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, January 20, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Member Matt Smith were absent.
Council President Arentson 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 Sandgren to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the January 6, 2026, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. City Assistance with Celebrate Redwood Falls – Fire & Ice Festival
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 5 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition.
Mr. Doering stated Council approved the FAA grant submission for the MnDOT Aeronautics Hangar and Taxi lanes Pavement Maintenance (A6401-63 Project) Grant Application project at the regularly scheduled meeting held on December 2, 2025, through Resolution No. 83 of 2025. MnDOT Aeronautics has issued the state companion grant agreement 1062007 for Council approval and signature.
Mr. Doering stated on December 2, 2025, Resolution No. 83 approved the total project cost of $66,592.50 with Pearson Brothers Inc. Staff recommend approval of Resolution No. 5 that will allow for the access of reimbursable funds through MnDOT Aeronautics. The State funding portion is $46,614.75 and the local share of $19,977.75 (70/30) will be funded through the Airport Project Fund.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 5 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 5 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Minnesota Department of Transportation Grant Agreement for Airport Improvement Excluding Land Acquisition. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 6 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2026 Redwood Area Community Center Roof Replacement Project.
Mr. Doering stated in response to the Advertisement for Bids, the City received four proposals for the roof replacement project of the Redwood Area Community Center, of which two were deemed responsive. Bids by two contractors were considered non-responsive and were disqualified for using an incorrect bid form. The proposals were opened and publicly read at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026.
Mr. Doering stated the Summary of Bids highlights the lowest responsive bidder as Jackon & Associates LLC of White Bear Lake, MN. The responsive lump sum bids were $1,445,000.00 and $1,717,700.00. The low bidder was 23% below the Architect’s Estimate of $1,880,500. The City’s monetary responsibility for this project will be approximately $689,265.00. Staff supports the approval of award for the 2026 Redwood Area Community Center Roof Replacement project.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 6 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2026 Redwood Area Community Center Roof Replacement Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 6 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2026 Redwood Area Community Center Roof Replacement Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 7 of 2026 – Resolution Approving Interfund Transfers for Reflection Development Projects.
Ms. Klages stated Council previously approved the construction and financing plans for the Reflection Ridge, Reflection Prairie, and Reflection Cove development projects. As part of those plans, the City issued bonds, as well as allocated cash contributions from multiple funds and sources. Those cash contributions were deposited into the Reflections Capital Project Fund.
Ms. Klages stated these funds were primarily used to cover street-related portions of the projects; however, a portion of the cash contributions were intended to reimburse the water, sanitary sewer, and storm water utility funds for their share of project-related expenses in excess of bond proceeds. Staff recommend approval of the transfer of $1,855,655.74 from the Reflections Capital Project Fund to the utility funds as follows:
• $598,562.80 to the Water Utility Fund
• $958,332.74 to the Sanitary Sewer Utility Fund
• $298,760.20 to the Storm Water Utility Fund
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to waive the reading of Resolution No. 7 of 2026 – Resolution Approving Interfund Transfers for Reflection Development Projects. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 7 of 2026 – Resolution Approving Interfund Transfers for Reflection Development Projects. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Deer Hunt Coordinator Tyler Stage was present to discuss the 2025 Archery Deer Hunt Report.
Mr. Stage summarized the 2025 Deer Hunt as follows: the season coincided with the full Minnesota DNR archery season from September 13, 2025, to December 31, 2025, the hunt was limited to 20 participants, 20 applications were submitted and all 20 qualified this year. A total of 10 deer were harvested and hunters spent a total of 255 hours in the stand.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated staff is recommending the deer hunt committee reconvene to further review the results of the hunt, what was learned, and what to change in order to determine if future hunts are warranted. Results of the committee meeting along with a 2026 recommendation will be presented to Council prior to submission to the MN DNR to conduct a 2026 Archery Deer Hunt.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the 2025 Archery Deer Hunt Report as presented and allow the deer hunt committee to reconvene to discuss a 2026 Archery Deer Hunt. 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 Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:27 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.