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 17, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Member Denise Kerkhoff 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 Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith 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 February 3, 2026, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. Update to City of Redwood Falls MN Paid Leave Policy
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 proposed Ordinance was introduced at the February 3, 2026, City Council Meeting. The City’s MS4 program was audited on October 2, 2025, by the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA). 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.
Mr. Dammann 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. 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 Guetter to approve Ordinance No. 100, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances Chapter 13 Pertaining to Storm Water Management. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Arentson, Smith, Sandgren, and Guetter
NO: None
ABSENT: Council Member Kerkhoff
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 101, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance.
Zoning Administrator Randy Thole was present.
City Attorney Dammann stated City Staff is proposing to rezone from R-2 to R-R the properties described as Parcel #s 88-002-4050, 88-002-4020, 88-002-4060, and 88-002-4010. The City received a request from Randy Juell to rezone two parcels that he recently purchased in order to have a small hobby farm (as allowed by City Ordinance) and construct a single-family home. After City Staff reviewed the request, Staff identified two additional parcels located on either side of Mr. Juell’s property, that would also need to be rezoned.
City Attorney Dammann stated due to the size and location of the parcels as well as the current and proposed use, all four requested parcels would best fit the R-R zoning designation. The combined acreage of Mr. Juell’s two parcels (88-002-4050, 88-002-4020) is approximately 7 acres. The parcel to the west of Mr. Juell’s, owned by Scott Hammerschmidt, 1003 W. Oak St. (88-002-4010) is 5.6 acres in size and currently has a single-family home with multiple accessory structures. Lastly, the parcel owned by Jeanne Palmer (88-002-4060) is 8 acres of vacant land.
City Attorney Dammann stated the Planning Commission held a public hearing on February 10, 2026 to review the request. Property owner Scott Hammerschmidt was present. The Planning Commission feels that the proposed request provides a more appropriate zoning designation and aligns with the current and proposed uses of the parcels. The Planning Commission and City Staff recommend approval of the requested zoning amendment.
Property Owner Randy Juell was present.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Ordinance No. 101, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced the Conditional Use Permit – MN Valley Regional Rail Authority.
Mr. Doering stated the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) wishes to replace the span Bridge Number 117.97 with a sixty-inch culvert. Standards for flood fringe uses, Section 14.20 of the City of Redwood Falls updated Unified Development Ordinance (UDO) section (B) part (3) states, any cumulative placement of fill more than 1,000 cubic yards requires a conditional use permit. The proposed project quantifies more than 4,000 cubic yards to be placed with the conversion.
Mr. Doering stated the current bridge lies in the flood fringe area of the Redwood River and out of the mapped FEMA floodway. For floodway projects, the DNR “Work in Public Waters Permit” supersedes local jurisdictional involvement. Since this is not the case, the location still lies within the base flood elevation, MN Rules 6120.5700, subp. 3, D requires local zoning/floodplain management to issue the permit.
Mr. Doering stated MVRRA solicited the services of Civil Design Inc. (CDI) of Brookings South Dakota to conduct a full hydraulic study to evaluate the project’s hydraulic impacts during flooding and concluded it will not have adverse upstream or downstream impacts. The results of the study verified the County State Aid Highway 101 Bridge controlled the hydraulic function during flooding and the proposed conversion of MVRRA span Bridge Number 117.97 would have negligible effect on flood stage. Staff reviewed the report with the City Engineer, Bolton & Menk Inc. and CDI representatives and agreed that the project will have little effect.
Mr. Doering stated Planning Commission and City Staff recommend approval with the following conditions:
1. The construction plans of the project reflect and incorporate the hydraulic study results as part of the design.
2. The project complies with current State and Federal regulations, and all other required permits are obtained.
3. Construction is to commence during non-flood periods of the Redwood River and MPCA construction storm water requirements are met as part of the City’s MS4.
4. The project site will be maintained in perpetuity and free of any obnoxious weeds, trees, or shrubs.
5. Removal of the rail, fill, and culvert to pre-project contours/conditions, should the rail line be abandoned without future proprietary or public value.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Conditional Use Permit – MN Valley Regional Rail Authority. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Fallwood Addition – Preliminary and Final Plat.
Mr. Muetzel stated the City received a request from Redwood Property Holdings LLC for a preliminary and final plat approval for the parcels described as the Fallwood Addition (Parcel #s 88-106-2175; 88-766-1240; and 88-766-3060) which is the former Redwood Area Hospital property (building and parking lots). In June of 2024, the east half of the building was converted into 46 apartment units (Red Skye Lofts) and the west half is currently vacant.
Mr. Muetzel stated the property owner intends to develop the west half of the building into an adult memory care facility. Federal funding regulations require memory care facilities to be located on a stand-alone property parcel. Thus, the owner is requesting a replat of the property which will subdivide the west half of the building (shown as Lot 2 on the proposed plat) from the balance of the property.
Mr. Muetzel stated under the provisions of the Redwood Falls Unified Development Ordinance, the Zoning Administrator may allow a final plat to be submitted concurrent with a request for preliminary plat approval. The property owners worked with City Staff and Bolton & Menk Inc., to prepare the preliminary and final plats. Planning Commission recommend approval of the Fallwood Addition preliminary and final plats.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Fallwood Addition – Preliminary and Final Plat. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 12 of 2026 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 100, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances Chapter 13 Pertaining to Storm Water Management.
Mr. Dammann stated State law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As the Council is aware, Ordinance No. 100, Fourth Series is lengthy. However, Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.191, subd. 4, allows publication by title and summary in the case of lengthy ordinances or those containing charts or maps. Staff prepared Resolution No. 12 of 2026 and Exhibit A, which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 100 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to waive the reading of Resolution No. 12 of 2026 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication 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.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 12 of 2026 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication 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.
Finance Director Kari Klages introduced Resolution No. 13 of 2026 – Resolution Amending Resolution No. 82 of 2025 – Setting Fee Schedule for 2026.
Ms. Klages stated the Federal government has stopped manufacturing new pennies. Recently, the banks have started to communicate that they are getting low on pennies. To address this, Staff is going to implement penny rounding for cash transactions for all departments by March 1, 2026. Rounding rules will not apply to payments made via electronic methods, checks, gift cards, or other non-cash methods. If the final digit of a purchase ends in 3, 4, 8 or 9 cents, the total will be rounded up; if it ends in 1, 2, 6 or 7 cents, it will be rounded down. Transactions ending in 0 or 5 cents are not rounded.
Ms. Klages stated in order to eliminate the need for penny rounding in some transactions, Staff is requesting to adjust the fee schedule for the smaller taxable fees that are typically paid for in cash, like copies and faxes. For example, a color copy at 51 cents plus tax would result in a total due of 55 cents. The bulk of these transactions are done at the Library but staff is proposing to change the fee for copies and faxes at City Hall and the Police Department to remain consistent across the departments.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 13 of 2026 – Resolution Amending Resolution No. 82 of 2025 – Setting Fee Schedule for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 13 of 2026 – Resolution Amending Resolution No. 82 of 2025 – Setting Fee Schedule for 2026. 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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to adjourn the meeting at 5:25 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.