood County Recorder on July 7, 2022. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 505.174, when a land plat has been executed and filed in the office of the county recorder of the county where the land is situated, and the plat fails to correctly describe the land to be platted, the registered surveyor who prepared such plat or subdivision may execute a certificate stating the nature of the error, omission or defect and stating the correct information to correct such error. As part of the land registration process for the Reflection Prairie Addition, Staff was alerted to an error in the legal description of the Plat’s Instrument of Dedication. Bolton & Menk Inc. has prepared a Land Surveyors Certificate to correct the error. Once approved, the certificate will be filed with the Redwood County Recorder’s Office.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Reflection Prairie and Reflection Ridge Business Park Additions Plat Correction Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §505.174. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Administrator Muetzel introduced Ordinance No. 91, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls.

Mr. Muetzel stated as part of the City’s Supplement Service Plan with American Legal Publishing Corporation for the Codification Services Agreement, the Thirteenth Supplement to the Code of Ordinances has been received. Ordinances No. 82-89, Fourth Series, and other amendments have now been incorporated into the code and are ready for adoption.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 91, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Police Chief Cotner was present and stated the NightFalls Event that took place on May 2nd, 3rd, and 4th from 8:00 – 11:00 p.m. went very well from a law enforcement standpoint. The new traffic route was smooth and relieved most of the traffic congestion from MN 19/Bridge Street. The Police Department didn’t receive any formal complaints.

Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering provided an update on the inflow & infiltration inspection progress for Zones 1-9 as well as for sale properties. As of today, 556 properties have been inspected, 88 properties have failed inspection, 468 properties are in compliance, and 75 properties still need to complete the required inspection.

Bills and Claims were presented to the 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 Buckley to adjourn the meeting at 5:35 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.