City Council Meeting – January 6, 2026

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 6, 2026, at 5:00 p.m.

Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum.

Mayor Tom Quackenbush attended 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.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the December 16, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mayor Quackenbush called for nominations for Council President for 2026.

Council Member Smith nominated Council Member Arentson.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to elect Council Member Arentson as Council President. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the following 2026 Commission Appointments. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Reappoint Pete U’Ren to 2nd full term.

Reappoint Tammy Enge (Resident) to 1st full term.

Reappoint Royce Heffelfinger to 3rd full term.

Reappoint Larry Swann to 3rd full term.

Reappoint Brad Franklin to 3rd full term.

Reappoint Craig LaBrie to 3rd full term.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the listed 2026 Council Committee Appointments. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Budget: Matt Smith, Tom Quackenbush, and Shannon Guetter

Personnel: Matt Smith, Tom Quackenbush, and Denise Kerkhoff

Public Works: Larry Arentson and Jim Sandgren

Port Authority: Denise Kerkhoff and Jim Sandgren

Environmental (garbage, compost, wetlands): Jim Sandgren and Matt Smith

Joint Powers/School: 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: Matt Smith

Housing & Redevelopment Authority Liaison: Larry Arentson

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to appoint Council Member Jim Sandgren and Finance Director Kari Klages to the Redwood Falls Firefighter’s Relief Association Board of Trustees for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to designate the City’s official depositories pursuant to MN Statutes 118A.02 and the City Investment Policy for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to designate the City’s official electronic funds transfer policy pursuant to MN Statutes 471.38, subd. 3 for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to continue meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of each month at 5:00 p.m. for the City Council Meetings in 2026; cancel the meeting scheduled for Tuesday, November 3rd due to the General Election; schedule a special meeting for Tuesday, November 10th to canvass the General Election results; change the start time to 6:00 p.m. for the City Council Meeting on Tuesday, December 15th; and cancel the City Council Work Session scheduled for Tuesday, December 29th due to the holiday. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to designate the City’s official newspaper as the Redwood Gazette for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to designate Bolton & Menk as Consulting City Engineer for 2026. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:

1. Approve Submittal of 2026 Pay Equity Report

2. Approve AWAIR Program Update (A Workplace Accident Injury Reduction Program)

3. Request to Waive Sanitary Sewer Charge – 714 E. 4th Street

Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:12 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts, maintenance charges, and surcharges.

City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 01 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts, Resolution No. 02 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs, and Resolution No. 03 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges.

Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed Resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts, maintenance cost charges, and 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.

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. 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.

No one was present to provide comments during the hearing.

Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:14 p.m.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 01 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 01 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 02 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Resolution No. 02 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 03 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 03 of 2026 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 4 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.

Mr. Muetzel stated in October 2025, management at the Redwood Falls Walmart suggested the Redwood Falls Police Department should apply for a Walmart Corporation grant of $1,000 and identify its use for the Shop With A Cop event.  At the November 4, 2025, City Council meeting a request to apply for the Walmart grant was approved. In December 2025, Walmart Corporation approved a $5,000 grant award which has already been received. The $5,000 grant is to be used to fund future Shop With A Cop events.  There are no requirements for matching funds or reporting to Walmart.

A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 4 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 4 of 2026 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Downtown Commercial Rehab Loan Application – 210 S. Mill Street.

Mr. Muetzel stated Johanneck Leasing LLC has purchased the commercial building located at 210 S. Mill Street.  The building was a former movie theater and has been vacant for several years.  The new owners intend to renovate the building which will be used for retail purposes. The City of Redwood Falls has a Downtown Commercial Loan Program which is funded by prior Small Cities Development Loan Program repayments. The current fund balance is $55,000.  The structure of the loan program provides applicants with up to $15,000 in low interest loan funding and up to $15,000 in a forgivable loan.

Mr. Muetzel stated the owners of Johanneck Leasing have submitted a loan application to finance the renovation of the building, which will exceed $45,000 in cost. The applicant is requesting a $15,000 low interest loan and a $15,000 forgivable loan. The application complies with the funding guidelines and requirements of the loan program and staff recommend approval of the request.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Downtown Commercial Rehab Loan Application – 210 S. Mill Street. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Engineering Proposal to Update the Redwood Falls Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program.

Mr. Doering stated the City’s Municipal Separate Stormwater System (MS4) program was audited on October 2, 2025. Minnesota Pollution Control Agency Staff reviewed the program with the Public Works Project Coordinator and found the program to be missing required written planning and review documentation through the six minimum control measures (MCMs). On December 2, 2025, Mayor and Staff received an alleged violation letter (AVL) outlining the deficiencies and listing corrective actions required to be completed within 90 days.

Mr. Doering stated City staff requested support from Bolton & Menk Inc., to draft a proposal to update the MS4 program and address the corrective actions within the response time limit. This expense was not anticipated and therefore not included in the 2026 budget and Council approval is required to fund the MS4 program update with the Stormwater Utility Fund. Staff recommend Council approval of the proposal provided by Bolton & Menk Inc. for the sum of $17,500.00.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Engineering Proposal to Update the Redwood Falls Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) Program. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Fire Hall Ash Tree Removal Project.

Mr. Muetzel stated emerald ash borer is an invasive insect that attacks and kills all species of ash trees. According to the Minnesota Department of Agriculture, there are 58 counties in Minnesota, including Redwood County, with known emerald ash borer infestations. In Redwood Falls, City staff have noted numerous ash trees displaying signs of infestation which include thinning foliage and dieback in the tree’s canopy. Recently, 33 ash trees were removed from Knollwood Park, many of which had indications of insect infestation.

Mr. Muetzel stated the eventual spread of emerald ash borer will have a serious impact on our community. City staff will continue to coordinate the removal of dead and infested ash trees within the public right-of-way and from public property.  Property owners will be responsible for infested ash tree removal from private property. Council has formed a tree committee to provide oversight and guidance of tree removal and replacement efforts.

Mr. Muetzel stated the tree committee met on December 15 and one of the committee’s recommendations is to accelerate the removal of 18 ash trees at the fire hall. The nonprofit group Reforest Redwood Falls has developed a tree replacement plan for the fire hall and has agreed to cover 100% of the cost of planting 12 replacement trees.  The tree replacement plan will include planting a variety of tree species to minimize the spread of disease and insect infestation.  The cost estimate for the replacement trees is $4,200. City staff and representatives of the tree committee are requesting approval to remove all the ash trees at the fire hall this winter and proceed with the tree replacement plan in the spring.

A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Fire Hall Ash Tree Removal Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.

Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering stated tree removal will begin around the library and in the area behind Garnette Gardens to prepare for upcoming construction projects. A private contractor will be removing trees around the library to prepare for construction in the spring and City Staff will begin tree removal along the Safe Routes to School trail route to prepare for the trail project construction.

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 5:42 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.