KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, March 10, 2025
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, February 10, 2025, 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, Chris Cyphers, Tammy Aaden, Tracy Thompson, Jerry Alphs, Wayne Johnson, Travis LaCore, Jon Seedorf, Al Baumann, Jason Zinter, Adrienne Bryan, David Frundt.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda By Hope Bauman, seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept February 10, 2025, minutes, by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Kluender approving claims totaling $49141.54 vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Kurt Grobe, approving financials as presented, Vote 5-0, motion carried
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 3-26-25 if not paid by Jason Kluender, seconded by Curt Grobe vote 5-0, motion carried.
Liquor Store: we have an offer in our packets. David asked to address the council. He stated that to go forward with the sale we will have to first close the liquor store by ordinance that city wants to abolish the municipal liquor dispensary. This needs to have a first reading, a public hearing, a second reading and then passage of the ordinance. This is separate from closing. The store could move forward with the closing of the store tonight. However, have the inventory into the state before moving forward with the sale. How long it would have to stay closed depends on the processing of the inventory to the state and the closing date of the purchase. You could not make the agreement date as the 2nd reading of the ordinance and passage is not until later this month. Doris will call AGE again to verify. Here understanding is that we the city would have to do an inventory and the new buyer and they would both need to send to the state. The offer on the table will have to be tabled until the ordinance has been passed. Doris Read the ordinance 2025-07 amending our ordinance number 26 to abolish the municipal liquor sort dispensary and to allow retail sales of liquor
Within the city. Brandon Hagenson made motion to hold a special meeting regarding the city audit and the liquor store on March 24 at 7:00 pm at the firehall/ community center seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0, motion carried. Motion to have the 2nd reading of the Ordinance 2025-07 on March 24, 2025, by Jason Kluender seconded by Hope Bauman. The discussion was held how to notify the staff of closing and to choose a closing date. They sent a letter to the staff. There was a motion to close the liquor store on March 31, 2025 by Brandon Hagenson, second by Jason Kluender, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Kiester Days: Tammy Aadsen gave the council a tentative schedule for Kiester days that will be held on June 26 to 29, 2025. There were items left off. The poster will be added, the bank will have an open house, and the fire department will have an obstacle course for the kids. Tammy asked if the city know what roads were going to be available for use for the parade, knowing that Front street would not be. They would like the parade route to start on 8th, go up to north, then over to main and back down. She was also concerned about the classic car show that was to be held in front of the school. She was informed that it will depend on the weather where they will be at with the road construction.
Resident request to be heard: One resident had questions for the council and asked to be on the agenda.
First questions was why was 4 million dollars moved to another bank? They did not understand why it got moved and felt that it just got glossed over. They were informed that Global innovations could not insure the temporary bond monies along with the current monies that we have in their bank. The monies were moved into a 4 M account, which is The Minnesota Municipal Money Market Fund (the 4M Fund) is a customized cash management and investment program for Minnesota public funds.
Sponsored and governed by the League of Minnesota Cities, the 4M Fund is a unique investment alternative designed to address the daily and long-term investment needs of Minnesota cities and other municipal entities.
Managed in accordance with Minnesota Statutes and customized specifically for public entities, the 4M Fund provides safety, daily liquidity, and highly competitive yields.
The second question was: Why did you have the retail center declared as excess property right before you sold it? They felt that this was very sneaky. The council will have our attorneys send a written response to this resident motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: Presented permits for Berma’s Motion by Jason Kluender Seconded by Brandon Hagenson to approve. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Auditors Findings: with all the departments being present. The clerk informed the council and departments that we had a check pulled for audit. The auditors felt that the check was a misappropriation of city funds. Doris informed all the departments that unless the monies are for the entire community, they can’t be used. She gave the example of the Safety meetings that the clerk and maintenance department host. Amy refreshments cannot be paid for with city monies.
Ambulance: Lee Schumann has turned in his resignation after 18 years in the ambulance. Brandon Hagenson moved to accept his resignation with regret and thanked him for his service. There was seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 5-0, motion carried. Jon Seedorf has moved from an EMR to an EMT.
Fire Department: The lasted update for the new fire truck is a delivery for October 2026.
Library: February’s number were 69 adults and 1 junior. The winner of the monthly adult reading program was Sara Obermeyer. The reading program goes to the end of March. The have started Find the chocolate easter bunny game and that will run to 4-17-2025. The are also doing a ham drawing with the ham being donated by the quilters cottage. The library is asking anyone who is interested in the event on May 15, 2025, Ann Peterson, who is the Former Museum Manager at Minnesota State Public School in Owatonna. To please contact the library so they can know numbers to find here presentation.
Eda: we looked at the electronic sign and after further consideration and after more discussion at the last council meeting it was tabled because of the possibility of lack of funds We have applies for a Taylor Corp grant with the help of CEDA, this is a 50/50 match in which we would put a pickle ball court in. We hope that we can make this happen with Eda and city monies, as well as private donations for local business.
We are still working on a Day Care for Kiester. We have hit a dead end as we do not have anyone willing to run it as well as a building for them.
Garbage: Waste Management is going away from the bagged service. And with this happening and with the number of residents that we have on bagged service, the city has decided to look into other possibilities for garbage pickup. You have quotes from Dulas and B & B. One council member asked how many people do we have on bagged service? There are between 50 to 65 people currently using the bags. Chris from B & B was present to answer questions the council may have. One question was, do the residents use their own bags and then purchase the tie from them? Yes, they would. B & B is also willing to work with the business for their dumpster needs as well. The zip ties would be available at city hall to start. The fees that B & B has present also include the 22% county fee and the 9.75 state fee. After more discussion there was a motion to go with B & B seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 4-1, motion carried.
Public Comment: has the city thought about a city wide clean up day? Yes, the city will hold one in the fall and the county will hold on this spring. The date has been set for 5-31-2025 at the ambulance garage.
Would the city consider doing 2 a year? It can be considered for next year so that it may get into the budget.
The clerk asked the one resident to get to her the exact dates of the minutes that were missing from the website, as the links might be broken.
One resident asked what happens if the sale of the Liquor store doesn’t go through, would the city reopen it. That would have to be asked of the attorney for what we could do.
Maintenance: Gary is working on siding the bathroom at the park. Gary will do the quarterly waste samples this month. The Minnesota Depart of Health is coming to check over the water tower and take samples.
Clerk Update: The insurance company is charging the city for police coverage as the contract with have with the county is outdated. In your packets, we have a sample of the League of MN has as a sample from another community. The clerk is also filling out UDA paperwork for the Water-tower.
There are also 2 fire contracts for approval: Foster township and Kiester Township. Motion to approve made by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Larry Dahleen, vote 5-0, motion carried.
There is a resolution 2025-08 to allowing automated clearing house payments (ACH) motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Larry Dahleen, vote 5-0, motion carried,
A resolution to move ambulance CD 6878 to a higher rate by Jason Kluender seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 4-0. With Hope abstaining, motion carried.
Resolution to move an EDA CD 6985 into a higher rate CD by Hope Bauman seconded by Larry Dahleen, Vote 5-0, motion carried. The park slide, the deductible for the slide, would be $250.00. Would the council like to file a claim? Yes, file the claim. The tanks at Food & Fuel, Doris has to call the state again, as now that the property is back to the state, there might be a change that the county could get grant monies to dig them up.
The question was asked about the lighted sign at the liquor store. What would like the city to do with it, sell it with the liquor store or keep it for city use? No decision was made.
Bolton & Menk update: they are watching the weather; A pre-construction meeting has not been scheduled.
Mayor Update: I am getting excited about the street project to start. I have been working with Tammy and Michele for Kiester days. Gary and I will order new banners for the city.
Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
