KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, December 8, 2025
THESE ARE APROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City Council held a special and regular meeting on Monday, December 8, 2025, at the Kiester Community Center.
Mayor Hope Bauman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council Members’ Present: Marcia Dahleen, Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender; Paul Martin City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Jerry Alphs.
Jason Zinter from Bolton & Menk, Kristy Flaskerud.
Truth & Taxation Meeting: Hope called the meeting to order at 7:00pm There was no one present for this meeting. Motion to adjourn By Brandon Hagenson Seconded by Jason Kluender, motion carried.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda by Hope Bauman, seconded by Paul Martin, vote 5-0. Motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept minutes from 11-10-2025 as printed by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender approving claims totaling $102,430. 31 vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman approving financials as presented, Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 12-29-2025 if not paid by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Marcia Dahleen. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Building permits were presented for D. Gutt, motion to approve of by Jason Kleunder, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Bolton & Menk: Ulland is done for the year. They will have to come back in and re-grade the boulevards.
Ulland is planning on putting in a change order for the completion date. Rural Development will have to sign off on as well as the city. Ulland knows the city is not happy with the late start they have got this year. They said they were going to be here in April, and they didn’t show up. Jason was not sure if they would have enough time even with the extension. The water meters are up and running; there is no word on the water tower.
Ambulance: We served 91 people at our pork feed. The squad would like the city council to approve a 5% raise in the ambulance PERA for the year 2026. The squad has already passed this. Brandon Hagenson moved to approve the PERA raise. Seconded by Marcia Dahleen. Vote 4-0, motion carried, with Hope Bauman abstaining. The council was also informed that there was an individual on the ambulance who is under investigation by The Office of Emergency Medical Services.
Fire: Jerry had requested from the city council that they cash in CD’S 6453, 6692, 6693, 7309 to pay for the new fire truck chassis with the remaining coming from the Fire Relief Association. The clerk read resolution 2025-30 to cash CDs 6453, 6692, 6693, 7309 to pay for the chassis. Motion by Hope Bauman, seconded by Jason Klunder. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Library: The numbers for October were 68 adults and 11 juniors. The Thanksgiving drawing with the gift cards that were donated by Bernatellos Pizza and Michele Gurgung were won by Peggy Gonsalez. And Christine O’Connor, the winter adult reading program will run until March 2026. We are still in talks with author Cary Griffith for next spring. We are working on a legacy grant from the county. The Christmas drawings will be for a cookie tray donated from The Kee Kafe/ Catering and a $25.00 gift certificate from Bermas. And there still be the camel hunt again this year.
Eda: They wondered what property line changes, if any, they should make down by the shop and the empty lot that we now have. The city will have to determine whether it wants to sell or keep the property. There has been a discussion about its use for truck parking. Another thought was to add on to the shop and move the recycle center and then sell the current recycle building. The clerk is still looking for all the quotes for the pickleball court that the EDA is working on.
Public Comment: none
Maintenance: The chlorine pump at the water plant has gone out. Hawkins was able to order the City one and it should be here by the end of the week. When it is here, we will set up a time for them to replace it. Gary also checked with the Department of Health to see if he needs to do additional testing until the new pump is replaced. He was told no because they are no longer working on the infrastructure for the year. The bobcat was taken over to Yeager in Blue Earth to have the injectors replaced. After the last snow that we had, there were 9 cars on the street when I plowed, and the deputies who came over could get 7 of them to move them. The 2 remaining were towed. Monty’s installed the new tires on the city pickup.
Clerk update: Changes to next year the clerk wants the council to be aware of. With the new MN FLMA law going into place, the city council and Linda Hovland will have to be paid every month. Faribault County is implementing a sales tax for 2026. This will be affecting our commercial water customers. There was a letter in the packets about Burkhardt’s merging with Carlson SV that the clerk wanted the council to be aware of.
Resolutions number 2025-31 roll over 7310 into a 6-month higher rate CD Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Kluender. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Resolution number 2025-33 for donations to the library in the amount of $95.00 by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Resolution number 2025-34 for donations to the Fire Department in the amount of $34,100.00. Motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Resolution number 2025-35 for donations to the Ambulance Department in the amount of $ 13,075.01 Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
The council was asked if they wanted to keep the liability coverage on the insurance the way it was from last year, and they said yes.
The council reviewed the new contract for the Sheriff’s Department for the next three years. Motion to accept by Hope Bauman, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote, 5-0. Motion carried.
Budget:
The council then went over the budget for the next year. With conversation about the water and sewer rates.
General Government $ 70,086.00
Library Fund $ 11,087.00
Debt Service $ 140,000.00
Eda Fund $ 34,459.00
Fire Fund $ 26,972.00
Ambulance Fund $ 48,980.00
TOTAL LEVY $ 331.584.00
Mayor Update: It was quite a year with all the road construction being done. Hope would like to thank the council for all they have done as well as Doris and Gary for the extra work they have had to do during construction season.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jaason Kluender, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by
Doris Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
