MINUTES
ORGANIZATIONAL/REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2023
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, an organizational/regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order in the Municipal Chambers on Tuesday, January 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren, Denise Kerkhoff, and John T. Buckley were present constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush was present via electronic means.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet. Finance Director Kari Klages was absent.
Council President Kerkhoff administered the oath of office to Mayor Tom Quackenbush.
Mayor Quackenbush administered the oath of office to Council Member – Third Ward, Larry Arentson.
Mayor Quackenbush administered the oath of office to Council Member At-Large, Jim Sandgren.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the December 20, 2022, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush called for nominations for Council President for 2023.
Council Member Smith nominated Council Member Sandgren.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to elect Council Member Sandgren as Council President. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the following 2023 Commission Appointments. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Airport Commission
Reappoint Pete U’Ren to 1st full term.
Housing & Redevelopment Authority
Reappoint Phil Johanneck to 3rd full term.
Library Commission
Reappoint Royce Heffelfinger to 2nd full term.
Parks & Recreation Commission
Reappoint Larry Swann to 2nd full term.
Planning Commission
Reappoint Brad Franklin to 2nd full term.
Port Authority
Reappoint Jeanne Limoges to 2nd full term.
Public Utilities Commission
Reappoint Tony Madsen to 3rd full term.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the following 2023 Council Committee Appointments. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Standing Committees:
Budget: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Buckley, Matt Smith, and Tom Quackenbush
Personnel: Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Buckley, Matt Smith, and Tom Quackenbush
Public Works                                                              Larry Arentson and Jim Sandgren
Port Authority:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Denise Kerkhoff and Jim Sandgren
Issues:
Environmental (garbage, compost, wetlands):Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jim Sandgren and Denise Kerkhoff
Individual Assignments:
Joint Powers/School:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Larry Arentson
Airport Commission Liaison                                        Jim Sandgren
Library Commission Liaison                                        Denise Kerkhoff
Parks & Recreation Commission Liaison           Larry Arentson
Police Commission Liaison                                          Denise Kerkhoff
Public Utilities Commission Liaison:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â John Buckley
Housing & Redevelopment Authority Liaison:Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Matt Smith
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to appoint John T. Buckley and Kari Klages to the Redwood Falls Firefighter’s Relief Association Board of Trustees for 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to continue meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. for the City Council Meetings in 2023, cancel the meeting scheduled on Tuesday, July 4th due to the Independence Day holiday, and change the start time to 6:00 p.m. for the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to designate the City’s official newspaper to be the Redwood Gazette for 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to designate the City’s official depositories pursuant to MN Statutes 118A.02 and the City Investment Policy for 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to designate the City’s official electronic funds transfers policy pursuant to MN Statutes 471.38, subdivision 3 for 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to designate Bolton & Menk as Consulting City Engineer for 2023. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member ÂÂÂArentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda.
- 2023 Pay Equity Implementation Report
- AWAIR (A Workplace Accident and Injury Reduction) Program Annual Review
Council Member Kerkhoff requested a change in the AWAIR Program Safety Statement and Risk Management
Policy. The current policy lists the lower level of the Courthouse as the emergency meeting location. Since the Courthouse has been demolished, a new meeting location needs to be established.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:21 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 1 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts.
Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed Resolution is to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts 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.
Mr. Muetzel 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. Notice was published two weeks prior to the public hearing on December 15, 2022. Â 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.
Mr. Muetzel further stated account #02-03810-97 in the amount of $512.10 was removed from Resolution No. 1 of 2023 after the resolution was distributed because the account was paid in full.
No one was present to voice any concerns.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:23 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 1 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 1 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce the Preliminary Library Expansion Plan and Cost Summary.
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 of the predesign architectural plan provided by Engan Associates to expand the current library space. In addition, a budget/cost estimate was provided and defined by Engan Associates as an educated estimate.
Ms. Lechner stated Library staff, the Library Commission, and the Redwood Area Library Foundation members have reviewed the design plan. After many reviews, and several changes and updates, Staff agrees this design plan serves the community best and accommodates the goal of providing space for all ages. With approval of the preliminary design and cost summary, Staff can begin to develop a fundraising plan and explore grant opportunities in order to fund the expansion without utilizing taxpayer funds.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Preliminary Library Expansion Plan and Cost Summary. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 2 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-1 For Engineering Services For East 4th Street Reconstruction Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 2 Authorizes Task Order No. 2023-1 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide the listed scope of services for East 4th Street Reconstruction Project in the amount not to exceed $755,000.00 without further Council approval. Completion of the project scope is anticipated for July 20, 2024. The project by utility is included in the proposed 2023 budget with a project estimate of $4,990,566.00. Expected Revenues of $1,540,910.00 up to $1,968,296.00 in Federal STIP funding and up to $1,156,374.00 in State MSAS funding with a local utility match of $1,865,896.00. The estimated project expenses consist of the anticipated construction costs, contingency, engineering, and legal/administrative costs.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 2 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-1 For Engineering Services For East 4th Street Reconstruction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 2 of 2023 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2023-1 For Engineering Services For East 4th Street Reconstruction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Council Member Smith and Kerkhoff stated they had received inquiries regarding snow removal from private business owners.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the City has removed excess snow from public rights-of-way and implemented parking restrictions but does not remove snow from private properties.
City Administrator Muetzel stated based on forecasts for heavy snow accumulation, a snow emergency was declared beginning at 1:00 a.m. on Wednesday, January 4, 2023. During a snow emergency, it is unlawful to park any vehicle on a City street until the snowfall has ended and the street has been completely plowed from curb to curb. Vehicles parked in violation of these restrictions will be ticketed.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated the 2022 City Archery Deer Hunt has ended with 19 deer harvested during the season.
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 Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 6:09 p.m. Motion was carried by unanimous vote.