City Council Meeting – Tuesday, January 2, 2018

The organizational/regular meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council was called to order in the Municipal Chambers on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, at 5:00 p.m.

Roll call indicated Mayor Corey Theis, Council Members Matt Smith, Larry Arentson, Jim Sandgren and John T. Buckley were present constituting a quorum. Council Member Paul DeBlieck was absent.

Also present were City Administrator Keith Muetzel, Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer, City Attorney Amy Busse, Public Works Projects Coordinator Jim Doering and Council Secretary Amy Kerkhoff.  

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson approving the agenda as presented.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving the December 19, 2017, minutes as presented.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote. 

Jenna Beller-Schmidt was present to discuss a proposed delinquent account assessment on the commercial property she acquired in 2017 at 239 South Washington Street.

Officer Steve Schroeder, a resident of Redwood Falls, was present to thank the Redwood Falls Fire Department for their quick response to a fire call at his property on Drury Street.

Mayor Corey Theis called for nominations for Council President for 2018.

Council Member Sandgren nominated Council Member John Buckley.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to appoint Council Member Buckley as the 2018 Council President.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson unanimously approving the following 2018 Commission Appointments:

Airport Commission:
Appoint Ernie Fiala to 1st full term.
Appoint Jim Tersteeg to 1st full term.

Hospital Commission
Reappoint Eldon (Butch) Fluck to 3rd full term.
Accept Jeanne Limoges resignation.

Housing and Redevelopment Authority
Reappoint Phil Johanneck to 3rd full term.

Library Commission
Appoint Derek Nelson to 1st full term.
Reappoint Ginny Zempel to 3rd full term.

Parks & Recreation Commission
Reappoint Travis Fluck to 1st full term.
Reappoint Bob Kaupang to 1st full term. 

Planning Commission
Reappoint Ernie Fiala to 3rd full term.
Reappoint Mike Kaufenberg to 2nd full term.

Police Commission
Reappoint Pat Flahaven to 2nd full term.

Public Utilities Commission
Appoint Mike Davis to 1st full term.
Reappoint B.J. Tersteeg to 3rd full term.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson unanimously approving the following 2018 Council Committee Appointments:

Standing Committees
Budget                        John Buckley, Matt Smith, and Corey Theis
Personnel                   John Buckley, Matt Smith, and Corey Theis
Public Works              Larry Arentson and Jim Sandgren     
Port Authority             Paul DeBlieck and Jim Sandgren

Issues
Environmental (garbage, compost, wetlands)       Jim Sandgren and Paul DeBlieck                       

Individual Assignments
Joint Powers/School                                             Larry Arentson
Airport Commission Liaison                                 Jim Sandgren
Hospital Commission Liaison                              John Buckley
Library Commission Liaison                                 Paul DeBlieck
Parks & Recreation Commission Liaison             Larry Arentson
Police Commission Liaison                                  Matt Smith
Public Utilities Commission Liaison                     Jim Sandgren
Housing & Redevelopment Authority Liaison      Paul DeBlieck

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson appointing John Buckley and Melissa Meyer to the Redwood Falls Firefighter’s Relief Association Board of Trustees for 2018.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to continue meeting on the 1st and 3rd Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. for the City Council Meetings in 2018; cancel the Tuesday, July 3, 2018 and the Tuesday, November 6, 2018, Regular meetings and schedule a Special meeting for Tuesday, November 13, 2018; designating the City’s official newspaper to be the Redwood Gazette in 2018; and designating the City’s official depositories pursuant to MN Statutes 118A.02 and the City Investment Policy for 2018; and designating the City’s official electronic funds transfers policy pursuant to MN Statutes 471.38, subdivision 3 for 2018.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote. 

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Arentson unanimously approving the following Consent Agenda items:

  1. Hospital Credentialing Committee recommendations.
  2. Declare Acute Care Department Equipment as surplus property.

Resolution No. 1 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts and Resolution No. 2 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs were presented by Director of Finance & Administrative Services Melissa Meyer.

Ms. Meyer stated the proposed resolutions are to adopt assessments for delinquent utility and maintenance cost charges 30 days past due.  Similar resolutions are brought to the 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.  Staff is recommending the approval of the proposed resolutions.

Mayor Corey Theis opened a public hearing at 5:20 p.m. to discuss delinquent utility accounts.

No one was present to voice any concerns.

Mayor Theis closed the hearing at 5:23 p.m.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to waive the reading of Resolution No. 1 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Buckley approving Resolution No. 1 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Smith to waive the reading of Resolution No. 2 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Arentson and seconded by Council Member Smith approving Resolution No. 2 of 2018 – Resolution Adopting Assessments for Unpaid Maintenance Costs.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

Resolution No. 3 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Agreement for Professional Services was presented by Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering.

Mr. Doering stated the resolution approves the professional services agreement with Carlson McCain to provide planning services for Wellhead Protection Plan (WHP) amendment assistance.  

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 3 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Agreement for Professional Services.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley approving Resolution No. 3 of 2018 – Authorization to Execute Agreement for Professional Services.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

Resolution No. 4 of 2018 – Authorization to Support the Lake Redwood Reclamation Project and To Seek Legislative Funding to Facilitate the Project was presented by Public Works Project Coordinator Jim Doering.

Mr. Doering stated staff is recommending approval of the 2018 letter of support for the Lake Redwood Enhancement and Reclamation Project and submission to the upcoming Legislative Bonding Session.  The 2017 Legislative Session was not a bonding year, but a package was created.  Senator Gary Dahms and Representative Paul Torkelson introduced the previous year’s language in SF294 and HF413.  The bills were waylaid in the final hours of the omnibus budget bill’s passage.

Mr. Doering stated the Lake Redwood Reclamation project involves dredging 655,000 cubic yards of sediment in order to restore the Lake to its original depth of over 20 feet from the current 2.8-foot average depth.

Mr. Doering stated the total project cost is estimated to be $11,000,000.00 with $10,100,000.00 being requested for the 2018 legislative session.  With the resolution, the City Council is dedicating $900,000.00 in match dollars with sources of $500,000.00 from the Public Utilities and $400,000.00 in future wetland-bank credit sales.

Mr. Doering state a tour of Lake Redwood followed by a presentation at the Redwood Area Community Center is scheduled for Monday, January 8, 2018, to discuss the Lake Redwood Enhancement and Reclamation Project.

A motion was made by Council Member Smith and seconded by Council Member Arentson to waive the reading of Resolution No. 4 of 2018 – Authorization to Support the Lake Redwood Reclamation Project and To Seek Legislative Funding to Facilitate the Project.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

A motion was made by Council Member Buckley and seconded by Council Member Sandgren approving Resolution No. 4 of 2018 – Authorization to Support the Lake Redwood Reclamation Project and To Seek Legislative Funding to Facilitate the Project.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

Redwood Area Hospital CEO Bryan Lydick was present to discuss the proposed Memorandum of Understating with CentraCare Health System (CCH).

James Kanne of rural Franklin and Paul Sobocinski of Wabasso were present to voice their concerns with the City entering into an agreement with CentraCare Health System.

Mr. Lydick stated the Hospital Commission recommends the City of Redwood Falls enter into a Memorandum of Understating with CentraCare Health outlining the possible business transaction with CentraCare Health System.

Mr. Lydick stated CentraCare, the City and the Redwood Area Hospital (RAH) mutually have determined to explore the potential affiliation of CCH and RAH in order to position combined operations to provide high-quality, affordable care to patients in the Redwood Falls community and surrounding region.

Mr. Lydick stated the Memorandum of Understanding summarizes the process by which the City will develop the proposed transaction between the City and CCH, exploring scenarios such as:

  • Professional Services Agreement with providers employed by Carris Health, an affiliate with CentraCare.
  • A lease of the Hospital real-estate along with assets and personnel being acquired by CCH to operate the Hospital.
  • CentraCare acquires the Hospital.

A motion was made by Council Member Sandgren and seconded by Council Member Buckley to enter into a Memorandum of Understanding with CentraCare Health.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

City Administrator Keith Muetzel invited the Mayor and City Council to the Redwood Falls Fire Department Annual Banquet.  The banquet will be held on Saturday, January 12, 2018, at the Redwood Falls Fire Station.

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 Smith and seconded by Council Member Sandgren to adjourn the meeting at 6:07 p.m.  Motion was carried by unanimous vote.

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