KIESTER CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL/ REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, October 13, 2025
THESE ARE APROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City Council held a special and a regular meeting on Monday, October 13, 2025, at the Kiester Community Center.
Mayor Hope Bauman called the meeting to order at 7:00 pm. Council Members Present: Brandon Hagenson, Jason Kluender; Paul Martin City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Jon Seedorf, Marcia Dahleen, Jason Zinter, Heather Allen, Randy Escherich, Al Bauman, Chastin Allen, Mike Sandt.
Public Hearing for Deed grant: Jason Zinter was here on Behalf of Bolton & Menk to report on the grant from the Department of Employment & Economic Development (DEED) in accordance with the Small Cities Development Program. The grant was $ 600,000.00 for help with the water and sewer lines repairs. At this time all the money has been spent, and the grant is being closed out with all the requirements that have been meet by the city. These items included an environmental review, as well as fair housing information given to all residents.
Motion to adjourn the special meeting by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Mayor Bauman then called the regular meeting to order.
Filling the Vacancy for Larry Dahleen. There were three candidates who filled out questionnaires: Marcia Dahleen, Randy, Escherich, Jon Seedorf, Mike Sandt. A motion to appoint Marcia Dahleen to fill Larry Dahleen’s position was made by Jason Kluender, seconded by Hope Bauman. Vote 3-0, motion carried. Marcia’s term will be held until 12-31-2026, next year when there will be an election to fill the term that ends 12-31-2030.
Doris gave the oath of office to both Paul Martin and Marcia Dahleen.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 5-0. Motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept minutes as printed by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman approving claims totaling $954,946.72 vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Paul Martin approving financials as presented, Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 10-27-25 if not paid by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Building permits: these were presented for S Bessette, R, Haroldson, R, Aukes motion by Jason Kleunder, seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Bolton & Menk Updates: They have been paving, USDA is shut down as they are part of the federal government, therefore Ulland will not be able to get paid (they are aware of this) until the USDA can approve their billing. They are almost done with the underground work that they are going to do for this year, the boring crew is done for the year. They are working on doing the grating and getting the roads ready for pavement. Ulland is planning on submitting a request for an extension on the completion date, the reasoning is due to the weather that has slowed them down. The council had issues with 7th and 8Th street still with the yards not being back the way they were. This is an issue that has been brought to the attention of Ulland multiple times. They know it needs to be resolved however digging is more of a priority.
Ambulance: the ambulance will have pork feed on 11-15-25. We have 1 new person in school now and we have 3 that are done with their refreshing.
Fire: The Fire department would like to add Issac Haukoos to the fire department. Motion to add Issac by Jason Kluender seconded by Paul Martin. Vote, 5-0, motion carried. The fire truck chassis will be delivered in December and the cost at that time will be approximately $ 100,000.00
Library: The numbers for September were 73 adults and 14 juniors. The guessing of the cany corn is still going on We are having talks with an author for next spring. We are just working on it. The winter adult reading program will start in December and run until March of 2026
Eda: the façade improvement grants have all been spoken for, Kee Kafe will do some landscaping, and the Kee theatre will be replacing some of the neon lights.
The pickle ball courts will be poured next spring. And EDA is still looking for grants to help pay for them. The city and the EDA will have money in next year’s budget to help offset the cost. The Smithfield lot (hog buying station) is torn down. CEDA that helped with the façade grant came to talk to the EDA and they feel that the city could work with the county EDA to help in the future. They are going to have them help to see if they could find grant monies to replace the city sign. The EDA bylaws state that they must have 2 council members on the EDA board. Hope chose to appoint Paul Martin to the EDA board.
Public Comment: None
Liquor Store: the first reading of ordinance 2025-28 To regulate cannabis business.
Maintenance: One round of discharge is done. I have been sweeping the streets. Ulland has also been doing sweeping as well in areas that they have worked. There have been windows replaced at the recycling center. I will be flushing Hydrants when they are done in town. Gary was going to call sentence to serve with helping put up the snow fence.
Clerk update: We are holding on to 3 checks for expert t billing ( ambulance billing company) totaling $ 513.00. I have checked with the auditors to see if we can void them for lack of services they said it should be brought to the council for approval. Motion to void the check by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope
Bauman, Vote 5-0. Motion carried.
The clerk also stated that she must do a report for the state in order for the ambulance to receive grant money for 2026. And was concerned about the billing issues for 2024 with Expert T. She was going to contact EMRSM to see how to handle the report due to the lack of information from Expert T.
The clerk also asked the council who would like to verify the bank statements Hope said she and Brandon would both work with this. The clerk will put all the information in the council packets for the months going forward. The clerk also asked the council if there were any reports that they feel they do not need every month. They said they would like to see a list of CDs’ by department with the current amounts.
Budget: the medical insurance has taken a 20% jump for 2026 meaning the premiums are up about $ 200.00 per person. The reason for this increase is that the GLP-1 drug use that they must cover had usage up by 30%. Brandon stated that they had signed a contract for the Sheriff’s department for $ 1000.00 for 2026, $2000.00 for 2027 and $ 3000.00 for 2028.
Water billing: we will be getting the 2nd round of readings at the end of October. Items that we need to set in place is an updated water ordinance, setting the water / sewer fees. And how we wat it shown on the water billing. Until we get a 3rd reading (that would be in the end of Nov) we really don’t have a good set of usage numbers for each house. Doris will be working with the auditors and the USDA (when they go back to work to get some solid figures of what our payment will be every year.
Mayor Update: Hope asked the clerk to get information on changing attorneys. There is Truck or Treat on Friday 10-31-2025 from 5 to 6 on main street.
Adjournment: Motion to adjourn by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jaason Kleunder, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Respectfully submitted by
Doris Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
