TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2026
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 15, 2026, 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.
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.
Council President Arentson presided over the meeting.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the September 1, 2026, minutes as presented. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the following item on the Consent Agenda:
1. Declare Equipment as Surplus Property
Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Finance Director Klages gave an overview of the preliminary levy and budgets for 2027 as addressed in Resolution No. 50 of 2026 – Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2027 and Resolution No. 51 of 2026 – Approving 2027 Preliminary Budgets.
Ms. Klages stated State law requires local units of government to adopt the preliminary levy and budget and to certify the proposed tax levy to the County Auditor by September 30th of each year. Cities must also provide the County Auditor with the date, place, and time of the regularly scheduled meeting at which a final budget and levy will be determined. The preliminary levy can be lowered when setting the final levy, but it cannot be increased.
Ms. Klages stated the proposed budget includes a tax levy increase of 7.9%. Based on preliminary tax capacity calculations provided by the County Assessor, the City’s tax capacity has increased by 7%, resulting in an estimated increase in the City’s overall tax rate of 0.71%. Staff will continue to fine-tune the budget over the next few months. The proposed final levy and budget will be reviewed by the budget committee and a recommendation will be presented to Council. The date when the final levy and budget will be discussed and approved and at which the public will have the opportunity to comment on the budget will be set for December 15, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 50 of 2026 – Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2027. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve Resolution No. 50 of 2026 – Setting Proposed Certified Levy Ad Valorem Taxes for the Year 2027. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to waive the reading of Resolution No. 51 of 2026 – Approving 2027 Preliminary Budgets. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve Resolution No. 51 of 2026 – Approving 2027 Preliminary Budgets. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Parks & Recreation Director Ross Nachreiner was present to introduce the Redwood Falls Aquatic Center Plumbing Repairs.
Mr. Nachreiner stated throughout the 2026 summer pool season, staff struggled with plumbing issues at the pool that resulted in an overabundance of water usage. During the pool season with water in the pool, American Leak Detectors was brought in to survey the pool for structural leaks as well as any leaks that may be happening around play features. At that time, they were able to identify a leak around the multi-play feature. Staff acted quickly to seal that leak as well as an additional spot in the hopes of slowing down the loss of water.
Mr. Nachreiner stated once the season was over and with the water drained from the pool, American Leak Detectors was brought back in to continue inspecting the pool. With this visit they were able to inspect underground piping on the deck and in the zero-depth pool area. This visit resulted in the identification of fractured/collapsed piping in five of the six water pipes leading to these play features. Repairs will include the removal of plaster and concrete on the deck and in the pool, replacement of damaged plumbing, and then finally concrete and plaster to bring it back to its normal finish. Staff anticipate this repair will start this fall and finish in the spring of 2027.
Mr. Nachreiner stated staff obtained quotes from two interested contractors to complete the work. Global Specialty Contractors, Inc., quote is $77.660.00 while Horizon Commercial Pools came in at $126,987.00. Staff will work with Global Specialties on a couple of the alternative options of capping pipes at the pool surface, essentially eliminating a couple of the pipes that do not have a play feature connected to them. This will result in a reduction in cost to complete the project. Staff requests Council accept the quote from Global Specialty Contractors, Inc. in the amount of $77,660.00. Funds to complete this project will come from the Capital Projects Fund. Adjustments will also be made to the 2027 capital improvement budget.
A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Redwood Falls Aquatic Center Plumbing Repairs and accept the quote in the amount of $77,660.00. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Plow Truck Chassis and Snow Equipment Purchase.
Mr. Muetzel stated the proposed 2027 Central Garage budget includes $142,154.00 to purchase a Western Star single axle plow truck chassis. The truck is planned to be purchased through the Truck Center in Marshall using State contract pricing. Based on Western Star’s current production schedule, the delivery date for the truck chassis is 365 days out. Once the truck chassis is delivered it will need to be equipped with a truck body, sander, liquid deicer, plow, wing, and other snow equipment. The State contract pricing for the snow equipment is $198,302.00. The snow equipment will be purchased through Crysteel in Lake Crystal, however, the production lead time for the snow equipment is approximately 500 days out.
Mr. Muetzel stated due to the long lead times for the truck chassis and snow equipment, staff is requesting approval of both State contract purchases. Since the snow equipment will not be delivered until 2028 it is not included in the 2027 budget. Therefore, the snow equipment will need to be a planned component of the 2028 operating budget. Staff requests approval to purchase a 2026 Western Star 47X truck chassis and related snow removal equipment.
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Guetter to approve the Plow Truck Chassis and Snow Equipment Purchase. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced the Street Superintendent Position.
Mr. Muetzel stated the hiring committee has completed the selection process for the Street Superintendent position. The committee interviewed four applicants and recommends approval of the employment offer to Elliott Serbus. Elliott has a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management and twenty years of heavy equipment operation and infrastructure construction experience. Elliott has also served on the Redwood Falls Fire Department for over nine years. Elliott’s tentative start date is October 19, 2026 with a starting salary of grade 10, step 3 of the 2026 City of Redwood Falls Step Structure. The employment offer also includes one year to obtain the required Class B Driver’s License.
A motion was made by Council Member Guetter and seconded by Council Member Arentson to approve the Street Superintendent Position employment offer to Elliot Serbus. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
City Administrator Muetzel introduced Agenda Item 9E - Establish City Council Work Session Agenda.
Mr. Muetzel stated the next City Council work session is scheduled for September 29, 2026. In order to prepare for the meeting and ensure adequate time is allowed for each agenda item, Staff is requesting Council formally establish the work session agenda. The following items have been suggested as agenda items:
1. Library Update
2. Regulation of Specialty Vehicles
3. Economic Development Initiatives
A motion was made by Council Member Kerkhoff and seconded by Council Member Smith to approve the City Council Work Session Agenda. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering introduced the Airport Runway Lighting Project – Change Order #1.
Mr. Doering stated staff recommend approval of Change Order (CO) No. 1 in the amount of $31,589.00 for adding distance signage. Approval will allow the City Administrator to execute the CO. Runway 12/30 previously included distance remaining signs, which provide pilots with information on the length of runway remaining during takeoff and landing operations. Replacement of these signs was not included in the original construction contract. Change Order No. 1 would have those signs replaced spring of 2027 due to extended delivery lead times.
A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to approve the Airport Runway Lighting Project – Change Order #1. Motion passed by unanimous vote.
Council Member Smith requested an update on any business real estate sale information.
City Administrator Muetzel stated The Falls Café location on Bridge Street has been for sale and that sale is currently pending but Staff have not formally been made aware of the buyer. The former Burger King building, also on Bridge Street, was purchased by the Port Authority with a 3-year lease with Redwood Falls Industries. Redwood Falls Industries will be renovating the building for use as a commercial business but there is no renovation schedule or end use decided yet.
City Administrator Muetzel stated the Police Chief hiring process will be starting since Chief Cotner announced his plans to retire in April 2027. Council Members Kerkhoff and Smith requested to participate in the interview process.
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 Guetter and seconded by Council Member Kerkhoff to adjourn the meeting at 5:38 p.m. Motion passed by unanimous vote.