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, May 20, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum.
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 Arentson 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 Sandgren to approve the May 6, 2025, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. 2024 Drinking Water Report
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 29 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve a Grant Application to the Orrin S. Estebo Foundation.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 29 is to approve a grant application to the Orrin S Estebo Foundation for up to $42,870.00, to reduce a portion of the estimated ineligible costs associated with the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) trail grant project. The Orrin S. Estebo Foundation was established in 2006 to assist with civic, charitable, and benevolent causes, as well as educational and cultural organizations within the Redwood Falls zip code of 56283. Each year funding will be distributed to help 501(c)(3) organizations within this area, in addition to other institutions Orrin had specified. The grant deadline is June 1, 2025.
Mr. Doering stated Council approved the solicitation of the SRTS application on January 16th, 2024. The grant agreement will not be finalized until bids have been solicited and an actual bid amount can be utilized. Council approved task order 2025-1 on January 21, 2025, with BMI to begin engineering and bid preparation for the 2026 construction of the trail.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 29 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve a Grant Application to the Orrin S. Estebo Foundation. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 29 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve a Grant Application to the Orrin S. Estebo Foundation. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner was present to introduce the Library Budget Reallocation with Quote Approvals.
Ms. Lechner stated Staff recommend approval of the reallocation of budgeted library funds to support and approve the quote provided by Salonek, Inc. for the sum of $14,775.00 and the quote provided by Redwood Falls Nursery for the sum of $7,304.00. The total project cost is $22,079.00 for cement work and landscaping.
Ms. Lechner stated the quotes received are for the library front entrance to remove, refine, and replace the concrete walks and patio to provide a safe and ADA compliant entrance. Additional landscaping would also be required as part of the project. This work would need to be completed prior to the start of any construction for the addition and expansion project on the east side of the building. A little over half of the project cost, $12,279.00, is covered by donations. The remaining $9,800.00 is proposed to be paid through the reallocation of a portion of the library’s 2025 budget. The proposed funding and reallocation of the library budget includes $6,000.00 from Miscellaneous Repair & Maintenance, $3,000.00 from Office Supplies, and $800.00 from Adult Programming.
Ms. Lechner stated quotes were solicited from four vendors for the cement work. Only two of the vendors visited the site as required as an eligibility requirement. Salonek Inc. of Springfield, MN and Everstrong Construction of Redwood Falls, MN. Everstrong Construction declined to quote the project because of time constraints and current workload. Salonek Inc. provided a final quote of $14,775.00. Staff recommend approval of the sole quote acknowledging the efforts made to procure a second quote from four local vendors.
Ms. Lechner stated landscaping quotes were received from two vendors, Lifestyle Landscapes, Inc. in the amount of $12,388.00, and the Redwood Falls Nursery in the amount of $7,304.00. Staff recommend approval of the quote provided by the Redwood Falls Nursery.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Library Budget Reallocation with Quote Approvals. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Library Director Connie Lechner introduced Resolution No. 30 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City.
Ms. Lechner stated Resolution No. 30 of 2025 is to accept a donation from the Redwood Area Library Foundation in the amount of $3,500 and a second donation of funds from a grant received from the Redwood Falls Rotary Club in the amount of $8,827.71. The total donation request is $12,327.71. The current cement squares have been deemed a trip hazard due to uneven settling, and with the placement of the Daktronics sign, the landscaping has not been completed. The two donations will be used for the landscaping and cement project planned for the front entrance of the Library on Lincoln Street. The total cost of the project is $22,079.00. Staff recommend approval to accept the financial donations from RALF and the Rotary Club for these expenses.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 30 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 30 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting Donations to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 31 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Right of Way Use Agreement for Fence and Outdoor Recreation Area with American Legion Melvin Daskam Post 38.
Mr. Doering stated the City received a request to install a recreational use area confined by a four-foot chain-link fence in the city right-of-way (ROW) directly west of the American Legion Post 38. The platted ROW is intended for a future extension of West Park Road which is frontage to CSAH 101. While there is no immediate plan to use this ROW area it may be needed for extending utilities sometime in the future. In addition, board members of the Legion have reviewed the request with the County Highway Department, and they have no objections to the project as it does not affect their ROW.
Mr. Doering stated Council approved a similar agreement with the Legion on November 5, 2013, for the location of their sign within the same area. This agreement and the one prior were developed to avoid the right-of-way vacation process and to preserve the area for future municipal use. Staff recommends its approval.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 31 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Right of Way Use Agreement for Fence and Outdoor Recreation Area with American Legion Melvin Daskam Post 38. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 31 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Right of Way Use Agreement for Fence and Outdoor Recreation Area with American Legion Melvin Daskam Post 38. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 32 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation Project Including Runway 12/30 Mill and Overlay, Taxiway A2 Relocation Taxiway Turnaround, Lighting and NAVAID Replacement.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 32 authorizes Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to execute solicitation of bids and grant applications for the Redwood Falls Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation Project. The project has multiple scopes of work including: the 12/30 runway mill and overlay; taxiway connector A2 relocation; taxiway turnaround construction; runway 12/30 lighting replacement and runway 12/30 NAVAID replacement. All but the NAVAID replacement would be for FAA fiscal year 2025 grant application and NAVAIDs for a FAA fiscal year 2026 grant application. The federal fiscal year runs October 1 through September 30th of each year.
Mr. Doering stated Council approved task order 2024-7 on October 1, 2024, by way of Resolution No. 64 of 2024 for BMI to prepare plans, specs, and bid package for the project. This hangar project is listed on the CIP and is in the 2025 budget. The project will span through calendar years 2025, 2026, and final completion of the NAVAIDs in 2027.
Mr. Doering further stated the engineer’s estimate shows that the total project cost is $3,679,590.00 with 95% covered by federal funding of $3,495,610.50, 2.5% State funding of $91,989.75, and 2.5% local budgeted funding of $91,989.75. The FFY 2025 and FFY 2026 grant applications now require actual bid amounts, which place the bidding process in front of the grant applications. Upon acceptable bids, Council bid authorization would be anticipated on June 17th, and would be contingent on the grant approvals.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 32 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation Project Including Runway 12/30 Mill and Overlay, Taxiway A2 Relocation Taxiway Turnaround, Lighting and NAVAID Replacement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 32 of 2025 – Authorization to Solicit Bids for Redwood Falls Municipal Airport Runway 12/30 Rehabilitation Project Including Runway 12/30 Mill and Overlay, Taxiway A2 Relocation Taxiway Turnaround, Lighting and NAVAID Replacement. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Police Chief Jason Cotner was present to introduce the Police Department K-9 Policy.
Chief Cotner stated during the January 2nd, 2025 Council meeting, Council accepted a $45,500.00 donation from the PROTECTS non-profit organization for the purchase and training costs of a police K-9. In March of 2025, Officer Tucker Machart and his K-9 partner, Kiro, began training with McDonough K-9 and they are scheduled to complete training by the end of June 2025.
Chief Cotner stated before a police K-9 team can be deployed on duty, a policy must be implemented outlining the care, training, and appropriate uses of the K-9 team. After reviewing the K-9 policy of the Redwood County Sheriff’s Department, Police Chief Cotner, in consultation with Asst. Chief Steve Schroeder and Officer Machart, developed a draft policy which satisfies these issues and is tailored to the resources, needs, and expectations of the Redwood Falls Police Department. Furthermore, the draft policy conforms to the training and procedures which are being taught to Officer Machart and Kiro. Staff recommends approval of the Police Department K-9 Policy.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the Police Department K-9 Policy. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel provided an update on a couple development projects. West Central Smiles is beginning site preparation for the new orthodontic office building on the corner of South Dekalb Street and East Broadway Street. Northstar Systembuilt is also beginning site preparation for the construction of a new home in the Reflection Prairie Addition.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Reforest Redwood Falls group is working to raise donations to begin planting trees in Knollwood Park. The group developed a tree replacement plan and has pledged $3,500.00 to the project, totaling half the cost of the tree replacement plan amount. The group is within $500.00 of the pledged amount after recently receiving donations totaling $3,000.00.
City Administrator Muetzel stated Senator Gary Dahms and Representative Paul Torkelson are hosting a Town Hall Meeting on Thursday, May 22nd at 1:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
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 5:23 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.