What happened
- Consent agenda approved with check numbers 72943–73027, 3813E–3829E, and additional checks 73028–73034
- Engineer Olinger: discussions continuing with Wencl on liquidated damages for the Red Wing Avenue project
- Council wants Trondheim Road Extension added to the Infrastructure Management Plan without removing existing projects; staff to seek outside funding
- Griffin Construction began Riverside Park FEMA flood repairs, expected done by mid-November
- Internal posting of full-time police officer position to current part-time officers authorized 5-0-0
- New F150 police truck ordered in 2020 accepted by Ford for production, expected late spring 2022
- Bobcat "Toolcat" UW56 purchase approved at $69,974, net about $50,000 after selling John Deere 1575
- 2022 joint-powers agreement with Goodhue County for State Building Code Administration approved
- EDA set Business Park land price at .99¢ per square foot, with TIF to reduce the actual sale price
- Resolution 2021-15 adopted, certifying delinquent utility bills and other fees to property taxes
What was asked 17 raised · 5 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 Council would like to find a way to add this project to the Infrastructure Plan without removing any existing projects from the plan. Olinger and Vahlsing will do more research to check on any outside funding sources that may be available for Infrastructure projects.
Olinger presented the effects of a potential Trondheim Road Extension on the infrastructure management plan, as directed at the October Council meeting.
The research produced options, not outside money. By July 2022 the infrastructure and capital improvement plans were being updated with Trondheim options promised for August, and in September 2022 Engineer Olinger presented three options for revising the plan to include the Trondheim Road Extension. In February 2023 George Eilertson presented an updated Capital Improvement Financial Management Plan built on Bolton and Menk's 2022 plan updates, with cost estimates applied to every project so they could be ranked in order of importance, and focused on the impact on the tax levy and utility rates. No outside funding source is named anywhere in our holdings, and the council's wish to add the project without removing any others is not shown to have been met.
7.12.22_Council_Minutes; 9.13.22_Council_Packet__Agenda; 2.14.23_Council_Packet__Agenda_ · taken up again 2023-02-14
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/ RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS ENGINEERING Red Wing Avenue Project Update Engineer Olinger stated that discussions are continuing with Wencl on liquidated damages on this project.
Project update on the Red Wing Avenue reconstruction.
The dispute was settled at $7,500. In January 2022 Wencl Construction requested Change Order No. 4 to strike the liquidated damage provisions from the contract and replace them with revised damages of $7,500, and Engineer Olinger walked the council through the damage negotiations. Our holdings do not contain the approving motion. Warranty repairs along Red Wing Avenue and at the Business Park were still being done in June 2022. Wencl later bid the 2025 street and utility project at $2,412,395 and did not win.
1-11-22_Agenda_packet; 6.14.22_Council_Minutes; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2022-01-11
Riverside Park FEMA Flood Repairs Griffin Construction has started work on the project. The work should be completed by mid-November.
Update on FEMA flood repairs at Riverside Park.
The work finished on schedule and was paid out in January 2022, when Engineer Olinger reported the Riverside Park FEMA project complete and ready for final payment. Pay Request No. 1 of $76,662.80 to Griffin Construction was approved as the final payment on a roll call with Henke, Rechtzigel, Bailey, Gard and Ryan all aye. That came in $786 under the $77,448.80 awarded in August 2021. A residual FEMA grant line of $2,248.06 in federal grants and aids still appears in later budget tables.
1-11-22_Agenda_packet; 9.12.23_Council_Packet__Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2022-01-11
LEGAL Request Approval of Internal Posting for Hiring of Police Officer Chief Sjoblom requested approval to post the opening for a full-time police officer internally to the current part-time officers.
Legal agenda item on hiring a police officer.
At the meetingCouncil approved the internal posting 5-0-0 after Attorney Riggs said the request was reasonable and the Personnel Committee agreed.
The internal posting was approved 5-0-0 after Attorney Riggs called the request reasonable and the Personnel Committee agreed, but the hiring outcome is not in our holdings. The city abandoned the internal-only approach later: by March 2025 the full-time position was advertised on the city website and the POST Board hiring page with an April 1 close, the chief expected few applicants and had one in hand, and four qualified candidates were eventually interviewed on April 15 2025. The market then dried up entirely, and by September 8 2026 the position was posted until filled with no applicants at all while part-time officers covered.
3-11-25_council_packet_(1); 4-8-25_council_packet; 9-8-26_Council_Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08
Resolution 2021-15: Adopting Assessment for Delinquent Utility Bills Administrator Vahlsing stated that this resolution would authorize delinquent utility bill amounts and other fees to be certified on property taxes.
Adoption of Resolution 2021-15 assessing delinquent utility bills.
At the meetingResolution adopted 5-0-0.
Resolution 2021-15 was adopted 5-0-0 and the practice became annual, with Resolution 2022-22 adopted 5-0-0 and Resolution 2023-27 adopted 4-0-0 doing the same thing in the following two years. In none of the three years does a dollar amount or a certified assessment roll appear in our holdings, so the city has certified delinquent utility debts onto property tax bills three years running without the total entering the meeting record. The assessment rolls sent to the county auditor would settle the amounts.
11.16.22_Council_Minutes; 12-13-22_Agenda_Granicus; 12.12.23_Council_Packet_and_Agenda · taken up again 2023-12-12
Notification was received that the order has been accepted by Ford for production and will hopefully be fulfilled by late spring in 2022.
Old business update on the status of the police vehicle purchase.
No delivery confirmation for the F150 ordered in 2020 appears anywhere in our holdings. What the record shows instead is that the fleet problem was solved another way: a 2013 squad was totaled in March 2022 and replaced with a 2022 Ford Interceptor SUV at a state contract price of $48,931 with equipment installed, funded from the sale of the 2014 squad, the insurance settlement, the 2022 budget and Covid funds, approved 5-0-0 in May 2022. That 2022 vehicle was then itself in an accident and sat at Peterson Ford through August and September 2022 with parts availability problems. A purchase order or delivery record would settle what became of the F150.
5.10.22_Council_Packet__Agenda; 8.15.22_Council_Minutes; 9.13.22_Council_Packet__Agenda
The Cost would be $69,974. If this vehicle was purchased, the John Deere 1575 Utility vehicle would be sold. The estimated value of the John Deere 1575 is a minimum of $20,000, putting the net price at approximately $50,000.
New business discussion of purchasing the Toolcat vehicle.
At the meetingCouncil voted 5-0-0 to authorize the purchase of the quoted Toolcat.
The arithmetic as presented is sound, $69,974 less a minimum $20,000 for the John Deere 1575 gives $49,974, and the council authorized the purchase 5-0-0. Neither the written Toolcat quote nor any appraisal or sale price for the John Deere is in our holdings. The fixed asset schedule in the January 2022 packet carries machinery and equipment at $178,651 gross, $53,016 accumulated and $72,261 net, but itemises neither machine. The quote and the sale record would settle the true net cost.
1-11-22_Agenda_packet
Administrator Vahlsing recommended financing the purchase with a 4-year lease with an estimated annual payment of $13,432 starting April 2023.
Recommendation on how to pay for the Toolcat purchase.
At the meetingCouncil authorized the purchase.
No executed lease matching a four-year term at $13,432 a year appears in our holdings. The lease financings our record does carry are longer and larger, all arranged through Kinetic Leasing via Security State Bank: two seven-year options in February 2022 at $21,620 a year at 3.29% or $22,755 a year at 3.79% depending on when the first payment fell, and a six-year lease in August 2022 at 3.76% with an annual payment of $28,000. None of them is tied to the Toolcat in our documents. The executed lease with its Exhibit B payment schedule would settle the terms.
2.8.2022_Council_Packet__Agenda; 8.15.22_Council_Packet__Agenda
The estimated value of the John Deere 1575 is a minimum of $20,000, putting the net price at approximately $50,000.
Trade-in/sale value used to compute the net cost of the Toolcat purchase.
The $20,000 was stated as a minimum with no appraisal behind it, and no actual sale price for the John Deere 1575 appears in our holdings. The fixed asset schedule in the following January's packet does not list the machine separately, so it cannot be traced there either. The disposal record or auction result would settle what the city realised, and that figure determines whether the net cost of the Toolcat was really about $50,000.
1-11-22_Agenda_packet
Update on Kenyon Business Park Lot Sales Price and Marketing Plan Business Park Lot Sale Price Administrator Vahlsing stated that the EDA Board set the selling price at .99¢ a square foot for the land in the Business Park. Tax increment financing (TIF) will be used to reduce this actual sale price.
Update on Kenyon Business Park lot sales price and marketing plan.
No EDA minutes or resolution setting the Business Park price and no TIF plan for the park appear in our holdings. At 99 cents a square foot an acre would sell for $43,124 before any TIF reduction. Lots did eventually move: in June 2025 Administrator Lehner reported that Attorney Riggs had finalised a developer's agreement for one Business Park lot and that the EDA would need to hold a public hearing on the sale. The EDA resolution and the executed purchase agreement would settle both the price and the incentive actually given.
The figure was recorded as .99 cents a square foot, which reads as a fraction of a cent and would put an acre at $431, when the intended price is 99 cents a square foot.
6-10-25_COUNCIL_PACKET_Updated
Police Department – New Vehicle Logo Chief Sjoblom presented a proposed new logo for the police vehicles. 2022 Proposed Agreement for Continuation of our City-County Joint-Powers "Agreement for State Building Code Administration" Administrator Vahlsing stated that Goodhue County requires the City of Kenyon to approve a yearly agreement to conduct residential and commercial building inspections. The County has done an excellent job conducting inspections for the City.
Recommendation to renew the city-county joint powers building code administration agreement.
At the meetingCouncil approved the 2022 agreement 5-0-0.
No Goodhue County inspection records or permit counts for Kenyon exist in our holdings, so the performance claim cannot be tested. The record does show the claim is standing language rather than an annual judgement: the same sentence about the county doing an excellent job appears verbatim in the 2022, 2023, 2024 and 2025 renewals, delivered by three different officials, with votes of 5-0-0, 5-0-0, 4-0-0 and 3-0-0. County permit and inspection logs would settle the substance.
11.16.22_Council_Minutes; 12-13-22_Agenda_Granicus; 12.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda_Updated
Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6 p.m. 2022 Budget & Levy Public Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6:30 p.m.
Schedule of upcoming meetings.
No record of the December 7 2021 township fire contract negotiation or its outcome is in our holdings. The meeting is an annual fixture held the first Tuesday of December, on December 6 in 2022, December 5 in 2023, December 3 in 2024 and December 2 in 2025. The only year whose terms our records carry is 2026, split 51% city and 49% township across six townships by sections covered. The 2022 township fire contracts would settle that round.
11.16.22_Council_Minutes; 12.9.25_Council_Agenda_and_Packet_Updated
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Bailey to adopt Resolution 2021-15 adopting assessment for delinquent utility bills. Motion carried 5-0-0. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings KMU Meeting: Tuesday, November 16 @ 2:00 p.m.
Schedule of upcoming meetings.
No KMU agenda or minutes from November 16 2021 are in our holdings. The meeting slot itself is traceable and it moved twice: the KMU commission met at 2:00 pm on the third Tuesday in 2021, at 4:00 pm through 2023 and 2024, and at 3:00 pm from 2025 into 2026. KMU minutes would settle what was taken up.
12.12.23_Council_Packet_and_Agenda; 12.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda_Updated; 11-12-25_Council_Packet(1)
Revision to the Rules as Part of the Standard Operating Guidelines – Kenyon Fire Department Assistant Fire Chief Ehrich stated that the Fire Department is recommending that the rules in the Standard Operating Procedures be revised to reflect requirements for attendance by members. The Fire Department membership voted to recommend the rule changes.
Fire Department membership voted to recommend rule changes on attendance.
At the meetingCouncil adopted the revised Fire Department Standard Operating Procedure 5-0-0.
The revised Standard Operating Procedure was adopted 5-0-0 after a vote of the fire department membership, but the text of the attendance requirements is not in our holdings and no later passage returns to it. The three later passages offered here match on the word guidelines alone and concern unrelated subjects, a subsurface utility data standard, a $19,168.36 chest compression machine and a purchasing rule. The adopted guidelines document would settle the attendance requirement.
2021-11-09 minutes as quoted; 5.10.22_Council_Packet__Agenda
CITIZEN COMMENT Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, updated the council on what the Commission is doing and issues they are working on.
Citizen comment period.
No record of which county issues Commissioner Greseth raised in November 2021 exists in our holdings. His appearances are a recurring feature of citizen comment, and the minutes capture only fragments: in 2022 that the May commissioners' meeting would be held at Kenyon City Hall, and in 2024 that the county was going through personnel changes and would meet at Kenyon City Hall on May 1 at 9:00 am. Goodhue County board minutes for the period would settle what he was reporting.
5.10.22_Council_Packet__Agenda; 4.12.22_Council_Minutes; 5-14-24_AGENDA(1)
Police Department – New Vehicle Logo Chief Sjoblom presented a proposed new logo for the police vehicles. 2022 Proposed Agreement for Continuation of our City-County Joint-Powers "Agreement for State Building Code Administration" Administrator Vahlsing stated that Goodhue County requires the City of Kenyon to approve a yearly agreement to conduct residential and commercial building inspections.
New business item on a police department vehicle logo.
At the meetingNo motion or vote is recorded.
No motion, vote or later mention of the police vehicle logo exists anywhere in our holdings. The contrast with the chief's other items is clear, since his Conducted Energy Weapons policy revision and his Take Home Squad Car policy both came back with recorded motions and 4-0-0 votes in 2022. The council minutes from that meeting, or a purchase record for vehicle decals, would settle whether the logo was ever adopted.
4.12.22_Council_Packet__Agenda_Updated; 3.8.22_Council_Minutes · would settle it: A council decision or record of approval on the proposed logo
Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6 p.m. 2022 Budget & Levy Public Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6:30 p.m.
Schedule of upcoming meetings.
We hold no 2022 budget or levy documents and no record of the December 7 2021 public meeting. Our continuous levy series begins with the $1,183,301 certified for payable 2023, so the 2022 figure cannot be derived either. The adopted 2022 budget and levy resolution would settle it.
11.16.22_Council_Minutes; taxes/levy.html · would settle it: The proposed 2022 budget and levy documents
Decisions 8 motions
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Doug Henke Mayor | Called the meeting to order; seconded motions on the consent agenda and police posting; moved adoption of revised Fire Department SOP |
| Mary Bailey Council Member | Moved approval of the consent agenda and the Toolcat purchase; seconded the Fire SOP and Resolution 2021-15 motions |
| Molly Ryan Council Member | Moved to authorize internal posting for the full-time police officer position and moved adjournment |
| Tom Gard Council Member | Seconded motions to approve the agenda and the 2022 Goodhue County building code agreement |
| Dan Rechtzigel Council Member | Moved approval of the agenda, the county building code agreement, and Resolution 2021-15 |
| Mark Vahlsing Administrator | Recommended lease financing for the Toolcat, presented the county building code agreement, Business Park pricing and marketing plan, and Resolution 2021-15 |
| Derek Olinger Engineer | Reported on Red Wing Avenue liquidated damages, Trondheim Road infrastructure plan analysis, and Riverside Park FEMA repairs |
| Scott Riggs Attorney | Advised that the internal police posting request is reasonable |
| Jeff Sjoblom Police Chief | Requested internal posting for a full-time officer, updated Council on the F150 police truck order, presented a new vehicle logo, and praised Officer Mitch Taylor |
| Holli Gudknecht Administrative Assistant | Recorded and signed the minutes |
| Kathy Flikke Finance Clerk | Attended the meeting |
| Todd Greseth Goodhue County Commissioner | Updated the Council during citizen comment on County Commission activities and issues |
| Michelle Vlasak Reporter for Kenyon Leader | Attended the meeting |
| Ehrich Public Works Director and Assistant Fire Chief | Discussed the Bobcat "Toolcat" purchase and presented the recommended Fire Department SOP rule revisions |
| Mitch Taylor Police Officer | Praised by Chief Sjoblom for work on the Pink Patch Project |
Organizations named: City of Kenyon, Goodhue County, Wencl, Griffin Construction, FEMA, Ford, Bobcat, John Deere, Kenyon Fire Department, Kenyon Police Department, CEDA, Kenyon EDA, KMU (Kenyon Municipal Utilities), Kenyon Leader, Pink Patch Project
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $69,974 | cost of the Bobcat "Toolcat" UW56 vehicle |
| $20,000 | estimated minimum value of the John Deere 1575 utility vehicle to be sold |
| $50,000 | approximate net price of the Toolcat after trade/sale of the John Deere |
| $13,432 | estimated annual payment on a 4-year lease for the Toolcat, starting April 2023 |
| .99¢ a square foot | EDA-set selling price for Kenyon Business Park land, to be reduced by TIF |
Said at the meeting
Attorney Riggs stated that this request is reasonable.
Attorney Scott Riggs · minutes, verbatim
Administrator Vahlsing recommended financing the purchase with a 4-year lease with an estimated annual payment of $13,432 starting April 2023.
Administrator Mark Vahlsing · minutes, verbatim
Administrator Vahlsing stated that the EDA Board set the selling price at .99¢ a square foot for the land in the Business Park.
Administrator Mark Vahlsing · minutes, verbatim
Assistant Fire Chief Ehrich stated that the Fire Department is recommending that the rules in the Standard Operating Procedures be revised to reflect requirements for attendance by members.
Assistant Fire Chief Ehrich · minutes, verbatim
Police Chief Sjoblom praised Officer Mitch Taylor on doing a great job with the Pink Patch Project.
Police Chief Jeff Sjoblom · minutes, verbatim
Resolutions and ordinances
- Adopting Assessment for Delinquent Utility Bills Administrator Vahlsing stated that this resolution would authorize delinquent utility bill aRes. 2021-15
Full packet text (0k characters)
The minutes
Official minutes as adopted, from 11.9.21 Council Minutes; text extracted from the PDF.
Council Meeting was duly held in the City Council chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the 9th day of November 2021. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Henke.
- Present
- Mayor Doug Henke, Council Members Mary Bailey, Molly Ryan, Tom Gard, and Dan Rechtzigel
- Also present
- Administrator Mark Vahlsing, Engineer Derek Olinger, Attorney Scott Riggs, Administrative Assistant Holli Gudknecht, Police Chief Jeff Sjoblom, Michelle Vlasak reporter for Kenyon Leader, Finance Clerk Kathy Flikke, Todd Greseth
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Citizen Comment
Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, updated the council on what the Commission is doing and issues they are working on.
Adopt Agenda
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Gard to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Bailey second by Henke to approve the Consent Agenda and payment of check numbers 72943 through 73027; 3813E through 3829E; and additional checks 73028 through 73034.
Motion carried 5-0-0Presentations / Public Hearings / Recognitions / Prolamations
Engineering
Red Wing Avenue Project Update
Engineer Olinger stated that discussions are continuing with Wencl on liquidated damages on this project.
Discuss Addition of Trondheim Road to Infrastructure Management Plan
Engineer Olinger presented a summary of the effects of the potential Trondheim Road Extension project on the infrastructure management plan, as directed at the October Council meeting. The Council would like to find a way to add this project to the Infrastructure Plan without removing any existing projects from the plan. Olinger and Vahlsing will do more research to check on any outside funding sources that may be available for Infrastructure projects. Riverside Park FEMA Flood Repairs Griffin Construction has started work on the project. The work should be completed by mid-November.
Legal
Request Approval of Internal Posting for Hiring of Police Officer
Chief Sjoblom requested approval to post the opening for a full-time police officer internally to the current part-time officers. The Personnel Committee agreed with this request when they met on November 3. Attorney Riggs stated that this request is reasonable.
Motion by Ryan second by Henke to authorize the internal posting for the full-time police officer position.
Motion carried 5-0-0Old Business
Update on Purchase of Police Vehicle
Police Chief Sjoblom updated the Council on the status of the new F150 Police Truck that was ordered in 2020. Notification was received that the order has been accepted by Ford for production and will hopefully be fulfilled by late spring in 2022. NEW BUSINESS Discuss Purchase of Bobcat "Toolcat" UW56 Vehicle Public Works Director Ehrich discussed the possible purchase of the Bobcat "Toolcat" vehicle. The Cost would be $69,974. If this vehicle was purchased, the John Deere 1575 Utility vehicle would be sold. The estimated value of the John Deere 1575 is a minimum of $20,000, putting the net price at approximately $50,000. Administrator Vahlsing recommended financing the purchase with a 4-year lease with an estimated annual payment of $13,432 starting April 2023.
Motion by Bailey second by Ryan to authorize the purchase of the quoted Bobcat "Toolcat" UW56 vehicle. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Police Department – New Vehicle Logo
Chief Sjoblom presented a proposed new logo for the police vehicles.
2022 Proposed Agreement for Continuation of our City-County Joint-Powers "Agreement for State Building Code Administration" Administrator Vahlsing stated that Goodhue County requires the City of Kenyon to approve a yearly agreement to conduct residential and commercial building inspections. The County has done an excellent job conducting inspections for the City. The term of the contract would be for one year starting January 1, 2022.
Motion by Rechtzigel seconded by Gard to approve the 2022 agreement with Goodhue County for State Building Code Administration. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Update on Kenyon Business Park Lot Sales Price and Marketing Plan
Business Park Lot Sale Price Administrator Vahlsing stated that the EDA Board set the selling price at .99¢ a square foot for the land in the Business Park. Tax increment financing (TIF) will be used to reduce this actual sale price. Business Park Marketing Plan Administrator Vahlsing reviewed a marketing strategy, community profile and a marketing flyer that CEDA and the EDA developed for the Business Park.
Revision to the Rules as Part of the Standard Operating Guidelines – Kenyon Fire Department
Assistant Fire Chief Ehrich stated that the Fire Department is recommending that the rules in the Standard Operating Procedures be revised to reflect requirements for attendance by members. The Fire Department membership voted to recommend the rule changes.
Motion by Henke second by Bailey to adopt the revised Fire Department Standard Operation Procedure.
Motion carried 5-0-0Resolution 2021-15: Adopting Assessment for Delinquent Utility Bills
Administrator Vahlsing stated that this resolution would authorize delinquent utility bill amounts and other fees to be certified on property taxes.
Motion by Rechtzigel second by Bailey to adopt Resolution 2021-15 adopting assessment for delinquent utility bills. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
KMU Meeting: Tuesday, November 16 @ 2:00 p.m. Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6 p.m. 2022 Budget & Levy Public Meeting: Tuesday, December 7th @ 6:30 p.m. City Council Meeting: Tuesday, December 14 @ 7 p.m. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTs Police Chief Sjoblom praised Officer Mitch Taylor on doing a great job with the Pink Patch Project.
Motion by Ryan second by Bailey to adjourn the meeting at 8:26 p.m. Motion carried 5-0-0.