MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, APRIL 16, 2019
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 16, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum. Council Member John T. Buckley was absent.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, City Attorney Amy Busse and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to
approve the April 2, 2019, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Busse introduced a Request by Matthew Ball for Council Review of Administrative Hearing Officer’s Decision.
Matthew Ball was present to dispute the administrative hearing decision regarding a parking violation citation.
After hearing from City Attorney Busse and Mr. Ball a motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to uphold the administrative hearing decision. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Redwood Falls Library Director Teri Smith was present to request approval to apply for an Early Care and Education grant in the amount of $5,000 from the Southwest Initiative Foundation to help fund an outside story trail at the library. The story trail is an Eagle Scout project. Ms. Smith worked with the Eagle Scout to develop the project for the Library. The goal of the project is to install seventeen frames on posts throughout the landscaping areas around the library and barnyard area. The grant will be used to cover the cost of materials to create the story trail.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the request to apply for an Early Care and Education grant. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins was present to request Authorization to Solicit Bids for the Downtown Distribution Conversion Phase 2.
Mr. Heins stated the conversion of the downtown business district of Redwood Falls to an underground electrical system started in 2018. The early onset of cold weather last fall prevented the project from being completed. The remaining items are the installation of pipe and wire in the other two alleys. Once that’s done, the entire project will be completed.
At 2:00 pm on May 15, 2019, bids will be publicly opened and read. DGR will review them to make sure everything is in order. It will then be on the June 4, 2019 City Council agenda for the project award. Start date will be mid-June with a substantial completion date of September 9, 2019. This will complete the contractor portion of the project. Phase 1 RFPU crews will be doing the secondary conversion. This project was in the 2019 Capital Outlay – Enterprise Fund section of the budget with a cost of $750,000.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the request to Solicit Bids for the Downtown Distribution Conversion Phase 2. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Heins introduced Resolution No. 8 of 2019 – Update Policy on Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Process.
Mr. Heins stated this Resolution formally adopts rules that the State of Minnesota put in place during the legislative session in 2018. Legislative changes in the rules and laws require the adoption of the new rules and policies regarding solar or wind production. Two main points of the new policies include putting in place three tracks to follow depending on system size and complexity (Fast track process, Simplified process and Study process) and it sets time lines that both the utility and the party wishing to connect must follow.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 8 of 2019 – Update Policy on Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Process. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 8 of 2019 – Update Policy on Distributed Energy Resource Interconnection Process. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Consideration of Street Maintenance Worker Employment Offer.
Mr. Muetzel stated the interview team, which included himself, Human Resources Coordinator Sheila Stage, Street Superintendent Darrell Bowers, and Water/Wastewater Superintendent Tom Stough interviewed eleven candidates from a pool of over 50 applicants. The team offered the last of the three available positions to Jerry Mertens at Pay Grade 4, Step 3 and will include a six-month probationary period. At that time, Mr. Mertens will be eligible for a step increase, upon a satisfactory job performance evaluation.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the employment offer of the Street Maintenance Worker position to Jerry Mertens. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced Resolution No. 9 of 2019 – Municipal State Aid Street Funds Advancement Request.
Mr. Doering stated the City of Redwood Falls was allotted $253,624.00 in construction funds in 2019 for upgrading the Municipal State Aid Street (MSAS) routes in the City limits. The current balance is $62,759.59 after the 2018 advanced dollars were repaid. The 2019 final reimbursement request of $229,271.73 for Gould Street will exceed our remaining MSAS allotment for 2019. Staff is recommending the advancement request of $166,512.14 to meet the balance of reimbursement needs to final out the Gould Street Project.
Mr. Doering stated there are no State Aid expenses planned for 2019 and the City is allowed to borrow up to four times the amount of allocation.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 9 of 2019 – Municipal State Aid Street Funds Advancement Request. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 9 of 2019 – Municipal State Aid Street Funds Advancement Request. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel discussed the agenda for the Tuesday, April 30, 2019, City Council work session being held at the Redwood Falls Fire Department.
Mr. Muetzel stated City Council Members suggested several agenda items for the City Council work session. To prepare for the meeting, and to ensure adequate time is allowed for each agenda item, staff is requesting the Council formally establish a work session agenda.
City Council Work Session Agenda Topics
1. Fire Department Tour
2. Update on Courthouse Square Street Reconstruction Project
3. Update on Housing Study
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff approving the City Council work session agenda for Tuesday, April 30, 2019. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the traffic signal installation and paint striping on Bridge Street is in progress. The recent snowstorm and predicted rains will cause a delay.
Mr. Muetzel further stated City staff is continuing to monitor the river levels. Some roads in north Redwood will require repair from the high water levels. Following an inspection of the Swayback Bridge, it was determined that it is structurally sound and safe for traffic. The bridge is currently open to pedestrian and vehicle traffic with barricades blocking the damaged side of the bridge.
City Administrator Muetzel reminded Council the Housing Committee will be meeting Thursday, April 18 at 8:00 a.m.
City Administrator Muetzel reminded Council the Local Board of Equalization and Review will reconvene following the Council meeting tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.
Bills and Claims were presented to Council for informational purposes. No questions, comments or concerns were raised.
There being no further business, a motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to adjourn the meeting at ¬¬¬¬5:53 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.