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, April 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith 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.
Council Member Kerkhoff presided over the meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the March 18, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. City Assistance with Celebrate Redwood Falls – NightFalls Event
2. Show Permit Application – Cindy Migley’s Circus Spectacular
3. Declare Street and Electric Equipment as Surplus Property and Authorize Sale
4. Ratification of 2024 Fixed Asset Disposal List
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 19 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Port Authority Property.
Mr. Dammann stated on February 10, 2025, the Redwood Falls Port Authority held a public hearing on the sale of the property legally described as, Lot One of Block Four of the Prairie Knoll Addition of the City of Redwood Falls, to JJ Holdings LLC, whose proposal includes plans to construct an orthodontic clinic on the property. After the hearing, the Port Authority found that the proposal was in the best interests of the district and its people, and that the transaction furthered the general plan of Port Authority improvement. The Port Authority authorized executing and closing on the approved purchase agreement.
Mr. Dammann stated pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.356, subd. 2, when a City has a comprehensive municipal plan and a planning commission, the statute requires that no publicly owned interest in real property within the municipality be disposed of, until after the planning commission has reviewed the proposed disposal and reported in writing to the City Council its findings as to compliance of the proposed disposal with the comprehensive municipal plan. However, a City Council may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote dispense with the requirements of that subdivision when in its judgment it finds that the proposed disposal of real property has no relationship to the comprehensive municipal plan. Given the need to close the purchase agreement in a timely manner, Staff is recommending that Council adopt the proposed resolution to approve the sale and dispense with any requirements found in Minn. Stat. § 462.356, subd. 2.
Mr. Dammann stated prior to the Council meeting Staff were made aware of a discrepancy in the parcel’s ownership by the title company. Staff will review the discrepancy and will bring any changes, if necessary, to Council prior to closing.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to waive the reading of Resolution No. 19 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Port Authority Property. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 19 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Port Authority Property. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Authorization to Bid Infrastructure for Reflection Cove Townhome Development Site.
Mr. Muetzel stated in April of 2024, Council approved the submittal of a State of MN Workforce Housing Program grant application to assist with the phase one development of the Southwest MN Housing Partnership’s Reflection Cove housing project. The proposed project consisted of four twin homes and one single family home to be located in the northwest corner of the Reflection Prairie Addition. Unfortunately, the project was not selected for State funding. In anticipation of the workforce housing grant award, Council authorized Bolton & Menk to prepare infrastructure plans to serve the development site with street, water, sanitary sewer, and storm sewer. Discussions with the Southwest MN Housing Partnership are ongoing, and efforts to secure project funding continue.
Mr. Muetzel stated with the infrastructure plans and specifications already complete, Staff recommend moving forward with advertising for infrastructure bids for the development site. If the bids are favorable, the infrastructure work could begin during this construction season, preparing the site for future townhome construction as funding becomes available. The estimated construction cost for the infrastructure is $705,000. If favorable bids are received, the cost of these infrastructure improvements could be covered by remaining funds in the Reflection Prairie construction account.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Authorization to Bid Infrastructure for Reflection Cove Townhome Development Site. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 20 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Proposal/Task Order No. 2025-3 for Civil Engineering Services for the Library Expansion and Renovation Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 20 authorizes the Library Proposal/Task Order No. 2025-3 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide the listed scope of services in the civil engineering RFP from Engan Associates in the amount not to exceed $106,300.00 without further Council approval. Completion of all projects in the scope is anticipated for early 2025.
Mr. Doering stated this task order includes civil engineering and landscape architecture services as detailed in items 1-4 of the proposal. Construction services are not included in the RFP or this proposal and would be subject to a subsequent task order at a later date. Staff recommend approval of the proposal/task order utilizing the current master services agreement with Bolton & Menk Inc.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 20 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Proposal/Task Order No. 2025-3 for Civil Engineering Services for the Library Expansion and Renovation Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 20 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Proposal/Task Order No. 2025-3 for Civil Engineering Services for the Library Expansion and Renovation Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
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 Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to adjourn the meeting at 5:31 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.