Watch the meeting
What happened
- Consent agenda approved 4-0, including Rose Fest events, Resolutions 2025-20 and 2025-21, June financials, minutes and a fire department appointment.
- Resolution 2025-21 rescinded Public Works Director Wayne Ehrich's resignation, retaining him in the position.
- Resolution 2025-20 moved the City Administrator to grade 18, step 10, retroactive to June 14, 2025, following a six-month evaluation.
- Continued assessment hearing opened at 7:04 p.m. and closed at 7:06 p.m.; "No public comments were received."
- Mayor Kirchmann administered the oath of office to Police Officer Armani Tucker.
- Resolution 2025-19 awarded the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements to low bidder Fitzgerald Excavating with alternates 1, 2 and 3; four bids were received July 2.
- Resolution 2025-15 adopted the assessment roll: 15-year term, 5.25% interest, prepayments allowed through November 15, 2025 without penalty.
- Council approved Bolton & Menk's scope and fee for construction engineering and surveying through the project's 2026 completion, costs already in the project budget.
- Council approved using Abdo for payroll processing until a finance director is hired; Sue Dodds is helping part time and the personnel committee will review the job description.
- Upcoming meetings set: KMU July 15, EDA July 22, City Council August 12; meeting adjourned at 7:39 p.m.
What was asked 10 raised · 8 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.
ENGINEERING 2025 Street and Utility Improvements – Bid Acceptance Engineer Olinger stated that the project was advertised last month with four bids received. He recommended awarding the contract to the low bidder, Fitzgerald Excavating of Goodhue, MN to include the three alternates.
Bid acceptance for the 2025 street and utility project.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2025-19 accepting the Fitzgerald Excavating bid with alternates 1, 2, and 3.
Four bids came in on the second advertisement and Fitzgerald Excavating was low at $2,294,629.25, ahead of BCM Construction at $2,423,525.98, Alcon at $2,426,712.04 and Heselton at $2,653,939.05 against an engineer's estimate of $2,764,170.05. Fitzgerald came in $469,540.80 under the estimate and $128,896.73 under the next bidder. This was the second round: six bids opened May 13 2025, led by BCM at $2,306,652.41, were all rejected on June 10 2025.
The rebid came in $12,022.84 above the low bid the council rejected in June 2025, when BCM had bid $2,306,652.41.
KENYON_BIDS.md and 8.12.25 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-08-12
Abdo Service Proposal to City of Kenyon Administrator Lehner has been working with Abdo to determine what finance services we could contract with them in the interim period. He would like to have more information on the services and costs for the special council meeting on July 16.
Lehner has been working with Abdo to determine which finance services the city could contract for during the interim period without a finance director.
Abdo brought its scope and fee back and the council approved the contract on August 12 2025 on a motion by Kirchmann seconded by Helgeson, carried 4-0-0, covering the budget process, consolidation of the KMU and city accounts, and general accounting until the finance position is filled. The engagement began at $92,100 a year, or $7,675 a month, and by the 2027 proposal had grown to $164,800 comprising $109,000 Financial Solutions, $30,000 HR and $25,800 payroll.
8.12.25 Council Packet and 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-08-12
The personnel committee will meet next week to review the Finance Director job description so the position can get posted.
Update on interim finance staffing while the Finance Director position is vacant.
The personnel committee reviewed the job description and changed the title from Finance Director to Finance Officer, as Lehner reported on September 9 2025. No posting date and no hire appear afterward, and a year later Abdo was still quoting payroll and financial services for 2027, so the position was not filled in the window our record covers.
9-9-25 Council Packet and 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-09-09
LEGAL FINANCIAL OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Abdo Payroll Contract Administrator Lehner explained Abdo's payroll contract. Abdo will be assisting with payroll processing until a finance director is hired.
Council approved the Abdo payroll contract as an interim measure.
At the meetingCouncil approved using Abdo for payroll until a finance director is hired, 4-0.
The council approved Abdo for payroll until a finance director is hired on August 12 2025, on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Brunner with a roll call of Kirchmann, Sjolander, Helgeson and Brunner all aye, carried 4-0-0. No finance director was hired, so the interim arrangement was still running in September 2026, when Abdo proposed $25,800 for payroll in 2027. That is more than three times the $7,655 Paychex quoted and five times the $5,032 ADP quoted when payroll was last competitively bid in March 2023.
8.12.25 Council Packet, KENYON_BIDS.md, 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08
Assessment Adoption – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the assessment roll was updated with the most current bid pricing.
Assessment adoption following the continued assessment hearing.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2025-15 adopting the assessment.
Resolution 2025-15 adopting the assessment passed on August 12 2025 on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson, roll call all aye, carried 4-0-0, after a continued public hearing at which no public comment was received. All property owners were notified again of their assessment amounts, as the engineer reported on September 9 2025. The per-parcel assessment roll itself is not in anything we hold.
8.12.25 and 9-9-25 Council Packets · taken up again 2025-09-09
The proposal has an assessment term of 15 years with a 5.25% interest rate with partial or full prepayments allowed through November 15, 2025 without penalty.
Terms of the adopted assessment for the 2025 street and utility improvements.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2025-15 with these terms.
The 15-year term at 5.25 percent with prepayment allowed through November 15 2025 without penalty was adopted in Resolution 2025-15 on August 12 2025, roll call all aye, carried 4-0-0. A separate assessment in the November 12 2025 packet runs five years at 3.75 percent, so the two sets of terms in the record belong to different assessments and should not be confused.
8.12.25 and 11-12-25 Council Packets · taken up again 2025-08-12
ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE Update on Interim Finance Director 11 Administrator Lehner stated that Sue Dodds has been helping part time in the finance office. Abdo is helping with the payroll.
Update on interim finance director coverage.
Sue Dodds finished. On November 12 2025 Lehner told the council she would be done helping at city hall soon and that he was working out next steps. We hold no hours record or agreement for her, but the cost of running finance without a director is visible elsewhere: Abdo charged a one-time $15,000 to reconcile January through July 2025 records, and actual outside services in the administration line ran $99,689 in 2025.
11-12-25 Council Packet and 9-8-26 Council Packet budget tables · taken up again 2025-11-12
Abdo Service Proposal to City of Kenyon Administrator Lehner has been working with Abdo to determine what finance services we could contract with them in the interim period. He would like to have more information on the services and costs for the special council meeting on July 16.
Lehner deferred the Abdo service proposal discussion to the July 16 special meeting.
The special meeting was held on July 16 2025. Its minutes appear for approval on the August 12 2025 agenda as item V.B, City Council Special Meeting of July 16, 2025, alongside the July 8 regular minutes. The Abdo contract was then approved at that August 12 meeting.
8.12.25 Council Packet agenda item V.B · taken up again 2025-08-12
Construction Engineering Agreement – 2025 Street & Utility Improvement Engineer Olinger reviewed the scope and fees for the construction engineering and surveying services through the end of this project in 2026. These costs were included in the overall project budget.
Approval of the construction engineering agreement scope and fee.
At the meetingCouncil approved Bolton & Menk's scope and fee, 4-0.
The council approved Bolton and Menk's construction engineering and surveying scope and fee on August 12 2025 on a motion by Brunner seconded by Sjolander, roll call all aye, carried 4-0-0, but no dollar figure for that fee appears in anything we hold. The project carries Bolton and Menk number 24X.134934 and ran into 2026 as promised, reaching pay application 9 on September 8 2026. The signed scope and fee document and the project budget page showing the engineering allowance are what is missing.
8.12.25 Council Packet and 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-08-12
Resolution 2025-19: Accepting Bid 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2025-19 accepting the bid from Fitzgerald Excavating with the addition of alternates 1, 2, and 3.
Resolution 2025-19 bid acceptance motion attribution conflicts with the attendance record.
The discrepancy is real and sits in the city's own record. The minutes attribute the Resolution 2025-19 motion to Bailey while the roll call on that same vote lists only Kirchmann, Sjolander, Helgeson and Brunner, and the vote is recorded as 4-0-0. Nothing we hold corrects it, and only the meeting recording or amended minutes would establish who actually moved the resolution.
The minutes credit a motion to a member who does not appear in the roll call for the same vote.
8.12.25 Council Packet
Decisions 8 motions
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Donald Kirchmann Mayor | Presided, administered the oath of office to Officer Armani Tucker, moved the consent agenda and adjournment, and commented on "keeping up the great meetings." |
| Lee Sjolander Council Member | Moved to open and close the assessment hearing, moved Resolution 2025-15 and the Abdo payroll approval; praised city staff. |
| Elana Brunner Council Member | Moved to approve the agenda and the Bolton & Menk construction engineering scope and fee; praised pool staff. |
| Kim Helgeson Council Member | Attended via Zoom, seconded the bid acceptance and assessment adoption motions, and thanked everyone for their hard work. |
| Mary Bailey Council Member | Recorded as absent; minutes list her as making the motion to adopt Resolution 2025-19. |
| Scott Lehner City Administrator | Reported on interim finance staffing, the Abdo service proposal and payroll contract; welcomed Officer Tucker; thanked council members. |
| Derek Olinger City Engineer (Bolton & Menk) | Reported four bids received, recommended Fitzgerald Excavating, presented updated assessment roll and construction engineering scope and fee. |
| Armani Tucker Kenyon Police Officer | Received the oath of office from Mayor Kirchmann. |
| Holli Gudknecht Administrative Assistant / Deputy City Clerk | Prepared agenda items and recorded the minutes. |
| Scott Riggs City Attorney | Attended the meeting. |
| Wayne Ehrich Public Works Director | Subject of Resolution 2025-21, which rescinded his resignation and retained him as Public Works Director. |
| Sue Dodds Part-time finance office help | Reported to be assisting part time in the finance office. |
| Blake Hilke Kenyon Fire Department Volunteer | Appointed as part of the consent agenda. |
| Jeff Sjoblom Police Chief | Attended the meeting. |
Organizations named: Abdo, Bolton & Menk, Inc., Fitzgerald Excavating, BCM Construction Inc., Alcon Excavating Inc., Heselton Construction LLC, Kenyon Municipal Liquor Store, KW Athletic Booster Club, Kenyon Fire Department, Kenyon Police Department, Kenyon Municipal Utilities (KMU), Kenyon EDA, City of Kenyon
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $1,813,215.75 | Fitzgerald Excavating base bid for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements |
| $2,294,629.25 | Fitzgerald Excavating total bid including all three alternates |
| $381,861.50 | Fitzgerald Excavating Alternate 1 - 5th Street reconstruction |
| $53,533.50 | Fitzgerald Excavating Alternate 2 - Forest Street mill & overlay |
| $46,018.50 | Fitzgerald Excavating Alternate 3 - Red Wing Ave sidewalk (7th to 8th) |
| $2,423,525.98 | BCM Construction Inc. total bid |
| $2,426,712.04 | Alcon Excavating Inc. total bid |
| $2,653,939.05 | Heselton Construction total bid |
| $156,621.10 | Total final assessments for the 8th Street segment |
| $76,611.63 | Total final assessments for the Langford Avenue segment |
Said at the meeting
If deemed financially feasible, we recommend awarding the contract to Fitzgerald Excavating of Goodhue, MN.
Derek Olinger, City Engineer (bid recommendation letter) · packet, verbatim
The City Council rescinds the resignation of the Employee, and the Employee shall continue as the Public Works Director in the City.
Resolution 2025-21 · packet, verbatim
Much has been accomplished in the first six months the personnel committee is very happy with the City Administrators performance
Resolution 2025-20 · packet, verbatim
Council member Sjolander stated that staff have been out working hard to keep the city looking nice.
Council member Lee Sjolander · packet, verbatim
He thanked council members for joining meetings remotely while on vacation and thanked Engineer Olinger for helping with the audio at the meeting.
City Administrator Scott Lehner · minutes, verbatim
Resolutions and ordinances
- Approve Rescinding of Resignation in the City of Kenyon Resolution 2025-20: Approving the Performance Evaluation and Wage Increase for the CiRes. 2025-21
- Accepting Bid 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2025-19 accepting the bid from FitRes. 2025-19
- Adopting Assessment 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2025-15Res. 2025-15
Agenda
Each item links to where it appears in the packet.
- I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
- II. CITIZEN COMMENTS
- III. ADOPT AGENDA
- III.A Adopt the Agenda for July 8, 2025
- IV. CONSENT AGENDA
- IV.A Approve Consent Agenda Items Including:
- A. Approve Rose Fest Events
- B. Resolution 2025-21: Approve Rescinding of Resignation in the City of Kenyon
- C. Resolution 2025-20: Approving the Performance Evaluation and Wage Increase for the City
- V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES and APPOINTMENTS
- VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
- VI.A Continued Assessment Hearing - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- VI.B Oath of Office for Kenyon Police Officer Armani Tucker
- VII. ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- VII.A Update on Interim Finance Director
- VII.B Abdo Service Proposal to City of Kenyon
- VIII. ENGINEERING
- VIII.A Bid Acceptance - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- VIII.B Assessment Adoption - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- VIII.C Construction Engineering Agreement - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- IX. LEGAL
- X. FINANCIAL
- X.A Financial Reports and Checks for June
- XI. OLD BUSINESS
- XII. NEW BUSINESS
- XII.A Abdo Payroll Contract
- XIII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates
- XIII.A FYI for July 8, 2025
- XIV. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
- XV. ADJOURNMENT
- A. City Council Meeting Minutes of June 10, 2025
- B. City Council Special Closed/Open Meeting of June 30, 2025
- A. Continued Assessment Hearing – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- B. Oath of Office for Kenyon Police Officer Armani Tucker
- A. Update on Interim Finance Director
- B. Abdo Service Proposal to City of Kenyon
- B. Assessment Adoption – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- C. Construction Engineering Agreement – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
- A. Abdo Payroll Contract
- XIII. OTHER BUSINESS
- A. Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
- B. Resolution 2025-21: Approve Rescinding of Resignation in the City of
- C. Resolution 2025-20: Approving the Performance Evaluation and Wage
Full packet text (187k characters)
The minutes
Official minutes as adopted, from 8.12.25 Council Packet Agenda Updated; text extracted from the PDF.
Council Meeting was duly held in the City Council chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the 8th day of July 2025. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Donald Kirchmann.
- Present
- Mayor Donald Kirchmann, Council Members Lee Sjolander and Elana Brunner
- Via Zoom
- Kim Helgeson
- Absent
- Mary Bailey
- Also present
- City Administrator Scott Lehner, Administrative Assistant Holli Gudknecht, Engineer Derek Olinger, City Attorney Scott Riggs, Officer Brian Homeier, Police Chief Jeff Sjoblom, Officer Armani Tucker, John Lee, Josh Johnson, Jed Johnson, Officer Dan England, Wayne & Donna Lexvold, Deb & Stuart Kohn, Sara Tucker, Tom & Ann Dee Larkin
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Citizen Comment
Adopt Agenda
Motion by Brunner seconded by Sjolander to approve the agenda.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander- Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Consent Agenda
Motion by Kirchmann second by Brunner to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes:
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Presentations / Public Hearings / Recognitions / Prolamations
Continued Assessment Hearing - 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Brunner to open the public hearing at 7:04 pm.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander- Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Engineer Olinger stated that this Public Hearing was a continuation of the June 10, 2025 public hearing. No public comments were received.
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Brunner to close the public hearing at 7:06 pm.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Oath of Office for Kenyon Police Officer Armani Tucker
Mayor Kirchmann recited the oath of office for Officer Armani Tucker. Administrator Lehner welcomed Armani to the department.
Administrator Update
Update on Interim Finance Director
Administrator Lehner stated that Sue Dodds has been helping part time in the finance office. Abdo is helping with the payroll. The personnel committee will meet next week to review the Finance Director job description so the position can get posted.
Abdo Service Proposal to City of Kenyon
Administrator Lehner has been working with Abdo to determine what finance services we could contract with them in the interim period. He would like to have more information on the services and costs for the special council meeting on July 16.
Engineering
2025 Street and Utility Improvements – Bid Acceptance Engineer Olinger stated that the project was advertised last month with four bids received. He recommended awarding the contract to the low bidder, Fitzgerald Excavating of Goodhue, MN to include the three alternates. Resolution 2025-19: Accepting Bid 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2025-19 accepting the bid from Fitzgerald Excavating with the addition of alternates 1, 2, and 3.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Assessment Adoption – 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Engineer Olinger stated that the assessment roll was updated with the most current bid pricing. The proposal has an assessment term of 15 years with a 5.25% interest rate with partial or full prepayments allowed through November 15, 2025 without penalty. Resolution 2025-15: Adopting Assessment 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2025-15.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Construction Engineering Agreement – 2025 Street & Utility Improvement
Engineer Olinger reviewed the scope and fees for the construction engineering and surveying services through the end of this project in 2026. These costs were included in the overall project budget.
Motion by Brunner seconded by Sjolander to approve Bolton & Menk's scope and fee for construction engineering.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Legal
Financial
Old Business
New Business
Abdo Payroll Contract
Administrator Lehner explained Abdo's payroll contract. Abdo will be assisting with payroll processing until a finance director is hired.
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Brunner to approve using Abdo for purposes of doing payroll until a finance director is hired.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
12
Motion carried 4-0-0.
Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
KMU Meeting: Tuesday, July 15th @ 2:00 p.m. EDA Meeting: Tuesday, July 22nd @ 8 a.m. City Council Meeting: Tuesday, August 12th @ 7 p.m.
Council And Staff General Comments
Administrator Lehner thanked all the council members for their support. He thanked council members for joining meetings remotely while on vacation and thanked Engineer Olinger for helping with the audio at the meeting.
Council member Sjolander stated that staff have been out working hard to keep the city looking nice. Staff is greatly appreciated.
Council member Brunner appreciated our pool staff and stated our staff are awesome.
Council member Helgeson thanked everyone for their hard work.
Mayor Kirchmann commented on keeping up the great meetings.
Motion by Kirchmann seconded by Brunner to adjourn the meeting at 7:39 p.m.
Roll Call Vote: Kirchmann – Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Helgeson - Aye, Brunner – Aye
Motion carried 4-0-0Holli Gudknecht, Deputy City Clerk Donald Kirchmann, Mayor
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Special City