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 4, 2025, 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.
City Administrator Muetzel requested to add Consent Agenda item 6C - Peart’s Bar and Lounge LLC On-Sale and Sunday On-Sale Liquor License Application.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren 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 Guetter to approve the January 21, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
1. City Assistance with Celebrate Redwood Falls – Fire & Ice Festival
2. Distributed Electric Generation Rules Report & Update
3. Peart’s Bar and Lounge LLC On-Sale and Sunday On-Sale Liquor License Application.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Street Superintendent Darrell Bowers was present to introduce the Street Sweeper Replacement.
Mr. Bowers stated the 2025 operating budget includes $400,000.00 to replace a 2015 model year TYMCO regenerative air street sweeper. The street department has operated TYMCO regenerative air street sweepers since 2006. A regenerative air sweeper uses a combination of suction and high-velocity air to pick up debris. This type of sweeper works well on smooth services such as paved streets without large pieces of debris. While researching the sweeper replacement, street department staff tested an Elgin mechanical broom sweeper. This sweeper design uses rotating brushes to sweep and collect debris and is well-suited for construction sites and other areas that contain larger pieces or volumes of debris.
Mr. Bowers stated both sweeper designs are available for purchase through the State Purchasing Program. The TYMCO Regenerative Air Sweeper from Environmental Equipment and Services is quoted at $352,531.34. The Elgin Mechanical Broom Sweeper from Macqueen Equipment is quoted at $344,351.25. After field-testing both sweeper models, Staff is recommending the purchase of the TYMCO regenerative air street sweeper for the following reasons:
1. Staff is currently fully trained to operate the TYMCO regenerative air sweeper.
2. The TYMCO sweeper can be driven to the Twin Cities for routine maintenance while the Elgin sweeper will need to be transported by semi-truck which results in higher transit costs for the Elgin Sweeper.
3. It is anticipated that the TYMCO sweeper will have lower long-term maintenance costs over the life of the machine.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Street Sweeper Replacement purchase in the amount of $352,531.34. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 12 of 2025 – Resolution of Support for the State of Minnesota Capital Budget Request for the Redwood Falls Municipal Airport and the Swayback Bridge Rehabilitation Projects.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 12 is a resolution of support for the State of Minnesota Capital Budget request for $3,386,00.00 in 2025 general obligation bonds for the Redwood Falls Municipal Airport runway, pavement, lighting and storm water improvements. In addition, a separate request for $1,300,000.00 in 2025 general obligation bonds for the Swayback Bridge Rehabilitation Project is also being made.
Mr. Doering stated the first submission is for $3,386,000.00 to be used in conjunction with $4,046,000.00 in federal airport improvement plan (AIP) funding to complete the entire scope of $7,432,000.00. This project has been submitted in prior bonding years and Staff recommends this project be ranked first.
Mr. Doering stated the second submission is for $1,300,000.00 in 2025 general obligation bonds for rehabilitating the Swayback Bridge. The bridge was re-decked in 2012-2014 and since has faced FEMA declared flood disasters of 2014, 2018 and 2019 in addition to two State declared disasters of 2017 and 2023. Since the County rehabilitation, the bridge has endured five major flood events over these past 10 years. As a result, the Swayback project entails tuck pointing of all the granite block, coffer dam diversion to tuck point and repair 9 piers, their abutments, pier cap replacement and to replace any missing granite block.
Mr. Doering stated Staff recommend approval of Resolution No. 12 in support of both submissions for Airport and Swayback Bridge rehabilitation funding. When two applications are made in the same year, Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) requires that they are prioritized based on available funding. This is a non-bonding year, but the hope is that some form of bonding bill is accomplished this session. Senator Dahms’ office asked for the bill language prior to the start of session. The Airport Project is currently SF 146, and the Swayback Bridge is waiting to be introduced. There are no house companion bills at this time, but Representative Torkelson is expected to author the bills in the house once they work out their differences.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 12 of 2025 – Resolution of Support for the State of Minnesota Capital Budget Request for the Redwood Falls Municipal Airport and the Swayback Bridge Rehabilitation Projects. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 12 of 2025 – Resolution of Support for the State of Minnesota Capital Budget Request for the Redwood Falls Municipal Airport and the Swayback Bridge Rehabilitation Projects. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce Resolution No. 13 of 2025 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 13 of 2025 authorizes accepting a donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation in the amount of $26,459.04. The donation is to cover expenses incurred due to the upcoming Expansion and the removal of trees in the area of construction. Staff is requesting approval to accept the financial donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation for the Expansion expenses.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to waive the reading of Resolution No. 13 of 2025 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 13 of 2025 – Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
HR Coordinator Sheila Stage was present to introduce Resolution No. 14 of 2025 – Resolution Approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Redwood Falls on Behalf of its Human Resources Department.
Ms. Stage stated the Human Resources Department desires to enter into a Joint Powers Agreement with the State of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to maintain access to federal data in support of its duties to conduct background checks as provided by law. The purpose of this Joint Powers Agreement is to memorialize the requirements for the Human Resources Department to obtain access and the limitations that apply to the information that the Human Resources Department obtains.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 14 of 2025 – Resolution Approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Redwood Falls on Behalf of its Human Resources Department. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 14 of 2025 – Resolution Approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers Agreement with the City of Redwood Falls on Behalf of its Human Resources Department. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced the Request to Waive Sanitary Sewer Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Surcharges.
Mr. Doering stated the owner of Lot 2, Block 10 of Hitchcock’s Second Addition, ID 88-423-1860, submitted a request to waive $200.00 in I&I Surcharges. There was a procedural issue with the I&I program where it began levying surcharges for failure to act to have the sewer line fixed within the 90-day period. The inspection was in August and surcharges were levied in October and November. The new owner of the property was unaware of the failure to act and called inquiring. At that point it was revealed that a non-compliance letter was missed, and the owner was not notified post inspection. The letter levies noncompliance to the owner and outlines the 90-day timeline they have to meet ordinance requirements. This notification includes a list of licensed contractor contacts in which to assist in meeting compliance. The new owner is requesting the two, $100.00 surcharges totaling $200.00 be removed from billing, as they were not properly notified of non-compliance, post inspection. Given the owner’s timely cooperation and securing of a contractor, Staff advocates that there is a hardship and recommends waiving the I&I surcharges.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Request to Waive Sanitary Sewer Inflow & Infiltration (I&I) Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering provided an update on the $1,000,000 grant from the Minnesota Department of Education for the Library Expansion Project. Staff has been working to finalize the grant agreements and working with Engan Associates to complete the grant funding requirements.
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 Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to adjourn the meeting at 5:27 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.