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 15, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Council Member Jim Sandgren was 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.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the July 1, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Police Chief Jason Cotner was present to introduce the request to Apply for K-9 Body Armor Grants.
Chief Cotner stated RFPD’s K-9, Kiro, and his handler, Officer Tucker Machart, graduated from training on June 27, 2025. Kiro is now on duty with Officer Machart but has no K-9 body armor. Officer Machart has identified two grants that provide K-9 body armor to police K-9’s. The first grant is “Brady’s K9 Fund” out of Bradenton, Florida. The organization supplies police K-9’s with body armor. If selected by the organization, RFPD would receive this K-9 body armor at no cost. A review of their application shows no matching funds or special reporting requirements if RFPD is selected.
Chief Cotner stated the second grant option is “Vested Interest in K9s” out of East Taunton, MA. Vested Interest in K9s, Inc. is a 501c(3) non-profit organization providing K-9 body armor. An application must first be submitted to the organization, and they will decide whether to allow the law enforcement agency to apply for the K-9 body armor grant. In review of the vik9s.org website there is no reference to matching funds or special reporting requirements if RFPD is selected. Due to the time sensitive nature and need for K-9 body armor, RFPD Staff request Council approval to submit applications to both organizations. If one organization awards RFPD a grant, Staff will contact the other organization and withdraw the application.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the request to Apply for K-9 Body Armor Grants. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 44 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Real Property Located at 315 East Bridge Street.
Mr. Dammann stated on July 14, 2025, the Redwood Falls Port Authority held a public hearing on the sale of the property located 315 East Bridge Street, Redwood Falls, to Edman Builders LLC, whose proposal includes plans to construct a coffee shop drive-thru on the property. After the hearing, the Port Authority found that the proposal was in the best interests of the district and its people, and that the transaction furthered the general plan of Port Authority improvement. The Port Authority authorized executing and closing on the approved purchase agreement.
Mr. Dammann stated pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 462.356, subd. 2, when a City has a comprehensive municipal plan and a planning commission, the statute requires that no publicly owned interest in real property within the municipality be disposed of, until after the planning commission has reviewed the proposed disposal and reported in writing to the City Council its findings as to compliance of the proposed disposal with the comprehensive municipal plan. However, a City Council may, by resolution adopted by two-thirds vote, dispense with the requirements of that subdivision, when in its judgment it finds that the proposed disposal of real property has no relationship to the comprehensive municipal plan.
Mr. Dammann further stated given the need to close the purchase agreement in a timely manner, Staff is recommending that Council adopt the proposed resolution to approve the sale and dispense with any requirements found in Minn. Stat. § 462.356, subd. 2.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 44 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Real Property Located at 315 East Bridge Street. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 44 of 2025 – Authorization Approving Sale of Real Property Located at 315 East Bridge Street. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush introduced Agenda Item 9D - Establish City Council Work Session Agenda.
Mayor Quackenbush stated due to a lack of work session topics, Council requests the cancellation of the July 29th, 2025 City Council Work Session.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the request to cancel the July 29th, 2025 City Council Work Session. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel provided an update on the walking bridge located at the end of Sunrise Boulevard over the ditch connecting the Sunrise neighborhood with the elementary school site. As part of the Redwood Valley Elementary School construction project, a new bridge was installed over the ditch to connect the staff parking lot with the new school site. To meet accessibility standards and link the existing path with the new bridge and East Meadow Lane, substantial site work was required. This resulted in a change in elevation on the north side of the bridge. Due to these elevation changes, the walking bridge had to be closed during construction.
City Administrator Muetzel stated City Staff previously discussed removing the old walking bridge once the new one is open and functioning. The current bridge is nearly 40 years old, not ADA compliant, and will require more repairs in the coming years. The bridge is also not maintained in the winter months whereas the new bridge will be cleaned and maintained for use year-round. Recently, neighbors have reached out to City Staff requesting the old bridge remain in place. Staff will be discussing the options for the bridge in the next few weeks. Staff intend to decommission the bridge but will continue to evaluate it once construction of the elementary school and new path are complete.
Mayor Quackenbush administered the Oath of Office to Redwood Falls Police Officer Lucas Hodges.
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 Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:28 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.