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, March 18, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Council Member Denise Kerkhoff 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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the March 4, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Brittney Hodge, New Horizons Crisis Center’s Crime Victim Service Coordinator for Redwood County was present and thanked Council for support of the Proclamation recognizing Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
Mayor Quackenbush read a Proclamation declaring April 2025, as “Sexual Assault Awareness Month.”
Parks & Recreation Director Ross Nachreiner was present to introduce the 2025 Joint City-School Projects.
Mr. Nachreiner stated the Community Center Board met on Tuesday, February 25, 2025, to review a list of project requests. The Board recommends approval of the 2025 Joint City-School Projects as presented and requests to disperse the 2025 Joint City-School funds to Independent School District #2897.
Mr. Nachreiner stated the money that is not spent each year will carry over to the next year allowing for larger purchases to align with the Community Center Board’s Capital Improvement Plan. The School District holds the funds and is responsible for the purchases.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Community Center Board’s project requests and purchases as presented, disbursement of the 2025 Joint City-School Funds in the amount of $10,000 to ISD #2897, and the Community Center Board’s request to declare surplus and authorize the trade or sale of the presented equipment, one cross-trainer/elliptical, and one barbell. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 17 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2025 Seal Coat Improvements.
Mr. Doering stated in response to the Advertisement for Bids, the City received four proposals for construction of the 2025 Seal Coat Improvements. The proposals were opened and publicly read at 2:00 p.m. on March 6, 2025. The low responsible bidder was Pearson Brothers Inc. of Hanover, MN with a base bid of $169,544.00. The engineer’s estimate was $183,900.00. The 2025 Seal Coat Improvement Project has a budget of $228,000 including contingency, for streets, alley ways, and parking lots.
Mr. Doering stated the 2025 project area includes Dekalb Street west to Gould Street and Trunk Highway 19/71 south to Trunk Highway 67. In addition, the scope also includes the parking lots of the Liquor Lodge, Aquatic Center, and Memorial Baseball Field. Staff recommend the bid be awarded to Pearson Brothers Inc.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 17 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2025 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 17 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Award of Contract for the 2025 Seal Coat Improvements. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 18 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport 80’x 80’ Hangar Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 18 authorizes Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to execute solicitation of bids and grant application for the Redwood Falls Airport 80’x 80’ Hangar Project. Council approved task order 2024-6 on October 1, 2024, with Resolution No. 63 of 2024 for BMI to prepare plans, specs, and bid package for the project. This hangar project is listed on the Capital Improvement Plan and is in the 2025 budget.
Mr. Doering stated the request for proposals for the 80’x 80’ hangar project is a bid-design-build project where the bidders submit their construction bid to include the submission of foundation, electrical, and plumbing designs. This is to allow more latitude for the bidders to incorporate cost saving measures into their designs and bring down bid costs. The project will require the use of $585,000.00 of the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) funding. The $585,000.00 BIL funding is available now with another $137,000.00 allocation in 2026. The remaining $232,750.00 will be borrowed from other airport’s expiring allocation funds and paid back through future annual allocations. Staff recommends approval.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 18 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport 80’ x 80’ Hangar Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 18 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport 80’ x 80’ Hangar Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Police Chief Jason Cotner was present to introduce the Police Officer Recruit Agreements.
Chief Cotner stated in 2024, the Redwood Falls Police Department initiated the Police Officer Recruit Program. The purpose of the program was to identify law enforcement candidates entering, or already in a law enforcement program intending to become police officers. The program provides the candidate an opportunity to receive RFPD in-house training and for the RFPD staff to become familiar with the candidate. Once the candidate becomes eligible to receive their Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) license, if RFPD has a full-time officer vacancy and the candidate is provided an employment offer, $7,500.00 would be available for tuition and education reimbursement. In exchange for the reimbursement the candidate agrees to serve for a minimum of three years at RFPD.
Chief Cotner stated the Recruit Program had it’s first candidate in 2024 and that person eventually became a full-time officer. With the success of the 2024 Recruit Program the department is now looking ahead to the next two candidates. Jacob Hildebrandt and Austin Gunderson were among several applicants for the Recruit Program. Both were raised in Redwood Falls, have been on many ride-alongs with RFPD officers, both are in law enforcement programs at this time and both express a strong desire to become RFPD officers. Mr. Hildebrandt is expected to be POST eligible in August 2026, and Mr. Gunderson is expected to be POST eligible in August 2028. Both candidates have reviewed and signed the Recruit Agreement. Staff recommends approval of both candidates’ agreements.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Police Officer Recruit Agreements with Austin Gunderson and Jacob Hildebrandt. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the tree removal project at Knollwood Park has been completed. The Tree Committee recently met and are continuing to develop a replanting plan for the park. City crews are also finishing boulevard tree removals for the season. The City is responsible for maintaining trees located on public property, including trees in the boulevard. If City Staff locate a boulevard tree that needs to be removed, they will communicate that with the adjacent property owner. If residents have a concern about a boulevard tree, they can contact City Hall and staff will decide if the tree needs to be removed.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Drug Task Force meeting will be held on May 8, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. at Jackpot Junction Casino Hotel. Council Members are encouraged to attend.
City Administrator Muetzel stated Northstar Systembuilt is in the process of purchasing another lot in Reflection Prairie. The home has been constructed, and they are planning to begin construction on the foundation in May. There are no other pending sales at this time.
City Administrator Muetzel stated conversations are continuing with Southwest Minnesota Housing Partnership for development of a multi-family rental unit project. Obtaining adequate funding for the project has been the biggest challenge. Increased construction costs require rents to increase to a point where they are not sustainable in the community. The organization is committed to seeking alternate funding, including grants. There are no pending sales on the commercial lots located in the Reflection Ridge Business Park.
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 Arentson to adjourn the meeting at 5:34 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.