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, September 2, 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 Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the August 19, 2025, 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 item on the Consent Agenda:
1. City Assistance with Redwood Area Chamber of Commerce Fall Festival
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Ordinance No. 97, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls.
Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the August 19, 2025, City Council Meeting. As part of the City’s Supplement Service Plan with American Legal Publishing Corporation for the Codification Services Agreement, the Fourteenth Supplement to the Code of Ordinances has been received. Ordinances No. 89-96, Fourth Series, and other amendments have now been incorporated into the code and are ready for adoption.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve Ordinance No. 97, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Enacting and Adopting a Supplement to the Code of Ordinances for the City of Redwood Falls. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Arentson, Smith, Kerkhoff, Guetter, and Sandgren
NO: None
City Attorney Dammann introduced Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Dammann stated the proposed Ordinance was introduced at the August 19, 2025, City Council Meeting. The City is proposing to rezone from I-1 to B-3 the properties described as 1301, 1303, 1305, 1307, and 1311 E. Bridge Street, 161 N Co. Hwy. 101, and Parcel #88-132-3030. The City received an inquiry from Butch Westman of Westman Group LLC, the property owner of 1303 E. Bridge Street, regarding the current zoning designation of the property. The owner recently purchased the NAPA property with plans to obtain a motor vehicle dealership license with the State of MN to allow for truck sales at that location. The retail sales portion of NAPA would remain, but the owner would like to add commercial truck and commercial truck part sales at that location. The property is zoned industrial (I-1), and vehicles sales are not permitted in industrial districts.
Mr. Dammann stated following Mr. Westman’s inquiry, Staff reviewed the zoning designation of that property as well as the adjacent properties and found the current uses in the area do not fit the general provisions of an industrial district. Industrial districts are established to provide locations for industrial land uses engaged in the production, processing, assembly, manufacturing, packaging, wholesaling, warehousing or distribution of goods and materials. All of the requested parcels are currently zoned I-1: Limited Industrial. The businesses include a bank/financial institution, car wash, automobile parts and accessories sales, hotel, and automobile sales (car dealership). Most of the properties are currently operating as legal non-conforming uses because they are either not permitted in industrial districts or only permitted by conditional use.
Mr. Dammann stated to better align with the current uses of all seven properties, staff recommends rezoning all of the requested properties to B-3: Auto-Oriented Business District. The purpose of the B-3 District is to provide for and limit the establishment of motor vehicle oriented or dependent commercial and service activities. All of the current businesses/uses are permitted uses in a B-3 district. The zoning amendment will not change the current business operations of any of the requested properties. The request to rezone the property was presented to the Planning and Zoning Commission on August 12, 2025. The Planning and Zoning Commission, along with City staff, recommend approval of the re-zone and Amendment of the Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Dammann stated state law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As Council is aware, Ordinance No. 98, 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. 53 of 2025 and Exhibit A, which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 98 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to approve Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series – An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by the following roll call vote.
AYE: Council Members Arentson, Smith, Kerkhoff, Guetter, and Sandgren
NO: None
City Attorney Dammann introduced the Potentially Dangerous Dog Appeal Hearing.
Mr. Dammann stated on July 18, 2025, the City of Redwood Falls held a hearing, at which Ms. Raquel Heiderscheidt was present, to decide whether to uphold or overturn the designation of her dog “Franklin” as a potentially dangerous dog pursuant to Minn. Stat. § 347.50 and Redwood Falls City Ordinance § 10.46. By a 3-0 vote, the hearing officers on the Review Panel found by a preponderance of the evidence that Franklin is a potentially dangerous dog and upheld the designation.
Mr. Dammann stated on August 11, 2025, Ms. Heiderscheidt submitted a written request to City Hall to appeal the Panel’s decision to the City Council. Pursuant to Redwood Falls City Ordinance 10.46 subd. 16 (F), “If the owner of the dog disputes the decision of the Panel, the Owner shall have the right to appeal the decision to the City Council.” The procedure for this hearing will be one of appeal and not trial, meaning that the State will not re-try the entire case by providing testimony and exhibits anew, but rather the Council will receive argument from Ms. Heiderscheidt and State’s counsel and will have the ability to review the Panel’s findings and any exhibits of record upon request.
Raquel Heiderscheidt was present. Ms. Heiderscheidt stated she is appealing the potentially dangerous dog designation because she feels Franklin was provoked and Ms. Whiting didn’t remove her dog from the situation.
Jocelyn Whiting was present. Ms. Whiting described the events of the incident in which Ms. Heiderscheidt’s dog attacked her dog while outside their apartment building.
Police Sergeant Brady Stough was present. Sergeant Stough described his interaction with Ms. Heiderscheidt and Franklin after the incident.
City Attorney Dammann provided oral argument and answered questions from Council.
Ms. Heiderscheidt provided oral argument and answered questions from Council.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to uphold the panel’s designation of a potentially dangerous dog identified as, “Franklin.” Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Attorney Dammann introduced Resolution No. 53 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance.
Mr. Dammann stated state law requires that all ordinances adopted be published prior to becoming effective. As the Council is aware, Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series is lengthy and authorizes a change to the zoning map referred to in Section 6.03 of the Unified Development Ordinance. 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 prepared Resolution No. 53 of 2025 and Exhibit A, which contains the summary of Ordinance No. 98 for publication.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 53 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 53 of 2025 – A Resolution of the City of Redwood Falls Providing for the Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 98, Fourth Series, An Ordinance Amending Zoning Ordinance. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering provided an update on the walking bridge located at the end of Sunrise Boulevard over the ditch connecting the Sunrise neighborhood with the elementary school site. The Redwood Valley Elementary School contractor, Kraus-Anderson, is aware of the need for stairs on the north side of the bridge but will be prioritizing the school site work at this time. Tom Anderson with the Redwood Area School District approved the installation of stairs but the contractor has not provided a timeline for completion.
Council Member Smith stated a concern he received from a resident regarding Lake Redwood and high waters affecting the fishing pier.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering stated the Lake Redwood fishing pier is designed to withstand high water and movement from high winds without damage.
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 Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:40 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.