Watch the meeting
What happened
- Oath of Office administered to Council Member Mary Bailey by Mayor Kirchmann following her May 18 resignation and reappointment
- Consent agenda approved 5-0-0, including Resolution 2026-19 amending Kenyon Firemen's Relief Association bylaws
- Checks 78228 through 78316 and 7376E through 7448E approved for payment
- Parker Burdorf hired as Line Worker/Water Operator and introduced himself to the council
- Pay Application No. 6 to Fitzgerald Excavating approved for $302,822.76, covering work through May 29, 2026
- Anna Kelly presented the Goodhue County Toward Zero Deaths Safe Roads Grant program
- KMU checking account officially closed; police department full-time officer candidate still in background check
- Special council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, June 30 at 3:30 p.m. for TIF District 2-1 public hearings, with DEED paperwork due June 30
- 2026 first quarter financial report from Abdo accepted 5-0-0
- New three-year contract with Flom Disposal to be ready for the July council meeting
What was asked 15 raised · 10 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.
LEGAL OLD BUSINESS TIF District 2-1 Attorney Riggs stated that two public hearings need to be scheduled for the TIF District. The paperwork from this meeting needs to be submitted to DEED by the end of the day on June 30.
TIF District 2-1 process requires public hearings and a DEED filing deadline.
At the meetingCouncil voted 5-0 to schedule a special council meeting on Tuesday, June 30 at 3:30 pm.
The council voted 5-0 to hold a special meeting on June 30 2026 at 3:30 pm, and at that meeting it adopted Res. 2026-18 creating Municipal Development District No. 2 and TIF District No. 2-1 as a redevelopment district, plus Res. 2026-20 for an interfund loan. The September 8 2026 packet confirms the district was created, adopted and approved in accordance with the TIF Act, so the hearings and the DEED filing were completed.
9-8-26 Council Packet; factbook Development, TIF and land · taken up again 2026-06-30
Misty has worked one part-time shift so far. Flom Contract A new three-year contract with Flom Disposal will be ready for the July council meeting.
Administrator update on the garbage hauling contract.
The contract came to the council on August 6 2026, not July, and was approved 4-0-0 as a three-year solid waste hauling agreement with Flom Disposal containing increased rates. The prior agreement had expired on June 30 2026, so the city hauled for over a month without a signed contract.
The contract was promised for the July council meeting but was not approved until August 6 2026.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-08-06
Police Department Staffing Update Police Chief Sjoblom stated that the potential full-time police officer is still going through the background check.
Police department staffing update.
The background check did not produce a hire. On September 8 2026 Administrator Lehner reported the police officer position is still posted until filled with no applicants at that point, and the city had re-posted the full-time officer job on July 28 2026 at $33.54 per hour entry, $38.57 at three to five years and $42.61 at five to ten years.
9-8-26 Council Packet; factbook data/jobs.csv · taken up again 2026-09-08
He also noted that the pool lifeguards had a busy day yesterday. He would like to see the guards involved get recognized by the police or fire department.
General council comments about pool lifeguards.
Recognition was offered and refused. On August 6 2026 Administrator Lehner reported that pool staff Addison Lindell, Cosette Rice and Leah Widholm all declined to attend the council meeting and did not wish to be publicly recognized for the rescue, and Mayor Kirchmann thanked them instead.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-08-06
Fitzgerald has had several delays caused by private utility conflicts with the new work, but they have kept the project moving. Sewer lining work should start within a week.
2025 Street & Utility Project construction update.
Sewer lining was substantially complete by July 17 2026. The August 6 2026 pay estimate covers primarily sanitary sewer lining, grouting and manhole rehabilitation through July 17, which the engineer names as the substantial completion date for that work, and the September 8 2026 report says only punch list repairs remained.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-08-06
Fitzgerald has had several delays caused by private utility conflicts with the new work, but they have kept the project moving. Sewer lining work should start within a week. Pavement is scheduled for later in June.
Construction schedule update for the street project.
Paving did not all finish in June. Change Order No. 2, issued July 14 2026, delayed final paving of both Eighth Street and Langford Avenue to the end of the construction season, and by August 6 2026 Langford reconstruction was complete with sod laid but final pavement not yet placed.
The June report that pavement was scheduled for later in June understates the delay; final paving on two streets was pushed to the end of the season.
7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; 8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-07-14
Eighth street will be paved in late October after the street has had a chance to settle. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements – Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking -Pay Application No. 6 Pay request No. 6 includes work completed through May 29, 2026.
Construction schedule for Eighth Street paving.
The delay was formalized by Change Order No. 2, issued and effective July 14 2026, which pushed final paving of Eighth Street and Langford Avenue to the end of the construction season because backfill soils in the service line trenches had settled. The original contract had required final asphalt on Eighth Street by July 18 2026, with punch list corrections due August 30 2026.
7.14.26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-07-14
ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE KMU Bank Account Closure Administrator Lehner stated that the KMU checking account was officially closed last week.
Administrator update on KMU bank account closure.
The closure is corroborated by the treasurer's cash schedule in the August 6 2026 packet, where account 060, Security State Bank Kenyon Municipal Utilities Checking, carries zero in every column. The city's remaining balances that month were $378,630.91 in the general checking account plus $3,000 petty cash and $3,000 in the ATM.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-08-06
Fitzgerald has had several delays caused by private utility conflicts with the new work, but they have kept the project moving.
Status report on the 2025 Street & Utility Project.
The private utility conflicts are confirmed in the record. On September 8 2026 Doug Henke reported problems with the gas company installing its line and Engineer Olinger said he would work with the gas company on repairs. Change Order No. 2 documents the separate settlement-driven delay, and change orders to date had reduced the $2,294,629.25 contract by $37,814.00.
9-8-26 Council Packet; 7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2026-09-08
ENGINEERING 2025 Street & Utility Project 13 Engineer Olinger stated that Utility work is mostly complete within Langford Avenue and the crew has begun to build the street structure.
Progress report on Langford Avenue work.
Langford Avenue reconstruction finished the following month. On August 6 2026 Engineer Olinger reported most of the reconstruction within Langford Avenue complete with sod laid, leaving sewer lining and manhole rehabilitation as the last major item, though the liner system was installed and manhole liners, casting adjustments and service grouting remained.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-08-06
Individual department head meetings will be held on June 16 to review the budget. Sjolander wanted to make sure that the step increases were included in the budget this year.
2027 budget preview discussion.
The 2027 budget carried forward the council-approved priorities for each department, and the levy that budget supports was certified as a preliminary $1,670,115 on September 8 2026 under Res. 2026-31, a 9.26% increase. Our data does not contain the wage schedule or step table, so whether individual step increases were funded cannot be confirmed from what we hold.
9-8-26 Council Packet; factbook taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2026-09-08
Motion carried 5-0-0. 2027 Budget Preview Jessi Sturtz from Abdo reviewed the budget timeline and current known factors that will affect the budget. Individual department head meetings will be held on June 16 to review the budget.
2027 budget timeline presented by Abdo.
We hold no agenda, attendance list or notes from any June 16 department head budget meeting. What the record does show is that on September 8 2026 Administrator Lehner asked department heads to begin giving in-person updates at council meetings, and the September 8 agenda lists five named department head updates. The June 16 session notes would settle this.
9-8-26 Council Packet
Mitch has passed his background check and will start as a part-time fill in. Misty has worked one part-time shift so far.
Police staffing update on part-time officers.
Our data holds no personnel file or shift log for either part-time officer. The later record is consistent with the claim: on September 8 2026 Administrator Lehner reported that the police chief and the full-time officer were both on vacation and part-time officers were filling in. Payroll records or the department schedule would settle the individual shift counts.
9-8-26 Council Packet
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Bailey to approve pay application #6 to Fitzgerald Excavating in the amount of $302,822.76.
Council approved pay application No. 6 for the street and utility project.
At the meetingApproved 5-0-0.
Our record confirms pay application No. 6 covered work through May 29 2026 but does not independently verify the $302,822.76 amount. The applications that follow are documented: No. 7 at $461,189.14 through July 3 2026, No. 8 through July 17 2026, and No. 9 dated September 8 2026 covering July 18 to September 2 2026, against a contract of $2,294,629.25. The signed application No. 6 with the engineer's certification would settle the figure.
7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; 8-6-26 Council Packet Updated; 9-8-26 Council Packet
COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS Council Member Sjolander acknowledged a letter received from a citizen concerning the boulevard roses.
Council general comments acknowledging correspondence received.
We hold nothing on the boulevard roses letter and nothing on any city policy governing boulevard plantings. The city correspondence log for July 2026 and the text of the citizen letter would settle it, along with any ordinance section on boulevard maintenance.
no source in our holdings · would settle it: The citizen letter and any city response or policy on boulevard plantings
Decisions 6 motions
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Don Kirchmann Mayor | Called the meeting to order, administered the Oath of Office to Mary Bailey, and thanked employees and welcomed new KMU employee Parker Burdorf |
| Mary Bailey Council Member | Took the Oath of Office; moved to approve the consent agenda, accept the first quarter financial report, and adjourn |
| Lee Sjolander Council Member | Moved to approve the agenda and Pay Application #6; raised a citizen letter on boulevard roses, praised pool lifeguards, and asked that step increases be included in the budget |
| Kim Helgeson Council Member | Seconded the consent agenda, the special meeting scheduling, and adjournment motions |
| Deanna Gard Council Member | Moved to schedule a special council meeting on June 30 at 3:30 pm for the TIF District |
| Scott Lehner City Administrator | Reported the KMU checking account was closed and that a new three-year Flom Disposal contract would be ready for July |
| Derek Olinger City Engineer | Reported on 2025 Street & Utility Project progress, delays from private utility conflicts, and paving schedule |
| Anna Kelly Goodhue County TZD Safe Roads Grant Coordinator | Presented a summary of Toward Zero Deaths Program activities |
| Parker Burdorf Line Worker/Water Operator | Introduced himself to the council as the newly hired line worker/water operator |
| Sjoblom Police Chief | Gave the police department staffing update on background checks and part-time hires |
| Scott Riggs City Attorney | Advised that two public hearings are needed for the TIF District and paperwork must go to DEED by June 30 |
| Jessi Sturtz Abdo (attended via Zoom) | Reviewed the 2026 first quarter financial report and the 2027 budget timeline and factors |
| Holli Gudknecht Deputy Clerk | Prepared agenda item reports and signed the minutes |
Organizations named: City of Kenyon, Kenyon Firemen's Relief Association, Kenyon Municipal Utilities (KMU), Goodhue County Toward Zero Deaths (TZD) Safe Roads, Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking, Bolton & Menk, Abdo, Flom Disposal, Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED), Office of the State Auditor, Kenyon Police Department, Northland Securities
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $302,822.76 | Pay Application No. 6 to Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements |
| $2,294,629.25 | Original contract price for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements project |
| $2,256,815.25 | Current contract price after net change by change orders |
| $1,479,176.27 | Total work completed and materials stored to date |
| $73,958.81 | Total retainage (5%) held on work completed |
| $1,102,394.70 | Less previous payments on the street and utility project |
| $37,814.00 | Net deduction from contract price by change orders |
| $1,405,217.46 | Amount eligible to date after retainage |
Said at the meeting
Administrator Lehner stated that the KMU checking account was officially closed last week.
Administrator Scott Lehner · minutes, verbatim
Police Chief Sjoblom stated that the potential full-time police officer is still going through the background check.
Police Chief Sjoblom · minutes, verbatim
Engineer Olinger stated that Utility work is mostly complete within Langford Avenue and the crew has begun to build the street structure.
Engineer Derek Olinger · packet, verbatim
Attorney Riggs stated that two public hearings need to be scheduled for the TIF District.
Attorney Scott Riggs · packet, verbatim
He also noted that the pool lifeguards had a busy day yesterday.
Council Member Lee Sjolander · minutes, verbatim
Mayor Kirchmann was glad to have new KMU employee, Parker, here.
Mayor Don Kirchmann · minutes, verbatim
Resolutions and ordinances
- Approving Amendments to the Bylaws of the Kenyon Firemen's Relief Association Approved payment of check numbers 78228 through 78316; 7376E thRes. 2026-19
Agenda
Each item links to where it appears in the packet.
- I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
- II. CITIZEN COMMENTS
- III. ADOPT AGENDA
- IV. CONSENT AGENDA
- V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES and APPOINTMENTS
- VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
- VII. ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- VIII. ENGINEERING
- IX. LEGAL
- X. FINANCIAL
- XI. OLD BUSINESS
- XIII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates
- XIV. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
- XV. ADJOURNMENT
- A. Resolution 2026-19: Approving Amendments to the Bylaws of the Kenyon Firemen's
- A. City Council Meeting Minutes of May 12, 2026
- B. City Council Meeting Minutes of May 18, 2026
- B. Approve Hire of Parker Burdorf, Line Worker/Water Operator
- A. Toward Zero Death Program – Anna Kelly, Goodhue County TZD Safe Roads Grant
- A. KMU Bank Account Closure
- B. Police Department Staffing Update
- XII. NEW BUSINESS
- XIII. OTHER BUSINESS
- A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
Full packet text (332k characters)
The minutes
Official minutes as adopted, from 7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; 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 June 2026. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirchmann.
- Present
- Mayor Don Kirchmann, Council Members Kim Helgeson, Lee Sjolander, Mary Bailey, Deanna Gard
- Also present
- City Administrator Scott Lehner, Engineer Derek Olinger, Officer Dan England, Heather Dewitz, Police Chief Sjoblom, Doug Henke, Parker Burdorf, John Lee, Josh Johnson, Randy Eggert, Anna Kelly
- Via Zoom
- Jessi Sturtz
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
The Oath of Office will be administered by the Mayor for Councilmember Bailey The Oath of Office was administered to Mary Bailey by Mayor Donald Kirchmann.
Citizen Comment
Adopt Agenda
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Bailey to approve the agenda. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Consent Agenda
Parker Burdorf, newly hired line worker/water operator introduced himself.
Motion by Bailey second by Helgeson to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes:
Motion carried 5-0-0Presentations / Public Hearings / Recognitions / Prolamations
Toward Zero Death Program – Anna Kelly, Goodhue County TZD Safe Roads Grant Coordinator
Anna Kelly, Goodhue County TZD Safe Roads Grant Coordinator, presented a summary of the Toward Zero Deaths Program activities. The goal of the TZD program is to reduce injuries and deaths due to speeding, impaired and drunk driving and other preventable causes on Minnesota Roads.
Administrator Update
KMU Bank Account Closure
Administrator Lehner stated that the KMU checking account was officially closed last week.
Police Department Staffing Update
Police Chief Sjoblom stated that the potential full-time police officer is still going through the background check. Mitch has passed his background check and will start as a part-time fill in. Misty has worked one part-time shift so far.
Flom Contract
A new three-year contract with Flom Disposal will be ready for the July council meeting.
Engineering
2025 Street & Utility Project 13 Engineer Olinger stated that Utility work is mostly complete within Langford Avenue and the crew has begun to build the street structure. Fitzgerald has had several delays caused by private utility conflicts with the new work, but they have kept the project moving. Sewer lining work should start within a week. Pavement is scheduled for later in June. Eighth street will be paved in late October after the street has had a chance to settle. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements – Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking -Pay Application No. 6 Pay request No. 6 includes work completed through May 29, 2026.
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Bailey to approve pay application #6 to Fitzgerald Excavating in the amount of $302,822.76. Motion carried 5-0-0.
Legal
Old Business
TIF District 2-1
Attorney Riggs stated that two public hearings need to be scheduled for the TIF District. The paperwork from this meeting needs to be submitted to DEED by the end of the day on June 30.
Motion by Gard seconded by Helgeson to schedule a special council meeting on Tuesday, June 30 at 3:30 pm. Motion carried 5-0-0.
New Business
2026 1st Quarter Financial Report - Abdo Jessi Sturtz from Abdo reviewed the first quarter 2026 financial report.
Motion by Bailey seconded by Sjolander to accept the first quarter financial report. Motion carried 5-0-0.
2027 Budget Preview Jessi Sturtz from Abdo reviewed the budget timeline and current known factors that will affect the budget. Individual department head meetings will be held on June 16 to review the budget. Sjolander wanted to make sure that the step increases were included in the budget this year.
Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
KMU Meeting: Tuesday, May 19th @ 3:00 p.m. EDA Meeting: Tuesday, May 26th @ 8 a.m. Planning Commission meeting: Tuesday, June 2nd @ 6:00 pm City Council Meeting: Tuesday, June 9th @ 7 p.m.
Council And Staff General Comments
Council Member Sjolander acknowledged a letter received from a citizen concerning the boulevard roses. He also noted that the pool lifeguards had a busy day yesterday. He would like to see the guards involved get recognized by the police or fire department.
Mayor Kirchmann was glad to have new KMU employee, Parker, here. He thanked all employees for all they do.
Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to adjourn the meeting at 8:06 p.m. Motion carried 5-0-0.