MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, JULY 20, 2021
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 20, 2021, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Jim Sandgren, John T. Buckley, Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, 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 Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Buckley 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 July 6, 2021, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda.
1. Block Party Request – 100/200 Blocks of West Flynn Street
2. League of MN Cities Liability Coverage Waiver
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced Resolution No. 40 of 2021 – Authorization to Submit Grant Application and Execute Memorandum Agreement with the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 40 authorizes the grant application to the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission and the “Memorandum Agreement” for Ramsey Park. The grant application will provide water and sewer to the current campground, install a new unisex bathroom up by the Zeb Gray Shelter along with sewer and water, and run a lift station force main sewer and new water connection up to Pleasant Street for the Falls bathroom.
Mr. Doering stated the grant application is for the 2022 Legislative session and notification of award would be in December of 2022. Upon award Staff would prepare a Council item to approve the grant offer along with a funding sources and means. Construction would not be anticipated to start until 2023 and the grant allows up to 3 years to expend the funds and complete the project.
Mr. Doering stated the grant application is projected to be $959,692.00 with a minimum 5% match requirement of $55,000.00. The total projected project cost is $1,306,141.00. Only $213,461.00 or 10%, in engineering and administration is considered an eligible expense. The estimated total project cost also includes a 10% contingency of $99,335.00. The total estimated construction cost is $1,014,692.00. Staff recommends approval of Resolution No. 40 of 2021.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 40 of 2021 – Authorization to Submit Grant Application and Execute Memorandum Agreement with the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 40 of 2021 – Authorization to Submit Grant Application and Execute Memorandum Agreement with the Greater Minnesota Parks and Trails Commission. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins was present to introduce Resolution No. 41 of 2021 – Authorization to Execute Purchase of Materials for the Drew Street Underground Project.
Mr. Heins stated Council authorized the Advertisement for Bids that are needed to place the electrical power system in the south Drew Street area underground. Those bids were received and opened on Thursday, July 8 at 1:15 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Three (3) bids were received, and the results of the bids have been reviewed by DGR and are tabulated. A Summary of Bids is provided for Council consideration and review.
Mr. Heins stated Bid #1 for Padmounted Switchgear, Bid #2 for 15 kV Primary Cable, and Bid #3 for Single Phase Transformers are awarded to Irby Utilities for a total of $397,627.00. Bid #4 for 600 V Secondary Cable, the low bidder is WESCO in the amount of $46,048.00. Bid #5 for Box Pads for Single Phase transformers is Border States Electric in the amount of $6,050.00. The total cost of all the bid packages is $449,725.00. Staff recommends the contracts be awarded to the stated companies.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 41 of 2021 – Authorization to Execute Purchase of Materials for the Drew Street Underground Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 41 of 2021 – Authorization to Execute Purchase of Materials for the Drew Street Underground Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering introduced the Northwood Drive Sanitary Sewer Lining Project – Final Pay Request.
Mr. Doering stated the final project contract price totals $443,857.49 and the original bid amount plus approved change orders was $447,776.40. Council’s authorization to make final payment shall initiate the beginning of the two-year maintenance period. Upon approval, the final acceptance date will be July 20, 2023. Any material deficiencies observed during the warranty period must be brought to the attention of the Contractor, in writing, before the expiration date. All lien waivers, consent of surety of final payment, IC134s and contractor affidavits of payment have been received by Staff.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Northwood Drive Sanitary Sewer Lining Project – Final Pay Request in the amount of $40,260.93. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush thanked the Redwood County Fair Board for a successful 2021 Redwood County Fair.
Mayor Quackenbush thanked the American Legion for being asked to welcome the State Legion Convention held in Redwood Falls, July 14-17.
Council Member Buckley requested an update on the North Redwood Watermain Loop project. Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated the watermain project from North Redwood is going well and on schedule for completion.
Council Member Kerkhoff requested an update on the Lake Redwood Dredging project. Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated MnDOT has the permit application to bore under Hwy 19 but the permit has not been approved yet. The Redwood-Cottonwood Rivers Control Area (RCRCA) is preparing for a pre-construction meeting with neighboring residents, however due to the delay on the permit equipment will be placed fall 2021, but dredging will not begin until spring 2022. RCRCA will be issuing a press release regarding the status of the project.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the interviews for the Finance Director position will take place on July 29, 2021. Council Members and Staff will participate in the interviews.
Bills and Claims were presented to 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 5:27 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.