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, February 3, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter 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 Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the January 20, 2026, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. Update to Distributed Electric Generation Rules for Solar Power
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened the public hearing at 5:02 p.m.
City Attorney Dammann introduced the Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing.
Michelle Hernandez was present.
Mr. Dammann stated on January 6, 2026, the City of Redwood Falls held a hearing, at which Ms. Michelle Hernandez was present, to decide whether to uphold or overturn the designation of her dog “Bandit” as a dangerous dog pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 347.50 and Redwood Falls City Ordinance § 10.46. By a 3-0 vote, the hearing officers on the Review Panel found by a preponderance of the evidence that Bandit is a dangerous dog and upheld the designation.
Mr. Dammann stated on January 12, 2026, Ms. Hernandez submitted a written request to City Hall to appeal the Panel’s decision to the City Council. Pursuant to Redwood Falls City Ordinance 10.46 subd. 16 (F), “If the owner of the dog disputes the decision of the Panel, the Owner shall have the right to appeal the decision to the City Council.”
Mr. Dammann stated the procedure for the hearing is one of appeal and not trial, meaning that the State will not re-try the entire case by providing testimony and exhibits anew, but rather the Council will receive argument from Ms. Hernandez and the City Attorney and will have the ability to review the Panel’s Findings of Fact and Conclusions, any exhibits of record, and a transcript of the panel hearing.
Ms. Hernandez addressed Council and requested Council rescind the Dangerous Dog designation of “Bandit.”
Brooke Zollner was present. Ms. Zollner is the owner of “Charger”, the dog that was attacked during the “incident”. Ms. Zollner stated this was not the first occurrence of the dogs getting into an altercation. Neither dog was injured during the first altercation, so it was not reported by either party.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:21 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to uphold the Dangerous Dog designation for “Bandit”. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 8 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2026-1 For Engineering Services for the 2026 Seal Coat Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 8 of 2026 authorizes Task Order No. 2026-1 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide a listed scope of services for 2026 in the amount not to exceed $9,875.00 without further Council approval. This resolution also approves the solicitation of bids once the bid documents and specifications are ready for publishing.
Mr. Doering stated the 2026 Seal Coat Improvement Project has a budget of $250,000.00 for streets, alley ways and parking lots. Due to the continued rising costs of oil and aggregate, the task order reflects splitting the previous five areas into six new seal coat areas. The intent is to reduce surface area and quantities to a more budget friendly range. So instead of a five-year rotation it will now be a six-year rotation. The engineers’ estimate for the base bid and alternates is $246,648.00. The new 2026 seal coat map includes Gould Street north of Broadway and all streets and alleys north of Wyoming and south of Bridge Street (TH19/71). The M&L and Third Street public parking lots will be done this year. The Library parking lot will be excluded due to construction.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 8 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2026-1 For Engineering Services for the 2026 Seal Coat Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 8 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2026-1 For Engineering Services for the 2026 Seal Coat Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 9 of 2026 – A Resolution to Authorize Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Agreements and Related Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.
Mr. Doering stated at the May 6, 2025, Council Meeting, Council approved resolution No. 27 of 2025 to authorize the application to the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) for grant dollars to replace up to 149 inventoried lead/galvanized service lines. This also authorized the submittal to be listed on the project priority list (PPL) for the Drinking Water Revolving Fund Dollars (DWRF). The project grant is for 100% of the replacement costs which would start at a 50% grant and 50% forgivable loan dollars upon project completion. The estimated project cost applied for was $4,470,000.00 for the replacements.
Mr. Doering stated the volume of requests has exceeded the budgeted amount that MDH was legislatively authorized for, and they have reduced the replacement project to a multi-year-phased approach. Currently the City is allocated one million dollars for roughly 40 service line replacements. The current inventory has 167 services inventoried as lead or galvanized to be replaced.
Mr. Doering further stated MDH is requiring plan submittals by March 30, 2026, and the goal is to have 40 executed replacement agreements to accompany the plan submittal. The intent by authorizing the Mayor and/or City Administrator to execute the individual agreements avoids bringing them to Council, individually under separate resolutions, to expedite the short submission timelines.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 9 of 2026 – A Resolution to Authorize Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Agreements and Related Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 9 of 2026 – A Resolution to Authorize Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Agreements and Related Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Parks & Recreation Director Ross Nachreiner introduced Resolution No. 10 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City.
Mr. Nachreiner stated during the winter of 2025, Staff was approached by members of Friends of the Park expressing the desire to bring additional amenities to Ramsey Park. Friends of the Park have secured a $30,000 donation from the Glen Taylor Foundation and have money on hand to cover the remaining costs associated with the project.
Mr. Nachreiner stated the proposed project will include two pickleball courts (including a basketball hoop on one of the courts), two sets of cornhole boards, a tetherball with posts, and a rental station where users are able to rent the pickleball supplies, cornhole supplies, and a basketball. The project will be fully funded with donations from Friends of the Park. City Parks and Recreation will be asked to pour the concrete pads for the cornhole boards with the concrete being paid for by donations from Friends of the Park.
Mr. Nachreiner stated since the amenities will be built on City property, the City will be the owners of the equipment. The City will make payments to the contractors per the terms of the agreements and Friends of the Park have agreed to pay the City 100% of the total cost of the project as stated in the letter of commitment. Resolution No. 10 is to accept the financial donation of the actual project costs up to $130,000.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 10 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 10 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting A Donation To The City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Parks & Recreation Director Ross Nachreiner introduced Resolution No. 11 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Quote for Construction of Pickleball Courts in Ramsey Park.
Mr. Nachreiner stated Parks and Rec Staff have worked with Friends of the Park to determine a site and design for a pickleball complex in Ramsey Park near the lower shelter. The complex will be fully enclosed with black vinyl fencing and will include two pickleball courts as well as a basketball hoop. Along with this project, Staff are looking to add two lanes of cornhole, an equipment rental station, as well as tetherball, all to be funded by Friends of the Park.
Mr. Nachreiner stated four separate companies were contacted for quotes for the surface portion of the project. M. R. Paving & Excavating, Inc. submitted a quote for $65,000.00. Everstrong Construction denied the project due to its scope of work, Salonek Construction is no longer in business, and Voss Construction did not reply to the request. The City will own the pickleball courts and its surroundings therefore the City will be responsible for hiring the contractors for this project.
Mr. Nachreiner stated a quote was also obtained for the fencing portion of the project as well as a quote to apply the paint on the top portion of the playing surface of the courts. Oberg Fencing provided a quote in the amount of $14,987.00 for fencing materials and installation. A quote to furnish and install 2 sets of pickleball posts, a basketball post, and to apply an acrylic cover over the entire playing surface was provided by C & H Sport Surfaces in the amount of $27,489.00. City Staff is requesting with Resolution No. 11 to approve the quote and enter into a contract with M. R. Paving & Excavating, Inc. to construct a pickleball complex.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 11 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Quote for Construction of Pickleball Courts in Ramsey Park. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 11 of 2026 – Authorization to Execute Quote for Construction of Pickleball Courts in Ramsey Park. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 100, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances Chapter 13 Pertaining to Storm Water Management.
Mr. Dammann stated the City’s MS4 program was audited on October 2, 2025, as Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). Staff reviewed the program with the Public Works Project Coordinator and found the program to be missing required ordinance language to be compliant with the current Federal National Pollutant Discharge Elimination Strategy (NPDES) permit. On December 2, 2025, the City received an alleged violation letter (AVL) outlining deficiencies and requiring corrective action to be completed within 90 days.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering stated City Staff is proposing changes to the City Code of Ordinances to make the City’s regulation of storm water consistent with Minnesota law. These new amendments will bring Chapter 13 into compliance with current and future MS4 permits as ordered. As such amendment of Chapter 13 is necessary. An abbreviated summary of changes to Chapter 13 are as follows:
Section 13.02 Construction Site Storm Water Runoff Control, Subdivision 1.A - striking disturbances less than one acre part of a common plan of development and adding standard verbiage refencing as part of a common plan of development or sale and quantifying “the ultimate disturbance greater than one acre.” Subdivision 2 - striking the existing text and adding templated language adopting the current water quality standards as published by the state’s Pollution Control Agency as amended from time to time.
Section 13.03 Post-Construction Storm Water Management In New Development And Redevelopment, Subdivision 1 - adding the verbiage quantifying “the ultimate disturbance greater than one acre” for areas part of a common plan of development.
Section 13.04 Illicit Discharge, Subdivision 2 - adding sub part D. Pet Waste Management, part 1. All pet owners and keepers are required to immediately and properly dispose of their pet’s solid waste deposited on any property, public or private, not owned or possessed by that person, adding sub part E. Salt Storage, part 1. All facilities storing salt must provide the following: a. Designates salt storage areas must be covered or indoors.; b. Designated salt storage areas must be located on an impervious surface.; c. Implementation of practices to reduce exposure when transferring material.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 100, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances Chapter 13 Pertaining to Storm Water Management. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Downtown Commercial Rehab Loan Application – 301 S. Washington Street.
Council Member Guetter declared a potential conflict of interest due to a business relationship as a real estate agent for the current owner, Mr. Christian Peterson. Ms. Guetter left the Council Chambers and was not present for discussion and abstained from the vote.
Mr. Muetzel stated Christian Peterson owns the commercial building located at 301 S. Washington Street which is the former Hometown Bank building. The first floor of the building is currently used for retail and the owner intends to renovate the second floor into four or five apartments.
Mr. Muetzel stated the City of Redwood Falls has a Downtown Commercial Loan Program which is funded by prior Small Cities Development Loan Program repayments. The current fund balance is $25,000. The structure of the loan program provides applicants with up to $15,000 in low interest loan funding and up to $15,000 in a forgivable loan.
Mr. Muetzel stated a loan application has been submitted to finance the renovation of the building, which is estimated to cost $175,000. The applicant is requesting a $12,500 low interest loan and a $12,500 forgivable loan. The application complies with the funding guidelines and requirements of the loan program and staff recommend approval of the request.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Downtown Commercial Rehab Loan Application – 301 S. Washington Street. Motion passed by the following vote:
AYE: Council Members Smith, Kerkhoff, Arentson, and Sandgren
NO: None
ABSTAIN: Council Member Guetter
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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:52 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.