KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, January 13, 2024
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 13, 2024, at the Kiester Community Center.
Mayor Hope Bauman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council Members Present: Larry Dahleen, Kurt Grobe, Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender. City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Marcia Dahleen, Jerry Alphs.
Oath of Office: the clerk gave the oath of office to Hope Bauman, Mayor, Brandon Hagenson Council member, and Kurt Grobe Council member.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda, by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept December 11, 2024, minutes with corrections, by Hope Bauman seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Brandon Hagenson approving claims totaling $150,714.90 vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Brandon Hagenson, approving financials as presented, Vote 5-0, motion carried
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 1-28-2024 if not paid by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: Presented permits for K White. Motion by Brandon Hagenson Seconded by Jason Kluender to approve. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Ambulance: David is still looking at the original agreement with Advantage billing, the ambulance does not remember signing any agreement to Expert T for their billing services. Hometown is already pulling our current runs to bill for us. We have received the state grant money of $53,097.74.
Fire Department: Jerry Alphs was present to present the officers for the 2025 calendar year. Chief: Jerry Alphs Asst chief: Jim Schroeder and Nick Knutson, Captains: Lonnie Burkhow, Travis La Core, Training Officers: Dylan Hemmingsen, Tyler Schroader Fire Marshall: Ashley Schroader, Secretary: Adam Shur; Motion to accept offices by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender, Vote 5-0, motion carried
They also reported that their annual fish fry will be on Feb 1, 2025, the new fire truck has been ordered, and the arrival date is set for December of 2026.
Dan Willaby retired from the department after 30 of service. Motion by accepting Dan Willaby’s resignation from the Fire Department with regret and thanking him for his years of service, by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Library: December numbers were 58 adults and 9 children. The winner of the Christmas ham that was donated by D & J Seeds was Linda Hovland. We also had the camel hunt again this year with various winners the adult reading program is going on until March. The December winer was Gayle Aske. There were four letters dropped at the library for Santa. We are having an event on May 15, 2025, Ann Peterson who is the Former Museum Manager at Minnesota State Public School in Owatonna. The library is looking to see how many are interested so we can set the location.
Liquor Store: Larry reported that the liquor store was down in sales $34,000 which is about $3000.00 a month and for dec they were down $ 4000.00 so we will wait to see what the auditors have to say. Brandon has been in contact with Greg Jenson, and he feels that the best would be to put it up for auction as a turn key business. They will be talking more about it.
Eda: we approved 3 business for the façade grants, Golden Eagle, Berma’s, and the Theatre. There is more money there for 1 or two businesses. We are still looking into a new Kiester Sign and have meetings this week with the companies, We are also still looking at taking down the hog buying stations we are having each bidder lay out the details and cost of the quotes for a better comparison we are working with Celia from Ceda on ideas to help with the day care issue in Kiester. Motion to accept the resignation from the Kiester Eda for Larry Dahleen with regret by Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 4-0, motion carried with Larry abstaining. Hope thanked Larry for his time on the Eda board. Hope them appointed Kurt Grobe to the Eda board.
Public Comment: none
Maintenance: The new heater is installed in the ambulance garage, the trim work is done at the community center and the ambulance garage. Gary will be going to a water class at the end of January. Changing oil in the street sweeper, did some of the streets again. Empire Pipe has some of the catch basins to finish as their truck had a breakdown, and not sure when they were going to be coming back to finish. The fince for the park is here along with the siding for the bathroom and will be installed this spring. The Vague for the payloader is almost ready to delivery. Then we will be able to trim some of the trees. I have two estimates for the ciling and lights in the community center, however the lights are not spelled out clearly so they will be rewritten.Hope and gary will get together to work on ordering new banners
YEARLEY APPOINTMENTS:
Official Depository-Global Innovations Bank.
Official Bank Guarantor-United Banker’s Bank
Official Newspaper – South Central News , The council has chosen not to print the minutes in the paper this year. They will be available at the City offices.
EDA Investment Banker-Northland Securities
Engineer Bolton & Menk
Motion to accept the yearly appointments by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0, motion carried.
2024 MEETING SCHEDULE: the second Monday of the month at 7:00 pm at the Kiester Community Center/ Fire Hall.
Council Pay will be $50.00 per meeting for the mayor and $40.00 per meeting for the council members.
The Vice Mayor will be Brandon Hagenson
The mileage rate will be $0.70 per mile, per IRS regulations.
Election Judge pay will be $12.00 for judges and $14.00 for head judges, with one meal being provided by the city.
COMMITTEES:
Maintenance: Jason Kluender, Brandon Hagenson,
Liquor Store- Brandon Hagenson, Larry Dahleen Carol Rienhart
Fire Department Liaison- Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender
Ambulance Liaison-, Hope Bauman, Jason Kluender
Police: they turned this over to the county:, Brandon Hagenson.
Communications: Jerry Alphs, Brandon Hagenson, Gary Skartland,
Park and Community Center: Kurt Grobe
Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Kurt Grobe accept the appointments as listed above. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Clerk Update: Resolution 2025-01 to move $ 20,000.00 into a 6 month cd for the Fire department
Motion to approve by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Baumann, vote 5-0, motion carried.
There is a Professional service agreement from Fundt, Lundquist & Gustafson, Ltd. Motion to accept agreement by Hope Bauman, seconded by Kurt Grobe, Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
The clerk is getting ready for the audit on February 17, 2024, changing over into the new year.
The clerk informed the council that they had gone to court on the 210 s 1st street property and David needed pictures of the property ordered by the Judge. There was an email that was passed to the council in regard to the easements. No action was taken.
Mayor Update: There are copies of the performance reviews for the staff.
Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer