KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, August 11, 2025
THESE ARE APROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City Council held a regular meeting on Monday, August 11, 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, Larry Dahleen were absent. City Maintenance: Gary Skartland; City Clerk: Doris Troll; Members from the public: Jason Zinter, Marcia Dahleen, Jon Seedorf.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender Kurt Grobe, vote 3-0. Motion carried.
Council minutes: Motion to accept the Regular meeting minutes on July 14, 2025, by Hope Bauman, seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 3-0, motion carried.
Claims: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender approving claims totaling $1,102,729.94 vote 3-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman approving financials as presented, Vote 3-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 8-26-25 if not paid by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender. Vote 3-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: Building permits were presented to M Korn. Motion to approve by Hope Bauman, seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 3-0, motion carried.
Bolton & Menk Updates: Jason was late due to another commitment however he emailed a progress report: Short summary of current progress of the work:
1. Finishing up the water services on 3rd Street
2. Placing aggregate base on 5th Street and Robertson
3. Finishing up watermain on Front Street
4.
5. Working through the steps to address contaminated materials encountered
a. Stockpiling material that will need to be landfilled
b. Changed watermain material in area of contamination to ductile iron pipe with nitrile gaskets, which is more resistant to petroleum than PVC watermain and standard rubber gaskets.
c. Working through the paperwork to be able to get reimbursement for expenses from the Mn Petrofund.
6. Will be moving on to sub-cutting roadway and placing aggregate base on Front Street as soon as possible.
7. Will be working on placing aggregate base on 3rd Street when not working on Front Street.
8. Plan to start on the west portion of Front Street as soon as possible.
9. Pay Estimate #8 for July totaled $630,535.01.
Jason did come to the meeting late after the above progress report was read. Gary asked him about the new generator for the lift station if it would be installed and up and running. Jason told him, not until they are done with all the work that needs to be done. One resident asked what the residents on 6th street are suppose to do about parking, and garbage pick up when they tear the road up as they have no alleys. Jsaon said that they will put their garbage on the bottom of their driveway like always and the construction crews will take and get it so that it can be emptied and then return the bins to the driveways. The crew will back fill the roads each day the best they can for emergency services and parking. One of the council members had concerns about the speed that some of the workers are driving around town in the payloaders and dump trucks.
Ambulance: we have one new person currently enrolled in classes. The power cot is here. We will be doing a fundraiser in November at the Kiester Legion.
Fire: The fire Department would like to add Brennen Kluender to the department. Motion to accept by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, Vote 2-0, with Jason abstaining.
Library: numbers were 83 adults and 47 juniors. The 4 H program had 7 children participate. Painting on Thursdays with Kristy went over well one child came every week. The painting at the park for National Night was a success. The summer reading program is still going on and Dawn is still to the kids on Tuesday’s. the scavenger hunt for the kids will end on 8-19 and has been a hit with the kids. They are working on another author event no details yet.
Eda: we will be meeting next month the CEDA to see what per hour rate and how they could help the EDA with finding and getting grants. The Hog Buying station we are just waiting for it to come down. The EDA had granted the Kee Kafe up to $ 3000.00 for the façade grant monies. They are still working on the barn quilts for the Paint your town grant from SMIF.
Public Comment: one resident asked if there was going to be a clean up day again this year. Yes, the dates are Friday September 12 from 4 to 7 pm and Saturday September 13, from 8 am to noon.
Maintenance: With all the rain that we have received Gary will be getting a special permit to discharge the ponds. And then it will start with the regular discharge in September. The quarterly lead and copper sampling with be sent in. Gary has been talking with residents that have been slow with mowing their lawns. Gary was to look into water meters for some of the water hydrants that are being used in town. Gary informed the council that he was getting bids for items for next year’s budget. Redoing outside of city hall, shop heaters, library building gables, new tires for the pick-up, landscaping at the park, 3 trees at the park to trim up. And a quote for the Ponds to evaluated for the depth of the sludge that we have at the bottom.
Clerk Update: There is a Fire Department CD 7145 that needs to be rolled over as it will no longer earn interest. motion to roll into a new one by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 3-0, motion carried. There was a quote to retrofit the clerk’s office and old council chambers to led lights as some of the lights have not been working Motion to Brandon Hogenson seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 3-0, motion carried. The clerk then read resolution 2025-25 to declare a vacancy. Motion to declare the vacancy by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Hope Bauman, vote 3-0. Motion carried.
Council Vacancy: There are 2 options, Option 1 is hold a special election in November this would be at the cost of the city and could cost upwards of $10,000.00. Option 2 is to appoint someone to fill Kurt Grobe’s spot and hold a special election on the 2026 ballot. So we would be voting on 2 mayor council members for 4-year terms and special for 2-year term. The council chose to go option 2.
The clerk had a list of questions in the packets for the council to review as to hand the protentional candidates.
The council determined that applications would be accepted until 5 pm on 9-4-2025. They would review them for the 9-8-2025 meeting and vote to fill the position with the candidate to take part in the 9-8-2025 meeting.
The next thing the council looked at was a drug testing policy to the staff and fire and ambulance services.
There was a great deal of discussion, and it was had as to how to handle it. The main concerns were with the current law that cannabis is a legal drug. There was a sample of one of the ambulance services that the clerk was asked to email to the lawyer as well as to have him help us come up with something.
Budget: council choose to have a work session after the special meeting on 8-25-25. Looking over and have conversations as to the budget for 2026.
Mayor Update: The city held its 2nd National Night out event. They served 80 hotdogs and thank you to the library for having a small canvas painting for the kids to do.
Motion to adjourn made by Jason Kluender and seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 3-0, motion carried.
Respectfully Submitted by
Doris M Troll
City Clerk/ Treasurer
