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.
What happened
- No minutes are on file for this date; summary is based on the agenda and packet only
- Consent agenda: Resolution 2026-32 transferring $90,000 from Capital Outlay Fund 202 to Fire Fund 203, returning funds moved in 2025
- Pay Application #9 to Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking: $68,602.38 due, largely partial release of retainage from 5% to about 2.5%
- 2025 Street & Utility Improvements contract price $2,256,815.25 after $37,814.00 in change orders; $2,079,204.53 of work completed to date
- Kenyon Crossings: Resolution 2026-33 approving Contract for Private Development, Sub-Grant Agreement and Developers Agreement with Kenyon Real Estate 2, LLC
- Resolutions 2026-25 (preliminary plat), 2026-26 (parking variance), 2026-27 (residential density variance) and 2026-28 (front yard setback variance) for Kenyon Crossings
- Resolution 2026-31 adopting the 2027 preliminary budget and levy; Truth in Taxation meeting proposed for December 1 at 6:30 p.m.
- EDA report: Kenyon awarded $75,000 MN Housing Tier II grant tied to Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity, spendable through 2031
- Depot Park concrete project: SMIF Taylor Family Farms grant of up to $20,000 with no match, plus $9,500 in ESMC dollars; Lexvold bid attached
- 2026 facade improvement projects totaled $19,565 of a $20,000 budget across six businesses
- Lead Service Line Replacement Project design scope and fee presented for action
- Upcoming meetings listed: KMU September 15, EDA September 22, City Council October 13
What was asked 23 raised · 6 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.
CITIZEN COMMENT Doug Henke asked, “Do you know how many lots are available for sale in Kenyon today?” According to Realtor Chris Mallery there are eight.
Citizen comment about the shortage of buildable/residential lots.
At the meetingAnswered as eight, attributed to Realtor Chris Mallery.
Three vacant lots were offered for sale in Kenyon in the Zillow snapshot taken September 13 2026, all on Engel Drive: LOT 550 at $187,778 on 2.27 acres, LOT 451 at $252,230 on 3.08 acres, and LOT 450 at $201,457 on 2.46 acres, each 657 days on market. The county roll separately carries 33 vacant residential parcels of class 206 inside the city, 18 of them valued at $15,000 or more, the range that indicates a platted buildable lot.
The council heard eight lots for sale; our September 13 2026 Zillow snapshot shows three vacant lots listed, all on Engel Drive.
dashboard/data/zillow.json; taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
NEW BUSINESS Depot Park Concrete Project Summary Report Depot Park Proposed Concrete Project.docx LEXVOLD QUOTE.pdf Abdo vs. Internal Finance Director Summary Report 3 Year Accounting Services Proposal.pdf 44500.WS 2026 _ City of Kenyon _ HR _ Payroll Renewal Engagement Letter E_Signed.pdf HR Consulting Services Proposal.pdf Creative Planning Audit Presentation Summary Report City of Kenyon Pension Presentation.pptx XIV.
New business item on how to staff the city's finance function.
Abdo's own September 8 2026 memo puts its 2027 proposal at $164,800, made up of $109,000 for financial solutions, $30,000 for HR and $25,800 for payroll, against its estimate of $167,100 for a full-time finance director at $40.45 an hour. Abdo's three-year fee schedule escalates to $114,500 in 2028 and $121,000 in 2029, a 31 percent rise from the $92,100 a year the city agreed to in September 2025. The hire-side estimate is inflated: Abdo assumed $63,000 in family insurance for one employee when the entire city administration medical, dental, life and disability line ran $88,069 actual in 2025 and is budgeted at $78,130 for 2027.
Abdo's $63,000 family insurance assumption for a single finance director nearly equals the city administration department's entire insurance line, $78,130 proposed for 2027.
9-8-26 Council Packet, Abdo comparison memo; factbook budget tables; KENYON_BIDS.md
NEW BUSINESS Depot Park Concrete Project Summary Report Depot Park Proposed Concrete Project.docx LEXVOLD QUOTE.pdf Abdo vs.
New business item with a proposed concrete project write-up and one quote attached.
Lexvold Construction was the low quote at $9,980 and the award is pending. That amount falls in the $5,000 to $174,999 band of Administrative Policy No. 34, so council approval plus two quotes is required.
Our record notes Lexvold as low among unnamed others, so the second quote that Policy No. 34 requires is not identified in the record.
KENYON_BIDS.md
Rebound Investors Meeting Rebound held a very informational investors meeting last night. They are looking for three million dollars from investors.
Administrator update following the Rebound investors meeting.
Rebound reported seeking $3,000,000 from investors at the August 6 2026 meeting, which matches what the administrator repeated on September 8. The city had already approved $1,855,000 in tax increment assistance to the Rebound Sunset Home site on May 18 2026, more than double the $800,000 Northland Securities recommended, and adopted Resolution 2026-18 creating Municipal Development District No. 2 and TIF District No. 2-1 on June 30 2026. We do not hold Rebound's prospectus or capital stack.
factbook Development, TIF and land; KENYON_INCENTIVES.md · taken up again 2026-08-06
The planning commission held public hearings on the variances and preliminary plat on August 4. They tabled these variances and the replat until the developer submits supplemental materials.
Planning Commission public hearings held August 4 on the Kenyon Crossings applications.
At the meetingCouncil extended the review period to a maximum of 120 days.
The Planning Commission tabled the Kenyon Crossings variances and the preliminary plat on August 4 2026, and the council extended the review period to a maximum of 120 days on August 6 2026. The developer's supplemental materials and the commission's recommendation are not in our record.
factbook Development, TIF and land; council record · taken up again 2026-08-06
FINANCIAL August 2026 Financial Reports and Payment of Claims Summary Report XII. OLD BUSINESS 2027 Budget Update 1. Resolution 2026-31: Adopting the 2027 Preliminary Budget & Levy 2.
Old business 2027 budget update with an attached budget memo dated 9.2.26.
The council adopted Resolution 2026-31 on September 8 2026 setting a 2027 preliminary levy of $1,670,115, an increase of 9.26 percent over the certified 2026 levy of $1,528,541. The draft opened at 19.50 percent on July 14 2026 and fell to 10.34 percent on August 6 before being certified at 9.26 percent. The preliminary tax capacity used was $1,865,379.
factbook levy history; taxes/levy.html; KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · taken up again 2026-09-08
It is now two years later and still no progress has been made. He was asking the Council to get this moving forward.
Citizen comment on the lack of available residential lots in Kenyon.
At the meetingAdministrator Lehner stated that a preliminary plat and a draft purchase agreement have been done.
The only city land acquisition in our record with a named price is the Hinderaker tract, PIN 666800300, 18.09 acres of agricultural-class land owned by Hinderaker Properties LLC, asking $275,000 at the August 6 2026 meeting. Its pay-2027 estimated market value is $214,000 and it pays $1,752 in city tax. We hold no record of the two-million-dollar KMU loan authorization, the preliminary plat or the draft purchase agreement.
factbook Development, TIF and land; KENYON_INCENTIVES.md
CITIZEN COMMENT Doug Henke asked, “Do you know how many lots are available for sale in Kenyon today?” According to Realtor Chris Mallery there are eight.
Citizen comment supporting the need for city land development.
Our listing data shows three vacant lots for sale in Kenyon as of September 13 2026, not eight, and all three are the Engel Drive parcels priced $187,778 to $252,230. The county roll shows 18 vacant residential parcels valued at $15,000 or more, so the supply of buildable ground exceeds what is listed. Confirming the count of eight would take the realtor's MLS export, which we do not hold.
Our Zillow snapshot counts three vacant lots for sale, not the eight attributed to Realtor Chris Mallery.
dashboard/data/zillow.json; taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
Resolution 2026-33: Approving Contract for Private Development, Sub-Grant Agreement and Developers Agreement with Kenyon Real Estate 2, LLC for Certain Property in the City of Kenyon 2.
Kenyon Crossings development applications on the September 8 engineering agenda.
Kenyon Real Estate LLC appears in our ownership data as an absentee owner of three parcels worth $1,544,700 in estimated market value and paying $16,226 in city tax, the seventh largest holding in the city. We hold no executed Contract for Private Development, sub-grant agreement or developer's agreement with Kenyon Real Estate 2, LLC and no record of the council's vote on Resolution 2026-33.
dashboard/data/entities.json
Lead Service Line Replacement Project - Design Scope & Fee Summary Report LSL-R Design Scope and Fee.pdf VIIC.
Engineering agenda item with an LSL-R design scope and fee attachment.
The Lead Service Line Replacement design scope from Bolton and Menk, covering bid opening and Public Facilities Authority coordination, was on the September 8 2026 agenda with the award still pending. Our bid record carries no design fee amount and no funding source for it.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2026-09-08 entry
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE Police Department Staffing Update Lehner stated that the police officer position is still posted until filled. There are no applicants at this point.
Administrator update on police department staffing.
The city posted the full-time police officer position on July 28 2026 at $33.54 an hour entry, $38.57 at three to five years and $42.61 at five to ten years, the highest hourly rate of the 46 job postings we collected in the area. We hold no applicant count, so the claim of zero applicants cannot be checked against our data. The city's own jobs page is the source that would settle it.
data/jobs.csv; KENYON_JOBS.md; https://cityofkenyon.gov/jobs
Jerry Houglum, KMU Chairman, agreed that the KMU Commission was in favor of this loan and that more lots are needed in town to get people here. Administrator Lehner stated that a preliminary plat and a draft purchase agreement have been done.
Response to Doug Henke's claim that no progress had been made in two years.
The only land purchase in our record with a documented price is the Hinderaker tract, PIN 666800300, 18.09 acres asking $275,000 as named at the August 6 2026 meeting. We hold neither the preliminary plat nor the draft purchase agreement, so the claim that both are done cannot be verified. Copies of the two documents would settle it.
factbook Development, TIF and land
An update on the Kenyon Market is pending under the administrator update.
Kenyon Market at 109 Red Wing Ave told the council in July 2026 that it may close. The store is PIN 665400540, owner Peter J Wagner with a Kenyon mailing address, estimated market value $464,100 for 2026 falling to $447,700 for pay 2027, paying $7,225 in city tax and $14,914 in total tax, bought for $370,000 in November 2014. Its Google rating is 4.4 from 190 reviews. We hold no September 2026 status for the business.
The Dollar General that took roughly ten percent of Kenyon Market's sales pays $1,762 in city tax against Kenyon Market's $7,225, and its owner, the Gigliotti Family Trust, is in Fallbrook, California.
taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json; data/companies.csv
Engineer Olinger was aware of some of these issues and will be working with the gas company to do repairs. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements – Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking -Pay Application No. 8 Pay request No. 8 includes work completed through July 17, 2026.
2025 Street & Utility Project discussion of gas line installation problems.
We hold nothing on the gas line installation problems or any repair commitment from the gas company. The engineer's correspondence with Minnesota Energy Resources and a punch list of gas line defects would settle it.
would settle it: A repair commitment and schedule from the gas company
ENGINEERING 2025 Street & Utility Project Engineer Olinger stated that this pay estimate includes primarily sanitary sewer lining, grouting and manhole rehabilitation. The contractor will be back in town over the next several weeks to complete various punch list repairs.
Pay Application No. 8 discussion for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements.
We hold no punch list or completion schedule for the 2025 Street and Utility Project. The engineer's punch list attachment and the contractor's schedule would settle it.
would settle it: The contractor's punch list and completion dates
His last day will be August 14. Potentially, a job offer will be made to an applicant from the first round of interviews.
Administrator update on KMU staffing after John Lee's resignation.
We hold no record of an offer being made or accepted for the KMU position vacated by John Lee. The council consent agenda approving a hire, or the KMU Commission minutes, would settle it.
would settle it: Whether an offer was made and accepted for the KMU position
Administrative Assistant-Rachel Goven Update Lehner stated that Rachel Goven resigned effective August 7, 2026 due to a family job relocation. The position is posted with a deadline of August 25.
Administrator update on the administrative assistant vacancy.
We hold nothing on applicants for the administrative assistant position or a hiring decision after the August 25 2026 deadline. The council consent agenda approving a hire would settle it.
would settle it: The applicant pool and hiring decision after the August 25 deadline
The last Rose Fest meeting will be on Monday, August 17. 11 Department Head Reporting Lehner stated that he would like some department heads to give an in-person update at the council meetings starting in September. The council was agreeable with this.
Administrator update on department head reporting; council agreed.
At the meetingCouncil was agreeable.
We hold no minutes for the September 8 2026 meeting showing which department heads gave in-person updates. The adopted September 8 minutes would settle it.
would settle it: Confirmation that EDA, Public Works/Fire, Police and KMU heads report on September 8
Jerry Houglum, KMU Chairman, agreed that the KMU Commission was in favor of this loan and that more lots are needed in town to get people here.
Citizen comment supporting Doug Henke's request on the land purchase loan.
We hold no KMU Commission minutes and no record of a commission vote or motion on the two-million-dollar loan. The KMU Commission minutes for the meeting at which the loan was discussed would settle it.
would settle it: KMU Commission minutes showing a vote or motion supporting the loan
Update on Loan from KMU IX. ENGINEERING A. 2025 Street & Utility Project 1. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements - Pay Application #9 B.
Engineering agenda item following approval of Pay Application No. 8 in August.
We hold no pay application amounts for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements. The contract with Fitzgerald Excavating was awarded July 8 2025 at $2,294,629.25, which is the only contract figure we carry. The signed Pay Application #9 and the engineer's recommendation would settle it.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2025-07-08 entry · would settle it: The pay application amount and engineer's recommendation
Internal Finance Director Summary Report 3 Year Accounting Services Proposal.pdf 44500.WS 2026 _ City of Kenyon _ HR _ Payroll Renewal Engagement Letter E_Signed.pdf HR Consulting Services Proposal.pdf Creative Planning Audit Presentation Summary Report City of Kenyon Pension Presentation.pptx XIV.
New business item with a City of Kenyon pension presentation attached.
We hold no Creative Planning pension presentation and no findings from it. The presentation attachment in the September 8 2026 packet and the minutes recording any council action would settle it.
would settle it: The findings and any recommended council action from the pension presentation
the City desires to maintain funds within their respective departments and therefore, wishes to return the $90,000 transferred in 2025 to the Fire Fund. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KENYON CITY COUNCIL THAT: 1) The following accounting entries are authorized to record the transfer: Account Description Debit Credit 203-00000-39207 Transfer 90,000 203-10100 Cash 90,000 202-42200-740 Transfer 90,000 202-10100 Cash 90,000 Adopted by the City Council on this 8th day of September, 2026. CITY OF KENYON BY:
Resolution 2026-32 on the consent agenda authorizing accounting entries between Fund 202 and Fund 203.
We hold no general ledger and no posted journal entries for the transfer between Fund 202 and Fund 203. The 2026 audited financial statements or a fund-level trial balance would confirm the $90,000 moved back to the Fire Fund.
would settle it: Posted journal entries confirming the $90,000 transfer
in 2025, the Fire Department transferred $90,000 to the Capital Outlay Fund for capital equipment; and WHEREAS, the City desires to maintain funds within their respective departments and therefore, wishes to return the $90,000 transferred in 2025 to the Fire Fund. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE KENYON CITY COUNCIL THAT: 1) The following accounting entries are authorized to record the transfer: Account Description Debit Credit 203-00000-39207 Transfer 90,000 203-10100 Cash 90,000 202-42200-740 Transfer
Whereas clause of Resolution 2026-32.
We hold no 2025 general ledger entry for the original $90,000 Fire Department transfer to the Capital Outlay Fund. The 2025 audit, which BerganKDV was engaged to perform, would confirm it.
would settle it: The 2025 general ledger entry showing the original $90,000 transfer
Decisions
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-32 authorizing a $90,000 transfer from Capital Outlay Fund 202 to Fire Fund 203 (consent agenda)
- Agenda item: approval of City Council Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2026 and of August 11, 2026, and payment of checks
- Agenda item: approval of 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Pay Application #9 for $68,602.38
- Agenda item: Lead Service Line Replacement Project design scope and fee
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-33 approving Contract for Private Development, Sub-Grant Agreement and Developers Agreement with Kenyon Real Estate 2, LLC
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-25 approving the Preliminary Plat of Kenyon Crossings
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-26 approving a parking variance for Lot 1 Block 1 Kenyon Crossings
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-27 approving a residential density variance for Lot 1 Block 1 Kenyon Crossings
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-28 approving a front yard setback variance for Lot 1 Block 1 Kenyon Crossings
- Agenda item: Resolution 2026-31 adopting the 2027 preliminary budget and levy and setting the Truth in Taxation meeting for December 1 at 6:30 p.m.
- Agenda item: approval of Dan Lexvold's concrete bid for the Depot Park project
- Agenda item: consideration of Abdo versus an internal finance director for accounting, HR and payroll services
- No minutes on file; outcomes of these agenda items are not recorded here
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Holli Gudknecht Administration / Deputy Clerk | Prepared and submitted the agenda item reports in the council packet |
| Scott Lehner City Administrator | Listed for administrator updates on Kenyon Market, police and KMU staffing, administrative assistant hiring and the KMU loan; signs as owner on the pay application |
| Donald Kirchmann Mayor | Named as signatory on Resolution 2026-32 |
| Todd Kieffer EDA Coordinator | Submitted the EDA report covering the industrial park lot, Tier II housing funds, Habitat for Humanity home, Depot Park project, vacant storefront idea and facade grants |
| Wayne Ehrich Public Works and Fire Dept. | Scheduled for a department head update |
| Jeff Sjoblom Police Chief | Scheduled for a department head update |
| Randy Eggert KMU | Scheduled for a department head update |
| Derek Olinger City Engineer, Bolton & Menk | Listed as recommending engineer on Pay Application #9 |
| Nick Dahle Project Manager, Fitzgerald Excavating and Trucking | Signed the contractor's certification on Pay Application #9 |
| Alexander Samardzich Falcon's Investments | Reported weekly on industrial park lot progress; foundation and footings poured |
| Doug Thompson Kenyon-Wanamingo Construction classes instructor | Named as directing the planned 2027-28 Habitat build |
| Dan Lexvold Concrete contractor | Submitted the concrete bid for the Depot Park project recommended for approval |
Organizations named: City of Kenyon, Kenyon Municipal Utilities (KMU), Kenyon EDA, Bolton & Menk, Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking Inc, Abdo, Creative Planning, Kenyon Real Estate 2, LLC, Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity, Minnesota Housing, Southern MN Initiative Foundation (SMIF), South East Minnesota Arts Council (SEMAC), Falcon's Investments, Kenyon-Wanamingo Schools, Taylor Family Farms, L&M, Ace Hardware, Mary's Rustic Rose, Robert's Retail & Repair, Home Plate, All Seasons
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $90,000 | Transfer from Capital Outlay Fund 202 to Fire Fund 203 under Resolution 2026-32 |
| $68,602.38 | Amount due on Pay Application #9 to Fitzgerald Excavating & Trucking |
| $2,294,629.25 | Original contract price, 2025 Street & Utility Improvements |
| $2,256,815.25 | Current contract price after change orders |
| $2,079,204.53 | Total work completed and materials stored to date |
| $48,240.80 | Total retainage held on the project |
| $1,962,361.35 | Less previous payments on the 2025 Street & Utility project |
| $75,000 | MN Housing Tier II housing grant awarded to Kenyon, aligned with Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity |
| $20,000 | Maximum SMIF Taylor Family Farms Rural Development Grant for Depot Park concrete project, no match required |
| $9,500 | ESMC dollars available for the Depot Park project |
| $19,565 | 2026 facade improvement projects awarded against a $20,000 budget |
Said at the meeting
In accordance with state statute, once the project is substantially complete, retainage must be reduced to 1% plus the value of remaining repair work identified in the punch list.
Engineering item summary, Pay Application #9 · packet, verbatim
The contractor plans to return in October for final paving and completion of all remaining work.
Engineering item summary, Pay Application #9 · packet, verbatim
The City desires to maintain funds within their respective departments and therefore, wishes to return the $90,000 transferred in 2025 to the Fire Fund.
Resolution 2026-32 · packet, verbatim
The foundation is poured, and Alex reports that there have been no problems with the project locally.
Todd Kieffer, EDA Coordinator · packet, verbatim
In an effort to improve the appearance of Kenyon's Main Street, I have been visiting with a local artist from Red Wing about the idea of decorating vacant storefronts with artwork to entice more feet on the sidewalks for our merchants.
Todd Kieffer, EDA Coordinator · packet, verbatim
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
- VII. DEPARTMENT HEAD UPDATES
- VIII. ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- IX. ENGINEERING
- X. LEGAL
- XI. FINANCIAL
- XII. OLD BUSINESS
- XIII. NEW BUSINESS
- XIV. F.Y.I. - Department Updates
- XV. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
- XVI. ADJOURNMENT
- A. Resolution 2026-32: Authorizing a Transfer from the Capital Outlay Fund 202 to the
- A. City Council Meeting Minutes of August 6, 2026
- VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
- A. Todd Kieffer – EDA Report
- B. Wayne Ehrich – Public Works and Fire Dept.
- C. Jeff Sjoblom – Police Chief
- D. Randy Eggert – KMU
- E. Other
- A. Kenyon Market
- B. Police Department Staffing Update
- C. KMU Staffing Update
- D. Administrative Assistant Update
- E. Update on Loan from KMU
- B. Lead Service Line Replacement Project-Design Scope & Fee
- C. Kenyon Crossings Development Applications
- D. Resolution 2026-25: Approving Preliminary Plat of Kenyon Crossings
- E. Resolution 2026-26: Approving a Parking Variance of Lot 1 Block 1 Kenyon
- F. Resolution 2026-27: Approving a Residential Density Variance of Lot 1 Block 1
- G. Resolution 2026-28: Approving a Front Yard Setback Variance of Lot 1 Block 1
- A. Depot Park Concrete Project
- B. Abdo vs. Internal Finance Director
- C. Creative Planning Audit Presentation
- XIV. OTHER BUSINESS
- A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings