City Council Meeting – June 18, 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, June 18, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.

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

Council President John T. Buckley presided over the meeting.

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.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the June 4, 2024, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Zoning Administrator Matt Johnson was present to introduce Resolution No. 34 of 2024 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Approving the Proposed Planned Unit Development for Normandale Mobile Home Park Located at 201 Normandale Road.

Brian Ertel, owner of Normandale Mobile Home Park was present.

Mr. Johnson stated the City received a request for a Planned Unit Development from Brian Ertel, owner of the Normandale Mobile Home Park located at 201 Normandale Road. Mr. Ertel has requested the Planned Unit Development overlay district because the current configuration of the park does not allow adequate space to complete the desired infrastructure improvements. Currently, the street and all underground utilities within the mobile home park are considered private property and maintained by the property owner. To bring the street and utilities to municipal standards, Mr. Ertel would need to reduce the front property line setbacks from the road to the structures.

Mr. Ertel stated he has applied for and been approved for grant funding to upgrade the infrastructure within the property.

Mr. Johnson stated the PUD request will not change the current zoning of the (R-M) Manufactured Home Park District but will allow for modifications to the front setback requirements and property configuration. Mr. Ertel has worked with City Staff to ensure the proposed infrastructure meets the necessary requirements and provided a concept site plan.

City Attorney Dammann stated approval of the PUD allows Mr. Ertel to proceed with the final plat and development agreement. If the PUD is approved, Mr. Ertel will improve the street, sanitary sewer, storm sewer, and water within the property. Once the street meets municipal standards, Mr. Ertel intends to dedicate the street to the City as a public right-of-way and continue to operate the property as a manufactured housing community. The Planning Commission recommends approval of the Planned Unit Development with the findings of fact and conditions as outlined in Resolution No. 34.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 34 of 2024 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Approving the Proposed Planned Unit Development for Normandale Mobile Home Park Located at 201 Normandale Road. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 34 of 2024 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Approving the Proposed Planned Unit Development for Normandale Mobile Home Park Located at 201 Normandale Road. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Miranda Wendlandt, CPA and CFE with CliftonLarsonAllen was present to give an overview of the 2023 audit results for the City of Redwood Falls.

Ms. Wendlandt stated this was an unmodified clean audit with no internal control finding. Due to the amount of Federal funds received for Highway Planning & Construction, a Single Audit was required. The Single Audit found that the City complied with the specific funding requirements. The audit findings are an indication of the City’s high-quality internal control process, reviews that are in place, and overall attention Staff gives to the year-end balances.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to accept the 2023 City Audit results and reports as submitted. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 35 of 2024 – Resolution Committing to Certain Financial Obligations for the Sewer System in Conjunction with Federal and State Funding for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project.

Ms. Klages stated on April 16, 2024, Council awarded the bid for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements project. The total overall cost of the project including non-construction costs is $9,450,010.00. The project’s funding source includes a Point Source Implementation Grant (PSIG) of $6,718,137.00, as well as, a low interest loan through the Public Facilities Authority (PFA) in the amount of $2,731,873.00.

Ms. Klages stated one of the requirements of the PFA Clean Water Revolving Loan program is for the City to commit to maintaining revenues sufficient to pay for system expenses, including debt service, operations and maintenance. The anticipated rate increases in Resolution No. 35 are based on the most recent approved rate study updated to include this PFA loan. These anticipated rate increases are subject to change based on the City’s future annual rate studies.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 35 of 2024 – Resolution Committing to Certain Financial Obligations for the Sewer System in Conjunction with Federal and State Funding for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 35 of 2024 – Resolution Committing to Certain Financial Obligations for the Sewer System in Conjunction with Federal and State Funding for the Wastewater Treatment Facility Improvements Project. 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.

Mr. Dammann stated a Land Surveyors Certificate of Correction to Plat has been prepared to change the street name of Kestral Lane to Foxtail Road. Kestral Lane currently runs east and west, the length of two lots, connecting Foxtail Road and Sunflower Road. During the address assignment process, City Staff noticed an issue with the naming of Kestral Lane. To eliminate potential confusion while locating Foxtail Road, Staff is recommending to eliminate Kestral Lane by extending Foxtail Road through to Sunflower Road. Once approved, the certificate will be filed with the Redwood County Recorder’s Office.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Reflection Prairie Addition Plat Correction Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §505.174. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced the 2024 Solid Waste Review Committee.

Mr. Doering stated Staff is recommending the development of a special review committee of the Residential Solid Waste Collection RFP and initial meeting at 3:00 p.m. June 25, 2024. Recommended appointees include Mayor Tom Quackenbush, and Council Members Matt Smith and Larry Arentson. The Council Approved the RFP and solicitation of waste haulers on May 21, 2024. Responses to the RFP are due on June 25, 2024, at 11:00 a.m. for the appointed committee members and Staff to summarize the quotes and present a recommendation to award by July 16, 2024. Staff members will include City Administrator Keith Muetzel, City Attorney Trenton Damman, and Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering. This will allow time for the awarded hauler to coordinate with the current franchise holder to ensure a smooth transition. This will also allow for an RFP required public informational meeting to be held prior to the transition in order to introduce the awarded hauler and review Chapter 3, Section 3.20 of the Redwood Falls City Code with the residents of Redwood Falls.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the 2024 Solid Waste Review Committee. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Council Member Smith stated he received a complaint from a resident regarding the burn pile on Peabody Road and the amount of smoke blowing towards the resident’s property. The burn pile had been unintentionally started and the Fire Department was able to extinguish the pile. The complaint was referred to City Staff and the issue was quickly addressed.

City Administrator Muetzel stated the burn pile is not typically used when wind is not favorable. Unfortunately, the burn pile can be inadvertently ignited if it is disturbed, especially during dry periods.

Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated Staff has received inquiries about relocating the burn pile. However, DNR foresters that approve the permit for the City think where it is currently located is ideal to control the burning. Residents are encouraged to contact City Staff during business hours or the non-emergency police department number after-hours, if there are any concerns with the burn pile.

Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated the Water Department worked quickly to repair two water leaks over the weekend between the Fire Department and St. Catherine’s Catholic Church. Water was shut off for a portion of the day while repairs were made.

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 Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:53 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.