What happened
- Pay request No. 11 to Wencl Construction approved for $1,283.54 for work through July 2021
- Change Order #6 for A-1 Excavating approved: substantial completion August 13, final completion September 10, 2021
- Pay request No. 6 to A-1 Excavating approved for $94,126.00 for work through July 30
- MnDOT permit for Highway 60 utility work received at end of July; A-1 working since August 2
- Council work session on the 2022 draft budget set for September 8, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.; maximum preliminary levy due by end of September
- Five-year audit agreement approved with Abdo, Eick and Meyers ($26,875 to $29,655) over CLA ($32,130)
- Kenyon Area Historical Society Oktoberfest approved at Gunderson House, September 18, 2021, 1:00-5:00 p.m., with alcohol sales
- Police Chief Sjolander retired August 2; Jeff Sjoblom of Goodhue County Sheriff's Department starts August 23
- Finance Clerk Sue Dodds retiring October 15; 15 applications received, soft closing date August 24
- Consent agenda approved covering checks 72555-72646, 3767E-3782E, and additional checks 72647-72674
- Street crack filling contractor expected in town in early September; Crane Creek paving 4th Street alley
What was asked 18 raised · 12 settled
Every question, assignment, pending figure and unsourced claim from this meeting, quoted from the record, each checked against the county, census, listing, bid and budget data we hold.
The Department heads would also attend this meeting to review their respective budgets. The maximum preliminary levy must by adopted by the end of September.
Deadline driving the scheduling of the 2022 budget work session.
At the meetingNo levy figure was discussed; only the work session was scheduled.
The deadline is confirmed repeatedly: the preliminary maximum levy certification resolution must reach Goodhue County by the end of September and the final levy must be adopted by the end of December, and once set the maximum can be lowered but never raised. The rates the city has set since have climbed, from a maximum of 6.8 percent for 2023 to 9.93 percent for 2026, against certified levies of $1,528,541 for 2026 and a preliminary $1,670,115 for 2027. The 2022 preliminary levy figure itself is not in our records.
9.13.22 Council Minutes; 10.14.25 Council Packet Agenda; factbook levy history · taken up again 2025-10-14
One quote was from CLA, which has conducted the City/KMU audit for the last several years, and the other was from Abdo Eich and Meyers, which does the Fire Department Relief Association Audit. The quote received from Abdo was for 5 years ranging from $26,875 to $29,655. The quote from CLA was $32,130.
Comparison of the two audit quotes received for the 2021 City/KMU audit.
At the meetingCouncil approved a five-year agreement with Abdo, Eick and Meyers 5-0-0.
Both quotes match our record. Abdo Eick and Meyers quoted $26,875 to $29,655 across five years and CLA quoted $32,130, and Abdo took the award at $26,875.
KENYON_BIDS.md
NEW BUSINESS Set Council Work Session to Review 2022 Draft Budget Administrator Vahlsing stated that a Council work session needed to be scheduled in late August or early September to review the 2022 budget. The Department heads would also attend this meeting to review their respective budgets.
A work session was needed in late August or early September to review the 2022 budget before the levy deadline.
At the meetingCouncil voted 5-0-0 to set the work session for September 8, 2021 at 5:30 p.m.
The work session was held as scheduled. Mayor Henke called it to order at 5:30 p.m. on September 8 2021 to review the draft 2022 budget and levy. The city repeated the pattern in later years, setting the 2023 budget session for September 7 2022 at 5:00 p.m. and the 2024 session for September 6 2023 at 5:00 p.m. The draft budget document itself is not in our holdings.
9.8.21 Work Session Minutes; 9.13.22 Council Packet Agenda; 9.12.23 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2021-09-08
The position has been posted with a soft closing date for applications of August 24. Interviews will be conducted by the KMU Commission and Personnel Committee in early September.
Hiring a replacement for retiring Finance Clerk Sue Dodds.
At the meetingCouncil was updated; no hiring decision made.
The hiring ran on schedule. Interviews were completed in the first week of September 2021 and the position was offered to one of the candidates, with the KMU Commission to make the final hiring approval since the position sits under the utility. The successful candidate is not named in anything we hold.
9.14.21 Council Minutes · taken up again 2021-09-14
Finance Clerk Hiring Update Administrator Vahlsing updated the Council on the retirement of Sue Dodds effective October 15. She will be available to assist as needed after that date.
Transition planning for the Finance Clerk position.
Dodds retired on October 15 2021 after 26 years as Finance Clerk, recognized by the council in January 2022, and she did stay available. Administrator Vahlsing thanked her in June 2023 alongside Holli Gudknecht and Linda Bean for covering the interim before Finance Director Kelly Perry started. No written retirement or transition agreement is in our holdings.
1-11-22 Agenda packet; 6.13.23 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2023-06-13
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Bailey to approve for a five year agreement for audit services with Abdo, Eick and Meyers Motion carried 5-0-0.
Council selected an auditor after reviewing two quotes.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
The five-year engagement ran four years and then ended on a conflict of interest. Abdo presented the 2021, 2022 and 2024 City and KMU audits, each an unmodified clean opinion, but in January 2025 Administrator Lehner reported Abdo was no longer able to perform the audit because of its role providing the city's finance services. The council accepted BerganKDV at $27,540 in year one rising to a maximum of $29,500 by year three, over CliftonLarsonAllen at $97,640 falling to $70,940, carried 4-0-0 with an option to reevaluate after one year.
The 2021 award was a five-year audit agreement with Abdo, yet the city rebid auditing services after four years because Abdo's finance services role disqualified it from auditing.
1-13-25 Council Packet Updated; 7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-01-13
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/ RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS None ENGINEERING Red Wing Avenue Construction Update Engineer Olinger stated that Red Wing Avenue has been mostly inactive since the last meeting. The seeding subcontractor should be reseeding the bare spots sometime in August.
Red Wing Avenue construction update; project otherwise mostly inactive.
The reseeding slipped to mid-September 2021, not August, and the project closed in October. Engineer Olinger reported the bare spots reseeded by the subcontractor in mid-September, the Red Wing Avenue project was declared complete in October 2021 with Pay Request No. 12 to Wencl Construction of $3,230.25 approved 5-0-0, and remaining repairs went to warranty. Discussions with Wencl over liquidated damages were still continuing in November 2021.
The engineer expected reseeding in August 2021, and the subcontractor did not reseed until mid-September.
9.14.21 Council Minutes; 10.12.21 Council Minutes; 11.9.21 Council Minutes · taken up again 2021-10-12
Business Park/Utility Extension Project Update Engineer Olinger stated that the MnDOT permit for the Highway 60 utility work was received at the end of July. A-1 has been working on the utility extension since August 2 and should be finished in the next few days.
Business Park/Utility Extension project update after the MnDOT Highway 60 permit was received at the end of July.
The utility extension along Highway 60 was completed, though miscellaneous repairs ran past the few days forecast. By September 14 2021 the work was complete with A-1 addressing repairs expected to finish by the October meeting, and on October 12 2021 the council approved final Pay Request No. 8 to A-1 Excavating of $80,834.72 for work through October 7, contingent on receiving the project closeout documentation, with further repairs left to warranty.
9.14.21 Council Minutes; 10.12.21 Council Minutes · taken up again 2021-10-12
FEMA Flood Repairs Engineer Olinger stated that the project contract was sent back to the Contractor. They will be started toward the end of the year.
Status update on FEMA flood repair project.
The Riverside Park FEMA flood repairs were finished and paid by January 2022. The council approved Pay Request No. 1 to Griffin Construction of $76,662.80 as the final payment on a roll call with all five members aye. That final figure is $786.00 below the $77,448.80 award made in August 2021.
1-11-22 Agenda packet; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2022-01-11
Crack Filling of Streets Engineer Olinger stated that the contractor doing the street crack filling plans to be in town in early September. 4th Street Alley Paving Engineer Olinger stated that Crane Creek was in town today paving the alley west of Red Wing Avenue between 4th and 6th Street.
Update on the street crack filling work.
The crack filling contractor pushed the work from early September to the end of September 2021, a job of one to two days, and all applicable streets in town were crack filled that year. The contract had gone to Fahrner Asphalt Sealers at $19,690 over Bargen at $35,820. The city then switched to chip sealing for 2022.
The contractor was expected in town in early September 2021 and did not perform the work until the end of the month.
9.14.21 Council Minutes; 4.12.22 Council Packet Agenda Updated; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2022-04-12
Gunderson House - Kenyon Area Historical Society – Oktoberfest Event– September 18, 2021 Dan Rechtzigel, representing the Kenyon Area Historical Society, requested approval to hold an Oktoberfest event at the Gunderson House on Saturday September 18, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm.
KAHS event request, coordinated with the Muni.
At the meetingCouncil approved the event with alcohol sales, 5-0-0.
The council approved the Oktoberfest event with alcohol sales at the Gunderson House 5-0-0 for September 18 2021 from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. Nothing in our records reports on the event afterward. The Kenyon Area Historical Society's continuing relationship with the city appears in the April 2025 list as a $2,500 Gunderson House management fee.
4-8-25 council packet; 8.10.21 council record · taken up again 2025-04-08
On July 28, the Council approved the appointment of Jeff Sjoblom of the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department as the next Police Chief. He will start on August 23.
Police Chief transition update under Old Business.
Sjoblom took the post and still held it at the end of our record five years later. He appears as Police Chief presenting the Mobile Data Terminal agreement with the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department in November 2024, the fiber installation between City Hall and the police department in July 2022, and a department staffing update in July 2026. Appointment paperwork confirming the August 23 2021 start date is not in our holdings.
7.12.22 Council Packet Agenda; 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 7.14.26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-07-14
The City has received 15 applications to date. 2021 City & KMU Audit Administrator Vahlsing stated that two quotes were received for the City/KMU 2021 audit.
Update on the Finance Clerk recruitment.
The count of 15 applications is never confirmed or updated anywhere in our records, and no applicant log survives. For scale, the 2023 Finance Director recruitment drew 18 applications by mid-March, of which two had previous municipal finance experience, and 19 by April with seven scheduled for interviews. The city's application log would settle the 2021 figure.
3.14.23 Updated Council Packet Agenda; 4.11.23 Council Packet Agenda
The new substantial completion date would be August 13 and the final completion date would be September 10, 2021 Motion by Rechtzigel second by Ryan to approve Change Order #6 for A-1 Excavating.
Change order extending the Business Park/Utility Extension project completion dates.
At the meetingCouncil approved Change Order #6 by motion, 5-0-0.
Change Order No. 6 was approved 5-0-0 but the executed document is not in our holdings, and the dates it set were not met. A-1 Excavating was still performing work through October 7 2021, nearly a month past the September 10 2021 final completion date, and the final pay request was approved on October 12 2021 contingent on closeout documentation. The change order documents that do survive in the record belong to the separate BCM Pearl Creek contract.
Change Order No. 6 set final completion at September 10 2021, yet A-1 Excavating was still billing for work performed through October 7 2021.
10.12.21 Council Minutes; 9.14.21 Council Minutes · taken up again 2021-10-12
One quote was from CLA, which has conducted the City/KMU audit for the last several years, and the other was from Abdo Eich and Meyers, which does the Fire Department Relief Association Audit.
Background on the two firms that submitted audit quotes.
The switch described did happen, with Abdo presenting the City and KMU audits for 2021, 2022 and 2024, each an unmodified clean opinion. CliftonLarsonAllen's prior tenure is corroborated by our bid record, which shows the 2019 City, KMU and Liquor audit awarded to CliftonLarsonAllen at $20,950. No engagement record for the Fire Department Relief Association audit is in our holdings, so that half of the claim rests on the administrator's statement alone.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 9.12.23 Council Packet Agenda; 7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda
Business Park/Utility Extension Project Update Engineer Olinger stated that the MnDOT permit for the Highway 60 utility work was received at the end of July.
Business Park/Utility Extension project update.
No copy of the MnDOT permit is in our holdings, so the end-of-July issue date cannot be confirmed directly. The work it authorized went ahead and the utility work along Highway 60 was complete by September 14 2021, which is consistent with a late-July permit. The city's standard permit list for such work runs to a MnDOT miscellaneous work or utility permit, MPCA sanitary sewer approvals, Minnesota Department of Health watermain plan review, a Goodhue County utility permit and a DNR water crossing license, all prepared and billed through Bolton and Menk.
9.14.21 Council Minutes; 9.13.22 Council Packet Agenda
Crack Filling of Streets Engineer Olinger stated that the contractor doing the street crack filling plans to be in town in early September. 4th Street Alley Paving Engineer Olinger stated that Crane Creek was in town today paving the alley west of Red Wing Avenue between 4th and 6th Street.
Status report on the 4th Street alley paving.
The contract behind the work is documented even though the daily report is not. Crane Creek Asphalt took the 4th Street alley paving in July 2021, with its quoted portion at $7,727.70 against Bituminous Materials at $9,592.50 and the full job at about $29,000. No contractor daily report or engineer's inspection record for the August 10 2021 paving is in our holdings.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 8.10.21 council record
Gunderson House - Kenyon Area Historical Society – Oktoberfest Event– September 18, 2021 Dan Rechtzigel, representing the Kenyon Area Historical Society, requested approval to hold an Oktoberfest event at the Gunderson House on Saturday September 18, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. KAHS is working with the Muni to coordinate the event.
Explaining how alcohol sales at the Gunderson House event would be handled.
We hold nothing confirming the arrangement with the Municipal Liquor Store. No written agreement, no liquor arrangement and no report back on how the Oktoberfest alcohol sales were handled appear in any later record, and the only later text matching the Muni concerns roof and flooring quotes. A memorandum between the historical society and the Muni, or the Muni's sales record for the event, would settle it.
8.10.21 council record; 2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: Written agreement or confirmation from the Muni
Decisions 9 motions
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Doug Henke Mayor | Called the meeting to order, moved to set the September 8 budget work session and seconded the motion to adjourn |
| Molly Ryan Council Member | Seconded the consent agenda, Change Order #6 and A-1 pay request; moved approval of the KAHS Oktoberfest event and moved to adjourn |
| Mary Bailey Council Member | Seconded the agenda, the Wencl pay request, the Oktoberfest approval and the audit agreement |
| Tom Gard Council Member | Moved to approve the agenda and the Wencl Construction pay request No. 11 |
| Dan Rechtzigel Council Member | Moved the consent agenda, Change Order #6, the A-1 pay request and the Abdo audit agreement; represented the Kenyon Area Historical Society in requesting the Oktoberfest event |
| Mark Vahlsing City Administrator | Reported on the police chief transition, finance clerk hiring, the 2022 budget work session need and the two audit quotes |
| Derek Olinger Engineer | Gave updates on Red Wing Avenue, the Business Park/Utility Extension project, FEMA flood repairs, street crack filling and 4th Street alley paving; prepared Change Order #6 |
| Scott Riggs Attorney | Attended; no legal items were presented |
| Michelle Vlasak Reporter for Kenyon Leader | Attended the meeting |
| Jeff Sjoblom Incoming Police Chief, from Goodhue County Sheriff's Department | Appointed July 28; reported to start August 23 |
| Sjolander Police Chief | Retired August 2 |
| Sue Dodds Finance Clerk | Retiring effective October 15; will be available to assist as needed after that date |
Organizations named: Wencl Construction, A-1 Excavating, MnDOT, Crane Creek, FEMA, Kenyon Area Historical Society, Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, CLA, Abdo, Eick and Meyers, KMU (Kenyon Municipal Utilities), Kenyon Leader, Fire Department Relief Association
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $1,283.54 | Pay request No. 11 to Wencl Construction for work completed through July 2021 (Red Wing Avenue) |
| $94,126.00 | Pay request No. 6 to A-1 Excavating for work completed through July 30 (Business Park/Utility Extension) |
| $26,875 to $29,655 | Abdo, Eick and Meyers five-year quote range for City/KMU audit services |
| $32,130 | CLA quote for the City/KMU 2021 audit |
Said at the meeting
Engineer Olinger stated that Red Wing Avenue has been mostly inactive since the last meeting.
Engineer Derek Olinger · minutes, verbatim
Engineer Olinger stated that the MnDOT permit for the Highway 60 utility work was received at the end of July.
Engineer Derek Olinger · minutes, verbatim
Engineer Olinger stated that the project contract was sent back to the Contractor.
Engineer Derek Olinger · minutes, verbatim
Administrator Vahlsing reported that Chief Sjolander retired on August 2.
Administrator Mark Vahlsing · minutes, verbatim
Administrator Vahlsing stated that a Council work session needed to be scheduled in late August or early September to review the 2022 budget.
Administrator Mark Vahlsing · minutes, verbatim
Full packet text (0k characters)
The minutes
Official minutes as adopted, from 8.10.21 Council Minutes; text extracted from the PDF.
Council Meeting was duly held in the City Council chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the 10th day of August 2021. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Henke.
- Present
- Mayor Doug Henke, Council Members Molly Ryan, Mary Bailey, Tom Gard and Dan Rechtzigel
- Also present
- Administrator Mark Vahlsing, Engineer Derek Olinger, Michelle Vlasak reporter for Kenyon Leader, Attorney Scott Riggs
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Citizen Comment
None
Adopt Agenda
Motion by Gard second by Bailey to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Ryan to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes payment of check numbers 72555 through 72646; 3767E through 3782E; and additional checks 72647 through 72674.
Motion carried 5-0-0Presentations / Public Hearings / Recognitions / Prolamations
None
Engineering
Red Wing Avenue Construction Update
Engineer Olinger stated that Red Wing Avenue has been mostly inactive since the last meeting. The seeding subcontractor should be reseeding the bare spots sometime in August.
Pay Request #11 – Wencl Construction
Motion by Gard second by Bailey to approve pay request No. 11 to Wencl Construction in the amount of $1,283.54 for work completed through July 2021. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Business Park/Utility Extension Project Update
Engineer Olinger stated that the MnDOT permit for the Highway 60 utility work was received at the end of July. A-1 has been working on the utility extension since August 2 and should be finished in the next few days.
Change Order #6
Engineer Olinger prepared a change order for the project completion date. The new substantial completion date would be August 13 and the final completion date would be September 10, 2021
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Ryan to approve Change Order #6 for A-1 Excavating.
Motion carried 5-0-0Pay Request #6 – A-1 Excavating
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Ryan to approve pay request No. 6 to A-1 Excavating in the amount of $94,126.00 for work completed through July 30th. Motion carried 5-0-0.
FEMA Flood Repairs
Engineer Olinger stated that the project contract was sent back to the Contractor. They will be started toward the end of the year. Crack Filling of Streets Engineer Olinger stated that the contractor doing the street crack filling plans to be in town in early September.
4th Street Alley Paving Engineer Olinger stated that Crane Creek was in town today paving the alley west of Red Wing Avenue between 4th and 6th Street.
Legal
No items.
Old Business
Police Chief Update
Administrator Vahlsing reported that Chief Sjolander retired on August 2. On July 28, the Council approved the appointment of Jeff Sjoblom of the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department as the next Police Chief. He will start on August 23.
New Business
Set Council Work Session to Review 2022 Draft Budget
Administrator Vahlsing stated that a Council work session needed to be scheduled in late August or early September to review the 2022 budget. The Department heads would also attend this meeting to review their respective budgets. The maximum preliminary levy must by adopted by the end of September.
Motion by Henke second by Ryan to set a Council work session for September 8, 2021 at 5:30 p.m. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Gunderson House - Kenyon Area Historical Society – Oktoberfest Event– September 18, 2021
Dan Rechtzigel, representing the Kenyon Area Historical Society, requested approval to hold an Oktoberfest event at the Gunderson House on Saturday September 18, 2021 from 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm. KAHS is working with the Muni to coordinate the event.
Motion by Ryan second by Bailey to approve the KAHS Oktoberfest Event on September 18, 2021 with alcohol sales at the Gunderson House. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Finance Clerk Hiring Update Administrator Vahlsing updated the Council on the retirement of Sue Dodds effective October 15. She will be available to assist as needed after that date. The position has been posted with a soft closing date for applications of August 24. Interviews will be conducted by the KMU Commission and Personnel Committee in early September. The City has received 15 applications to date.
2021 City & KMU Audit Administrator Vahlsing stated that two quotes were received for the City/KMU 2021 audit. One quote was from CLA, which has conducted the City/KMU audit for the last several years, and the other was from Abdo Eich and Meyers, which does the Fire Department Relief Association Audit. The quote received from Abdo was for 5 years ranging from $26,875 to $29,655. The quote from CLA was $32,130.
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Bailey to approve for a five year agreement for audit services with Abdo, Eick and Meyers Motion carried 5-0-0.
Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
KMU Meeting: Friday, August 13 @ 2:00 p.m. City Council Meeting: Tuesday, September 14 @ 7 p.m.
COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTs
None
Motion by Ryan second by Henke to adjourn the meeting at 7:40 p.m. Motion carried 5-0-0.