MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, MAY 21, 2019
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 21, 2019, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren, and John T. Buckley were present constituting a quorum. Council Member Denise Kerkhoff was absent.
Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering, and Council Secretary Caitlin Kodet. City Attorney Amy Busse was absent.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the May 7, 2019, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
1. Temporary On-Sale Liquor License for International Association of Lions
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Building Official Tim Hanna was present to introduce the Variance Request for 150 Woodhill Road by Timothy and Rebecca Brown.
Mrs. Brown was present to discuss the request.
Mr. Hanna stated the City received a request for a variance from Timothy and Rebecca Brown to reduce the front yard setback from 50’ to 38’ and to reduce the side yard setback from 20’ to 13’ in order to construct an addition on their home.
Mr. Hanna further stated the Brown’s property was recently annexed into the City with a zoning designation of Rural Residential (R-R) requiring setbacks of 50’ in the front yard, 20’ in the side yard, and 30’ in the rear yard. The home was built to County standards before being annexed and does not conform to City standards. The Brown’s would like to build an addition on to their home. Due to the bluff and topography of the lot it does not allow for them to expand in other directions. Due to these circumstances, the Planning Commission recommends approval of the variance request.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the Variance Request for 150 Woodhill Road. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 16 of 2019 – Joint Resolution with Redwood Township for an Orderly Annexation.
Mr. Muetzel stated Rick Zitzmann filed a petition requesting annexation into the City of Redwood Falls in order to be connected to City utilities. The total area to be annexed is 2.32 acres and is currently a part of Redwood Township. The lump sum payment due to Redwood Township for lost property taxes is $258.00. Pursuant to Minn. Stat. §414.0325, annexing the property can occur when a property owner files a petition requesting the annexation and the respective township is in agreement with the annexation.
Mr. Muetzel stated he met with Michael Nelson, Chair of Redwood Township’s Board, regarding the request from the property owner to be annexed into the City limits. Mr. Nelson stated the Redwood Township will not oppose the request for annexation and intends to sign the Resolution at their next meeting on May 29th.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 16 of 2019 – Joint Resolution with Redwood Township for an Orderly Annexation. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 16 of 2019 – Joint Resolution with Redwood Township for an Orderly Annexation. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Utilities Superintendent Chuck Heins was present to introduce Resolution No. 17 of 2019 –
Authorization to Execute DGR Engineering Task Order #9 to the Master Agreement for Mainline Circuit Development – Phase 1.
Mr. Heins stated this project is being referred to as the “new hospital circuit”. The site Carris Health chose for the new hospital, currently has no major electrical infrastructure. In addition to the new hospital, this circuit is also being developed to service future loads in that area. This circuit will also serve as a circuit tie between the East Substation and the South Substation. The existing overhead line will be buried as part of the project. The first phase of the project includes development of circuitry from the South Substation up to the new hospital. Phase 2 will be from the hospital to the East Substation.
Mr. Heins further stated the engineer’s estimate for phase one construction is $802,200. The phase 2 cost is estimated at $636,100 for a total of $1,438,300. This number does not include the work done by our own crews. Carris Health will be responsible for the final customer connections. The 2019 budget did not include any money for this project, as it was not on the horizon when budgets were being developed.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 17 of 2019 – Authorization to Execute DGR Engineering Task Order #9 to the Master Agreement for Mainline Circuit Development – Phase 1. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 17 of 2019 – Authorization to Execute DGR Engineering Task Order #9 to the Master Agreement for Mainline Circuit Development – Phase 1. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel addressed the concerns a resident brought to the Council’s attention regarding the number of stray cats in his neighborhood. Staff has researched the current agreement with the animal shelter. The animal shelter will not provide any animal control services to the City but will provide housing for animals that are identified by the Police Department as stray or neglected and delivered to the animal shelter.
Mr. Muetzel further stated City staff is working on a policy that will allow a resident to rent a live trap and pet carrier for a $100.00 refundable deposit. If the resident traps a cat on their property they can transport the animal to the animal shelter. The animal shelter will only take cats that have been trapped using the rented equipment.
Public Works Project Coordinator Doering reminded the Council there is a Phase 1 Well Head Protection Plan public informational meeting tonight, at 6:30 p.m.
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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to adjourn the meeting at 5:39 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.