Regular meeting

Kenyon City Council, May 12, 2026

No minutes were on file for the May 12, 2026 regular session, so this summary reflects only the published agenda and packet materials rather than any recorded votes or outcomes. The consent agenda proposed approval of the Memorial Day Parade for May 25, 2026, the hire of twelve municipal swimming pool employees, a five-year electric rate increase plan that the KMU Commission had approved on April 21, 2026, Resolution 2026-16 terminating the Agency Agreement of the Midwest Municipal Gas Agency, a mobile merchant license for the Chick-fil-A Tri-State food truck, payment of checks and the April 14, 2026 minutes.

motions
no split votes
present
resolutions
largest figure
Yesrecording posted

Watch the meeting

Meeting video, from the city's YouTube channel · open on YouTube

No minutes for this date are in the archive yet; minutes appear in the following month's packet. What follows is from the agenda and packet.

electric rates consent agenda street and utility project municipal gas agency dissolution tif police staffing historic preservation swimming pool

What happened

  1. No minutes are on file for May 12, 2026; this reflects the agenda and packet only
  2. Consent agenda included the Memorial Day Parade for May 25, 2026 and a Chick-fil-A Tri-State food truck mobile merchant license
  3. Twelve municipal swimming pool employees listed for hire, including Maddyn Alexander, Roman Gura and Chrissy Alexander
  4. Five-year electric rate increase plan, approved by the KMU Commission on April 21, 2026, proposed for council approval
  5. Rate plan projects 7.5% increase in year one, then 5.0% per year through year five
  6. Resolution 2026-16 would terminate the Midwest Municipal Gas Agency Agency Agreement, dated October 1, 1997
  7. Roughly $10,000 in the MMGA account to be split among six electric member cities
  8. Pay Application No. 5 for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements sought $58,708.58
  9. Langford Avenue paving scheduled for early June with work complete by mid-June
  10. Administrator update covered KMU job posting, police staffing, a May 18 work session and Sunset Home TIF

What was asked 20 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.

5 what happened next5 partly answered1 not a data question9 we hold no data
PendingScott Lehner, City Administrator
The core team has worked out the main points; the council now needs the presentation so it can vote with full information.

Lehner said the core team has worked out the main points and the council now needs the presentation so it can vote with full information.

At the meetingNo action taken; the update was informational.

What happened next

The council approved 1,855,000 dollars in tax increment assistance over 26 years on May 18 2026, more than double the 800,000 dollars Northland Securities recommended. The TIF Plan for District No. 2-1 was approved June 30 2026, and Municipal Development District No. 2 was created by Res. 2026-18 the same day.

KENYON_INCENTIVES.md / 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-06-30

Action itemScott Lehner, City Administrator
The district goes to the planning commission first, then returns to the council for final approval on June 9.

Lehner reported the commission has not met in some time and that he and Holli Gudknecht are preparing the June 2 agenda.

What happened next

Final approval did not happen on June 9 2026. Attorney Riggs told the council two public hearings had to be scheduled and the paperwork filed with DEED by the end of the day June 30, so the council set a special meeting for Tuesday June 30 at 3:30 pm by a 5-0-0 vote, and the TIF Plan was approved that day.

Lehner told the May 12 council the TIF district would return for final approval on June 9, but approval was taken at a special meeting on June 30.

7.14.26 Council Packet Updated / 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-06-30

PendingPolice Chief Jeff Sjoblom
part-time officer interviews are set for Friday and the department has also heard back from a previous candidate

Staffing update on relieving existing officers with additional part-time help.

What happened next

Two part-time officers came on. On July 14 2026 Chief Sjoblom reported Mitch had passed his background check and would start as a part-time fill in, and Misty had worked one part-time shift. The prospective full-time officer was still in background check at that point and the full-time position remained posted with no applicants on September 8 2026.

7.14.26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-07-14

Unsourced claimDerek Olinger, City Engineer (Bolton & Menk)
The contractor is on the schedule submitted at the start of the project. Paving is planned for early June, with everything complete by the end of June.

Engineering report on the 2025 street and utility project as part of pay application five.

What happened next

The project was not complete by the end of June 2026. On July 14 2026 Olinger reported Fitzgerald had several delays from private utility conflicts, pavement was pushed to later in June, and Eighth Street would not be paved until late October after settling. Work was still running on September 8 2026, when pay application 9 carried a punch list of 27,448.75 dollars and retainage of 48,240.80 dollars.

Olinger told the May 12 council the contractor was on the original schedule with everything complete by the end of June 2026, but work continued into September 2026 and 8th Street paving slipped to late October.

7.14.26 Council Packet Updated / 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08

Questionminutes (asked of the administrator)
Asked whether the work session needs a motion, Lehner said no.

Council asked about the procedure for scheduling the TIF work session.

At the meetingLehner said no; it will be noticed like a regular meeting, posted three days in advance, and as a special meeting discussion is limited to the agenda topics.

What happened next

The council did use a motion to schedule its next special meeting. On the TIF item the council voted 5-0-0 on a motion by Gard seconded by Helgeson to schedule a special council meeting for Tuesday June 30 at 3:30 pm. The posted notice for the May 18 work session is not in our holdings.

Lehner said a work session needs no motion, yet the council scheduled the June 30 special meeting by recorded motion.

7.14.26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-06-30

Action itemScott Lehner, City Administrator
Lehner will meet with the KMU crew and the three utility commissioners the following week to review the applicants, draft interview questions, decide whom to interview, and assemble an interview panel.

The posting for the open Kenyon Municipal Utilities position closed the previous Friday with four applicants.

Partly answered

A first round of KMU interviews was held, but the position was still unfilled four months later. On September 8 2026 Lehner reported John Lee's resignation effective August 14 and said a job offer would potentially be made to an applicant from the first round of interviews. No interview panel roster or hiring recommendation appears in our records.

9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08

Action itemScott Lehner, City Administrator
He is gathering estimates from several companies for a possible upgrade of the council chambers audio-visual system... He will bring a proposal at a later date.

Council praised that the meeting electronics worked, but Lehner said the system still has flaws.

Partly answered

No audio-visual proposal for the council chambers reaches the record. The last chambers sound purchase in the bid file is March 12 2024, when Sim Sound won at 17,026.29 dollars against EPA Audio Visual at 23,246 dollars, and no later audio-visual quote appears among the 43 bids recorded through September 2026. By September 8 2026 Lehner was working with L and M on quotes for the old police building instead.

KENYON_BIDS.md / 9-8-26 Council Packet

RequestScott Lehner, City Administrator
Lehner explained the request for overnight lodging rather than daily driving. Evening events include networking and an awards ceremony, and attending fully puts the city's best foot forward.

Explaining the estimated budget for the preservation training.

At the meetingCouncil approved the training for both Lehner and Goven.

Partly answered

The council approved the training for both Lehner and Goven at the May 12 2026 meeting, but no approved travel budget figure reaches our records. The later packets carry only the general statement that the 2027 budget included council approved priorities for each department. The itemized lodging, registration and parking estimate in the May 12 packet would settle the amount.

5-12-26 Council Packet Updated

To look up
Park and Recreation meeting, Wednesday, May 13, rescheduled and not on the printed list.

Schedule of upcoming meetings under other business.

At the meetingA council member confirmed the Park and Recreation meeting is tomorrow night.

Partly answered

Park and Recreation never returns to the printed schedule. The schedules of upcoming meetings in the July 14, August 6 and September 8 2026 packets list only the KMU commission, the EDA and the city council. That omission is consistent across every later packet we hold, so the printed schedule appears not to carry Park and Recreation at all rather than having dropped one rescheduled date.

7.14.26, 8-6-26 and 9-8-26 Council Packets

Unsourced claimScott Lehner, City Administrator
He and DeWitz worked with On-Site Computers that day, and the system still has flaws even though it worked tonight. ... The small conference room is also being addressed.

Comments after staff worked with On-Site Computers that day on the meeting electronics.

Partly answered

No vendor assessment of the chambers or conference room equipment is in our records, but the cost of the On-Site Computers relationship is. Managed IT ran 1,500 to 2,700 dollars a month in spring 2025, roughly 20,000 to 25,000 dollars a year, covering Microsoft 365 at 201.60 dollars a month, Core Security at 616 dollars a month, backup near 170 dollars a month and block time at 147 dollars a month. The city's computer support object code hit 26,903 dollars actual in 2025 against an 8,500 dollar budget.

KENYON_IT_SPEND.md

Questiona council member
A council member asked whether the conference would help the city keep the Gunderson House maintained and operating.

Discussion of attending the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions FORUM.

At the meetingGoven said the sessions and networking should give a clearer picture of what the city should be doing.

Not a data question

Whether a conference improves Gunderson House maintenance is a judgment for the council and staff, not a fact in our records. What we hold is the money: the city spent 15,000 dollars with Wold Architects on a Gunderson House historic structure study in August 2019, and the 2027 budget carries 4,700 dollars of current ad valorem taxes against the Gunderson House fund. No post-conference maintenance report exists in our holdings.

KENYON_BIDS.md / 9-8-26 Council Packet

To look upScott Lehner, City Administrator
One current employee who is stepping back will stay on part time as needed, though the schedule does not yet show it.

Discussion of police part-time coverage and relieving existing officers.

We hold no data

We hold no Kenyon police department schedule or duty roster. The later record confirms part-time officers were filling in for the chief and the full-time officer on September 8 2026 but does not identify the employee who stepped back. The posted department schedule or payroll detail would settle it.

9-8-26 Council Packet · would settle it: An updated police department schedule showing the part-time availability

Questiona council member
A council member asked whether anyone from the historical society had attended in the past, or whether the training is for city officials only.

Discussion of who should attend the preservation training.

At the meetingLehner said the state is launching this as a new program replacing the old September training, and records show Mark attended the earlier training on the city's behalf.

We hold no data

We hold no city training attendance records and no state eligibility rules for the preservation program. Nothing in the later packets names who attended past preservation training or whether historical society members qualify. The Certified Local Government program guidance from the State Historic Preservation Office and the city's own training file would settle it.

no holding · would settle it: City records of past training attendance and the state program eligibility rules

Unsourced claimScott Lehner, City Administrator
Michael Koop of the State Historic Preservation Office has told the city it needs to get back into good standing.

Justifying attendance at the preservation conference to preserve Certified Local Government status.

We hold no data

We hold no correspondence from Michael Koop or the State Historic Preservation Office and nothing on Kenyon's Certified Local Government standing. The later packets cited for this item concern Abdo contract terms and general government tax lines, not preservation status. A letter or email from the State Historic Preservation Office would settle it.

no holding · would settle it: Correspondence from SHPO on Kenyon's Certified Local Government status

Unsourced claimRachel Goven, office staff
The scholarship covers the remaining expense after a required 30 percent local match, and that match can be met with staff time spent attending and traveling. If approved, no cash match is needed.

Explaining how the city would pay for two people to attend the July conference.

We hold no data

We hold no Certified Local Government scholarship terms and no completed application. The only grant program in our records with documented match rules is the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator, which gives up to 5,000 dollars per city against a 500,000 dollar program cap, and that is a different program. The scholarship program guidelines and the filed application budget would settle whether in-kind staff time satisfies the 30 percent match.

GRANTS.md · would settle it: The scholarship program terms and the completed application/budget in the packet

To look upScott Lehner, City Administrator and Rachel Goven
Based on her correspondence with the state, most of the cost should be covered. Goven confirmed scholarship funds remain available.

The scholarship form is complete and an estimated budget is in the packet.

At the meetingCouncil approved the training for both Lehner and Goven.

We hold no data

We hold no scholarship award letter and no final conference cost. Nothing in any later packet records what share of the expense was covered. The award notice from the state and the reimbursed travel claim would settle it.

no holding · would settle it: The scholarship award letter and final cost figures

Action item
Motion to approve the historical preservation training for Scott Lehner and Rachel Goven. Moved and seconded. Staff will add the item number to the record.

Motion to approve preservation training for Scott Lehner and Rachel Goven.

We hold no data

We hold no corrected minutes showing the item number for the preservation training motion. The clerical correction does not appear in any later packet. The approved May 12 2026 minutes as adopted at the following meeting would settle it. Rachel Goven, one of the two approved to attend, resigned effective August 7 2026.

9-8-26 Council Packet · would settle it: The corrected minutes showing the item number

Unsourced claimScott Lehner, City Administrator
The job posting for the open Kenyon Municipal Utilities position ran for three weeks and closed the previous Friday. Four candidates applied.

KMU job update during the administrator report.

We hold no data

We hold no application file or posting record for the KMU position and cannot confirm four applicants or a three-week posting. Our jobs dataset covers 46 area postings, 34 of them naming Kenyon, and includes the city police officer posting of July 28 2026 but no KMU line worker posting. The city's application log would settle it.

data/jobs.csv · would settle it: The application file or posting record from the city

Unsourced claimRachel Goven, office staff
runs Wednesday, July 22, through Sunday, July 26, at the Marriott in downtown Minneapolis. It replaces the training normally required in September.

Presenting the training request and packet agenda.

We hold no data

We hold no conference registration materials and no state notice replacing the September training. The later passages cited for this item concern vendor onboarding, mineral reservations and a zoning hearing notice, none of them the preservation forum. The registration packet and the State Historic Preservation Office notice would settle it.

no holding · would settle it: The conference registration materials and state notice replacing September training

Unsourced claimScott Lehner, City Administrator
Lehner expects that once the commission is running and keeping its minutes, Goven could attend alone in future years.

Answering why two people should attend this year.

We hold no data

We hold no heritage preservation commission membership roster and no commission minutes. The later passages cited here concern the planning commission, not the heritage preservation commission. The city's appointments resolution and the commission's own minutes would settle whether it is meeting and keeping records.

no holding · would settle it: Heritage preservation commission membership and meeting records

Decisions

  • Proposed on consent agenda: approve Memorial Day Parade for May 25, 2026
  • Proposed on consent agenda: approve hire of municipal swimming pool employees
  • Proposed on consent agenda: approve the five-year electric rate increase plan
  • Proposed on consent agenda: adopt Resolution 2026-16 terminating the Midwest Municipal Gas Agency Agency Agreement
  • Proposed on consent agenda: approve mobile merchant license for Chick-fil-A Tri-State food truck
  • Proposed on consent agenda: payment of checks and approval of April 14, 2026 minutes
  • Requested action: motion approving Pay Estimate #5 for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
  • Requested action: motion needed to set work session date and time (May 18, 2026 at 6:00 pm)
  • No minutes on file, so no vote outcomes are recorded for this meeting

Who did what

PersonAt this meeting
Holli Gudknecht
Administration / Deputy Clerk
Submitted the agenda and item summary reports for the consent agenda, administrator update and engineering items
Scott Lehner
City Administrator
Listed to attest Resolution 2026-16 and to approve the contractor pay application as owner
Donald Kirchmann
Mayor
Listed as signatory on Resolution 2026-16 terminating the MMGA agreement
Derek Olinger
City Engineer
Recommended Pay Estimate #5 and reported Langford Avenue watermain and storm sewer progress
Jerome Houglum
Chairman, Public Utility Commission
Listed to sign Resolution 2026-16 for the utility commission on May 19, 2026
Randy Eggert
Operations Superintendent
Listed to attest the utility commission's adoption of Resolution 2026-16
Bob Blank
Analyst, Utility Financial Solutions, LLC
Submitted the electric cost of service rate design dated 5/7/2026
Dan Kasbohm
Manager, Utility Financial Solutions, LLC
Co-submitted the electric cost of service rate design
Nick Dahle
Project Manager, Fitzgerald Excavating and Trucking, LLC
Signed the contractor's certification on Application for Payment No. 5

Organizations named: Kenyon Municipal Utilities, Midwest Municipal Gas Agency, CMPAS, Utility Financial Solutions, LLC, Bolton & Menk, Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking Inc, Chick-fil-A Tri-State, NAPC, SHPO, Kenyon EDA, City of Kenyon Public Utility Commission

Figures

AmountWhat
$58,708.58Amount due on Pay Application No. 5 to Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
$2,294,629.25Original contract price, 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
-$37,814.00Net change by change orders on the street and utility contract
$2,256,815.25Current contract price after change orders
$1,160,415.47Total work completed and materials stored to date
$58,020.775% retainage held on work completed
$1,043,686.12Less previous payments on the project
$10,000Approximate balance in the MMGA account to be split among six electric member cities
$1,875,816Projected total electric revenues under current rates
$2,452,333Projected total electric revenues in year five of the rate plan

Said at the meeting

Fitzgerald has installed most of the watermain within Langford Avenue and is moving on to storm sewer next week.

Agenda item summary, Engineering · packet, verbatim

Assuming progress remains on track, pavement is scheduled for early June and all work should be completed by the 2nd or 3rd week on June.

Agenda item summary, Engineering · packet, verbatim

The KMU Commission approved the 5-year electric rate increase plan on April 21, 2026.

Agenda item summary, Administration · packet, verbatim

There is approximately $10,000 in this account to be split between six electric member cities.

Agenda item summary, Administration · packet, verbatim

The City hereby approves the termination of the Agency Agreement.

Resolution 2026-16 · packet, verbatim

The Agency's member representatives have determined that the Agency no longer serves a useful purpose and therefore have recommended that the members approve termination of the Agency Agreement with the intent of effectuating the dissolution of the Agency

Resolution 2026-16 · packet, verbatim

Agenda

Each item links to where it appears in the packet.

  1. I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
  2. II. CITIZEN COMMENTS
  3. III. ADOPT AGENDA
  4. IV. CONSENT AGENDA
  5. V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES and APPOINTMENTS
  6. VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
  7. VII. ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
  8. VIII. ENGINEERING
  9. IX. LEGAL
  10. X. FINANCIAL
  11. XI. OLD BUSINESS
  12. XII. NEW BUSINESS
  13. XIII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates
  14. XIV. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
  15. XV. ADJOURNMENT
  16. A. Approve Memorial Day Parade for May 25, 2026
  17. B. Approve Hire of Municipal Swimming Pool Employees
  18. C. Approve Five-Year Electric Rate Increase Plan
  19. D. Resolution 2026-16 Termination the Agency Agreement of the Midwest Municipal
  20. E. Approve Mobile Merchant License Chick-fil-A Tri-State Food Truck
  21. A. City Council Meeting Minutes of April 14, 2026
  22. VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
  23. A. KMU Job Update
  24. B. Police Department Staffing Update
  25. C. Work Session May 18, 2026 at 6:00 pm
  26. D. TIF Update for Sunset Home
  27. A. Historical Preservation Training
  28. XIII. OTHER BUSINESS
  29. A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings

Full packet text (148k characters)