Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a City Council Meeting was duly held in the City Council chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the 13th day of May 2025. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Donald Kirchmann.
The following members were present: Mayor Donald Kirchmann, Council Members Kim Helgeson, Mary Bailey, Lee Sjolander, and Elana Brunner
Absent:
Also, present: City Administrator Scott Lehner, Administrative Assistant Holli Gudknecht, Engineer Derek Olinger, City Attorney Scott Riggs, Officer Brian Homeier, Doug Ims-Icon LLC, Aaron Dean, John Lee, Josh Johnson, Bailey Ament, Dana Callstrom, Lynn Miller, Liquor Store Manager Matt Bartel, Police Chief Jeff Sjoblom, Allan and Connie Turner
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
CITIZEN COMMENT
Aaron Dean, Attorney for Ims-Icon LLC, questioned the bid selection process for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements. He quoted state statutes as to why his client should be awarded the state contract. He also threatened to sue the City of Kenyon if his client was not awarded the contract.
ADOPT AGENDA
Motion by Brunner seconded by Bailey to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0-0.
CONSENT AGENDA
Motion by Bailey second by Helgeson to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes:
Financials and Payment of check numbers, 77072 through 77140; 5501E through 5610E
Minutes of April 8, 2025 and April 29, 2025
Annual Tobacco License – Kenyon Tobacco & Vape, LLC, 211 Red Wing Ave.
Annual Refuse Temporary Dumpster/Roll-off Containers – Junk Truck MN, LLC
Street Closure – Whitetail Block Party – July 19
Approve Memorial Day Parade for May 26, 2025
Approve Hire of Municipal Swimming Pool Employees
Motion carried 5-0-0.
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS
Assessment Hearing - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Sjolander to open the public hearing at 7:09 pm. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Engineer Olinger stated that this Public Hearing was required for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements project by State Statute, since assessments will be used to partially finance this project. He summarized the project scope, costs, and the proposed assessments. No residents attended the Public Hearing, but two residents did contact Olinger in advance. The resident at 10 Slee Street thought his assessment was too high and the resident at 608 8th Street was opposed to the 8th Street sidewalk.
Motion by Bailey seconded by Brunner to continue the public hearing until June 10, 2025 at 7:00 pm. Motion carried 5-0-0.
ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
Hiring of Police Officer:
Administrator Lehner stated that we are moving forward with the hiring process of one of the police officer applicants. A background check is being done now. This officer should be on board by mid to late June.
Business Park Update
Administrator Lehner stated that Attorney Riggs finalized the developer’s agreement today for one of the lots in the Business Park. The EDA will need to hold a public hearing on the lot sale.
Community Access Channel
Administrator Lehner stated that Whitney and he have been working with Comcast to get the cable access channel up and running.
ENGINEERING
Bid Acceptance - 2025 Street and Utility Improvements
Attorney Riggs recommended rejecting all the bids and starting over on the bidding process.
Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to reject all the bids for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements project and start over. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Resolution 2025-14: Rejecting Bid and Accepting Bid 2025 Street and Utility Improvements
Tabled
Assessment Adoption – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Resolution 2025-15: Adopting Assessment 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Bunner seconded by Kirchmann to table the assessment adoption. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Construction Engineering Agreement – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to table the approval of Bolton & Menk’s construction engineering agreement. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Easement Approval – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Engineer Olinger reviewed the requested permanent right-of-way easements from four property owners adjacent to Langford Avenue. These landowners would need to be compensated for the land rights obtained through these easements.
Unsigned Easements
Engineer Olinger stated that two agreements have been signed. There is a verbal agreement with one of the property owners. The fourth property owner still needs to be contacted.
Resolution 2025-16: Accepting Easements
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Brunner to adopt Resolution 2025-16. Motion carried 5-0-0.
LEGAL
FINANCIAL
OLD BUSINESS
Liquor Store Update
Matt Bartel, Liquor Store Manager, gave a general update on the liquor store and discussed the next steps in the NAPA building expansion. He is working on getting quotes for the improvements. He attended the MMBA conference which provided a lot of good information.
Process to Correct the Relationship Between the City and KMU
Administrator Lehner stated that the KMU Commission accepted and signed the five contracts between the City and KMU on April 23, 2025. The council needs to give their final approval of the five agreed upon contracts between KMU and the City and the organizational chart.
Agreements Between KMU and City of Kenyon
a. Administrative Staff Supervision Agreement to Include KMU
b. Building/Property Control Agreement
c. Personnel Utilization Agreement
d. Billing Agreement
e. Municipal Project Agreement
f. Organizational Chart
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Kirchmann to approve items a-f. between the City and KMU. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Resolution 2025-13: Authorizing the Merging of Kenyon Municipal Utility Bank Accounts and Appointing Authorized Users to City Bank Accounts
Motion by Kirchmann seconded by Brunner to adopt Resolution 2025-13 authorizing the merging of the KMU bank account and appointing Whitney as an authorized user to the city bank account. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Add Signatories at Security State Bank of Kenyon
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to add Randy Eggert, James Malloy, and Jerry Houglum as signers on the City of Kenyon checking account at Security State Bank of Kenyon.
Motion Carried 5-0-0.
NEW BUSINESS
Consider Revising Chicken Ordinance
Administrator Lehner stated that a resident requested that the council consider revising the chicken ordinance to allow chickens in residential areas. This is the fourth time the request to allow chickens in the city has come before the city council since 2015. Attorney Riggs reviewed the history of the current ordinance. The council discussed the pros and cons of allowing chickens in residential areas.
The council took a vote to determine if allowing chickens in residential areas was something they would like the city to look at changing.
Roll call vote: Bailey – Aye, Kirchmann – Aye, Brunner – Nay, Sjolander – Nay, Helgeson – Nay
Ordinance will remain as it is.
Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
KMU Meeting: Tuesday, May 20th @ 4:00 p.m.
EDA Meeting: Tuesday, May 27th @ 8 a.m.
City Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 10th @ 7 p.m.
COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
Mayor Kirchmann thanked everyone for all they are doing.
Council Member Helgeson reminded everyone that the first Farmer’s Market is Thursday, June 7.
Motion by Bailey seconded by Brunner to adjourn the meeting at 8:20 p.m. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Holli Gudknecht, Deputy City Clerk Donald Kirchmann, Mayor
