KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, January 12, 2026
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, January 12, 2026, 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 Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Jerry Alphs. Kristy Flaskerud, Jason Zinter
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Agenda: Motion to accept the agenda, by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kleunder, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept December 8, 2025, minutes with corrections, by Hope Bauman, seconded by Paul Martin, vote 5-0. Motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Marcia Dahleen approving claims totaling $1,618,111.41, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin, approving the financials as presented. Vote 5-0; motion carried
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 1-26-2026 if not paid by Jason Kleunder, seconded by Paul Grobe, Martin vote 5-0, motion carried.
Bolton & Menk: Jason does not have much to report as there is no current work being done. The water tower and plant plans are for review at the USDA. Hopefully, we will put it our forbid in February.
Ambulance: The officers for 2026 are President Randi Duchene, Vice President Hope Bauman, Secretary Erica Serna, Treasurer Doris Troll, Training Officer Al Bauman, Maintenance Gary Skartland and Jon Seedorf. Hope and Doris have been working on getting OEMS grant for $695.72. With that, the city needs to pass resolution 2026-02 authorizing the city administrator to apply for and administer OEMS grant. Motion to accept by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 4-0, with Hope Bauman abstaining.
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, Evan Anderson, Training Officers: Jonas Gonsalez, Tyler Schroader. Fire Marshall: Ashley Schroader, Secretary: Adam Shur. Motion to accept officers by Jason Kluender. Seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0. Motion carried. Jerry reported that 3 new recruits will start school this week. There is a resolution 2026-01 to move $44,000.00 into a 9-month CD with 3.803% interest for the fire department. Motion by Hope, seconded by Marcia Dahleen. Vote 5-0; motion carried. There were 2 CDs presented for roll over; the council took no action on them as they want to listen to the 4M presentation that will be presented at the February meeting.
Library: December numbers were 53 adults and 15 children. The winner of the Christmas Cookie Tray from Kee Kafe was Rany LaCore, and the winner of the $25.00 gift certificate from Berma’s was Judy Johnson. We also had the camel hunt again this year with various winners. The adult reading program is going on until March. The December winner was Sara Obermeyer. We are still working on the author event in May.
Eda: The EDA would like the city to pay for the survey of the City Shop and the old Buying Station to see where the property lines are. Then they will investigate, seeing if they want them changed. Motion to have surveys off by Paul Martin. Seconded by Marcia Dahleen. Vote 5-0; motion carried.
Liquor Store: Chastin from the liquor store wanted to know if the city would let them sell the THC beverages until they get their actual license from the state. Doris had checked with the state, and because they already had the permit, they could start selling.
Public Comment: none
Maintenance: the new chlorine pump at the water plant has been installed and Gary is monitoring the levels. There was also an issue with the lift station pumps that are west of town. We had someone come to check the wiring. And that was not the issue. Then we called to have the system pumped out, and then Midwest Pump Works looked at it. The pumps are working now. Midwest Pump had an extra starter that they left with Gary, in case there is any other issues. Jason Zinter has been kept in the loop on these issues as well. There was a contract for Midwest Pump for maintenance on the system. The clerk asked if the council wanted just one year or three. Hope Bauman moved to go with 3 years seconded by Marcia Dahleen. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
YEARLY APPOINTMENTS:
Official Depository-Global Innovations Bank.
Official Bank Guarantor-United Banker’s Bank
Official Newspaper – South Central News.
EDA Investment Banker-Northland Securities
Engineer Bolton & Menk
Motion to accept the yearly appointments by Hope Bauman, seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 5-0, motion carried.
2024 2026 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. Motion to accept by Hope Bauman, seconded by Paul Martin, vote 5-0, motion carried.
The mileage rate will be $.72.5 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. Motion to by accept Jason Kleunder was seconded by Paul Martin, vote 5-0, motion carried.
COMMITTEES:
Maintenance: Jason Kluender, Brandon Hagenson,
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: Paul Maratin, Marcia Dahleen and Gary Skartland
Motion by Hope Bauman, seconded by Jason Kluender, the appointments as listed above. Vote 5-0; motion carried.
Clerk Update: The clerk read resolution 2026-03 to adopt the 2025 Faribault County Hazard Mitigation Plan. Motion to accept by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Marcia Dahleen, Vote 5-0, motion carried.
The clerk also reported that she has been having issues with Frontier with payments. Not getting invoices, not getting emails. The last check she sent to them she put a stop payment on after one month as it still had not been cashed. She was asking the council for permission to pay the Frontier bill on the credit card each month. Motion to grant payment for Frontier by credit card by Marcia Dahleen and seconded by Paul Martin. Vote 5-0, motion carried. The city will look into seeing if we can get rid of the landline phone and go to Bevcomm with the VIOP.
A Fyi to the council, that in April there will be an extra tax implemented by the county, and that this will affect the commercial water/ sewer billing accounts.
The auditors will pick up info on 1-15-2026, and they will be in the office for fieldwork on 2-16-2026, and then will present it to the council on 3-9-2026.
The clerk has gotten no responses from her sources about lawyers, and she will continue to work on that.
The clerk also presented to the council information on the water billing to assist them in setting the rates. There are two months of water/ sewer usage and what the bills could look like for each resident. There is also an example of a water ordinance only. The clerk will reach out for the sewer portion of the ordinances.
There was a lengthy discussion about what the city will need to pay and when the first payment will come due.
Mayor Update: The committee that handles Kiester Days informed Hope that it no longer works on planning the event.
Brandon Hagenson moved to adjourn, and Paul Martin seconded his motion. Vote 5-0; motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
