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 4, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Member Jim Sandgren were absent.
Council President Smith presided over the meeting.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, City Attorney Trenton Dammann, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Deputy City Clerk Caitlin Kodet. Finance Director Kari Klages was absent.
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 Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the February 18, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. Airport Commission Appointment
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Police Chief Jason Cotner was present to introduce Police Officer Nick Haupt to Council.
Officer Haupt provided a brief overview of his current position and tasks with the Redwood Falls Police Department. Officer Haupt has been with the department since 2020 and is currently serving as the interim Police Sergeant. As the Lead Field Training Officer, Officer Haupt works to recruit and train new officers. Officer Haupt also serves as an operator with the Brown-Lyon-Redwood-Renville Emergency Response Unit.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering and Water/Wastewater Superintendent Blake Hagert were present to provide an update on the Wastewater Treatment Facility Project.
Mr. Doering stated Council awarded the project to Gridor Construction Inc. of Buffalo, MN for $7,676,200.00 on April 16, 2024. The total project cost, design through construction, resulted in a total of $9,450,010.00 with an original engineer's estimate of $10,000,000.00. The project received $6,718,137.00 in Point Source Implementation Grant funds. This relates to $0.71 of every dollar spent being covered by the grant. The remaining project cost balance is covered by a low interest loan of $2,731,873.00 from the Public Facilities Authority over a term of 20 years. There have been six project reimbursement draws from the project fund balance resulting in $5,370,168.99 of available funds remaining.
Mr. Doering stated the project currently stands at 53% complete on average with a projected November 11, 2025, substantial completion deadline and a projected January 17, 2026, final startup/completion date. Per MPCA requirements, the plant needs to be meeting wastewater specifications within 90 days of the close of the project, anticipated by March 31, 2026.
Mr. Doering and Mr. Hagert provided an overview of the construction progress.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Water/Wastewater Operator Positions.
Mr. Muetzel stated the recent retirement of Tom Stough and the pending retirement of Al Wieneke creates two vacant water/wastewater operator positions. During the week of February 24th, the hiring committee interviewed five applicants and selected two finalists. The hiring committee made employment offers to Beau Stough and Mason Amundson. Mr. Stough and Mr. Amundson accepted the employment offers and terms of employment. Both positions will start on March 31, 2025. Staff requests Council approval for the appointment of Mason Amundson and Beau Stough as full-time Water/Wastewater Operators.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Water/Wastewater Operator Positions to Mason Amundson and Beau Stough. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
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 Guetter to adjourn the meeting at 5:41 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.