MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 2023
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 21, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren, John T. Buckley, and Denise Kerkhoff were present constituting a quorum.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the February 7, 2023, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda.
1. 2022 Fixed Asset Disposal List
2. Therapeutic Massage License Application
3. Security Camera Upgrades at RACC and Aquatic Center
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce the Establishment of a Library Expansion Committee.
Ms. Lechner stated the Redwood Falls Public Library, with support and approval from the Redwood Falls Library Commission and Redwood Area Library Foundation, requests approval from Council for the formation of an Expansion Committee so a project may be started to expand the library space. The pre-design plan and cost estimate were previously approved by Council. The goal for the group and all involved is to raise the funds and begin construction of the library expansion in 2024. The Library Commission and the Redwood Area Library Foundation members have met to determine how many members, what other committees may need to be formed, and who is willing to serve on the main Expansion committee. Teri Smith and Pamela Prouty have agreed to be Co-Chairs of the Expansion Committee. The other members that have agreed to serve are Anna Vannelli, Steven Vannelli, Mary Easley, Dean Reiman, Pat Boggess, and Denise Kerkhoff.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the Establishment of a Library Expansion Committee. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 11 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-2 For Engineering Services for the 2023 Seal Coat Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 11 authorizes Task Order No. 2023-2 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide the listed scope of services for 2023 in the amount not to exceed $9,850.00 without further Council approval. This resolution also approves the solicitation of bids once the bid documents and specifications are ready for publishing. The 2023 Seal Coat Improvement Project has a budget of $200,000.00 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 alternate to remain within budget. Also, because of the rising costs, parking lots, trails, and park parking lots will be pushed out into the future. Completion of the project scope is anticipated for August 2023.
Mr. Doering stated best practice is to complete a seal coat rotation every five years with no more than seven years apart. For years, the City has been on a five-year rotation with five distinct seal coat areas. To compensate for the rising costs of inflation, cost saving measures like resizing to six (six-year rotation) or seven (seven-year rotation) areas may be needed to bring quantities back into budget range. These decisions will need to be weighed against increased patching and repair costs. The seal coat project area will include all streets, alley ways, and parking lots north of Broadway and everything on the west side of CSAH 101.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 11 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-2 For Engineering Services for the 2023 Seal Coat Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 11 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-2 For Engineering Services for the 2023 Seal Coat Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 12 of 2023 – Application to the Public Facilities Authority Clean Water Revolving Fund.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 12 authorizes the loan application to the Clean Water Revolving Fund administered by the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority for $9,960,000.00. Currently a Council approved facility plan has been submitted to the MPCA and the PFA for a new filter plant and municipal wastewater upgrade. Pursuant to Resolution No. 50 of 2022, Council also approved the application for grant funding of up to seven million to offset project costs. The purpose of this application is to have the opportunity to consider two funding sources and the possible combination of the grant with the option of a low interest loan to fund the remaining balance.
Mr. Doering stated the loan application needs to be packaged as part of the certification process of the project by PFA. Council will have additional reviews in which to act upon, which include approval of the PFA loan award, anticipated grant approval, and subsequent contracts with the State. Staff recommends the approval of the loan application to finance the project as listed in the 2023 Budget and approved by Council.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 12 of 2023 – Application to the Public Facilities Authority Clean Water Revolving Fund. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 12 of 2023 – Application to the Public Facilities Authority Clean Water Revolving Fund. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 13 of 2023 – Joint Resolution In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation Between the City of Redwood Falls and Paxton Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §414.0325.
Mr. Dammann stated Howard and Eleanor Scott, the owners of 140 Woodhill Road, located in the Ponderosa Addition, have filed a petition requesting annexation into the City of Redwood Falls in order to be connected to City water upon completion of new residential construction on the parcel. The total area to be annexed is approximately 3.2 acres and the lump sum payment due to Paxton Township for the lost property taxes is estimated to be $184.93. The property to be annexed is contiguous with another parcel within the Ponderosa Addition that has already been annexed into the City.
Mr. Dammann stated pursuant to Minn. Stat. §414.0325, annexing the property can occur without notice of a public hearing so long as all the property owners file a petition requesting the annexation and the respective township agrees with the annexation. Keith Muetzel, City Administrator, had conversations with Tammy Houle, Clerk of Paxton Township, regarding the request from the property owners to be annexed into the City limits. Paxton Township addressed the proposed annexation at their last board meeting, and they are not opposing the annexation.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 13 of 2023 – Joint Resolution In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation Between the City of Redwood Falls and Paxton Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §414.0325. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 13 of 2023 – Joint Resolution In the Matter of the Orderly Annexation Between the City of Redwood Falls and Paxton Township Pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §414.0325. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced the City of Redwood Falls Criminal History Background Check Policy for Employment and License Applicants.
Mr. Dammann stated following a BCA Audit that began in June of 2022 it was determined that the City Attorney does not have statutory authority to access data maintained in the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension’s (BCA) criminal history information data base for employment background checks. City Code Sections 2.84, 2.85, 5.02, and 6.32 purport to give this authority to the City Attorney. Current guidance from the League of Minnesota Cities advises that a City ordinance is not required, however the league recommends that a city adopt a policy with similar provisions. Through Staff research and discussion, a policy was formulated to not only fulfill the League’s advice but to also clarify the roles and responsibilities of the City Attorney, the HR Department, the Police Department, and the Fire Chief in the background check process as well as to clarify the background check processes for the different types of applicants for city employment and city licensure.
Council Member Kerkhoff requested City Staff consider researching additional options to conduct background checks for potential employees that are under the age of 18 and working with children. The policy being presented does not include background checks for potential employees that are under the age of 18 because criminal history data is not typically discovered with the types of background checks being run on these candidates because they are juveniles.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the City of Redwood Falls Criminal History Background Check Policy for Employment and License Applicants as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mr. Doering stated due to the weather, the 4th Street Reconstruction Open House has been rescheduled to Tuesday, February 28, 2023, from 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. at the Redwood Area Community Center.
City Administrator Muetzel stated due to the impending winter storm, a snow emergency has been declared beginning at 5:00 a.m. Wednesday, February 22 and ending at 12:00 p.m. (noon) on Friday, February 24, 2023. During a snow emergency, it is unlawful to park any vehicle on a city street or alley. Vehicles parked in violation of these restrictions will be ticketed.
City Administrator Muetzel stated Governor Tim Walz has declared a Peacetime Emergency Executive Order to allow access to resources, such as the National Guard, if needed during the winter storm.
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 Buckley to adjourn the meeting at 5:47 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.