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, July 1, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, and Larry Arentson present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Member Shannon Guetter were absent.
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.
Council President Smith presided over the meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the June 17, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
1. Emerald Ash Borer Response Expenses
2. Block Party/Street Closure – 321 S. Washington St.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Council President Smith opened a public hearing at 5:02 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts and surcharges.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 39 of 2025 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts and Resolution No. 40 of 2025 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges.
Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed Resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts 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.
Council President Smith closed the public hearing at 5:03 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 39 of 2025 – 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 approve Resolution No. 39 of 2025 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 40 of 2025 – 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. 40 of 2025 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner introduced Resolution No. 41 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 41 of 2025 is to accept a donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation (RALF) in the amount of $137,341.87. This is the full payment for the design development phase and 70% of the construction documents phase from Engan Associates. The Rotary grant awarded to the Expansion is complete and the final donation amount is $5,087.29. The total of these two donations is $142,429.16. Staff recommend approval to accept the financial donations from RALF and the Redwood Falls Rotary.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 41 of 2025 – A 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. 41 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 42 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Use Agreements for Management of the Lake Redwood Dredge Spoil Confined Disposal Facility.
Mr. Doering stated upon completion of the Lake Redwood Dredging project, the original intent was for the dredge disposal site, also known as the Confined Disposal Facility (CDF), to be deeded to the City of Redwood Falls to maintain for future maintenance dredging as the need arises. The site would be turned back to an agricultural purpose during the interim period between projects. Upon project close out with the Redwood Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) and Minnesota Management and Budget (MMB) it was revealed that for RCRCA to transfer the deed to another local government unit it would have to be based on a fair market value purchase with the proceeds going back to the State to offset bond funding.
Mr. Doering stated meetings were held between RCRCA, MMB, the City of Redwood Falls, and Senator Dahms and Representative Torkelson’s offices to find a way through this discrepancy in the bonding legislation. MMB suggested a use agreement between RCRCA and the City for the continued management of the CDF and that haying and grazing would be a permissible use of the property. Any revenue more than the annual maintenance expenses would have to be sent back to the State. RCRCA has prepared a use agreement in conformance with the MMB template and checklist. RCRCA will be presenting this agreement to their board for approval. To expedite the approval process, Resolution 42 of 2025 cites the Redwood Falls City Council approves the use agreement contingent upon the RCRCA JPO Board and MMB approvals. RCRCA was able to review the agreement and provided Staff with a few requested changes prior to the meeting. Council was provided an updated agreement with RCRCA’s requested changes and Staff recommend approval of the updated agreement.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 42 also approves entering into a land use agreement for haying and grazing of the 140-acre CDF with BW Farms Inc. to get the site under prescribed management as soon as possible to control vegetation on the CDF with a matching term of the use agreement. The disposal site prior to the project had wetland areas that would fall under the ag exemption if the site was turned back to an agricultural purpose. The Board of Water and Soil Resources has oversight on this and has indicated that haying and grazing will meet the definition.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 42 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Use Agreements for Management of the Lake Redwood Dredge Spoil Confined Disposal Facility. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 42 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Use Agreements for Management of the Lake Redwood Dredge Spoil Confined Disposal Facility. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 43 of 2025 – Authorization for Release and Waiver of Development Agreement.
Mr. Dammann stated pursuant to Resolution No. 12 of 2022 the City and Port Authority entered into a Development agreement with Redwood Falls Industries for the redevelopment of two parcels of real property, the Seasons Home at 400 Veda Drive (Parcel #88-766-1220) and the residence located at 205 Veda Drive (Parcel #88-766-0360) as single-family residences by December 31, 2022. The Development Agreement was entered into by the parties on March 2, 2022, and recorded against the properties on March 23, 2022, as document number T16824. Pursuant to the terms of the Development Agreement, any modification or waiver of the Development Agreement requires City Council approval through resolution.
Mr. Dammann stated Staff were contacted by the law office of Passe & Whitmore P.A. with a request from the current owners of the properties to release the properties from the Development Agreement. Staff believe that all conditions of the Development Agreement have been met with respect to the development of the properties and support the release of the properties from the Development Agreement.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 43 of 2025 – Authorization for Release and Waiver of Development Agreement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 43 of 2025 – Authorization for Release and Waiver of Development Agreement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated no structural damage to City property was reported following the recent storms. However, the Ramsey Park Lower Shelter playground sustained some damage from a falling tree limb, and a full assessment is still pending. Only minimal power outages to private services were reported, primarily caused by tree damage. The Street Department is prioritizing cleanup efforts throughout the community, with significant amounts of tree debris being hauled to the City burn pile. Despite the unfavorable weather conditions, City Staff made the decision to burn the pile due to the excessive amount of debris.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated a portion of Front Street has been closed with barricades due to river flooding.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated Library Staff recently hosted a presentation for donors and patrons outlining the library expansion plans and a tentative project timeline. Staff are finalizing the plans and specifications, with the goal of seeking plan approval and advertising for bids in August. Scheduling the start of the project will depend on the contractor’s availability.
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 Smith to adjourn the meeting at 5:30 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.