KIESTER CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
Monday, April 8, 2024
THESE ARE APPROVED BY THE COUNCIL
The Kiester City council held a regular meeting on Monday, April 8, 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 of the public: Marcia Dahleen, Katina Thrond, Carol Rinehart, Kristy Flaskerud, Monty Flaskerud, Jessica Green from Northland Securities and Jason Zinter from Bolton & Menk.
Agenda: Motion to accept agenda, by Hope Bauman seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 5-0 motion carried.
Bolton & Menk: Jason Zinter was present to go over the documents that need signing for the road project.. The clerk will like motions on each one for the record.
Notice of award: motion by Brandon Hagenson Seconded by Larry Dahleen, Vote 5-0.
USDA Rual Development Letter of intent to Meet Conditions Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 5-0.
USDA Request for obligation of funds. Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Brandon Hagenson. Vote 5-0.
Loan resolution Motion by Hope Bauman seconded by Larry Dahleen. Vote 5-0.
PFA WIF replacement fund Certification Motion by Jason Kluender seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5-0.
MN PFA form 5 Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender, Vote 5-0.
Northland Securities: Jessica Green was here to present how the bonding process with the ratings work.
She recommended the council use MN PFA (Public Finance Authority) credit enhancement program to help with securing bonding. It will also help with the interest rates that the city would receive. The application fee is $500.00. Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Hope Bauman to approve the resolution presented for this. Vote 5-0, Motion carried.
Council minutes: Minutes were not in the packet that was uploaded. Will approve at the May 13, 2024, meeting.
Claims: Motion by Larry Dahleen seconded by Brandon Hagenson approving claims totaling $54,042.65, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Financials: Motion by Hope Bauman, seconded by Kurt Grobe. Vote 5-0, motion carried.
Past Due Water Billing: Motion to shut off on 4-26-24 if not paid by Brandon Hagenson, seconded by Jason Kluender, vote 5-0, motion carried.
Building Permits: Presented permits for V. Savick. Motion by Brandon Hagenson seconded by Jason Kluender to approve. Vote 5-0, Motion carried. There was a motion to send letter to house on corner of ringer and hwy 22 for no permit with fine by Jason Kluender seconded by Kurt Grobe, vote 5—0, motion carried.
Ambulance: None
Fire Department: none.
Library: the numbers for March were 87 adults and 7 children. The last drawing for the winter reading program
was held, and Roger Oldfather won the book. The winner of the donated quilt from Larry & Marsha Dahleen, Material girls, and Quilters Cottage for the entire programs was Sara Obermeyer.
Sonia Scherb and Steve Koester won Easter Hams donated by Bevcomm.
The Library would like to thank The Kee Kafe for ordering and storing as well as delivering the hams this year.
We had 29 in the drawing. On April 25, 2024, Kathy Van Hove will give a presentation on her book.
There will be a Mother’s Day drawing for a plant again this year. Kristy is working on the summer reading program.
Liquor Store: Carol is working on items for the committee meeting she had with Larry and Brandon. Still working on figuring out why the inventory was off. The new promotions that we are working on for the Fire department with Coors is Covers for cans. We are also taking donations for the New Chances Humane Society
Eda: the Eda has been in contact with the owners of the buying station ( Smithfield foods) on front street. They would like to turn it back over to the city. The Eda has found that there would be grants available to help with the demolishing;. however, it will have to be in the city’s name.
A motion to get the property from Smithfield foods by Jason Kleunder, seconded by Hope Bauman. Vote 5-0. Motion carried.
Public Comment: Marsha Dahleen presented the council with a letter to the council. She has a proposal for the liquor store to be moved into the Retail Center building with a reasonable rent amount. There was a discussion of the pros and cons of moving it. The council will review the progress of the liquor store in 6 months and have further conversations after the review of financials.
Resident issues: there was a discussion as to 2 pieces of property, one on 1st street and the other on north street. With the shape the properties are in. Jason Kluender moved to send pictures of both properties and send them to the attorney to see what we can do legally. Seconded by Brandon Hagenson, vote 5-0, motion carried. They suggested a work session to review our ordinances again and reassess the wording and the fee schedules. We scheduled this meeting for April 22 at 7pm. At city hall. There was a discussion as to the way some of the city properties looked. Gary was told to look at them and do any cleaning up of them. The discussion then came to the fact that a few years ago there were gates that were purchased to be placed up by the old football and baseball field to prevent the parking to be used a road. They asked Gary to put those up.
Maintenance: Andy will bring in the scissor lift in so that Gary can get the Christmas decorations down.
Some banners are getting beyond repair, so we need to look for new ones. I will be street sweeping. Gary will be discharged the ponds. Gary has sent the 2nd round of lead and copper samples to the state. The county cleanup day is on May 18 from 9- noon at the Old Simonson shop. Gary wanted to know if the city wanted to hold its cleanup day with the county. The council decided they would like to do a 2nd one later this summer.
Clerk Update: A proposed contract with the Humane Society was in the packet. The clerk would ask you to look it over and get back to her with questions you have. Doris will see if she can get a representative to come to the work session for more information, along with answering questions you may have.
There is an issue with the bank reconciliation that has popped up after the year end journal entries have been entered. Doris has been in contact with the auditors about what could be wrong. The clerk has been working on another issue that pertains to the USDA grants. She will continue to work on these issues.
Mayor Update: The sign at the ambulance garage needs to be cleaned up. There was a discussion about what to do with the area. Hope was going to get some quotes for further discussion.
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
