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 6, 2025, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and Shannon Guetter were present, constituting a quorum. Mayor Tom Quackenbush was absent.
Council President Smith presided over the meeting.
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 Kerkhoff to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the April 15, 2025 minutes and the April 15, 2025, Board of Appeal and Equalization minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the following items on the Consent Agenda:
1. Declare Airport Vehicle Surplus Property and Authorize Sale
2. Community Transit Bus Local Cost Share
3. North Redwood Lift Station Pump Replacement
4. Front End Loader Trade
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances §6.23 Pertaining to the Regulation and Sale of Tobacco.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the April 15, 2025, City Council Meeting. Staff is proposing changes to the Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances to make the City’s regulation of Tobacco consistent with Minnesota law, to enforce and further existing laws, to further the official public policy of the state to prevent young people from starting to smoke, and to avoid adverse impact upon the health, safety, and general welfare of the city.
Mr. Dammann stated proposed amendments to Redwood Falls City Code §6.23 include, raising the minimum legal sales age for commercial tobacco products to 21; modifying fines and penalties for violations of the ordinance, updating compliance check protocols, eliminating criminal penalties for underage possession and use, requiring licensees to check photo identification to verify the age of anyone under the age of 30, requiring MLSA signage at every licensed retail location, and updating definitions. State law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. Minn. Stat. § 412.191, subd. 4, allows publication by title and summary in the case of lengthy ordinances or those containing charts or maps. Staff have prepared Resolution No. 25 of 2025 and Exhibit A, which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 95 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances §6.23 Pertaining to the Regulation and Sale of Tobacco. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Arentson, Kerkhoff, Smith, Guetter, and Sandgren
NO: None
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 25 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances §6.23 Pertaining to the Regulation and Sale of Tobacco.
Mr. Dammann stated State law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As Council is aware, Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series is lengthy. However, Minnesota Statutes, Section 412.191, subd. 4, allows publication by title and summary in the case of lengthy ordinances or those containing charts or maps. Staff have prepared Resolution No. 25 of 2025 and Exhibit A, which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 95 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 25 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances §6.23 Pertaining to the Regulation and Sale of Tobacco. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 25 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 95, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending The Redwood Falls City Code of Ordinances §6.23 Pertaining to the Regulation and Sale of Tobacco. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Authorization to Submit Opioid Settlement Funds Grant Application.
Mr. Muetzel stated over the last several years the Minnesota Attorney General has been a party to settlement agreements involving multiple opioid distributors and manufacturers. These settlements have resulted in several hundred million dollars being allocated to the State of Minnesota to combat the opioid crisis. The Minnesota Attorney General’s office has worked with Minnesota cities and counties to reach agreements on how to allocate and distribute these funds. Beginning in 2023, Southwest Health and Human Services (SWHHS) began receiving annual installments of settlement money and created an application process whereby requests for these funds could be made to that organization. The latest round of settlement funds have been distributed and applications are now being taken.
Mr. Muetzel stated under Minnesota Statute 626.8443, subdivision 3, all on-duty police officers must carry no less than two doses of unexpired opiate antagonist, commonly known as Narcan. Historically, RFPD officers have received their Narcan doses through the local ambulance service or other health care provider sources, however, all state grant funds for Narcan have been depleted and these organizations are not able to provide doses to RFPD. Staff is requesting authorization to submit an application to SWHHS for funds to purchase additional Narcan for the department and additional funds for future purchases.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Authorization to Submit Opioid Settlement Funds Grant Application. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Resolution No. 26 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City.
Mr. Muetzel stated Resolution No. 26 of 2025 accepting a financial donation in the amount of $3,600 from the Melvin Daskam Post #38 (Redwood Falls American Legion). City staff would like to thank members of the American Legion for their generous donation to the Jr. Cardinals Gymnastics program. The funds will help offset costs of participation meet fees, competition leotards, and equipment purchases needed to improve the skills of the gymnasts. Staff is requesting approval to accept the financial donation from the Redwood Falls American Legion Melvin Daskam Post #38.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 26 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 Smith to approve Resolution No. 26 of 2025 – A Resolution Accepting a Donation to the City. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 27 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve the Application for Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority.
Mr. Doering stated this is a resolution to ratify and approve the application submitted on April 28, 2025, to meet the deadline of May 2, 2025. The application is to place the City of Redwood Falls Lead and Galvanized Service Line (LSL) Replacement Project on the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH), Project Priority List (PPL). The resolution also authorizes the next step of the funding process which is to apply to the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority (MPFA) to be listed on the intended use plan (IUP). The deadline for the IUP is Friday June 6, 2025, to be placed on the 2026 IUP.
Mr. Doering stated currently the State of Minnesota through MDH has funding available to cover the replacement of known lead and galvanized service lines that include both the city or street side of the curb stop and on the private side, the curb stop into the house. Currently, the City has identified 149 known lead and galvanized lines. The engineer’s estimate, based on recent bids, places the cost of each service replacement at approximately $24,000. Roughly $14,000.00 is for the street portion and $10,000.00 is for the private side of the curb stop. The total amount of the project, as detailed in the application, is $4,470,000.00. The replacement program is currently at 100% funding with no local share. However, the municipal side of the replacement is covered by 50% grant and 50% loan that is forgivable at the time of project closing.
Mr. Doering further stated due to the time constraints; the application was submitted on Monday, April 28, 2025. This agenda item will ratify the application that is in the best interest of the community. The LSL inventory is still on going. There are currently 376 private-side services unaccounted for and 834 locations on the municipal side, from the main to the curb stop, that need to be investigated. This past winter, MDH requested municipalities that have undocumented services apply to be put on a funding list to receive a future grant to assist with investigating these outlying services. Staff did respond and requested to be put on the list for future funding when it becomes available.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to waive the reading of Resolution No. 27 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve the Application for Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 27 of 2025 – A Resolution to Approve the Application for Lead and Galvanized Service Line Replacement Funding Through the Minnesota Department of Health and the Minnesota Public Facilities Authority. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 28 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-5 for Civil Engineering Services for the Centennial Woods Road & Utility Reconstruction Project.
Mr. Doering stated Resolution No. 28 authorizes Task Order No. 2025-5 with Bolton and Menk, Inc. (BMI) to provide a listed scope of services in the amount not to exceed $73,950.00 without further Council approval. Completion of all activities listed in the scope are anticipated on or before July 15, 2026.
Mr. Doering stated this task order encompasses civil engineering oversight of the installation of City utilities and road reconstruction for the Centennial Woods Planned Unit Development, otherwise known as Normandale LLC PUD. On November 12, 2024, the Redwood Falls City Council approved the PUD and Development Agreement with Normandale LLC (Res. 71 of 2024) to install a new municipal road with water, storm and wastewater utilities. This will be platted to reflect the new municipal right of way (ROW). New utilities outside of the platted ROW will be considered private to the PUD.
Mr. Doering stated the development agreement requires the City appointed civil engineering firm, Bolton & Menk Inc. to provide construction observation at critical points during the construction process. This is to ensure that the project meets municipal and state design/installation requirements as an extension to the existing municipal system. The project has been designed by ISG of Mankato. ISG is the civil engineering firm representing the owner, Normandale LLC. Bolton & Menk will work with ISG throughout the project. The development agreement also outlines all costs incurred with this task order to be transferred to Normandale LLC for reimbursement. Staff recommend approval of the proposal/task order utilizing the current master services agreement with Bolton & Menk Inc.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 28 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-5 for Civil Engineering Services for the Centennial Woods Road & Utility Reconstruction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 28 of 2025 – Authorization to Execute Task Order No. 2025-5 for Civil Engineering Services for the Centennial Woods Road & Utility Reconstruction Project. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Water Operator Position.
Mr. Muetzel stated the pending transfer of Pete Albu to the street department creates a vacant water operator position. During the week of April 28th, the hiring committee interviewed one candidate and made a conditional employment offer to Zach Jahnz. Mr. Jahnz has accepted the employment offer with an anticipated start date of May 27, 2025.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Water Operator Position employment offer to Zach Jahnz. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the NightFalls event took place in Ramsey Park on May 1st, 2nd, and 3rd. City Staff reported positive feedback from the event and didn’t receive any concerns. Thank you to the Celebrate Redwood Falls organizers and volunteers for the work that went into the planning, setup, and cleanup of the three-day event.
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 5:28 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.