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, June 17, 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 Guetter to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the June 3, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:02 p.m. for the Liquor License Violation Hearing – Redwood County VFW Post 2553.
City Attorney Dammann stated on December 22, 2023, the Redwood Falls Police Department conducted an alcohol compliance check at Redwood County VFW Post 2553 (“VFW”). The VFW failed the compliance check as an alcoholic beverage was sold to an underage individual cooperating with the Police Department. Upon review of the criminal case in Court File No. 64-CR-24-856, Chelsey Lynn Malecek, an employee of the VFW pled guilty on May 2, 2025, to Furnishing Alcohol to a Minor in violation of Minn. Stat. 340A.503.2(1) in relation to the incident from December 22, 2023. Furnishing alcohol to a minor is also a violation of Redwood Falls City Ordinance §5.15, subd. 2(A).
City Attorney Dammann stated pursuant to City Code Section 5.02, Subd. 4(F), on May 20, 2025, notice of this hearing before the Council was sent to Roger Zollner, the license applicant for VFW, via certified mail. The written notice stated the time, place, and purpose of the hearing. On May 27, 2025, Mr. Zollner acknowledged receipt of the notice during a telephone call with staff and later indicated agreement with the proposed recommendations via email.
City Attorney Dammann stated City Staff recommends, following a hearing to allow the license holder an opportunity to be heard, that the liquor license for Redwood County VFW Post 2553 be suspended for a period of seven (7) days, but that the suspension be stayed on the conditions that the license holder complete the following: (1) no alcohol sale violations for a period of 2 years; (2) pay a $500 civil penalty to the City of Redwood Falls pursuant to City Code Section 5.02, Subd. 4(F); and (3) that the license holder show proof to the City Attorney or City Staff that VFW staff and/or management have attended an alcohol-sales continuing education course since the date of the violation.
No one was present to provide comments during the hearing.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:07 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Findings and Order for Liquor Violation with the included conditions for Redwood County VFW Post 2553. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:07 p.m. for the Tobacco License Violation Hearing – The Market at Redwood.
City Attorney Dammann stated on November 23, 2024, the Redwood Falls Police Department conducted a tobacco compliance check at The Market at Redwood (“Market”). The Market failed the compliance check as tobacco product was sold to an underage individual cooperating with the Police Department. Upon review of the criminal case in Court File No. 64-VB-24-1487, Madalyn Rose Peterson, an employee of the Market pled guilty on March 7, 2025, to Sale of Tobacco/Tobacco Related Device to Children-Under 21 Years Old, in violation of Minn. Stat. Sec. 609.685.1a(a) in relation to the incident from November 23, 2024. Selling tobacco to a minor is also a violation of Redwood Falls City Ordinance §6.23, subd. 4(A) (Ord. 11, Fourth Series, passed 10-19-2010).
City Attorney Dammann stated pursuant to City Code Section 6.23, Subd. 6(B) (Ord. 11, Fourth Series, passed 10-19-2010), on May 29, 2025, notice of this hearing before the Council was sent to Darcy Sella, the license applicant for the Market, via regular mail. The written notice stated the time, place, and purpose of the hearing. On June 3, 2025, Ms. Sella acknowledged receipt of the notice and indicated agreement with the proposed recommendations via email.
City Attorney Dammann stated City Staff recommends, following a hearing to allow the license holder an opportunity to be heard, that the tobacco license for The Market at Redwood be suspended for a period of three (3) days, but that the suspension be stayed on the conditions that the license holder complete the following: (1) no tobacco sale violations for a period of 2 years; (2) pay a $250 administrative fine to the City of Redwood Falls by September 17, 2025; and (3) that the license holder show proof to the City Attorney or City Staff that Market staff and/or management have attended a Minnesota tobacco retailer continuing education course since the date of the violation.
No one was present to provide comments during the hearing.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:11 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Findings and Order for Tobacco Violation with the included conditions for The Market at Redwood. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Craig Popenhagen CPA, Principal with CliftonLarsonAllen, and Elizabeth Mickelson CPA, Manager with CliftonLarsonAllen were present to give an overview of the 2024 audit results for the City of Redwood Falls.
Mr. Popenhagen stated this was an unmodified clean audit with no internal control findings. Due to the amount of Federal funds received for Highway Planning & Construction, a Single Audit was required. The Single Audit found that the City complied with the specific funding requirements. The audit findings are an indication of the City’s high-quality internal control process, reviews that are in place, and overall attention Staff gives to the year-end balances.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to accept the 2024 City Audit results and reports as submitted. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 37 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.
Ms. Klages stated Minnesota Statute 465.03 gives the city authority to receive donations and requires them to be formally accepted by resolution, adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Council. Resolution No. 37 authorizes the acceptance of a financial contribution in the amount of $3,000 from Reforest Redwood Falls. This donation is designated to support the replacement of trees at Knollwood Park, which were removed due to the presence of Emerald Ash Borer. The total estimated cost of the tree replacement project is $6,665.00.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 37 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 37 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 38 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-6 For Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation & Lighting System Replacement Project Construction and Administration Including Bid Award With Contingencies.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 38 authorizes the bid award to Duininck Inc. in the amount of $2,927,254.80 for the Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation & Lighting System Replacement Project, contingent upon funding and approval of the subsequent grant agreements from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and State of MN. The award also approves the Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation & Lighting System Replacement Project. In addition, Resolution No. 38 approves the Construction and Administration Task Order No. 2025-6 with Bolton & Menk Inc., which would fall under the same contingencies. Staff recommend approval of Resolution No. 38.
Mr. Doering stated bids were received digitally and opened at 11:00 a.m. on June 11, 2025. Three bids were received for the solicitation ranging from the presented low bid up to $3,065,652.04. The engineer’s estimate for the Project was $2,670,204.00. The anticipated funding participation rates are 95% Federal, 2.5% State and 2.5% Local. Task Order No. 2025-6 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide the listed scope of services for construction and administration of the Airport Improvement Project (AIP) not to exceed $700,000.00 lump sum. The anticipated funding participation rates are 95% Federal, 2.5% State and 2.5% Local. Council approved the Airport Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) on September 17, 2024. The anticipated runway project construction will begin in the spring of 2026. Council approved the solicitation of bids by Resolution No. 32 of 2025 on May 20, 2025.
Mr. Doering further stated Council should be aware the pre-application for the earmarked funds is due at the end of June which requires bid results, approved plans and specifications. The execution of the Federal and State grants by Council is anticipated to take place at the first meeting in August 2025. The expected first draw of the grant to cover accrued expenses would begin in September 2025 when we have access to the grant funds. The total project cost estimate is $4,066,834.00 for FFY ‘25 and ’26 project components which includes construction, engineering, and administration. The project is being funded primarily with FAA federal entitlement and discretionary funds. The breakdown of funding is as follows: Federal (95%) = $3,863,492.30, State (2.5%) = $101,670.85, and City (2.5%) =
$101,670.85
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 38 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-6 For Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation & Lighting System Replacement Project Construction and Administration Including Bid Award With Contingencies. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 38 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-6 For Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation & Lighting System Replacement Project Construction and Administration Including Bid Award With Contingencies. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to provide a Library Expansion Project Update.
Ms. Lechner stated Staff received notice that the general obligation bonding bill SSHF18 had an amendment that provided the City of Redwood Falls with an exemption to the SB 2030 Energy Standard, which includes the B3 Guidelines for energy standards on all projects receiving funding from the State of Minnesota. The City was awarded a $1 million grant from the Commissioner of Education for the Library Expansion Project. The additional requirements were causing cost increases to the project and project delays. Staff worked directly with Senator Gary Dahms and Representative Paul Torkelson to lobby for the exemption. Staff intend to incorporate some of the energy efficient concepts and designs where they fit for this project.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated with the B3 exemption, Staff can move forward with the expansion planning without the additional B3 costs. The grant agreement with the Department of Education will need to be amended, but Staff can move forward with Engan Associates on the architectural side of things and continue the planning process.
No action was taken.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering stated there have been no issues with the sanitary sewer systems from the recent rain events. The sanitary sewer ponds are functioning normally.
Mayor Quackenbush stated the Celebrate Redwood Falls Summer Splash events are Friday, June 20, through Sunday, June 22.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering provided an update on the grant application for the Redwood Falls Community Trail. Staff recently received notice that the City has been awarded a grant from the Orrin S. Estebo Foundation in the amount of $42,870.00 to reduce a portion of the estimated ineligible costs associated with the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) trail grant project.
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 5:53 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.