KIESTER CITY COUNCIL
REGULAR MEETING
Monday, December 9, 2024
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, December 9, 2024, at the Kiester Community Center.
Mayor Hope Bauman called the meeting to order. Council Members Present: Kurt Grobe, Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender Larry Dahleen was absent. City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members of the public: Jason Zinter, with Bolton & Menk, Al Bauman, Randi Duchene, Jacob Peterson, with the Sheriff’s department.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda by Jason Kluender seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 4-0 motion carried.
Council minutes: motion to approve 11-12-2024 meeting minutes and the Special meeting On November 19, 2024 by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 4-0. Motion carried.
Claims: Motion to approve claims totaling $814,971.35 after the removal of claim for 578.00 by Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Kluender vote 4-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion to approve financials by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 4-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 12-27-2024 if not paid, by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender vote 4-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: none
Bolton & Menk: Jason Zinter was here to give updates to the council on the infrastructure project. They are done for the year. And have some minor items to clean up on, removing the temporary mailboxes, some road signs, and replacing some mailboxes. They have put a temporary cover on the yards. We are still trying to get the tree removals done yet this winter. There have been storage containers placed up where the construction materials are for smaller items. The water meter project we are working on getting all the information to the USDA for final approval and then out for bids hoping this January or February. The Lead and Copper service line project has been finished up. The water tower and water plant are waiting for funding that needs to be in a bonding bills at the state and federal level. Two easements that need to be signed, the one we might change the plans. Jason will look to see if we could change the plans on the one easement The seconded one we have to have signed as there is no way of changing the plans and rural development won’t let us go on private property. Gary asked which of the fire hydrants at the park were going to be replaced as the valve broke off of one when he was removing the access that the construction crews had over the summer.
Fire Department: it was asked if the fire department officers were getting paid, the clerk informed the council after the end of the year.
Ambulance: Randi was present to inform the council that the officers for 2025 will be President, Randi Duchene, Vice President, Hope Bauman, Secretary, Gennifer Greenfiled, Training officer, Al Bauman, Treasure, Doris Troll. Maintenance Gary Skartland and Jon Seedorf.
Randi also asked the council for 6% increase in the PERA for the ambulance staff. Motion to give the 6% increase by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 3-0, motion carried with Hope abstaining.
Randi asked for permission to make a nonbinding agreement with Stryker for the upgrade of our cot to a power lift. This is so we can lock in the price only. There is no money down and we can back out of it if we need.
Motion to give the verbal agreement to Stryker by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender. Vote 3-0, with hope abstaining.
Randi also informed the council that we have been having issues with Expert T, the billing company that we use and would like to get the lawyer involved. The council agreed to get the lawyer involved.
Library: None
Liquor Store: the council felt that the minutes of the liquor store meeting were not clear enough.
The council had tabled closing of the Liquor Store. and to explore the idea of putting it up for sale. Relators have been contacted and none could give the city a good idea of what it should sell for. Brandon was going to contact Landproz to see if they have any ideas. The city would like it someone’s hands who would like to run it.
The city would like it in in someone’s hands to run as a private business.
EDA: The Eda has approved three façade grants for the Kee Theatre, Golden Eagle, and For Bermas.
Celia From CEDA was asked to to research on the child care need in the area or lack thereof, and was going to set up a survey for residents in need as well as for possible providers in the area. Larry will be tending his letter of resignation from the Eda and felt that Kurt Grobe would be a good candidate for his replacement. The Eda would like to move $ 25,000.00 into a 6 month CD. Ceilia had also looked into grant monies that were available to help with the Smithfield (the old hog buying station), to help with the demolition of the building, However as we do not have a potential a buyer for the property there is nothing there to help. The EDA would like to look into demolition companies for quotes to take it down at the Eda’s expense.A motion to let the EDA looking into getting quotes was made by Kurt Grobe seconded by Jason Kluender, Vote 4-0, motion carried.
Public Comment: A discussion about some properties within city limits occurred. No actions was taken.
Budget Talks: Resolution 2024-22 was read as follows
General Government $ 68,027.73
Library Fund $ 10,765.00
Debt Service $ 140,000.00
Eda Fund $ 33,456.20
Fire Fund $ 25,507.44
Ambulance Fund $ 47,553.89
TOTAL LEVY $ 325,310.26
Motion to accept the levy as read, which is a 3% increase over last year by Brandon Hagenson Seconded by Hope Bauman, Vote 4-0, Motion carried.
Maintenance: They completed the last pond discharge until spring. The Christmas/ winter decorations are up.
Empire pipe was here to clean out the catch basins. Gary was planning on doing one more round of street sweeping. The radiant heat at the ambulance garage is not working properly. They ordered a part for a temporary fix. They recommend we replace the whole heat system. With the council not meeting until January, and not having quotes for tonight’s meeting, how would you like to handle this?
Motion to let Gary and the Mayor Bauman determine which quote to go with, including the electrical by looking at the numbers that come it at. By Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender, Vote4-0, motion carried.
Clerk Update:
Motion to grant liquor Licenses For Berma’s for Monday to Saturday, 2 am and a Sunday, for the Kiester Legion a Club license for Monday to Saturday, and a Sunday License, Motion by Hope Bauman, Seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 4-0, motion carried,
Resolution number 2024-17 mutual aid for the fire department to be placed in a cd for $ 3,336.20 Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender. Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Resolution number 2024-18 for donations to the library in the amount of $746.90 Motion by Hope Bauman, seconded by Kurt Grobe, Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Resolution number 2024-19 for donations to the Fire Department in the amount of $37,013.393. Motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Resolution number 2024-20 for donations to the Ambulance Department in the amount of 13,075.01 Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Resolution number 2024-21 for the interest to be paid to the general fund from the liquor store account in the amount of $500.00 Motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Resolution number 2024 to move from the EDA account to a 6 months CD, $25,000.00 motion by Hope Bauman, seconded by Kurt Grobe, Vote 4-0, motion carried. With Larry Dahleen absent.
Mayor update: Hope would like to have one person from each organization to be on the Kiester Days committee. We will ask each organization. She would also like the clerk to put in each packet for the next meeting the employee evaluations.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 4-0, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
