MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, APRIL 2, 2024
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 2, 2024, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Larry Arentson, and John T. Buckley were present, constituting a quorum. Council Member Jim Sandgren was absent.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Finance Director Kari Klages, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet. City Attorney Trenton Dammann was absent.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the March 19, 2024, minutes as presented. Â Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
- Block Party/Street Closure Request – The Circle of Healing
- 2024 On-Sale Intoxicating and Sunday Liquor License Application – Redwood County Agricultural Society
- Quote for Airport Fuel Station Replacement
- 2023 Fixed Asset Disposal List
- Declare Street/Police Equipment as Surplus Property and Authorize Sale
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:02 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts and unpaid surcharges.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 18 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts and Resolution No. 19 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges.
Amy Kerkhoff, AR/Customer Service Coordinator was present.
Ms. Klages stated the proposed Resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts and I & I surcharges that are more than 30 days past due. Similar resolutions are brought to the City Council on a quarterly basis in order to improve the time between the delinquent billing and the ability to disclose the information to new property owners. The delinquent account resolutions will be presented each year at the first meeting in January, April, July, and October.
Ms. Klages further explained the delinquent process. Delinquent letters are first mailed to the utility account holders. Delinquent letters are then mailed to the property owners if not collected from the account holders. Electricity consumed by a tenant is not assessable to the property. Any unpaid balance is then brought to Council to be approved by resolution. Any pending assessments passed by resolution and still outstanding as of November 1st will be charged a $50.00 fee and are then transferred to Redwood County to be assessed on the tax rolls.
Ms. Kerkhoff stated the two unpaid I & I surcharges that are being assessed are for one vacant home and one occupied home.
No one was present to voice any concerns.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:04 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 18 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 18 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 19 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 19 of 2024 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce Resolution No. 20 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City.
Mayor Quackenbush declared a conflict of interest due to his employer, Daktronics. Mayor Quackenbush left the Council Chambers and abstained from discussion.
Council President John T. Buckley presided over Resolution No. 20 of 2024.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 20 of 2024 is to accept a donation of a digital sign from Daktronics and a donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation to install the sign. Tom Quackenbush reviewed the location and space designated for placement of the sign on library property. The digital sign value is $21,000. The Redwood Area Library Foundation has agreed to donate $10,681 as quoted by Quicksigns of Willmar to pay for the installation of the base and surround for the sign. Placement of the two-sided sign would be in the same space where the current sign is located but would face north/south on Lincoln Street. There is currently an electrical line in the expected location for a light. Staff is requesting approval to accept the financial donation from Daktronics and the Redwood Area Library Foundation to fund the placement of a digital sign at the library.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 20 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 20 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 21 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2024 Seal Coat Improvements.
Mr. Doering stated in response to the Advertisement for Bids, the City received four proposals for construction of the 2024 Seal Coat Improvements. The proposals were opened and publicly read at 10:00 a.m. on March 28, 2024. The low responsible bidder was Pearson Brothers Inc. of Hanover, MN for the 2024 Seal Coat Improvements per bid unit prices for CRS2P bituminous oil, FA-2, Class A Aggregate, and flexible chip seal markers. The resulting base bid was $277,434.00. The project scope is the same area from 2019 which is the area predominantly east of DeKalb Street and CSAH 101, including North Redwood. In addition, the scope also includes trails and parking lots that were removed last year due to budgetary constraints.
Mr. Doering stated the 2024 Seal Coat Improvement Project has a budget of $375,000.00 for streets, alley ways and parking lots. Due to the continued rising costs of oil and aggregate, the task order includes splitting the previous area into a base bid and alternates to selectively award items and remain within budget. The engineers’ estimate for the base bid and alternates is estimated at $307,094.00. Staff recommends the award.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 21 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2024 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 21 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2024 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 22 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2024-2 for 2024 Memorial Athletic Complex Bathroom Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 22 authorizes Task Order No. 2024-2 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. to provide the entire scope of services for the 2024 Memorial Athletic Complex Bathroom Project. The project scope includes professional services for design and acquiring contractors for new bathrooms adjacent to the concession building at the Memorial Athletic Complex. Completion of the project scope is anticipated to facilitate construction during the 2024 season.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 22 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2024-2 for 2024 Memorial Athletic Complex Bathroom Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 22 of 2024 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2024-2 for 2024 Memorial Athletic Complex Bathroom Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Police Chief Jason Cotner was present to introduce Resolution No. 23 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.
Chief Cotner stated on March 28, 2024, a long-time resident of the Redwood Falls community, who wished to remain anonymous, met with Police Chief Jason Cotner to make a $1,000.00 donation to the Redwood Falls Police Department. The donation was given because of the tragic events in Burnsville, Minnesota, and the citizen felt compelled to express support and gratitude for the Redwood Falls Police Department officers and staff. The donation was given without stipulations on how the department could spend the funds. Department Staff have decided to use the funds to purchase an AED for the new squad car arriving later this year.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 23 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 23 of 2024 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated on April 1, the City received notice of approval for a $1,371,200 grant from the Local Road Improvement Fund to install right-hand turn lanes at Reflections Prairie and Reflections Ridge on CSAH 24. Redwood County is requiring the installation of the right-hand turn lanes into the developments. The project will be scheduled to take place in 2025.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated bids for the Wastewater Treatment Facility were opened on March 28, 2024 at 2:00 p.m. The bids received were favorable and will be presented to Council for approval at the next meeting on April 16, 2024.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Post Office boxes will no longer be located in the alley south of the Post Office after April 12, 2024. The alley can’t handle the amount of commercial traffic that the mailboxes have created. One mailbox has been moved to the The Market at 1111 E. Bridge St. and the other box will be removed from alley. Residents can continue to bring mail into the building or use the box located near the front entrance of the Post Office.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated the new fishing pier at Lake Redwood will be installed prior to fishing opener on May 11, 2024, but there is not a definitive date set yet.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated crews will resume construction on the 4th Street Reconstruction project beginning on Monday, April 8 and plan to be done by the end of June.
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 Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:34 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.