MINUTES
REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
CITY OF REDWOOD FALLS, MINNESOTA
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 3, 2023
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, October 3, 2023, at 5:00 p.m.
Roll call indicated Mayor Tom Quackenbush and Council Members Matt Smith, Denise Kerkhoff, Jim Sandgren, Larry Arentson, and John T. Buckley 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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the September 19, 2023 minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda.
1. Proclamation Recognizing October 15 as National Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day.
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush opened a public hearing at 5:05 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts, maintenance charges, and surcharges.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 52 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts, Resolution No. 53 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs, and Resolution No. 54 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges.
Ms. Klages stated the proposed Resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility accounts, maintenance cost charges, and surcharges that are more than 30 days past due. Similar resolutions are brought to the City Council on a quarterly basis in order to improve the time between the delinquent billing and the ability to disclose the information to new property owners. The delinquent account resolutions will be presented each year at the first meeting in January, April, July, and October.
Ms. Klages further explained the delinquent process. Delinquent letters are first mailed to the utility account holders. Delinquent letters are then mailed to the property owners if not collected from the account holders. Electricity consumed by a tenant is not assessable to the property. Any unpaid balance is then brought to Council to be approved by resolution. Any pending assessments passed by resolution and still outstanding as of November 1st will be charged a $50.00 fee and are then transferred to Redwood County to be assessed on the tax rolls.
No one was present to voice any concerns.
Mayor Quackenbush closed the public hearing at 5:07 p.m.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 52 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 52 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to waive the reading of Resolution No. 53 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 53 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 54 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Resolution No. 54 of 2023 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Surcharges. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 86, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances §10.20 – Prohibiting the Use of Cannabis in Public Places.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the September 19, 2023, City Council Meeting. On May 30, 2023, Governor Tim Walz signed into law House File 100 relating to the possession, sale, and adult use of cannabis. House File 100 authorizes local units of government to adopt ordinances establishing a petty misdemeanor offense for a person who unlawfully uses cannabis flower, cannabis products, lower-potency hemp edibles, or hemp-derived consumer products in certain public places.
Mr. Dammann stated the topic of regulating public use of cannabis within the City of Redwood Falls was previously discussed at a regularly scheduled work session of the City Council on August 29, 2023. After discussion of the topic, Council requested that the City Attorney draft a proposed ordinance prohibiting the use of cannabis in public places within the City of Redwood Falls. The League of Minnesota Cities does not currently offer a model ordinance addressing this issue; however, Proposed Ordinance No. 86 was drafted after reviewing and using examples of similar ordinances already approved by other Minnesota cities. The term “lawn,” was added to the definition of “Public Place,” since the first reading of the Ordinance. A separate resolution and summary for approval to publish will not be required as the Ordinance is rather short and can be published as-is.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Ordinance No. 86, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Redwood Falls Code of Ordinances §10.20 – Prohibiting the Use of Cannabis in Public Places. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Smith, Kerkhoff, Sandgren, Smith, Buckley, and Arentson
NO: None
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 55 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Application for Safety Grant Program.
Ms. Klages stated Water/Wastewater Superintendent Tom Stough has indicated the need to update the City’s current trench box and confined space gas monitoring system. A hazard analysis conducted by our Safety Coordinator has indicated both items are outdated and no longer meet safety standards.
Ms. Klages stated OSHA Workplace Safety Consultation provides a Safety Grant Program that awards employers a dollar-for-dollar match on qualifying projects up to a maximum of $10,000. Staff is requesting authorization to submit a grant request to OSHA to help cover the costs of updating this equipment. The total cost to replace both items is $13,539. If the grant is awarded, the City will be responsible for a 50% match of $6,769.50. The cost will be split between the water and wastewater budgets.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 55 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Application for Safety Grant Program. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 55 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Application for Safety Grant Program. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced Resolution No. 56 of 2023 – Approval of Bids and Authorization to Execute Agreements for Farmland Rental.
Mr. Doering stated the Redwood Falls Land Rental RFB bids were opened on September 21, 2023, at 11:00 a.m. Bids were solicited for 152.66 acres of farmland comprised of 73.95 acres around the Airport and 78.71 acres known as the “Gilwood 80.”
Mr. Doering stated four bids were submitted. Dale and Jason Mathiowetz provided the high bid of $341.00 per acre or an annual payment of $26,840.00 on the “Gilwood 80.” Gronau Farms LLC provided the overall high bid for the Airport acreage consisting of $100.00 per acre for field No.5 (2.6 acres) and $100.00 per acre for the acreage abutting the runways- fields 7, 8, 9, and 25 consisting of 71.35 acres and a combined total annual payment of $7,395.00. Staff recommends the acceptance of the overall high bids provided by Dale and Jason Mathiowetz (“Gilwood 80”) and Gronau Farms LLC (Airport Farmland) for the cropping years 2024-2026.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 56 of 2023 – Approval of Bids and Authorization to Execute Agreements for Farmland Rental. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to approve Resolution No. 56 of 2023 – Approval of Bids and Authorization to Execute Agreements for Farmland Rental. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages introduced Resolution No. 57 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Expenditure of Voting Operations, Technology, & Election Resources (VOTER) Account Funds by Redwood County.
Ms. Klages stated the MN Legislature has approved Voting Operations, Technology, & Election Resources (VOTER) Account funds during the 2023 Session Laws, Chapter 62 (Article 1, Section 43 and Article 4, Section 6) in the amount of $1.25 million allocated to counties according to a specified formula, with the funds allocated by July 20 of each year, starting with the State’s Fiscal Year 2024 (FY2024), until the law is amended by the legislature.
Ms. Klages stated Resolution No. 57 is allowing the City’s portion of the funds to stay at the County level and authorizing the County to spend the funds for election-related expenditures as authorized by law. For FY2024, Redwood County will receive a total of $5,405.21 of which $1,351.30 or 25% must be allocated to the cities and townships of Redwood County based on its proportion of registered voters in the County on May 1 for the most recent statewide general election. The City’s portion for all three wards totals $416.89 for FY2024. Resolution No. 57 also authorizes any future VOTER Account funds to remain at the County level, with Redwood County authorized to spend at their discretion on election expenses as allowed by law.
A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 57 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Expenditure of Voting Operations, Technology, & Election Resources (VOTER) Account Funds by Redwood County. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Resolution No. 57 of 2023 – Resolution Authorizing Expenditure of Voting Operations, Technology, & Election Resources (VOTER) Account Funds by Redwood County. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Street Foreman Position.
Mr. Muetzel stated the recent resignation of Jerry Mertens created a vacancy for the Street Foreman position. The vacancy was posted internally, two applications were received and both candidates were interviewed on September 28. Staff requests Council approval for appointment of Darren Hacker as Street Maintenance Foreman. Compensation for the Foreman designation is $1.00/hour over the position’s base wage.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve the appointment of Darren Hacker to the Street Foreman Position. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Mayor Quackenbush stated the City’s informational booth at the Fall Festival on Saturday, September 23, received good feedback and received a few questions from residents.
City Administrator Muetzel followed up on a concern received by Mayor Quackenbush at the Fall Festival regarding a lack of speed limit signs on County Highway 24, specifically in front of the hospital and new housing development. The Redwood County Engineer stated that all County roads, unless posted, are 55 mph but they would like to initiate a speed study with MnDOT due to the increased activity and changing landscape for that area.
Mayor Quackenbush stated Council members have been invited by Kwik Trip to the store’s Grand Opening on Tuesday, October 17, 2023 from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. with a ribbon cutting at 11:00 a.m.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Senate Bonding Tour is tonight, Tuesday, October 3rd, starting at 6:00 p.m. Senate members will be in Redwood Falls to tour the Library and the Airport due to the special project bonding requests for the Library Expansion and Airport improvements.
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 Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to adjourn the meeting at 5:32 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.