When he first ran for council, his goal was to get the Industrial Park going and build a new fire department building which were both accomplished.
Closing comments at his final council meeting.
At the meetingStated as a personal recollection with no documentation.
Partly answeredThe industrial park half of the claim is corroborated. The Kenyon Industrial Park is active and transacting, with the EDA approving a purchase and development agreement with Firebird LLC for a lot there and the council approving it 4-0-0 on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Bailey. The fire hall half is not in our holdings: no construction contract, bid or completion record for a fire department building appears among the 43 bids in the council record from 2019 through 2026, where the largest fire purchases are $156,445 of SCBA and a compressor from Alex Air Apparatus in December 2023.
1-13-25 Council Packet Updated and factbook KENYON_BIDS.md
VIII.E Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: January 14, 2025 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Legal ITEM TYPE: Legal AGENDA SECTION: LEGAL SUBJECT: Ordinance No. 112 Amending the Kenyon City Code Pertaining to Cannabis and Hemp Business Resolution 2025-06: Approving Publication of Ordinance No. 112 by Title and Summary SUGGESTED ACTION: Ordinance 112 adds Section 1140 to the city code pertaining to cannabis and hemp businesses. The city attorney will review this ordinance.
Ordinance 112 adding Section 1140 on cannabis and hemp businesses was forwarded from the Planning Commission.
What happened nextAttorney Riggs reviewed Ordinance 112 and the council adopted it on January 14 2025, following the Planning Commission public hearing of January 7 2025. Note that the drafting direction in December went to City Attorney Joe Sathe but the review and presentation came from Riggs, so the attorney changed between the two meetings. No separate written review memo with recommended changes is in our holdings.
2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda, and 1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
SOURCE OF FUNDING: Future Project Financing REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: None – Information Only SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER 22 AGENDA ITEM NO.
The council action report for the 2025 street project lists funding as still to come.
What happened nextFuture project financing turned into a bond plus special assessments. The council adopted Resolution 2025-12 declaring cost to be assessed and calling for an assessment hearing on April 8 2025, and Resolution 2025-15 revised on July 8 2025, and the debt service that followed is the 2025A G.O. bond whose first payment was added to the 2026 budget and which drove the debt levy up $107,646 or 38.96 percent. The assessment roll with per-parcel amounts is not in our holdings.
4-8-25 council packet, 7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda, and factbook levy analysis · taken up again 2025-07-08
No major changes to the plans are expected, based on discussion from this meeting. Some private or public relocations are req'd.
Outcome of the January 8, 2025 coordination meeting with utility companies.
Partly answeredNo list of required relocations with responsible utility and cost is in our holdings, and the January 8 2025 coordination meeting is recorded only as producing no major plan changes. The unresolved utility work surfaced later as damage rather than as a schedule item: on September 8 2026 Doug Henke reported problems with the gas company installing its line, and the engineer said he was aware of some of them and would work with the gas company on repairs. A utility relocation agreement or a coordination memo naming each utility would settle it.
1-14-25 council packet and 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08
We plan to hold a 2nd neighborhood meeting for residents affected by this project in late January (Final date TBD). At this meeting, we'll have updated plans, cost estimates and other information.
Follow-up status report on the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements included in the record.
What happened nextThe meeting was set for Monday January 27 2025 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at city hall, open house style with no formal presentation, and affected residents were mailed a notice while Bolton and Menk's design team answered questions. Four residents attended and offered comments, as reported on March 11 2025.
3-11-25 council packet and 2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-03-11
NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2024-30: Adopting the 2024 Goodhue County Hazard Mitigation Plan Public Works Supervisor Ehrich reported that the Goodhue County Hazard Mitigation Plan was approved by FEMA on October 30,2024.
Background for Resolution 2024-30 adopting the county hazard mitigation plan.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-30, 5-0-0.
Partly answeredThe FEMA approval letter for the Goodhue County Hazard Mitigation Plan is not in our holdings, so the October 30 2024 approval date rests on Ehrich's report alone. What the record does establish is the city's own action, Resolution 2024-30 adopting the 2024 plan on a motion by Helgeson seconded by Sjolander, carried 5-0-0, which is the step that preserves eligibility for federal mitigation and restoration grants. The FEMA approval letter would settle the date.
1-14-25 council packet
Motion carried 5-0-0. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the design work for the 2025 street and utility improvements is about 25% complete. The Langford right-of-way width varies, and portions of the existing street are outside the ROW.
Basis for seeking permanent easements from adjacent property owners.
At the meetingCouncil accepted the statement and directed easement acquisition.
What happened nextThe engineer restated the problem more sharply on May 13 2025, that the existing right-of-way does not contain the existing road surface and utilities, much less the additional roadway width proposed. Permanent right-of-way easements were requested from four adjacent owners and accepted by Resolution 2025-16 on June 10 2025. No survey or plat comparing platted right-of-way to the street location is in our holdings.
5-13-25 council packet updated and 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
If the new bobcat is ordered in December, the 2025, a price increase would be avoided. The new bobcat would not need to be paid for until 2025.
Justification for approving the Tri-State Bobcat purchase contract in December rather than 2025.
At the meetingCouncil approved the purchase contract with Tri-State Bobcat Inc., 5-0-0.
Partly answeredThe machine was bought and the cost landed in 2025 as Ehrich said it would, with the 2025 variance comments in both the February and March 2026 packets citing the purchase of a 2025 Bobcat T66. The Tri-State Bobcat quote showing the 2024 price against the 2025 price is not in our holdings, so the size of the avoided increase cannot be confirmed, and no competitive quotes for this purchase appear among the 43 bids in the council record.
2-10-26 Council Packet and factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2026-02-10
OLD BUSINESS 2025 Budget and Levy Resolution 2024-28: Adopting the 2025 Budget and Establishing the Tax Levy for Payable 2025 Finance Director Kyllo stated that the Truth in Taxation meeting was held on December 3. The final budget shows a maximum proposed levy increase of 9.55% for 2025.
Report on the final budget following the December 3 Truth in Taxation meeting.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-28 setting the levy at $1,400,000.
Answered from our recordsResolution 2024-28 set the 2025 levy at $1,400,000 payable in 2025, a 9.55 percent increase, adopted on a motion by Bailey seconded by Ryan, carried 5-0-0, after the December 3 2024 Truth in Taxation meeting. That $1,400,000 base checks out against the following year, since the 2026 levy of $1,528,541 adopted by Resolution 2025-29 is exactly 9.18 percent above it.
1-14-25 council packet and factbook levy history
Motion carried 5-0-0. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the design work for the 2025 street and utility improvements is about 25% complete.
Status update on the 2025 street and utility improvement project design.
At the meetingStated as a status figure with no supporting document at the meeting.
What happened nextDesign moved from about 25 percent complete to approximately 75 percent by February 11 2025 and nearly complete by March 11 2025, when the engineer said it would be ready for approval of bidding at that month's meeting. Bidding then took two rounds, with all six bids rejected on June 10 2025 and the rebid awarded July 8 2025 to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 against an estimate of $2,764,170.05.
2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda, 3-11-25 council packet, and factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-03-11
The agreement automatically terminated six months from the effective date, which was November 22, 2024. The request is to extend the contract to January 31, 2025.
Boyles' May 22, 2024 agreement auto-terminated November 22, 2024 and needed a mutually agreed extension.
At the meetingCouncil approved Resolution 2024-31 extending the agreement to January 31, 2025, 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe position was filled permanently rather than extended again. Scott Lehner appears as city administrator throughout the 2025 and 2026 record, and the recruitment that produced the hire was awarded on July 9 2024 to South Central Service Cooperative under Mike Humpal at $14,500, chosen over David Drown Associates. The exact start date is not in our holdings.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md and 1-14-25 council packet
The layout showed an ideal layout for the buildout of the area. Some discussion and input from developers would be helpful prior to preparing costs.
A potential ideal buildout layout for the 8th Street site has been drafted but not costed.
At the meetingNo action taken; item left for developer input.
Partly answeredA design layout for the 8th Street development site was prepared and reviewed with the city council and the school, with preliminary design continuing, but no developer feedback and no buildout cost estimate for the site appear in our holdings. The lot shortage the layout was meant to address persists: the city contains 33 vacant residential parcels, only 18 of them valued at $15,000 or more, the range indicating a platted buildable lot, and the only vacant lots on the open market are three Engel Drive parcels priced $187,778 to $252,230 that have sat 657 days.
8.12.25 Council Packet and Agenda Updated, and factbook taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json and dashboard/data/zillow.json
Sathe obtained preliminary input from the council on some questions needed to draft the city's ordinance related to cannabis and hemp. He will write a draft zoning ordinance to send to the planning commission for a public hearing.
Sathe reviewed cities' options on adult-use cannabis and took preliminary council input on drafting questions.
At the meetingNo draft presented at this meeting; only preliminary council input was gathered.
What happened nextThe draft became law inside two months. The Planning Commission held its public hearing on January 7 2025 under Section 560.05 of the city code, and the council adopted Ordinance No. 112 on January 14 2025, adding Section 1140 on cannabis and hemp businesses. The full text is available for inspection at Kenyon City Hall.
1-14-25 council packet summary publication · taken up again 2025-01-14
Resolution 2024-29: Resolution Committing Capital Fund Balance Finance Director Kyllo stated that the general accounting standard (GASB 54) requires all public entities to set year end Capital fund balances before the end of the current year contingent on audited final numbers. The final year-end capital fund amounts will not be known until the 2024 audit has been completed.
GASB 54 requires committing capital fund balances before year end, contingent on audited final numbers.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-29 committing capital fund balances contingent on the audit.
Partly answeredThe final 2024 capital fund balances are not in our holdings, and the same GASB 54 language reappears a year later for the 2025 audit, so the contingency was never closed out in the record we hold. The audit itself was procured at that same December 10 2024 meeting, when the council awarded auditing services to BerganKDV at $27,540, against CliftonLarsonAllen at $97,640 falling to $70,940, roughly three and a half times the winning price. The completed audit report with capital fund balances would settle it.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md and 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated
Motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson directing the city engineer to engage property owners for the acquisition of easements for Langford Avenue.
The Langford right-of-way width varies and portions of the existing street sit outside the ROW.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0; no easements obtained yet.
What happened nextEasements were sought from four property owners adjacent to Langford Avenue, and Resolution 2025-16 accepting them was adopted on June 10 2025 on a motion by Helgeson seconded by Brunner, carried 5-0-0. At that point only two agreements had actually been signed, one owner had given a verbal agreement, and the fourth had not been contacted. The landowners were to be compensated for the land rights, and no compensation amounts are in our holdings.
The council adopted a resolution accepting easements when only two of the four had been signed and the fourth owner had not yet been contacted.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
The results of any final restoration will not be known until the spring thaw, so it was recommended that a completion date be set in early spring for the remaining repair work. Liquidated damages would be suspended over the winter.
Final restoration results cannot be judged until the spring thaw, so a change order moved the completion date.
At the meetingCouncil approved a change order moving the completion date of the remaining repair work to early spring, 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe project closed out on August 12 2025 with an administrative change order that moved substantial completion to October 12 2024 and ready for final payment to July 9 2025, which removed liquidated damages entirely. The engineer's rationale was that the project ran smoothly and adequate evidence of actual damages from the delays would be difficult to show. The contract finished at $1,243,307.02, the original $1,241,494.22 plus $14,800 from change order 1 less $12,987.20 on the final order, and pay request 11 to BCM Construction was $4,430.
8.12.25 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2025-08-12
Finance Director Kyllo mentioned that the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation is just getting started in Kenyon. This fund could be used for city projects, which could potentially decrease the levy amount in the future.
Answer to citizen concern about rising taxes.
What happened nextSouthern Minnesota Initiative Foundation money did reach Kenyon, but it has not reduced the levy. SMIF funded $10,000 for the Depot Park shelters, and by September 8 2026 the city was pursuing a SMIF Taylor Family Farms Rural Development Grant of up to $20,000 with no match to replace pavers with a 10-foot concrete apron and add walkways at Depot Park, with $9,500 in ESMC dollars available. Over the same period the levy rose 9.18% for 2026 and a preliminary 9.26% for 2027.
SMIF funding was offered as something that could decrease the levy in future, and the levy has risen by more than 9% in each year since.
9-8-26 Council Packet; factbook KENYON_DEPOT_PARK.md and taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2026-09-08
Fire Chief Ehrich summarized what made up the 2025 budget and answered questions from the Township board members. The 2025 budget decreased from 2024. Air packs and gear have been updated and are now in compliance.
Summary of what made up the 2025 fire budget for the townships.
Partly answeredWe hold no side-by-side 2024 and 2025 fire operating budgets, so the claimed decrease cannot be quantified. The gear compliance claim is supported: on December 13 2023 the council bought self-contained breathing apparatus and a compressor from Alex Air Apparatus for $156,445, made up of $116,805 for the SCBA and $39,640 for the compressor. The 2026 budget then rose $1,658.17 over 2025, driven mainly by pagers, radios and property insurance.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated
The chassis will be built in January 2025, but the truck will not be finished and ready until March 2026. In 2024, Fire Relief donated $25,000 to the truck fund from gambling proceeds.
Explaining funding sources for the fire truck purchase.
Partly answeredNo city record of a $25,000 Fire Relief donation in 2024 appears in our data. What the council formally accepted was $10,000 from the Kenyon Fire Relief Association to the fire truck fund, by Resolution 2025-10 on March 11 2025, carried 4-0-0, and that month's donation schedule lists total donations of $10,000. Chief Ehrich later reported Fire Relief donated $27,000 during 2025. The association's gambling fund records and the city receipt would settle the 2024 figure.
The only Fire Relief donation our record shows the council accepting by resolution is $10,000, not the $25,000 reported to the townships.
4-8-25 council packet; 3-11-25 council packet; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated
The 520 Tender truck has been ordered. The chassis will be built in January 2025, but the truck will not be finished and ready until March 2026.
Update on fire department capital purchases in the 2025 budget discussion.
What happened nextThe truck arrived roughly three months early. At the December 2 2025 fire contract meeting Chief Ehrich reported the department had taken possession of the new 520 Tender the previous week, rather than the March 2026 date given a year earlier. The 1988 Chevrolet C70 tanker was then set for auction, and the council had declared a 1983 Chevrolet tender excess inventory 5-0-0 with proceeds to the truck fund.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; 11-12-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-12-02
John, Steve Johnson, Alan Meyer, Lorin Pohlman, Jim Donkers, and Jeff Traxler Mayor Henke called the special meeting to order at 6:00 pm. 2025 Fire Contract Meeting with Townships The purpose of the meeting was to review the proposed 2025 contracts for fire protection with the six townships in the Kenyon Fire Department service area.
Meeting held to review the proposed 2025 fire contracts with township representatives.
Partly answeredNo signed 2025 fire protection contract from any township board appears in our record. The process continued on the same terms a year later, with notices sent to the six townships in November 2025 and a packet of supporting files including the fire contract billing summary, the 2026 township fire contract spreadsheet, the revenue and expenditure budgets and the 2025 fire calls report. Those attachments and the executed township contracts would settle who signed and for how much.
12.2.25 Special Council Meeting
John, Steve Johnson, Alan Meyer, Lorin Pohlman, Jim Donkers, and Jeff Traxler Mayor Henke called the special meeting to order at 6:00 pm. 2025 Fire Contract Meeting with Townships The purpose of the meeting was to review the proposed 2025 contracts for fire protection with the six townships in the Kenyon Fire Department service area. The contracts were based on a breakdown of 51% city and 49% township of the operating budget.
Review of proposed 2025 fire protection contracts with six townships.
Answered from our recordsThe 51% city and 49% township split is confirmed and was carried forward unchanged. The same formula applied to the 2026 fire contracts reviewed at the December 2 2025 special meeting, again with each township's share set by the number of sections the department covers, and the six townships were sent notices in November 2025. We do not hold the section-count worksheet itself.
12.2.25 Special Council Meeting; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2025-12-02
Public Budget and Levy discussion The Truth in Taxation meeting was designed for citizens who had questions about the proposed budget and levy for 2024. The maximum levy approved by the Council in September was 9.55%.
Statement of the preliminary levy at the Truth in Taxation meeting.
Answered from our recordsThe 9.55% figure is correct. The 2025 preliminary levy was $1,400,000, a 9.55% increase, and the council adopted it as the final levy by Resolution 2024-28 on December 10 2024, 5-0-0. The same pattern repeated the next year, when a 9.93% September maximum was worked down to a 9.18% final levy for 2026.
The December 2024 minutes describe the Truth in Taxation meeting as covering the proposed budget and levy for 2024; it covered the levy payable in 2025.
factbook taxes/levy.html; 1-14-25 council packet; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
Marit Lang, who lives at 306 Whitetail, asked how the budget money was being spent. Her house payment has gone up over $400 a month in the last seven years because of taxes.
Citizen testimony at the Truth in Taxation hearing about tax affordability.
Partly answeredWe hold no tax statements for 306 Whitetail, so the $400 a month figure cannot be checked against that parcel. It is large against the town as a whole: $400 a month is $4,800 a year, while the median Kenyon residential homestead pays $1,457 in city tax on a $210,000 estimated market value, and its full property tax bill across city, county and school comes to roughly $2,481 a year at the 143.0% total tax-capacity rate. Seven years of Goodhue County tax statements for the parcel would settle it.
A $4,800 annual increase is roughly double the entire current property tax bill on a median Kenyon homestead, so the figure cannot be a pure tax increase on a median-valued home.
factbook taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json and dashboard/data/benchmarks.json
The maximum levy approved by the Council in September was 9.55%. Marit Lang, who lives at 306 Whitetail, asked how the budget money was being spent.
Truth in Taxation public budget and levy discussion for the proposed 2025 levy.
At the meetingFinance Director Kyllo noted the Southern Minnesota Initiative Foundation fund is starting in Kenyon and could fund city projects, potentially decreasing the levy in the future.
Partly answeredWe hold no department-by-department line-item 2025 budget, so the citizen's question is not fully answerable from our data. What we can show is the total and who pays it: the council adopted Resolution 2024-28 on December 10 2024 setting the 2025 levy at $1,400,000 on a 5-0-0 vote, and residential homesteads carry 67.4% of the city tax across 649 parcels, commercial and industrial 14.5% across 85, residential non-homestead 9.8%, other 5.1% and agricultural 3.2%. The adopted budget document by fund and department would settle the spending side.
1-14-25 council packet; factbook taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json · taken up again 2024-12-10
They are waiting until the ground is frozen to minimize additional damage. 16 Pay Application #10 to BCM Construction Motion by Bailey second by Helgeson to approve pay request No. 10 to BCM Construction in the amount of $31,726.22 for work completed through November 1, 2024.
Pearl Creek and Gates Avenue utility improvements payment.
At the meetingCouncil approved pay request No. 10 4-0-0.
What happened nextPay request No. 10 for $31,726.22 was approved 4-0-0 on a motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson, covering work from September 28 to November 1 2024 plus a partial release of withheld retainage. Pay Application No. 11 followed at $4,430 for work from November 2 to December 3 2024, on the BCM contract awarded at $1,241,494.22 in June 2023. The pay application document with quantities and the retainage breakdown is not in our holdings.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 1-14-25 council packet (1); factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-01-14
Schedule of Upcoming Meetings KMU Meeting: Tuesday, November 19 @ 4 p.m. EDA Meeting: Tuesday, November 26 @ 8 a.m. Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:00 p.m.
Schedule of upcoming meetings.
We hold no dataWe hold no township fire contract, no terms and no minutes of the Township Fire Contract meeting. The only trace is the recurring schedule line, with the same meeting set for December 2 2025 at 6:00 p.m. the following year. The executed fire protection contracts with the surrounding townships and their annual charges would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · would settle it: The draft township fire contract terms
Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:00 p.m. Truth in Taxation Public Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:30 p.m.
Schedule of upcoming meetings listed at the end of the meeting.
Partly answeredThe levy that hearing covered is on record even though the hearing minutes are not. The city certified a 2025 preliminary levy of $1,400,000, an increase of 9.55 percent, and the pattern continued with $1,528,541 certified for 2026 at 9.18 percent and $1,670,115 preliminary for 2027 at 9.26 percent. The Truth in Taxation meeting recurs on the same schedule, set for December 2 2025 at 6:30 p.m. the following year. The budget documents presented at the December 3 2024 hearing are not in our holdings.
factbook levy history; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2025-12-09
Resolution 2024-27: Adopting Assessment for Delinquent Utility Bills Interim Administrator Boyles stated that this resolution would authorize delinquent utility bill amounts to be certified on property taxes.
Resolution authorizing certification of delinquent utility bills.
At the meetingCouncil adopted the resolution 3-0-0.
We hold no dataNo dollar amount for the delinquent utility assessments appears in anything we hold, and no assessment roll is attached to the resolution in the record. The minutes also mis-number the resolution, recording adoption of Resolution 2043-27 rather than 2024-27. The practice recurs annually, with Resolution 2025-27 adopting assessments for grounds maintenance and delinquent utility bills the following year, and the attached roll would settle the amounts.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 11-12-25 Council Packet(1) · taken up again 2025-11-12 · would settle it: The assessment roll attached to Resolution 2024-27
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, 2025.
Goodhue County requires annual approval of the building inspection agreement.
At the meetingCouncil approved the agreement 3-0-0.
What happened nextThe annual cycle held. The council approved the 2026 agreement with Goodhue County for State Building Code Administration on a motion by Kirchmann seconded by Bailey, carried 5-0-0, for a one-year term starting January 1 2026, after approving the 2025 agreement 3-0-0 for a term starting January 1 2025.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; 11-12-25 Council Packet(1) · taken up again 2025-12-09
Motion carried 4-0-0. 2025 Proposed Agreement for Continuation of our City-County Joint-Powers "Agreement for State Building Code Administration" Interim Administrator Boyles 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.
Recommending renewal of the city-county joint powers agreement for state building code administration.
At the meetingCouncil approved the 2025 agreement 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe judgment was repeated verbatim a year later and the council renewed the agreement again, 5-0-0, for a term starting January 1 2026. We hold no inspection volume, turnaround time or complaint data for the county program, and the only county inspection document in the record is the April 11 2024 inspection that found the Sunset Home building substandard and requiring plumbing, mechanical, sprinkler and electrical updates. Inspection logs from the Goodhue County building department would settle the performance claim.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; 2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2025-12-09
ENGINEERING 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the design work for the 2025 street and utility improvements is being worked on and should be completed in February. 8th Street Development Engineer Olinger stated that he had attended a meeting with CEDA, City Staff, and a local developer to discuss a potential low density housing development in the city. Issues were identified that could impede a new development.
Report on the 8th Street low-density housing development discussion.
We hold no dataThe impediments are never named in anything we hold. The only later signal is the engineer's remark in the 1-14-25 packet that developer discussion and input would be helpful before preparing costs, which leaves the obstacles unstated. Notes or a memo from the CEDA, city staff and developer meeting would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 1-14-25 council packet (1) · would settle it: Notes or memo from the CEDA/city staff/developer meeting listing the impediments
He is the new pastor at First Lutheran Church. He encouraged the city to let him know if they could partner with the city on any projects.
Citizen comment introducing himself as the new pastor.
We hold no dataWe hold nothing showing any follow-up with Pastor Chatelaine or any joint project with First Lutheran Church. The church does not appear in our nonprofit, contact or grant records as a city partner. Staff correspondence with the church or an agenda item naming a joint project would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; factbook data/nonprofits_all.csv and data/contacts.csv · would settle it: A follow-up contact from city staff identifying possible joint projects
Two parking spaces in the parking lot next to the police department building could be designated for these exchanges and would be monitored by 24-hour video surveillance.
Describing how the proposed safe exchange zone would operate for custody exchanges and internet purchase swaps.
At the meetingCouncil approved the safe exchange zone designation.
Partly answeredThe surveillance claim rests entirely on the chief's statement. Our purchase records show the city bought City Hall cameras and panic buttons from WH Security in June 2024 and liquor store cameras and a DVR from WH Security in September 2021, and neither covers the police department parking lot. Confirmation of camera coverage at that lot and the recording retention period would settle it.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
Two parking spaces in the parking lot next to the police department building could be designated for these exchanges and would be monitored by 24-hour video surveillance. The cost of signage would be about $55.
Chief proposed designating two parking spaces by the police department as a safe exchange zone.
At the meetingCouncil approved designating a safe exchange zone 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe council designated the safe exchange zone 3-0-0 on the strength of the $55 signage figure, and no vendor quote, invoice or purchase record for the sign appears in anything we hold. A sign vendor quote or the paid invoice would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
The EDA recommended increasing the CEDA contract from one day a week to two days a week for a total annual fee of $53,580.
The EDA recommended increasing CEDA contracted hours for 2025.
At the meetingCouncil approved the 2025 CEDA contracted services 4-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved the 2025 CEDA contract 4-0-0 at $53,580 for two days a week, and the following contract confirms the structure at $55,053 for two days a week running January 1 to December 31 2026 with Todd Kieffer assigned. The 2026 contract describes the same commitment as an average of sixteen hours per week, which works out to about $64.40 an hour in 2025 and $66.17 an hour in 2026, a rise of $1,473 or 2.75 percent. The signed 2025 contract itself is not in our holdings.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2025-12-09
Periodic Request for Proposals (RFP) for Selection of Professional Service Firms Interim Administrator Boyles stated that it is standard practice to periodically send out requests for proposals for selection of professional service firms.
Boyles said periodic RFPs for professional service firms are standard practice.
At the meetingCouncil approved sending out RFPs 3-0-0.
What happened nextThe RFPs went out and produced large savings on the audit. The council approved sending out RFPs 3-0-0, and the December 2024 auditing services RFP drew BerganKDV at $27,540 to $29,500 against CliftonLarsonAllen at $97,640 to $70,940, with BerganKDV awarded at $27,540. CLA proposal material still appears in the 12.9.25 packet, and the same practice produced the payroll rounds of 2023 and the finance and accounting services RFP awarded to Abdo in August 2025.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
ENGINEERING 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the design work for the 2025 street and utility improvements is being worked on and should be completed in February. 8th Street Development Engineer Olinger stated that he had attended a meeting with CEDA, City Staff, and a local developer to discuss a potential low density housing development in the city.
Engineering update on the upcoming 2025 street and utility improvement project.
What happened nextThe February design date was missed and the whole schedule slipped. By the 3-11-25 packet the design was only nearly complete, and by the 4-8-25 packet it was complete and ready to advertise, with the engineer planning bids reviewed in April, award in May and construction beginning in June. In the event the council rejected all first-round bids on June 10 2025, rebid on July 2, awarded to Fitzgerald Excavating on July 8 2025, and the first pay application covered work from August 25 to August 29 2025.
The engineer told the council design would be finished in February 2025 and construction would start in June, but design was still only nearly complete in March, bidding ran twice, and construction did not start until late August 2025.
3-11-25 council packet (1); 4-8-25 council packet; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-04-08
Payment #10 includes work completed between September 28 and November 1 and a portion of the retainage that was withheld. The remaining retainage withheld will be paid when all repair items are completed.
Pay application #10 included a portion of the withheld retainage.
Partly answeredThe retainage release rule is on record but the BCM balance is not. State statute requires retainage to drop to 1 percent plus the value of the punch list once a project is substantially complete, which on the city's 2026 project meant cutting retainage from 5 percent to about 2.5 percent. For BCM, the only figures we hold after the partial release are Pay Application No. 10 at $31,726.22 and Pay Application No. 11 at $4,430. A final pay application showing the remaining retainage balance would settle it.
9-8-26 Council Packet; 1-14-25 council packet (1) · taken up again 2025-01-14
Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the work is now substantially complete. There are still a few repairs needed to close out the contract.
The utility improvement work is substantially complete but punch-list repairs remain.
At the meetingAaron Miller said they are waiting until the ground is frozen to minimize additional damage.
Partly answeredThe repairs slipped past winter rather than being finished when the ground froze. By the 1-14-25 packet the engineer reported delays with minor grading, stabilization and establishing turf on the Barrett property, said final restoration results would not be known until the spring thaw, recommended setting a completion date in early spring, and suspended liquidated damages over the winter. The BCM contract for Pearl Creek Sanitary Sewer and Gates Avenue was awarded at $1,241,494.22 in June 2023, and no engineer's certification of final completion is in our holdings.
1-14-25 council packet (1); factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-01-14
Bolten & Menk could prepare a high-level layout and cost projection for a new development. The EDA recommended having the layout and cost projection completed. 8th Street Development Cost Proposal Approval Request Motion by Henke seconded by Bailey to approve the 8th Street development cost study by Bolton & Menk.
Engineer reported on a meeting with CEDA, city staff, and a local developer about a possible new housing development.
At the meetingCouncil approved the 8th Street development cost study by Bolton & Menk 4-0-0.
Partly answeredHalf of the assignment was delivered. The council approved the 8th Street development cost study by Bolton & Menk 4-0-0, and by the 1-14-25 packet Engineer Olinger reported a potential layout had been drafted showing an ideal buildout of the area. The cost projection had not been prepared, since the engineer said discussion and input from developers would be helpful before preparing costs, and no cost figure for the 8th Street development appears anywhere in our records.
1-14-25 council packet (1); 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2025-01-14
He stated that the city would be premature to decide this now since the state has not established the rules yet. 17 Update of City of Kenyon Administrative Policy #29 - Pothole Repair Public Works Supervisor Ehrich stated that the city Pothole Repair policy had recently been updated.
Either Kenyon or Goodhue County must be responsible for cannabis retail registration and compliance checks.
At the meetingCouncil took no action; item deferred on the attorney's recommendation.
What happened nextThe city handed the function to the county. After expressing interest at the December meeting, the council approved the Goodhue County Delegation Agreement for Cannabis Retail Registration on a motion by Bailey seconded by Sjolander, carried 5-0-0, as recorded in the 2.11.25 packet. Attorney Riggs advised that the agreement can be rescinded at any time, and the delegation runs under Minnesota Statutes chapter 342.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda; 1-14-25 council packet (1) · taken up again 2025-02-11
Furthermore, given the lack of additional planning at this stage in the process, we cannot guarantee the true feasibility and accuracy of any data produced with respect to final development of the property.
Assumptions section of the scope and fee letter, noting surveys, wetland delineation, zoning and geotechnical work are excluded.
Not a data questionThis is a professional disclaimer, not a factual question. Whether to buy the excluded work, topographic and boundary surveys, wetland delineation, zoning review, geotechnical borings and other environmental review, is the council's call if the 8th Street project advances. Our records show the study never progressed past a drafted layout, so none of that follow-on work was commissioned.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
E 609-49750-501 CAPITAL OUTLAY $92,973.58 $10,000.00 929.74% $0.00 E 609-49750-725 TRANSFER TO GENERAL FUND $0.00 $20,000.00 0.00% $0.00 49750 LIQUOR $822,673.12 $960,308.86 85.67% $758,396.30 900 GASB 34 41000 GENERAL GOVERNMENT E 900-41000-420 DEPRECIATION $22,176.80 $0.00 0.00% $24,394.48 41000 GENERAL GOVERNMENT $22,176.80 $0.00 0.00% $24,394.48 42000 PUBLIC SAFETY E 900-42000-420 DEPRECIATION $113,522.55 $0.00 0.00%
October expense summary for the liquor fund.
Partly answeredThe percentage checks, 92,973.58 dollars is 929.74 percent of the 10,000 dollar budget, and the bid record accounts for most of it. Municipal liquor store building work awarded in February and March 2024 totals 66,600.86 dollars: the Chandler Roofing reroof at 40,640 dollars, Hamernick's flooring at 7,480.86 dollars and the Action Plumbing and Luikens heating and mini split work at 18,480 dollars. No authorizing action raising the 10,000 dollar capital line appears in our records.
KENYON_BIDS.md / 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
42100 LAW ENFORCEMENT $569,902.38 $508,066.05 112.17% $431,254.30 43100 STREETS E 101-43100-101 SALARIES - REGULAR $95,050.82 $105,495.60 90.10% $80,923.95 E 101-43100-102 SALARIES - OVERTIME $2,126.15 $8,925.00 23.82% $12,402.41 E 101-43100-121 PERA - EMPLOYER SHARE $7,302.06 $7,964.25 91.69% $7,623.16 E 101-43100-122 FICA - EMPLOYER SHARE $8,322.65 $8,785.00 94.74% $7,424.17 E 101-43100-130 INSURANCE - MED/DENT/LIFE/ $29,057.45 $41,082.00 70.73% $33,014.75 E 101-43100-131 EMPLOYER H.S.A.EXPENSE $1,500.01 $0.00
October expense summary presented under Financial.
What happened nextThe overrun widened. Law enforcement finished November 2024 at 602,811.12 dollars, 118.65 percent of the 508,066.05 dollar budget, and the full year 2024 figure carried into the 2025 statements is 671,396.50 dollars, or 132.1 percent of budget. Capital outlay was the largest single driver at 66,376.37 dollars against 48,500 dollars, and the council raised the 2025 police budget to 579,837 dollars.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated / 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
E 101-41610-304 LEGAL $60,676.56 $25,000.00 242.71% $37,803.40 41610 CITY ATTORNEY $60,676.56 $25,000.00 242.71% $37,803.40 41700 CITY ENGINEER E 101-41700-303 ENGINEERING $12,070.00 $10,000.00 120.70% $8,800.00 41700 CITY ENGINEER $12,070.00 $10,000.00 120.70% $8,800.00 41940 GENERAL GOVERNMENT E 101-41940-116 SALARIES -WEBSITE ADMIN $3,346.11 $7,036.05 47.56% $5,967.36 E 101-41940-121 PERA - EMPLOYER SHARE $209.41 $528.00 39.66% $470.11 29 11/08/24 12:23 PM Page 2 2024 %YTD 2023 Account Last Dim Descr YTD Amt
October expense summary presented under Financial.
Partly answeredThe percentage checks exactly, 60,676.56 dollars is 242.71 percent of the 25,000 dollar budget, and the same table shows 2023 legal spending at 37,803.40 dollars, so 2024 ran 60.5 percent above the prior year with two months still to go. No explanation of the overrun and no budget amendment appears in our records. The city attorney's billing detail would show what drove it.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
General Discussion of City Administrator Employment Agreement Interim Administrator Boyles outlined the process the city when through to find a long-term city administrator. Interviews were conducted on October 29 and an offer was made to one of the candidates.
Boyles outlined the hiring process before the vote on Resolution 2024-26.
What happened nextThe hire was completed at that meeting. Resolution 2024-26 approving the city administrator hiring passed by roll call 5-0-0 with Bailey, Helgeson, Henke, Ryan and Sjolander all voting aye. The search itself had been contracted in July 2024 to South Central Service Cooperative and Mike Humpal for 14,500 dollars, chosen over David Drown Associates. The interim administrator's own contract was then extended to January 31 2025 by Resolution 2024-31.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda / KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
This information can be used by any prospective developer for early vetting the property, which would limit their upfront cost and potentially encourage activity. The attached scope and fee was discussed with the EDA on October 22 and was recommended for approval.
Background supporting the council's requested approval of the study.
Partly answeredThe December 10 2024 minutes confirm the EDA recommended having the layout and cost projection completed, which corroborates the recommendation, but we hold no EDA minutes of October 22 2024. The scope letter itself states the fee was discussed with the EDA on that date and would be billed as an extension of general engineering services. The EDA minutes would settle the date and the vote.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
Based on conversations so far, the desired development would consist of traditional, market- rate, single family homes on ~1/4 acre lots (similar to Whitetail Ridge on the north end of town).
Work scope description for the conceptual site layout.
Partly answeredWe hold no Whitetail Ridge plat and no lot size data for it. What the market shows is the opposite of quarter acre lots: the only vacant lots listed for sale in Kenyon are three on Engel Drive at 2.27, 2.46 and 3.08 acres, nine to twelve times a quarter acre, priced at 187,778 to 252,230 dollars and sitting 657 days on market. The city also holds 33 vacant residential parcels inside its limits, 18 of them valued at 15,000 dollars or more.
dashboard/data/zillow.json / taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
SOURCE OF FUNDING: Future Project Financing REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: None – Information Only SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER 15 AGENDA ITEM NO.
Source of funding line on the 2025 project RCA.
Partly answeredFuture project financing turned out to mean bonded debt carried by the levy. The project was awarded to Fitzgerald Excavating at 2,294,629.25 dollars in July 2025, and the pay 2026 tax rate shows the cost: the city's general rate fell 0.38 percent while its bond rate rose 35.91 percent, carrying the total city rate from 79.3028 percent to 84.6822 percent of net tax capacity. The certified 2026 levy is 1,528,541 dollars, up 9.18 percent. We hold no bond schedule tying specific maturities to this project.
taxes/levy.html / taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
for the 8th Street Development Cost Study SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER x 17 2900 43rd Street NW Suite 100 Rochester, MN 55901 Phone: (507) 208-4332 Bolton-Menk.com October 21, 2024 Kenyon EDA and City Council RE: 8th Street Development Cost Study Engineering Services: Scope and Fee City of Kenyon, MN Project No.: 0H1.133029 Greetings: This letter contains a scope and fee to complete a planning-level cost analysis for a future residential development in Kenyon. On
RCA lists 'SOURCE OF FUNDING: -' while noting costs will be billed as an extension of general engineering services.
Partly answeredThe funding line was never named, but the billing route was: the scope letter says costs will be billed as an extension of Bolton and Menk's general engineering services. The city uses that route elsewhere, including ongoing updates to its ArcGIS Online mapping after the 2024 conversion, which cost 14,500 dollars plus 1,260 dollars a year in ESRI licensing. Which budget line absorbed the 3,000 to 3,500 dollars is not recorded.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda / KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md
As could be expected in any area, the capital investment needed to purchase the property and build critical infrastructure (streets, sewer, water, etc.) was at the forefront of discussion. In addition, a better understanding of potential site layout and basic costs is still unknown.
Summary of the October 15 meeting with CEDA, city staff and a local developer.
What happened nextHalf the unknown was closed. By January 14 2025 a potential layout for the 8th Street site had been drafted showing an ideal buildout, but Olinger said developer input was needed before costs could be prepared, so basic costs remained unknown. No cost estimate for the site reaches our records.
1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
VI.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: November 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Appointments AGENDA SECTION: PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS SUBJECT: Oath of Office for Kenyon Police Officer Josephine Homeier SUGGESTED ACTION: Oath will be given by Police Chief Jeff Sjoblom ATTACHMENTS: 13 AGENDA ITEM NO.
Appointment item scheduled under presentations/recognitions.
What happened nextChief Sjoblom administered the oath of office to Officer Josephine Homeier at the December 10 2024 meeting and she introduced herself to the council. The same ceremony recurred for Officer Armani Tucker on July 8 2025.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
The contract was mutually agreed upon with one change being requested. The city would extend the relocation time from 1 year and six months to 24 months.
General discussion of the City Administrator employment agreement before the resolution vote.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-26 approving the hiring 5-0
Partly answeredThe council adopted Resolution 2024-26 approving the hire by roll call 5-0-0 with the relocation term extended to 24 months as the single negotiated change, but the executed employment agreement is not in our holdings. The recruitment that produced the candidate cost 14,500 dollars, awarded to South Central Service Cooperative and Mike Humpal in July 2024 over David Drown Associates. The signed contract would confirm the relocation clause.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda / KENYON_BIDS.md
Final Punch List Complete, Final Documentation Submitted 09/27/24 11/01/24 35 $ (260.00) $ (9,100.00) Totals $ (9,100.00) NC = Not Calculated. Lack of calculation and pay adjustment does not represent the city's intention to make future pay adjustments in accordance with the contract. 27 AGENDA ITEM NO. IX.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: November 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Financial AGENDA SECTION: FINANCIAL SUBJECT: October Financials SUGGESTED
Other Payments Summary in BCM Construction Pay Application #10.
What happened nextThe arithmetic holds, 35 days at 260 dollars is exactly 9,100 dollars, but the deduction did not survive. On January 14 2025 the council was told liquidated damages would be suspended over the winter because final restoration on the Barrett property could not be judged until the spring thaw, and a completion date would be set in early spring. The August 2025 change order then moved the completion dates to the actual dates, removing liquidated damages from the contract.
1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
NC = Not Calculated. Lack of calculation and pay adjustment does not represent the city's intention to make future pay adjustments in accordance with the contract. 27 AGENDA ITEM NO. IX.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: November 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Financial AGENDA SECTION: FINANCIAL SUBJECT: October Financials SUGGESTED ACTION: See Attached Reports ATTACHMENTS: City of Kenyon Expense Summary.pdf City of Kenyon Revenue Summary.pdf City of
Pay App #10 shows substantial completion contract date 08/02/24 versus actual 10/12/24 at $1,600 per day, not calculated.
What happened nextThe city never assessed substantial completion damages. A change order in August 2025 adjusted the substantial and final completion dates to the dates the contractor actually finished, which the engineer described as effectively removing liquidated damage payments, and stated that assessment would not be appropriate because the project went smoothly and actual damages would be hard to evidence. The contract value was adjusted with no effect on payments already made.
8.12.25 Council Packet Agenda Updated · taken up again 2025-08-12
The release is triggered by a statutory requirement. The city is still withholding approximately $40,000 to date for the remaining work.
Explanation of the retainage release included in Pay Application #10.
Partly answeredThe pay application's own lines total 38,669.06 dollars, which is 1,330.94 dollars short of the approximately 40,000 dollars the engineer described as withheld. That figure is 29,569.06 dollars of retainage plus 9,100 dollars in liquidated damage deductions. A month later, after the further retainage release in pay application 11, the amount held had fallen to 16,819.06 dollars.
The engineer told the council approximately 40,000 dollars was being withheld, while the attached pay application shows 38,669.06 dollars.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda / 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
No CAD drawings will be produced nor provided. Following completion, we'll meet with the City and developer to discuss the results of the study.
Deliverables of the proposed 8th Street development cost study.
What happened nextThe meeting with the developer happened before costs were prepared, not after. On January 14 2025 Olinger reported a potential layout had been drafted showing an ideal buildout of the area and said discussion and input from developers would be helpful prior to preparing costs. The cost half of the deliverable is not recorded as delivered.
1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
In the next month we'll be plotting the initial set of preliminary plans, reviewing private utility impacts and reviewing private property impacts.
Next steps on 2025 Street & Utility Improvements design.
Partly answeredNo preliminary plan set or private utility and property impact review reaches our records. The next documented design milestone is February 11 2025, when the project was approximately 75 percent complete, which implies the intermediate work happened but leaves its findings undocumented here. The preliminary plan sheets and the impact memo would settle it.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda
We have started design work for the project and are approximately 10% complete. In the next month we'll be plotting the initial set of preliminary plans, reviewing private utility impacts and reviewing private property impacts. We are currently targeting plan completion in February. SOURCE OF FUNDING: Future Project Financing REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: None – Information Only SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER 15 AGENDA ITEM NO. VII.B Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA
Status update on the 2025 street and utility project.
What happened nextThe February target slipped. On December 10 2024 Olinger still said design should be completed in February, but on February 11 2025 the design was reported approximately 75 percent complete with bid authorization pushed to the March council meeting. Bidding then produced the April 2 2025 opening whose bids were all rejected in June.
Design was targeted for completion in February 2025 but stood at roughly 75 percent on February 11 2025.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2025-02-11
Other Adult Establishment – Body Art Interim Administrator Boyles informed the council that there was interest in opening a body art studio in the commercial district in Kenyon. For now, he just wanted to make the council aware of the request.
Adult establishment / body art item raised under Other at the special session.
At the meetingNo council action; item presented as information
What happened nextThe city wrote body art into its zoning two months later. Ordinance 110, before the council on January 14 2025, adds tattoo parlors and body art establishments as a permitted use in the downtown commercial district, and city code section 1135.05 requires a body art establishment license issued by the state Commissioner of Health. The informational mention in November became an ordinance without a separate application fight.
1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
We've discussed and agreed with the contractor that the remaining work can be best accomplished shortly after freeze-up, this year.
Project is substantially complete but close-out work remains.
Partly answeredNo completion date from BCM reaches our records, but the size of the remaining work does. By the December 10 2024 pay application the punch list subtotal stood at 4,500 dollars with total retainage of 16,819.06 dollars, held at 1 percent of work completed plus 250 percent of the remaining punch list value. The subcontractor told the council the crew was waiting for frozen ground to avoid further damage.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
Motion Approving Pay Application #10 to BCM Construction SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER Pay App 22 Contractor's Applica on for Payment Owner: CITY OF KENYON Owner's Project No.: N/A Engineer: BOLTON & MENK Engineer's Project No.: 0H1.126462 Contractor: BCM CONSTRUCTION Agency's Project No.: N/A Project: 2023 PEARL CREEK SANITARY SEWER & GATES AVE UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS Contract: N/A Application No.: 10 Application Date: 11/12/2024 Application Period: From 9/28/2024 to
Pay estimate covering work from 9/28/2024 to 11/1/2024 including a partial retainage release.
What happened nextPay request 10 to BCM Construction for 31,726.22 dollars was approved on December 10 2024 on a motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson. Olinger reported the Pearl Creek and Gates Avenue work substantially complete with a few repairs left, and the payment included part of the withheld retainage. A further pay application 11 was already on the agenda structure for the following month.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
If the city would like to move forward, please indicate so through a formal motion and approval at the next available meeting.
A planning-level layout and cost analysis for a potential low-density housing development south of 8th Street.
We hold no dataNo council motion on the Bolton and Menk 8th Street development cost study appears in our record. At $3,000 to $3,500 the fee sits below the $4,999 staff purchasing limit that Administrative Policy No. 34 set two months earlier.
KENYON_BIDS.md · would settle it: A council motion approving the scope and fee letter dated 10/21/2024
They also reviewed wage and benefit packages and details regarding the new city administrator's responsibilities. The city council as a body agreed that one of the three candidates was most appropriate to meet Kenyon needs.
Council deliberated on candidate strengths and concerns and agreed one of three was most appropriate.
What happened nextThree candidates is confirmed by the deliberation minutes, which record the council agreeing as a body that one of the three was most appropriate to meet Kenyon's needs. At the $14,500 paid to South Central Service Cooperative for the recruitment, that is about $4,833 per candidate interviewed. The city's other hiring in the period drew comparable interest and then none at all: four qualified candidates applied for the police officer job in April 2025, and by September 2026 the reposted police position had no applicants.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; 5-13-25_council_packet_updated; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
City Administrator Interviews Humpal reviewed questions with the city council, which should be asked of each of the candidates and the type of questions which should not be asked by anyone. He explained that 45 minutes is allotted for each individual.
Humpal explained the interview process and question guidelines to the council before interviews began.
What happened nextThe 45-minute allotment was used as described. The minutes state that Humpal reviewed which questions should and should not be asked, explained the 45-minute allotment, and that each of the interviews took place as explained. Across three candidates that is 135 minutes of interview time.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda · taken up again 2024-11-12
Motion carried 4-0-0. Mayor Henke stated for public information that one of the candidates has been selected by the city council.
Mayor Henke publicly announced that a candidate had been selected but the minutes name no one.
At the meetingOnly that one of the candidates was selected.
Partly answeredNo document in our holdings names the candidate at the point of selection or approval, not the October 29 2024 announcement and not Resolution 2024-26. The person who holds the job is Administrator Lehner, who appears running administrator updates in every packet from 2025 through September 2026. A first name and the executed agreement would close the gap. The city's difficulty filling posts did not end there: the administrative assistant position had to be reposted in early 2026 after the selected candidate declined the offer.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; 3-10-26_Council_Packet_Updated
They also reviewed wage and benefit packages and details regarding the new city administrator's responsibilities.
Council reviewed wage and benefit packages and administrator responsibilities in closed session without stating final terms.
Partly answeredThe only negotiated term that entered the public record is the relocation period, extended from one year and six months to 24 months. No wage figure, benefit package or duty list from the employment agreement appears anywhere in our holdings, and the approving resolution is recorded without terms. The executed employment agreement would settle it. The pay framework it sits inside is the Classification and Compensation Plan the council commissioned the same year, which sorts every city position into nineteen vertical grades.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; 8-29-24_work_session
The City Consultant Mike Humpal was directed to negotiate an employment agreement with the candidate and return to the city council for final approval at an upcoming regular or special meetings of the city council.
The council agreed on a candidate but approval of the agreement was deferred until negotiations conclude.
What happened nextFinal approval came two weeks later, on November 12 2024, under Resolution 2024-26. The vote was a roll call of 5-0-0.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda · taken up again 2024-11-12
The City Consultant Mike Humpal was directed to negotiate an employment agreement with the candidate and return to the city council for final approval at an upcoming regular or special meetings of the city council.
After closed-session interviews and deliberation, the council selected one of three candidates for city administrator.
What happened nextThe negotiation concluded and the agreement came back to the council on November 12 2024, where Resolution 2024-26 approving the city administrator hiring was adopted on a roll call of 5-0-0 with Bailey, Helgeson, Henke, Ryan and Sjolander all voting aye. Interim Administrator Boyles reported the contract was mutually agreed with a single change, extending the relocation period from one year and six months to 24 months. The recruitment itself was awarded to South Central Service Cooperative and Mike Humpal at $14,500 in July 2024, over David Drown Associates.
11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:00 p.m. Truth in Taxation Public Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:30 p.m.
Listed in the schedule of upcoming meetings.
Answered from our recordsThe Truth in Taxation meeting held its December 3 2024 slot at 6:30 p.m. and the levy that came out of that cycle was $1,400,000 for 2025, a 9.55 percent increase. The following year the city certified $1,528,541 for 2026, up 9.18 percent, and set a 2027 preliminary levy of $1,670,115, up 9.26 percent, so Kenyon has raised its levy more than nine percent in each of three consecutive years.
taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json; taxes/levy.html; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
General Election: Tuesday, November 5 @ 7:00 am – 8:00 pm City Council Meeting: Tuesday, November 12 @ 7 p.m. Township Fire Contract Meeting: Tuesday, December 3rd @ 6:00 p.m.
Listed in the schedule of upcoming meetings.
Partly answeredThe Township Fire Contract Meeting held its December 3 2024 slot at 6:00 p.m. in the schedule carried forward in the December 10 2024 packet, immediately before the Truth in Taxation meeting at 6:30 the same evening. No proposed township fire contract terms and no report from that meeting appear in our record. The township fire service agreements would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated, Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
Resolution 2024-25: Approving Publication of Ordinance 106 by Title and Summary Motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2024-16.
Traxler rezoning ordinance and summary publication resolution.
At the meetingBoth items passed 5-0-0 as recorded.
Partly answeredOur record reproduces both errors rather than resolving either. Ordinance 106 is titled as rezoning the Jeffrey and Ann Traxler parcel from I-1 General Industrial to G-2 General Commercial, and the motion recorded under the heading for Resolution 2024-25 is a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-16. Both items passed 5-0-0 on identical roll calls of Bailey, Helgeson, Henke, Ryan and Sjolander. The signed ordinance and resolution, or the zoning code's list of district names, would settle which designations are correct.
The minutes head the item Resolution 2024-25 but record a motion to adopt Resolution 2024-16, and give the rezoning target as G-2 where the attorney's description says C-2.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that this pay estimate includes work to restore the yard space around the new lift station. The final completion date of the contract was September 27.
Stated in connection with pay application 9 and possible liquidated damages.
Partly answeredThe September 27 2024 final completion date is recorded only in the engineer's statement to the council, and we do not hold the executed BCM contract. The November and December 2024 packets both carry a liquidated damages worksheet with columns for contract completion date, actual completion or cutoff date, number of days over and damages per day, so the city was tracking the overrun against a fixed date. The signed contract would confirm both the substantial and final completion dates.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated, liquidated damages worksheet
City Engineer Olinger stated that this was a Public Hearing on the proposed 2025 Street and Utility Improvement project. A neighborhood meeting was held on October 2. Five residents attended that meeting.
Background presented at the improvement public hearing.
Partly answeredThe October 2 2024 neighborhood meeting and its five attendees are recorded only in Engineer Olinger's own statement at the hearing, with no sign-in sheet or notes in our record. Public engagement stayed thin through the project: at the June 10 2025 assessment hearing on the same project no residents attended at all and only two contacted the engineer in advance. The sign-in sheet would settle the attendance count.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated
Police Chief Sjolander reported that Police Officer Mitch Taylor had accepted a job with the Apple Valley Police Department. His last day will be October 17.
Staff comment on department staffing.
What happened nextMitch Taylor came back part time. By July 14 2026 Police Chief Sjoblom reported Mitch had passed his background check and would start as a part-time fill-in, Misty had worked one part-time shift, and a potential full-time officer was still in background check. The full-time vacancy was never durably filled: on September 8 2026 the officer position was still posted with no applicants and part-time officers were covering while the chief and the full-time officer were on vacation.
7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-07-14
SEMAAA is looking for a group of 5-8 people who are interested in researching and helping develop new senior services through the ‘Age Friendly Communities' program sponsored by AARP and the State of Minnesota. A start-up committee would be needed before applying for the grants that are available.
Senior services presentation during citizen comments.
We hold no dataWe hold no amounts or deadlines for the AARP and State of Minnesota Age Friendly Communities grants. The two grant programs that do appear in our record are different ones: the DEED Redevelopment Grant Program with semi-annual deadlines of February 1 and August 1 at 4:00 p.m., and the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator at up to $5,000 per city against a $500,000 program cap. The AARP program guidelines would settle it.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda; 7.14.26 Council Packet Updated; GRANTS.md · would settle it: The AARP/State of Minnesota grant program details, amounts and deadlines
Approval would notify the public that the city intends to move forward with the project and authorize the city engineer to complete the final design on the project.
Council ordered the improvement and preparation of plans after the public hearing.
At the meetingResolution 2024-24 adopted 5-0-0.
What happened nextResolution 2024-24 was adopted 5-0-0 on a roll call of Bailey, Helgeson, Henke, Ryan and Sjolander, all aye, and the design work followed. The project was bid, all bids rejected once, rebid and awarded, and on May 12 2026 Engineer Olinger reported it would restart the week of April 13 with final completion expected mid-July 2026 and the punch list done by August 30. That puts completion roughly twenty months after the design was authorized.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 5-12-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-05-12
SEMAAA is looking for a group of 5-8 people who are interested in researching and helping develop new senior services through the ‘Age Friendly Communities' program sponsored by AARP and the State of Minnesota.
Citizen comment on developing senior services in Kenyon.
At the meetingNo council action recorded.
We hold no dataNo Age Friendly Communities start-up committee, volunteer names or AARP grant application appears in our record. The city's later grant activity ran through a different program: in July 2026 it named EDA Coordinator Todd Kieffer fiscal agent for the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator. A council appointment of an Age Friendly committee, or a SEMAAA follow-up report, would settle it.
7.14.26 Council Packet Updated · would settle it: Names of committee volunteers and the AARP/state grant application requirements
Kirk Hiner, who has a business at 43 Slee Street, was concerned about the additional taxes and his loading docks being shut down during construction.
Comment at the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements public hearing.
At the meetingNo response recorded in the minutes.
Partly answeredNeither concern is resolved in our record. At the June 10 2025 assessment hearing no residents attended, and the only Slee Street contact recorded is the resident at 10 Slee Street who thought his assessment was too high, not Hiner at 43 Slee Street. We hold no assessment figure for his parcel and no construction access or staging plan for the loading docks.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated, Assessment Hearing
Allan Turner, who lives at 626 8th Street, stated that he doesn't foresee people using a sidewalk if it was installed in the south side of his house. He would rather see the sidewalk put on the Red Wing Avenue side of his house.
Comment at the public hearing on the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements.
At the meetingNo response recorded; council ordered the improvement and final design.
Partly answeredThe record does not say where the sidewalk was finally placed. At the June 10 2025 assessment hearing no residents attended, though two contacted Engineer Olinger in advance, one at 10 Slee Street objecting to the assessment amount and one at 608 8th Street opposed to the 8th Street sidewalk. Turner's property at 626 8th Street does not appear in the final assessment roll extract we hold, which lists 717 Forest St, 608, 612 and 616 8th St. The final design plan showing the alignment would settle it.
7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda, Final Assessment Roll Summary dated 7/2/2025; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated
Diane Barrett listed several issues that had not yet been addressed by BCM. She was disappointed that the work was not getting done.
Raised during discussion of the final pay application for the Pearl Creek and Gates Avenue project.
Partly answeredDiane Barrett's complaints were never itemized in the record and no contractor response appears. The only later trace attached to this item is that Pay Application #11 to BCM Construction remained on the December 10 2024 engineering agenda, so payments continued while her property work was outstanding. Her written list of issues and BCM's response would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated, engineering agenda
There is still a punch list of items requiring attention. BCM has been notified that further delays will result in liquidated damage deductions from the final payment.
Discussed with Pay Application 9 after the September 27 contract completion date passed.
At the meetingCouncil approved pay request No. 9 for $5,438.75 for work through September 27, 2024.
What happened nextNo liquidated damages were assessed. By January 14 2025 Engineer Olinger reported most work complete, with delays in minor grading, stabilization and turf establishment on the Barrett property, and recommended setting a completion date in early spring because final restoration results would not be known until the spring thaw. Liquidated damages were suspended over the winter, and Pay Application #11 covering November 2 to December 3 was approved on a Bailey motion seconded by Helgeson.
Council was told further delays would bring liquidated damage deductions, but by January 2025 the engineer had recommended suspending liquidated damages over the winter instead.
1-14-25 council packet; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated engineer letter · taken up again 2025-01-14
Mayor Henke stated that he had asked the KMU commission to loan the city $2 million to get a housing development started. He had gotten a verbal agreement from all the commissioners. The details still need to be worked out.
Reported under council and staff general comments as a financing idea for a housing development.
What happened nextThe details were never worked out. Two years later, on September 8 2026, Doug Henke returned as a citizen to tell the council no progress had been made and to ask them to move it forward, and KMU Chairman Jerry Houglum confirmed the commission had been in favor of the loan. Administrator Lehner responded that a preliminary plat and a draft purchase agreement have been done. No written KMU commission action or loan terms document appears anywhere in our record.
9-8-26 Council Packet, Citizen Comment; 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda · taken up again 2026-09-08
Resolution 2024-20: Receiving Feasibility Report and Calling on Improvement Motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan to adopt Resolution 2024-20 with the addition of the sidewalk on 5th Street. Roll Call Vote: Bailey- Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Ryan – Aye Motion carried 5-0-0.
Vote record for Resolution 2024-20 on the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements feasibility report.
Partly answeredThe error is plain on the face of the record and was never corrected in our holdings. Three ayes are named, Bailey, Sjolander and Ryan, yet the result is printed as 5-0-0, while the BCM pay request approved in the same meeting on the same three-member roll call is correctly printed 3-0-0. Corrected minutes are what is missing.
The same set of minutes records identical three-member roll calls as 3-0-0 for the BCM pay request and 5-0-0 for Resolution 2024-20.
10-8-24 AGENDA
Resolution 2024-20: Receiving Feasibility Report and Calling on Improvement Motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan to adopt Resolution 2024-20 with the addition of the sidewalk on 5th Street.
Next step in the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements process.
At the meetingResolution adopted with the 5th Street sidewalk addition.
What happened nextThe improvement hearing was held at the October 8 2024 regular council meeting after notices were published and mailed. The project then proceeded to bidding, with six bids received by the April 2 2025 deadline and Resolution 2025-12 declaring the cost to be assessed and calling the assessment hearing adopted 4-0-0 on May 13 2025.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 5-13-25 council packet updated · taken up again 2024-10-08
Pay Application #8 to BCM Construction Motion by Bailey second by Sjolander to approve pay request No. 8 to BCM Construction in the amount of $66,188.50 for work completed through August 30, 2024.
Pay Application #8 on the Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements.
At the meetingApproved 3-0-0.
What happened nextPay Request No. 8 for $66,188.50 covering work through August 30 2024 was approved on a roll call vote of 3-0-0 with Bailey, Sjolander and Ryan all voting aye. Pay Application No. 10 followed on the October 2024 agenda and No. 11 on the December 2024 agenda. The signed application and engineer's certification are not in our holdings.
10-8-24 AGENDA
LEGAL Temporary Waiver of City Code for Downtown Kenyon Fall Festival Interim City Administrator Boyles stated that a Fall Festival is planned for Saturday, October 12 in the business area of Kenyon. No action is needed. This item was approved in the consent agenda.
Legal agenda item on a temporary waiver of city code for the Downtown Kenyon Fall Festival.
At the meetingBoyles stated no separate action was needed because the waiver was approved in the consent agenda.
What happened nextThe Fall Festival went ahead and has become an annual fixture. Council Member Helgeson encouraged attendance in the November 12 2024 record, and a year later congratulated city hall and the library on winning grand prize in the Fall Festival decorating contest. The consent agenda text stating the waiver terms is not in our holdings.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 11-12-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-11-12
Resolution 2024-22: Approving a Cooperative Snow Removal Agreement with the Minnesota Department of Transportation Interim City Administrator Boyles stated that the city is required to approve a cooperative agreement every five years with MNDOT concerning snow removal.
Introduction of Resolution 2024-22.
We hold no dataNo MnDOT policy or Minnesota statute setting a five-year renewal cycle for cooperative snow removal agreements appears in our holdings. The MnDOT cooperative agreement policy or the enabling statute would settle it.
would settle it: MNDOT policy or statute setting the five-year renewal requirement
The agreement sets annual compensation and reimbursements to the city that will not exceed $19,742.47 total in the five-year agreement for snow removal assistance in the downtown area.
Adoption of Resolution 2024-22 approving a cooperative snow removal agreement with MNDOT.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-22.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-22 was adopted 3-0-0 on the stated cap of $19,742.47 across the five-year term, which averages $3,948.49 a year for downtown snow removal assistance. The signed MnDOT cooperative agreement with the year-by-year compensation schedule is not in our holdings.
10-8-24 AGENDA
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS Masonic Lodge of Cannon Falls presentation to Kenyon Fire Department, West Concord Fire Department, and Kenyon Police Department Rick Vance, District Representative of the Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Minnesota, Clinton Christensen of the Grand Lodge, and Harris Haugen of the Cannon Falls Masonic Lodge explained that the Masonic Lodge's goal is to put a fire suppression tool in every police car in the state.
Explanation of the Masonic donation program.
We hold no dataWe hold no Grand Lodge of Freemasons of Minnesota program documentation of any kind. The Grand Lodge's own program description or its statewide distribution records would settle whether every police car in the state is the goal.
would settle it: Grand Lodge program documentation
The Kenyon Relief Association funded the purchases of six fire suppression tools that were presented to the Kenyon Fire Department (2), West Concord Police Department (1), and Kenyon Police Department (3).
Presentation of the donated fire suppression tools.
Partly answeredThe distribution of two, one and three is recorded but no Kenyon Relief Association purchase record exists in our holdings. The Relief Association's role as a funder is well corroborated elsewhere, since it donated $10,000 to the fire truck fund in April 2025 and $3,000 to the fire department in August 2025. The association's purchase receipt would settle the six-device count.
The agenda heading names the West Concord Fire Department as a recipient while the body of the same minutes gives the device to the West Concord Police Department.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 4-8-25 council packet; 8.12.25 Council Packet & Agenda Updated
The Masonics are sponsoring a program, which receives a break from the manufacturer, so the cost was $300 instead of the normal $1,500 for each device.
Presentation of fire suppression tools to Kenyon Fire, West Concord Fire, and Kenyon Police.
We hold no dataWe hold no manufacturer price list and no Masonic program agreement, so the $1,500 normal price cannot be checked. The claimed discount is 80 percent, which would put six devices at $1,800 against a $9,000 list value. The manufacturer's price list or the Grand Lodge program agreement would settle it.
would settle it: Manufacturer price list or the Masonic program agreement
Resolution 2024-20: Receiving Feasibility Report and Calling on Improvement Motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan to adopt Resolution 2024-20 with the addition of the sidewalk on 5th Street.
Motion to adopt Resolution 2024-20 receiving the feasibility report and calling for an improvement hearing.
At the meetingMotion carried; the feasibility report was later updated based on this feedback.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-20 was adopted with the 5th Street sidewalk added, and notices for the improvement hearing were then published and mailed for the October 8 2024 regular meeting. The updated feasibility report and plan set showing the sidewalk is not in our holdings, so we cannot confirm the sidewalk survived into the final design.
10-8-24 AGENDA
The consensus of the council was to follow past practices by assessing 30% of the project costs to the property owners.
Discussion after the feasibility report summary for the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements.
At the meetingCouncil reached consensus on the 30% assessment rate.
Partly answeredNo written assessment policy or final assessment roll is in our archive. The project the 30% rate would apply to was awarded to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 in July 2025, after all six bids in the May 2025 round were rejected on June 10 2025.
KENYON_BIDS.md
The final levy must be adopted by the end of December. The levy can be lowered between now and the end of the year, but it cannot be increased.
Explanation of the effect of adopting a preliminary maximum levy of 9.55%.
Partly answeredNo statutory citation appears in our holdings, but the city has repeatedly demonstrated the downward half of the rule. The preliminary 2026 levy was set at a maximum 9.93 percent in September 2025 and certified at 9.18 percent, and the 2027 draft opened at 19.50 percent on July 14 2026, fell to 10.34 percent on August 6, and was certified at 9.26 percent. The Minnesota statute governing preliminary levy certification is what is missing.
10.14.25 Council Packet & Agenda; factbook taxes/levy.html
Roll Call Vote: Bailey- Aye, Sjolander – Aye, Ryan – Aye Motion carried 3-0-0. Motion by Bailey second by Ryan to set the Truth in Taxation meeting for December 3 at 6:30 p.m.
Required public meeting on the 2025 budget and levy.
At the meetingMotion carried 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe motion setting the December 3 2024 Truth in Taxation meeting at 6:30 pm carried 3-0-0, but the published notice is not in our holdings. The same pattern recurs in the city's practice, with the Truth in Taxation meeting for the 2027 budget set for December 1 2026 at 6:30 pm. The published newspaper notice would settle it.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 9-8-26 Council Packet
The preliminary maximum levy certification resolution must be submitted to Goodhue County by the end of September. The final levy must be adopted by the end of December.
Adoption of Resolution 2024-21 setting the 2025 preliminary budget and levy at a maximum of 9.55%.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-21 with a maximum levy of 9.55%.
What happened nextThe 9.55 percent maximum held all the way to final adoption. The December 10 2024 packet records that the final levy and budget had to be adopted on or before December 30 2024 and that staff recommended keeping the final levy at 9.55 percent, which produced the certified 2025 levy of $1,400,000.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; factbook taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2024-12-10
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that work this past month included final paving, full disconnection from the old Pearl Creek sewer main, fine grading and seeding. The contractor still needs to finish final testing of the pipelines but is waiting for parts to arrive.
Monthly engineering update on the Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements.
What happened nextThe parts arrived and testing was submitted. By the November 12 2024 meeting the contractor had submitted final testing for the major infrastructure components and the lift station yard spaces had been watered and were recovering. The project reached closeout at the August 12 2025 meeting with Pay Application No. 12 and Change Order No. 2.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 8.12.25 Council Packet & Agenda Updated · taken up again 2025-08-12
SOURCE OF FUNDING: Various funds REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: As the city council is aware, pay adjustments for 2024 have already been made for three of the city’s four employee groups.
Request for Council Action funding line for the compensation plan.
We hold no dataNo breakdown of which funds absorb the compensation adjustments appears in anything we hold. The city used the same unspecific funding line elsewhere in the same period, writing Various for Resolution 2024-21 and Various including potential grants in December 2024. The adopted plan's fiscal note, or the 2025 departmental wage budgets, would show the split.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · would settle it: A breakdown of which funds absorb the compensation adjustments
Beginning in 2025 the compensation and classification plan as well as the performance evaluation plan will be applicable to all groups at the beginning of the year.
Forward-looking commitment tied to adoption of the plans.
What happened nextThe plan applied but the step component broke down within a year. The 2026 budget carried the 3% cost of living increase and omitted the step increase the city had historically given, which Administrator Lehner said would cost about $41,000 to add. The council voted to pay a step increase for 2026 retroactive to the first payroll of the year, and Lehner recommended a cost of living increase each January with steps on employee anniversary dates beginning in 2027.
2-10-26 Council Packet; 3-10-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-02-10
Notes- The notes help the reader to understand how the compensation/classification plans operate. The two plans are typically updated every two to three years to keep up with changes in the marketplace.
Notes explaining how the plans operate and are maintained.
We hold no dataWe hold no update history for Kenyon's classification and compensation plans and no consultant notes, so the two to three year cycle is unverified. The only comparable statement of practice in our records is that the city invites its financial advisor to review capital plans every few years. The consultant's methodology notes, or a second study commissioned after Bjorkland's, would settle it.
5-13-25 council packet updated · would settle it: The consultant's notes and past update history
In our case the consultant divided the plan into nineteen vertical grades. The more points the higher the grade of the position.
Describing the structure of the consultant-prepared classification and compensation plans.
Partly answeredThe grade and step structure is confirmed in operation, since the 2025 Compensation Plan was used on June 10 2025 to move an employee from Grade 10 to Grade 12, step 3. Neither the count of nineteen grades nor twelve steps per grade appears in anything we hold. The consultant's plan document itself would settle it.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated
EDA EDA is requesting a $20,000 increase for the façade program. General Fund: The General Fund reflects a projected revenue stream of $2,623,081.
Overview of General Fund revenues for the proposed budget.
We hold no dataWe hold no General Fund revenue detail schedule, so the $2,623,081 projection cannot be reconciled. It sits $859,516 above the $1,763,565 of General Fund operating expenditures stated in the same memo, a gap that the revenue schedule would have to explain through transfers or capital items. The 2025 budget packet revenue detail would settle it.
8-29-24 work session budget memo · would settle it: The revenue detail schedule in the budget packet
Overall Levy Increase Based on the proposed 2024 budget a 9.55% final levy increase would be recommended. This amount could still be lowered before the end of the year.
Noting the preliminary levy is a maximum that can be reduced before final certification.
What happened nextThe levy was not lowered. Staff recommended the final stay at 9.55% and the council adopted exactly the preliminary maximum, $1,400,000, on or before December 30 2024. The city has since used the headroom the other way twice, cutting the 2026 levy from a 9.93% maximum to 9.18% certified, and the 2027 levy from a 19.50% opening draft on July 14 2026 to 10.34% on August 6 and 9.26% certified.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2024-12-10
**Data estimated from LMC
Table of estimated residential tax impacts by home value, noted as estimated from LMC.
Partly answeredThe table overstates the city tax a Kenyon homeowner actually pays. Our parcel data puts the median homestead city tax at $1,457 on a median estimated market value of $210,000, which is $6.94 per $1,000 of value, so a $250,000 homestead carries roughly $1,735 in city tax, about $840 below the $2,573 estimated for 2025. The series also grows at exactly the levy increase each year, 6.8% then 8% then 9.58%, which ignores growth in the tax base and so overstates the effect on any individual property.
The estimated $2,573 city tax on a $250,000 home is roughly 48% above what our parcel-level data implies for a homestead of that value, and the memo labels the figures as estimated from the League of Minnesota Cities rather than from county tax capacity.
taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json; dashboard/data/benchmarks.json
Within the General Fund, Legal Fees and Engineering Fees have historically been over budget, the City will increase the budget line to a more conservative number. The City opted to increase the fund from 13 $25,000 in 2024 to $50,000 for 2025.
General Fund budget adjustment for professional services.
What happened nextDoubling the line was not enough. The city's own reports put 2024 legal spending at $68,326.50 in one set of statements and $75,216.50 in the January 2025 statement, against a $25,000 budget, so actual ran 2.7 to 3.0 times budget and above the new $50,000 line as well. The 2025 spend then fell, standing at $17,142.10 or 34.28% of budget by the June 2025 packet.
The same 2024 legal figure is reported as $75,216.50 in the January 2025 statement and $68,326.50 in the April, May and June 2025 statements, a $6,890 restatement with no explanation in the record.
2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
The tax levy for debt service for taxes payable in 2025 $323,207 which is an increase from prior year as there was new issuances of bonds, $276,515 in 2024.
Debt Service Fund portion of the proposed levy.
Partly answeredThe debt service levy rose $46,692, or 16.89%, and at $323,207 it is 23.1% of the $1,400,000 total levy. Bond schedules and the debt service worksheet are not in anything we hold. The pattern continued and then dominated: for pay 2026 the city's general tax rate fell 0.38% while its bond rate rose 35.91%, so essentially the entire rate increase that year came from debt.
taxes/levy.html; county auditor rate document
The amount required for funding COLA and benefits for personnel is estimated at approximately $ 1,215,326.00 within the General Fund, which is an increase of approximately $225,000 from prior year.
Personnel cost estimate driving the 2025 General Fund increase.
Partly answeredPersonnel accounts for nearly the whole levy story. The $225,000 personnel increase is 87.7% of the $256,435 General Fund operating increase, and the $1,215,326 estimate is 68.9% of the $1,763,565 of operating expenditures, implying a prior-year personnel cost of about $990,326 and a rise of 22.7%. Payroll detail by position is not in anything we hold.
8-29-24 work session budget memo
The 2024 LGA increased slightly to $665,114, from $664,265 in 2024 budget. The General Fund operating expenditures are expected to increase by $256,435 (17%) in 2025 to $1,763,565.
Explaining the driver of the levy increase, attributed to the compensation study, 3% COLA, step increases, and health insurance.
Partly answeredThe arithmetic is internally consistent. A $256,435 increase to $1,763,565 implies a prior base of $1,507,130, and $256,435 on that base is 17.01%. The line-item detail behind it is not in anything we hold. The personnel assumptions driving it persisted, and in 2026 the council found the budget had dropped the customary step increase, voted to pay one retroactive to the first payroll of 2026, and was told it cost about $41,000.
2-10-26 Council Packet; 8-29-24 work session
The 2025 General Fund Budget is funded primarily from ad valorem taxes (property taxes in proportion to the value) and Local Government Aid (LGA). The 2024 LGA increased slightly to $665,114, from $664,265 in 2024 budget.
Local Government Aid figure used as a General Fund revenue source.
Partly answeredThe $665,114 figure is confirmed as the 2025 budgeted Local Government Aid in the city's own revenue ledger, and $664,264.50 appears there as the 2024 amount received. The comparison was mislabeled, because the 2024 budgeted figure in the same ledger is $640,500, not $664,265. Measured against budget the aid rose $24,614, or 3.84%, rather than the $849 the memo implies. No state certification notice is in anything we hold.
The memo calls $664,265 the 2024 budget figure, but the city's own ledger shows $640,500 budgeted for 2024 and $664,264.50 actually received.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated revenue ledger
By comparison, the preliminary levies submitted by all Minnesota Cities in 2024 averaged a 8.4% increase. 12 Review Proposed 2025 Budget and Levy The purpose of the work session will be to review the levy portion of the 2025 draft budget.
Comparison used to frame Kenyon's proposed 9.55% levy increase.
We hold no dataWe hold no statewide dataset of Minnesota city levy increases, so the 8.4% average cannot be checked and Kenyon's 9.55% cannot be ranked against other cities. This is a firm limit on our records, not a gap we can close by inference. The League of Minnesota Cities or State Auditor preliminary levy survey for 2024 would settle it.
/Users/casa/mn-small-towns coverage note · would settle it: The statewide preliminary levy survey source (e.g., LMC or State Auditor data)
The 2025 preliminary budget includes a net tax levy certification for taxes payable in 2025 in the amount of $1,400,000.
Core figure of the 2025 preliminary budget presentation.
Answered from our recordsThe arithmetic is exact. $1,277,965 plus $122,035 is $1,400,000, and $122,035 on that base is 9.549%, which rounds to the stated 9.55%. The council then adopted that exact figure as the final levy by Resolution 2024-28, so the preliminary maximum became the final number with no reduction.
taxes/levy.html; 1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2024-12-10
Resolution 2024-19: Committing Capital Fund Balances
Listed as business to be discussed and possible action.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-19 appeared as item F of new business on September 10 2024, but neither its text nor a vote on it is in anything we hold. The practice it belongs to is well documented: the council adopted Resolution 2024-29 committing capital fund balances 5-0-0 and Resolution 2025-30 the following year 4-0-0, both explained as GASB 54 requirements to commit year-end balances before year end contingent on the audit.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 1-14-25 council packet
The goal for 2025 is to create a detail Capital Improvement Plan for all departments to ensure fund balances are properly funded for any improvements that are needed beyond the 10 year street projects.
Capital Project Funds cover General, Police, Fire, Streets, Library, Parks, and Pool.
Partly answeredNo departmental capital improvement plan document appears in anything we hold. What the city did instead was commit capital fund balances by resolution each year under GASB 54, adopting Resolution 2024-29 5-0-0 and Resolution 2025-30 4-0-0, both contingent on audited final figures. By September 2026 the council was still moving capital money between departments, resolving to return the $90,000 transferred out of the Fire Fund in 2025.
1-14-25 council packet; 9-8-26 Council Packet
If the City Council concours, it may be appropriate to work with the City Attorney in an effort to refine our cost assumptions to reduce these associated costs.
Legal and engineering fees have historically been over budget, so the line was raised from $25,000 to $50,000.
What happened nextLegal spending fell sharply in 2025 after the line was doubled. The city attorney legal account stood at $17,142.10 spent by the June 10 2025 packet, 34.28% of the $50,000 budget, against a 2024 figure of $68,326.50 in the same reports. If the 2025 pace held, the year would finish near $41,000, roughly 40% below 2024. No revised cost estimate from the city attorney appears in anything we hold.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; 4-8-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-06-10
EDA EDA is requesting a $20,000 increase for the façade program. General Fund: The General Fund reflects a projected revenue stream of $2,623,081.
2025 budget request line within the EDA fund.
We hold no dataNo council decision on the $20,000 facade program increase appears in anything we hold. What the record does show is EDA spending pressure going the other way, with the CEDA contract rising from one day a week to two at $53,580 for 2025, and an interfund loan from the Electric Fund to the EDA appearing in the 2026 budget. The adopted 2025 EDA fund budget would settle whether the facade line grew.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 12.2.25 Special Council Meeting · would settle it: Council decision on the EDA budget line
Health insurance premiums have not been provided to the department heads at this time however, there is an increase of approx. 15% as we are anticipating a larger increase due to adjusting our year end date from 6/30 to 12/31. EDA EDA is requesting a $20,000 increase for the façade program. General Fund: The General Fund reflects a projected revenue stream of $2,623,081. The 2025 General Fund Budget is funded primarily from ad valorem taxes (property taxes in proportion to the value) and Local Government Aid
2025 budget assumption for employee benefit costs.
Partly answeredNo carrier premium quote appears in anything we hold, so the 15% anticipated increase was never confirmed. The assumption dropped sharply in later years, to 5% for the 2026 budget and 5% again in the June 2026 known factors. Our ledger shows the city administration medical, dental, life and disability line at $88,069 actual for 2025 against $73,310 budgeted for 2026, so budgeted insurance has run below actual.
9-9-25 Council Packet; 6.9.26 Council Packet and Agenda; budget tables
SOURCE OF FUNDING: Various funds REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: As the city council is aware, pay adjustments for 2024 have already been made for three of the city’s four employee groups. Adoption of the two plans by the city council would allow comparable adjustments to the last group.
Pay adjustments for 2024 were already made for three of the city's four employee groups.
What happened nextThe plan reached the council as new business on September 10 2024 and took effect, since a 2025 Employee's Compensation Plan with grades and steps was in operational use by June 10 2025 when the council moved Joshua Johnson from Grade 10 to Grade 12, step 3, retroactive to April 15. Pay adjustment schedules appear in the November and December 2024 packets with totals of $9,100.00 and $17,420.00 in parentheses, each carrying a note that a missing calculation does not signal any intent to skip future adjustments.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
The preliminary levy must be adopted by the city council and preorte to the county no later than September 30, 2024. The maximum levy must be certified (adopted) by the Council by December 28, 2024.
Statutory deadlines for adopting the proposed 2025 levy of $1,400,000.
What happened nextBoth deadlines were met. The council adopted Resolution 2024-21 setting the 2025 preliminary budget and levy at a maximum of 9.55% on a roll call of Bailey, Sjolander and Ryan all aye, for certification to Goodhue County by September 30 2024, then adopted Resolution 2024-28 setting the final levy of $1,400,000 payable 2025, carried 5-0-0.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2024-12-10
Resolution 2024-19: Committing Capital Fund Balances XII. OTHER BUSINESS A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings 1. City Council Meeting: Tuesday, September 9 @ 7 p.m 4 XIII.
Schedule of upcoming meetings listed under other business.
What happened nextThe meeting was held and its packet is dated September 10 2024. The date announced in the minutes does not work as printed, because September 9 2024 fell on a Monday and the council meets on Tuesdays. The city's regular pattern in later years is the same, with council meetings on the second Tuesday at 7 p.m.
The minutes announce Tuesday, September 9 at 7 p.m., but September 9 2024 was a Monday and the packet for that meeting is dated September 10 2024.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-09-10
The pool costs are still increasing due to the price of chemicals. The budget for chemical costs and utilities costs will be increased.
Pool 2025 budget discussion.
Partly answeredWe hold no chemical invoices, so the driver behind the increase cannot be isolated. The swimming pool line did step up for 2025 and then hold flat: budgeted $32,700 for 2024 against $28,252.27 actual, raised to $35,000 for 2025 against $31,857.35 actual, and left at $35,000 for both 2026 and 2027. The chemical and utility detail lines would show whether chemicals drove the $2,300 increase.
12.2.25 Special Council Meeting; 9-8-26 Council Packet
The skid steer loader would also be upgraded, but the attachments would be kept. The utility costs for the sanitary sewer were increased. The GIS cost of $1,500 was added.
2025 sewer budget review at the work session.
Answered from our recordsThe GIS cost is the city's own mapping platform. Kenyon left the county's shared mapping for its own ArcGIS Online through Bolton and Menk in 2024, paying $14,500 for conversion plus $1,260 a year in ESRI licensing, with updates billed as general engineering, so the $1,500 sewer line closely tracks the annual license. The sewer utility increases were part of a four-year plan from the 2021 rate study, taking the residential sanitary rate from $7.40 to $7.77 per thousand gallons, the base from $26.25 to $27.57 a month and the storm sewer fee from $9.00 to $13.00 a month for 2025.
factbook Development, TIF and land; 3-11-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-03-11
Installing this door would eliminate the distractions for city staff during library events. The library board approved a quote in the amount of $3977.00 from L and M Construction.
The library board requested the door to reduce distractions for city staff during library programming.
At the meetingCouncil approved the door installation using library board funds 4-0-0.
We hold no dataWe hold no installation date and no final invoice for the door between the council chambers and the library. No later passage returns to the project. The L and M Construction invoice and the library board's payment record would settle both the date and the final cost against the $3,977 quote.
no source in our holdings · would settle it: Confirmation of the installation date and final invoice
The city has the money available to pay off the loan amount of $53,000. The interest savings by paying the loan off early would be $4,979.
New business item recommending early payoff of the city hall roof loan.
At the meetingCouncil approved the $53,000 payoff 4-0-0.
Partly answeredWe hold no KMU loan amortization schedule, so the $4,979 interest saving cannot be checked. The city's borrowing from KMU did not end with this payoff: the September 8 2026 packet carries an update on a loan from KMU and notes the removal of the interfund loan transfer as revenue because that loan will be paid off in 2026. The KMU note and its amortization schedule would settle the interest figure.
9-8-26 Council Packet
There will be increases in benefits and salaries per council approval. A 10% increase in funding from the County will cover other library expenses.
Library 2025 budget review noting most line items remained flat.
Partly answeredWe hold no county certified 2025 library funding figure, so the 10% increase cannot be verified. The library is funded by tax levy plus a county contract through SELCO, donations and fines, and for 2026 Director Otte proposed a 9.44% levy increase driven by wages, automation and utilities. The automation line itself ran $4,892 in 2024 and $4,956 in 2025 against $6,500 budgeted for 2026, with SELCO charging $230 a year for hosting plus $347.55 a month for integrated library system support.
9-9-25 Council Packet; factbook KENYON_IT_SPEND.md
Twenty thousand dollars was added to the Economic Development Authority budget for 3 to 5 façade improvement programs.
2025 levy and budget review at the July 30 work session.
Partly answeredThe Economic Development Authority budget did grow sharply, from a $22,431.00 budget in 2024 to $95,447.30 for 2025 against $59,576.55 actually spent in 2024. The $20,000 facade allocation cannot be isolated inside that total from what we hold, and no facade program guidelines appear in our record. The EDA budget detail and the adopted facade program rules would settle it.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda
The budget for chemical costs and utilities costs will be increased. It would cost $10,000 for cameras at the pool and park.
Parks and pool 2025 budget review.
We hold no dataNo vendor quote for pool and park cameras appears in our record, and no later passage records the cameras being bought. The city's security vendor in this period was WH Security, which did the liquor store cameras and DVR in 2021 and the city hall cameras and panic buttons in June 2024, neither with a dollar figure in the record. A WH Security quote for the pool and park would settle the $10,000.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · would settle it: A vendor quote for the camera installation
The F350 truck would be traded in for a F550 or F650, so the plow can be used on both hard and class 5 surfaces. The skid steer loader would also be upgraded, but the attachments would be kept.
Public works equipment plans in the proposed 2025 streets budget.
At the meetingNo purchase decision made at the work session.
We hold no dataWe hold no trade-in or purchase quotes for the F350 replacement or the skid steer upgrade, and no later passage records either transaction. The equipment lists in later packets name skid steers, dump trucks and snow plows only as job description boilerplate, not as purchases. Dealer quotes and the trade-in allowance would settle it.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; 11-12-25 Council Packet · would settle it: Trade-in and purchase quotes for the truck and skid steer
They cost $5,000 each. Funds were allocated in prior years to purchase a new squad car that will be arriving in 2024.
Police budget discussion of previously allocated capital funds.
We hold no dataWe hold no dealer delivery confirmation and no later council passage reporting the squad car's arrival. The budget context around it is on record: the city was building capital project funds for General, Police, Fire, Streets, Library, Parks and Pool, with a stated goal of creating a detailed capital plan for 2025. The vehicle purchase order or delivery invoice would settle it.
8-29-24 work session · would settle it: A delivery date confirmation from the vehicle dealer
Fire Chief Wayne Ehrich provided a summary of the proposed 2025 Fire Department and First Responder budgets. Motorola no longer supports their older radios, so $15,900 is being budgeted for three new radios.
Fire and First Responder 2025 budget summary at the work session.
Partly answeredNo vendor quote for the three fire radios appears in our record, so the $15,900 figure, or $5,300 per radio, cannot be verified. Radio replacement did continue into the following budget: the 2026 fire budget rose $1,658.17 over 2025, mainly because of replacing pagers and radios and higher property insurance. The Motorola quote would settle the unit price.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated
Funds were allocated in prior years to purchase a new squad car that will be arriving in 2024. The police department will be receiving local government aid in the amount of $36,000.
Police 2025 budget discussion of state aid revenue.
Partly answeredThe aid is state police aid, not local government aid, and the actual 2024 receipt was $37,835.00. Account 101-42100-33421 shows $32,667.77 in 2023, a $64,000 budget for 2024 against $37,835.00 received, a $33,000 budget for 2025 and $40,000 for 2026, while the local government aid line 101-42100-33401 is $0.00 in every year. The state certification letter would confirm the exact 2024 figure.
The revenue was booked as state police aid and the local government aid line for the police department is zero in every year shown.
12.2.25 Special Council Meeting budget tables
Police Chief Sjoblom provided an update on the police department proposed 2025 budget. He stated that encrypted radios are needed. They cost $5,000 each.
Police department 2025 budget presentation at the work session.
Partly answeredNo written quote for encrypted police radios appears in our record. The nearest check available is the fire department's own radio budget from the same work session, $15,900 for three radios, or $5,300 each, which is close to the $5,000 the police chief cited. A vendor quote naming model and count would settle it.
no vendor quote in our holdings; 2025 budget work session figures
Resolution 2024-19: Committing Capital Fund Balances Summary Report Fund Transfers Budget (003) (002).docx Resolution 2024-19 Committing Capital Fund Balances.docx XII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates XII.A FYI 8/20/24 Summary Report FYI 8-20-24.pdf XIII. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS XIV. ADJOURNMENT 2 AGENDA ITEM NO. III.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: August 20, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Agenda AGENDA SECTION: ADOPT AGENDA SUBJECT: Agenda for
New business item accompanied by a fund transfers budget document.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-19 went to the August 29 2024 special session with a fund transfers budget attached, and its basis is Fund Balance Policy #23, under which the council is the highest level of decision-making authority and a resolution is the formal action required to establish, modify or rescind a commitment. Neither the transfer amounts nor a vote appears in our record. The signed resolution and the fund transfers budget would settle both.
8-29-24 special session; 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda
TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer
New business item in the August 20 packet with a supporting memo.
Partly answeredThe transfer amount is visible in the ledger even though the memo is not. Account 402-48116-800, TIF #4-4 Sun Home and Assisted Living reimbursements, shows $17,611.98 spent in 2024 against a $0.00 budget, and $0.00 in every later column. The TIF 4-4 memo would supply the statutory basis for moving the money.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 1-14-25 council packet
Approve Classification and Compensation Plan for Kenyon Summary Report CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN.docx CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN2.docx.pdf XI.E TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer Summary Report TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer.docx XI.F Resolution 2024-19: Committing Capital Fund Balances Summary Report Fund Transfers Budget (003) (002).docx Resolution 2024-19 Committing Capital Fund Balances.docx XII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates XII.A FYI 8/20/24 Summary Report FYI 8-20-24.pdf XIII. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL
New business item in the August 20 packet with two plan documents.
Partly answeredThe plan was reviewed at an August 29 2024 work session and placed on the same day's special session agenda for approval, supported by a classification and compensation plan document, a 2025 compensation plan and consultant notes. The consultant built it by scoring job descriptions against responsibility criteria into nineteen vertical grades across Administration, Public Works, Kenyon Utility, Finance, Library and Liquor Store. No vote tally or final pay grid appears in our record.
8-29-24 work session; 8-29-24 special session
Approve Administrative Policy #35 – Fixed Asset Record System Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 35.docx ADMINPOLICY#35 Fixed Asset Record System.docx XI.D Approve Classification and Compensation Plan for Kenyon Summary Report CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN.docx CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN2.docx.pdf XI.E TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer Summary Report TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer.docx XI.F Resolution 2024-19: Committing Capital Fund Balances Summary Report Fund Transfers Budget (003) (002).docx Resolution
New business item in the August 20 packet.
Partly answeredAdministrative Policy #35 on the fixed asset record system carried to the September 10 2024 agenda as item C under New Business, and no vote or adopted text appears in our record. The city kept amending policies in this series, taking up Policy #29 on pothole repair and Policy #37 on expectations for council and commission members in November 2024. The adopted Policy #35 would settle it.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
Approve Administrative Policy #34 – Purchasing Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 34.docx ADMINPOLICY#34 Purchasing Policy.docx XI.C Approve Administrative Policy #35 – Fixed Asset Record System Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 35.docx ADMINPOLICY#35 Fixed Asset Record System.docx XI.D Approve Classification and Compensation Plan for Kenyon Summary Report CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN.docx CLASSIFICATION AND COMPENSATION PLAN2.docx.pdf XI.E TIF 4-4 Fund Transfer Summary Report TIF 4-4 Fund
New business item in the August 20 packet.
Partly answeredAdministrative Policy No. 34 sets three thresholds: staff may purchase up to $4,999, council approval plus two quotes is required from $5,000 to $174,999, and sealed bids are required above $175,000. Finance Director Kyllo presented it to the council on August 20 2024 and Minnesota Statute 471.345 is the underlying law. The minutes for that meeting are not in our archive, so the adoption vote is not confirmed from what we hold.
council/txt/8-20-24_AGENDA.txt
Revised Policy #7 – Employee Evaluation Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 7 REVISED.docx admin policy #7 REVISED Aug. 2024.doc XI.B Approve Administrative Policy #34 – Purchasing Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 34.docx ADMINPOLICY#34 Purchasing Policy.docx XI.C Approve Administrative Policy #35 – Fixed Asset Record System Summary Report ADMINISTRATIVE POLICY NO. 35.docx ADMINPOLICY#35 Fixed Asset Record System.docx XI.D Approve Classification and Compensation Plan for Kenyon Summary Report
New business item in the August 20 packet with a revised policy document.
Partly answeredRevised Policy #7 on employee evaluation reappears as item A under New Business on the September 10 2024 agenda, so it carried forward, but no vote or adopted text appears in our record. The signed policy and the minutes line recording the vote would settle it.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda
The suggestion was made for all mowing costs to be designated to the parks department rather than spreading it out between the other departments.
Public works 2025 budget review of how mowing expenses are distributed.
At the meetingNo decision recorded.
What happened nextMowing and fuel costs were not consolidated into parks. The April 2025 fuel voucher from Central Farm Service still splits the bill four ways, with $807.59 to police, $547.71 to streets and public works, $124.73 to sewer and $39.68 to parks out of $1,519.71, and the May 2025 voucher bills $391.52 to the parks fuel account separately. The distribution the work session questioned remained in place.
The suggestion to designate all mowing costs to parks was not adopted; fuel remained split across four departments a year later.
5-13-25 council packet updated; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-05-13
It would cost $10,000 for cameras at the pool and park. The pool rates need to be reviewed on for the 2025 year.
Pool budget discussion noting rising chemical and utility costs.
At the meetingNo new rates set.
Partly answeredNo adopted 2025 pool fee schedule appears in our record. The pool revenue budget did rise for 2025, with swimming pool fees budgeted at $30,000 against $28,000 for 2024 and concessions at $5,000 against $4,500, lifting the total pool revenue budget from $32,700 to $35,000. Actual 2024 fees came in at $24,125.41, well under either budget. The adopted fee schedule would show whether prices changed or only the assumptions did.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda; 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda
Currently, the city allocates property and liability costs to each individual fund (police, streets, pool, city administration). It may be best to lump them together in the general fund instead of in each individual fund.
2025 budget discussion of how property and liability costs are allocated across police, streets, pool, and city administration.
At the meetingNo decision recorded.
Partly answeredNo revised budget presentation comparing the two allocation methods appears in our record, and no council decision on the change is documented. The later fund descriptions show the enterprise funds still carrying general operations, financial administration and debt service within each fund, which suggests the allocation approach was not consolidated. The 2025 adopted budget worksheets would settle it.
10.14.25 Council Packet Agenda; 12.2.25 Special Council Meeting
Liquor Store Manager Bartel stated there were no major increases for the liquor store. A question for the future is whether the liquor store will begin offering THC products.
Raised during the liquor store portion of the July 30 budget work session as a future question.
At the meetingNo answer recorded; noted as a question for the future.
What happened nextYes. On March 11 2025 the council authorized Manager Bartel to move forward with registering to sell THC drinks and gummies on the off-sale side of the Muni, on a motion by Brunner seconded by Bailey. The same night it approved 4-0-0 his starting the process of expanding the Muni into the city-owned former NAPA building at 641 2nd Street with a separate off-sale entrance.
4-8-25 council packet, minutes of March 11 2025 · taken up again 2025-03-11
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan to approve the agreement for services contract with South- Central Service Cooperative for $14,500.00.
A special council meeting on June 20, 2024 selected the firm to run the administrator search.
At the meetingContract approved 4-0-0.
What happened nextThe search produced Scott Lehner as city administrator. Mike Humpal of South Central Service Cooperative attended a special council meeting on October 29 2024 alongside Interim Administrator Frank Boyles, and by June 10 2025 Administrator Lehner was delivering the administrator update. The cooperative was selected on July 9 2024 at $14,500 over David Drown Associates. We hold no candidate slate or search timeline document.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-10-29
ENGINEERING VII.A Pearl Creek & Gates Ave Utility Improvements Summary Report 01.1_RCA_Pearl Creek & Gates Ave Utility Improvements.pdf 01.2_Pearl Creek Pay App No. 7.pdf VII.B 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Summary Report 02.1_RCA_2025 Street & Utility Improvements.pdf 02.2_2025 Project Locations.pdf VIII.
Engineering agenda item with an RCA and project location map in the August 20 packet.
What happened nextThe project went ahead. Resolution 2024-20 receiving the feasibility report and calling on the improvement was before the council on September 10 2024, a construction engineering scope and fee agreement followed on May 13 2025, and by August 2025 the council was receiving project updates. The first round of bids was rejected June 10 2025 and the rebid was awarded to Fitzgerald Excavating on July 8 2025 at $2,294,629.25 against a $2,764,170.05 estimate.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 5-13-25 council packet; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-07-08
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that electrical work is nearly completed on the lift station. The project is expected to be completed by mid-August.
Engineering update on construction status at the July 9 meeting.
What happened nextMid-August was missed. The October 8 2024 pay estimate covers restoration of the yard space around the new lift station, which the engineer reported was completed in late September 2024, roughly six weeks past the stated completion date. Pay applications were still running through No. 8 in September 2024.
The project was said to be finishing by mid-August 2024 and work continued into late September.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-10-08
ENGINEERING A. 2025 Street and Utility Improvements B. Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements 1. Pay Application #7 to BCM Construction VIII.
Engineering item on the August 20 agenda following approval of Pay Application No. 6 in July.
Partly answeredNo dollar amount for BCM pay application No. 7 appears in our record. The sequence is visible: No. 7 came to the council in August 2024, No. 8 in September 2024, and No. 10 was on the agenda in both October and November 2024. The contract was awarded June 13 2023 at $1,241,494.22 against a $1,536,065 engineer's estimate. The signed application No. 7 would give the amount.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 10-8-24 AGENDA; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md
Riggs and Olinger drafted a development agreement defining the essential terms for the developer to complete this relocation. The draft is currently being reviewed by the developer.
Dollar General proposed a building over an existing public sanitary sewer main requiring relocation.
At the meetingCouncil approved the agreement subject to final review by Boyles, Olinger, and Riggs.
What happened nextThe agreement was completed and the store was built. Dollar General at 98 Gunderson Blvd, parcel 661800150, jumps from a 2026 estimated market value of $138,700 to $972,800 for pay 2027 as the new building hits the tax roll. The parcel sold for $250,000 in September 2024 to AMH Kenyon LLC and again in November 2025 to the Gigliotti Family Trust of Fallbrook, California, and it now pays $1,762 in city tax. We do not hold the executed development agreement itself.
factbook data/companies.csv and taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
CITIZEN COMMENT Jeremy Flotterud, Wanamingo City Council member, approached the Kenyon city council with the idea of possibly looking into the City of Kenyon servicing the City of Wanamingo for police services. If Kenyon is interested, he would like us to put some numbers together for costs.
Citizen comment period at the July 9 meeting about a possible police services contract between the two cities.
At the meetingNo decision recorded; council took no action at the meeting.
We hold no dataWe hold no cost estimate for Kenyon police coverage of Wanamingo and no later council passage returns to the request. The two cities are close in scale, Kenyon with 1,015 parcels and a 143.0% total tax-capacity rate against Wanamingo's 762 parcels and 136.1% rate, but nothing in our data prices a service contract. A staff memo with officer hours, vehicle costs and an overhead rate would settle it.
factbook dashboard/data/benchmarks.json · would settle it: A staff cost estimate for contracting Kenyon police coverage to Wanamingo
Review Preliminary Engineering Report w/ Council Regular Sept. Meeting Review & discuss budget and scope Modify as needed before public notices/meetings/hearings Hold Neighborhood Informational Meeting Early October Informal opportunity for residents to learn about project Hold Public Improvement Hearing Regular October Meeting Public opportunity to voice opinions to council Council considers formal approval of project scope & final design SOURCE OF FUNDING: Future Project Financing REQUESTED COUNCIL
Anticipated schedule of reviews and approvals for the 2025 street and utility project.
At the meetingNo council action requested; information only.
What happened nextThe schedule held through the hearing stage. The feasibility report was reviewed at the September 2024 meeting, notices were published and mailed, and the public improvement hearing took place at the regular October 2024 council meeting. The September 2024 packet carries the report's cost summary: city costs of $3,090,887.05, made up of $1,121,166.65 non-assessable street and site, $33,606.10 sidewalk, $732,212.50 sanitary sewer, $936,991.80 watermain and $266,910.00 storm sewer, plus $567,222.85 in assessable costs, or 15.5% of the total. The project then took two bid rounds, with every bid rejected June 10 2025 before Fitzgerald was awarded $2,294,629.25 on July 8 2025.
9.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda; 10-8-24_AGENDA; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-10-08
Major items of work remaining include final yard/turf restoration, disconnections from the old pearl creek sewer line, and final televising/inspections of new sewer lines.
Status of major work items outstanding on the 2023 Pearl Creek project.
What happened nextTwo of the three remaining items closed within about six weeks. By the October 8 2024 report, final paving, full disconnection from the old Pearl Creek sewer main, and fine grading and seeding were done, leaving final pipeline testing held up waiting for parts. Pay Application No. 8 of $66,188.50 for work through August 30 2024 was approved 3-0-0. Yard restoration around the lift station carried into the November pay estimate, and the project closed out in August 2025.
9.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda; 10-8-24_AGENDA; 8.12.25_Council_Packet__Agenda_Updated · taken up again 2025-08-12
There are still a few minor control issues that will be resolved prior to final completion; however, the lift station is operational, and sewer flow has been diverted.
Project status update; the lift station is operational and sewer flow has been diverted.
What happened nextThe minor control issues were not minor in duration. In September 2024 the contractor was still waiting on parts for the lift station controls, with drainage in the green space around the station also needing work. By November 2024 the contract's final completion date of September 27 had passed, the punch list was still open, and BCM had been notified that further delays would bring liquidated damage deductions from the final payment, with resident Diane Barrett telling the council she was disappointed the work was not getting done. Closeout, with Pay Application No. 12 and Change Order No. 2, did not reach the council until August 2025.
The control issues were described in July 2024 as minor and to be resolved before final completion, but they outlasted the September 27 2024 completion date and triggered a liquidated damages warning to the contractor in November 2024.
9.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda; 11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; 8.12.25_Council_Packet__Agenda_Updated · taken up again 2025-08-12
Motion Approving Pay Application #7 to BCM Construction ($335,092.09) SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS ATTACHED: Resolution Ordinance Contract Minutes OTHER X 13 Contractor's Application for Payment Owner: CITY OF KENYON Owner's Project No.: N/A Engineer: BOLTON & MENK Engineer's Project No.: 0H1.126462 Contractor: BCM CONSTRUCTION Agency's Project No.: N/A Project: 2023 PEARL CREEK SANITARY SEWER & GATES AVE UTILITY IMPROVMENTS Contract: N/A Application No.: 7 Application Date: 8/20/2024 Application Period: From 6/29/2024 to
Engineer's recommendation in the August 20 council packet for the Pearl Creek sanitary sewer project.
Partly answeredPay Application No. 7 to BCM Construction for $335,092.09 appears on both the August 20 and September 10 2024 agendas, but no motion approving it is in our holdings. The applications either side of it are recorded: No. 8 at $66,188.50 for work through August 30 2024, approved 3-0-0 on a motion by Bailey seconded by Sjolander, and No. 9 at $5,438.75. BCM won the Pearl Creek Sanitary Sewer and Gates Avenue contract in June 2023 at $1,241,494.22 against a $1,536,065 estimate.
9.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda; 10-8-24_AGENDA; KENYON_BIDS.md
The skid steer loader would also be upgraded, but the attachments would be kept. The utility costs for the sanitary sewer were increased. The GIS cost of $1,500 was added.
Review of the proposed 2025 sewer budget.
Partly answeredThe $1,500 GIS line covers annual licensing only. The city's actual GIS move, off the county's shared mapping and onto its own ArcGIS Online through Bolton and Menk in 2024, cost $14,500 for conversion plus $1,260 a year in ESRI licensing, with ongoing updates billed as general engineering. On the sewer utility cost side, the March 2025 rate action shows the increases that followed: the residential sanitary sewer rate went from $7.40 to $7.77 per thousand gallons, the residential base rate from $26.25 to $27.57 a month, and the storm sewer maintenance fee from $9.00 to $13.00 a month, a 44% jump on that last line.
The budget carried GIS as a $1,500 addition, which matches only the $1,260 annual licensing and omits the $14,500 conversion the city incurred in the same period.
3-11-25_council_packet_(1); KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · taken up again 2025-03-11
The budget for chemical costs and utilities costs will be increased. It would cost $10,000 for cameras at the pool and park.
Discussion of proposed pool and parks budget items.
Partly answeredNo camera quote for the pool or park is in our holdings and no purchase appears in the bid record. The city's camera vendor in this period is WH Security, which did the liquor store cameras and DVR in 2021 and City Hall cameras plus panic buttons in June 2024, neither with a dollar figure recorded. The item looks to have been squeezed out rather than bought: a year later, reviewing the 2026 parks and pool budgets, Superintendent Ehrich identified several items in his departments that could be cut for savings.
9-9-25_Council_Packet; KENYON_BIDS.md
The F350 truck would be traded in for a F550 or F650, so the plow can be used on both hard and class 5 surfaces.
Review of the proposed 2025 streets equipment budget.
We hold no dataNo trade-in values or purchase quotes for an F550, an F650 or a skid steer loader appear in the 43-row bid record. The equipment swap Ehrich proposed is not documented as a competitive purchase in any later year.
Truck and loader purchases at this scale require council approval plus two quotes under Administrative Policy No. 34, presented three weeks after this work session, and no quotes are on file.
KENYON_BIDS.md · would settle it: Trade-in values and purchase quotes for the truck and skid steer
CDs and investments are earning 5%, which has increased from .05%. The city could look into applying for more grants to save money.
Suggestion for reducing levy pressure in 2025.
What happened nextThe city did pursue grants, with mixed results. Staff tracked that DEED runs Redevelopment Grant rounds every six months and advised applying close to the start of project activity. In August 2025 staff recommended reapplying for a competitive grant the city had lost in 2023, noting it is one of very few programs funding that type of work. The city and the developer went on to win a DEED grant for the Rebound project, and Kenyon also has access to the League of Minnesota Cities Grant Navigator, worth up to $5,000 per city against a $500,000 program cap. Depot Park's shelters came from a $10,000 SMIF grant.
2.11.25_Council_Packet__Agenda; 8.12.25_Council_Packet__Agenda_Updated; GRANTS.md; KENYON_DEPOT_PARK.md · taken up again 2025-08-12
This will be discussed more at the August 2024 City council meeting. Finance Director Kyllo stated that some leases were paid off in 2024, so that should reduce the levy amount.
Factors that could lower the 2025 levy.
What happened nextRetired leases did not reduce the levy. The August 29 2024 work session shows the debt service tax levy for taxes payable 2025 at $323,207, up from $276,515 in 2024, an increase of $46,692 or 16.9%, because of new bond issuances. Debt service kept pushing after that: the 2026 draft budget opened at a 27.06% maximum levy, driven by a new 2025A general obligation bond payment plus a 2023A bond payment that had been missed in 2025. By pay 2026 the bond rate had risen 35.91% while the general rate fell 0.38%.
Leases retired in 2024 were offered as a reason the levy would fall, but the debt service levy rose from $276,515 to $323,207 for taxes payable 2025 and kept rising, and a 2023A bond payment was missed in 2025 entirely.
8-29-24_work_session; 9-9-25_Council_Packet; taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2025-09-09
Finance Director Kyllo stated that some leases were paid off in 2024, so that should reduce the levy amount. CDs and investments are earning 5%, which has increased from .05%.
Discussion of revenue that could offset the levy.
We hold no dataWe hold no investment statements, no interest income line and nothing else that tests a move from 0.05% to 5%. The city's designated depositories are Security State Bank, the 4M fund and Northland Securities. The 4M and bank statements or the investment income line in the audited financials would settle it.
8-20-24_AGENDA · would settle it: The city's investment statements showing current rates
The city could look into applying for more grants to save money. Attorney and engineer costs increased by 50%, so the budget for these items will be increased.
Finance director's summary of cost pressures on the 2025 budget.
Partly answeredNo year-over-year attorney or engineer billing totals exist in our holdings, and no Kennedy and Graven rate figure appears in any packet we hold for 2025 or 2026 even though the council approved the rates both years. One mechanism behind engineering growth is documented: the city left the county's shared mapping for its own ArcGIS Online through Bolton and Menk in 2024 at $14,500 for conversion plus $1,260 a year in licensing, with ongoing updates billed as general engineering rather than as a separate line. The annual rate letters and the vendor billing history would settle the 50% figure.
8-20-24_AGENDA; KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md
Twenty thousand dollars was added to the Economic Development Authority budget for 3 to 5 façade improvement programs.
Review of the draft 2025 EDA budget.
Partly answeredThe $20,000 spread over three to five facade projects works out to $4,000 to $6,667 per project. We hold no facade program guidelines, no application criteria and no record of a project being funded. The EDA fund draws on tax levy, EDA loan repayments, donations and city property lease payments, which is the pool that $20,000 came from. The EDA facade program guidelines and any grant agreements would settle whether the money was spent.
8-20-24_AGENDA; 12.9.25_Council_Agenda_and_Packet_Updated
There will be increases in benefits and salaries per council approval. A 10% increase in funding from the County will cover other library expenses.
Review of the library budget, where most line items remained flat.
Partly answeredNo county funding commitment letter or figure is in our holdings, so the 10% claim cannot be checked. What our records do show is the library's funding structure and its cost drivers: the library levy fund draws on tax levy, a county contract through SELCO, donations and fines, and the 2026 library budget came in at a 9.44% levy increase driven by wages, automation and utilities. The automation line ran $4,892 in 2024 and $4,956 in 2025 against $6,500 budgeted for 2026 and 2027, consistent with the $347.55 a month the city pays SELCO for ILS support plus $230 a year for hosting.
9-9-25_Council_Packet; 12.9.25_Council_Agenda_and_Packet_Updated; KENYON_IT_SPEND.md
They cost $5,000 each. Funds were allocated in prior years to purchase a new squad car that will be arriving in 2024.
Police department capital discussion during budget review.
We hold no dataWe hold no vehicle order, delivery confirmation or capital ledger entry for the squad car. The December 10 2024 agenda carries a joint police and public works item whose content is not in our extract. A purchase order or the police capital fund detail would settle the delivery date and price. The city's own policy required a lease versus buy analysis and Finance and legal approval before any lease was initiated, so a lease-purchase route would have left a paper trail.
8-20-24_AGENDA; 12.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda_Updated · would settle it: The vehicle order and confirmed delivery date
Funds were allocated in prior years to purchase a new squad car that will be arriving in 2024. The police department will be receiving local government aid in the amount of $36,000.
Police 2025 budget presentation on revenue sources.
Partly answeredThe police department receives no local government aid at all. Account 101-42100-33401, local government aid in the police fund, carries $0.00 in every column across 2023 through 2026. The money the chief was describing is state police aid, account 101-42100-33421, which ran $32,667.77 actual in 2023, $37,835.00 actual in 2024, and was budgeted at $33,000 for 2025 and $40,000 for 2026. The state aid certification would confirm the award letter figure.
The chief described $36,000 of local government aid to the police department, but the ledger shows police local government aid at zero in every year and budgets the comparable state police aid at $33,000 for 2025.
12.2.25_Special_Council_Meeting
Fire Chief Wayne Ehrich provided a summary of the proposed 2025 Fire Department and First Responder budgets. Motorola no longer supports their older radios, so $15,900 is being budgeted for three new radios.
Fire Department and First Responder 2025 budget summary.
Partly answeredThe arithmetic is consistent, $15,900 for three radios is $5,300 each, but we hold no Motorola end-of-support notice and no quote. The replacement program did continue past 2025: the fire chief attributed the $1,658.17 increase in the 2026 fire budget mainly to replacing pagers and radios along with higher property insurance.
8-20-24_AGENDA; 12.9.25_Council_Agenda_and_Packet_Updated
Police Chief Sjoblom provided an update on the police department proposed 2025 budget. He stated that encrypted radios are needed. They cost $5,000 each.
Police department 2025 budget presentation.
Partly answeredNo vendor quote and no unit count for police encrypted radios appears in our holdings. The fire department's figure from the same work session supports the order of magnitude: $15,900 budgeted for three Motorola radios is $5,300 each, against the $5,000 each the police chief quoted. A quote and a radio count would settle the total exposure.
8-20-24_AGENDA
The suggestion was made for all mowing costs to be designated to the parks department rather than spreading it out between the other departments.
Suggestion made during review of the parks budget.
At the meetingNoted that this would increase the fuel costs to the parks; no decision recorded.
What happened nextMowing costs were not consolidated. The April 2025 check register still splits fuel four ways, police $807.59, streets and public works $547.71, sewer $124.73 and parks $39.68, a total of $1,519.71 on one account. Parks fuel then jumped to $391.52 in May 2025 as the mowing season opened, which is a tenfold rise on a line that would be flat and much larger if all mowing had been moved to parks. No council decision on the suggestion appears in our record.
5-13-25_council_packet_updated; 6-10-25_COUNCIL_PACKET_Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
It would cost $10,000 for cameras at the pool and park. The pool rates need to be reviewed on for the 2025 year.
Review of the pool budget, where chemical and utility costs are rising.
Partly answeredNo 2025 pool rate schedule appears in our holdings, but the ledgers show why a review was called for. Pool expense ran $28,252.27 actual in 2024 against a $32,700 budget, then was budgeted at $35,000 for both 2025 and 2026 with $32,142.35 spent by the time of the December 2025 report. On the revenue side pool fees carry $30,000 with $24,125.41 recorded and concessions $5,000 with $3,532.07 recorded, so total pool revenue of roughly $27,700 sits about $7,300 short of the $35,000 expense budget. A proposed rate schedule with cost recovery targets would settle the rate question itself.
12.2.25_Special_Council_Meeting; 4-8-25_council_packet
Liquor Store Manager Bartel stated there were no major increases for the liquor store. A question for the future is whether the liquor store will begin offering THC products.
Bartel reported no major increases for the liquor store but raised THC sales as a future question.
At the meetingNo answer given; identified as a question for the future.
What happened nextYes. On April 8 2025 Manager Bartel told the council he was considering THC drinks and gummies on the off-sale side, noting that many public and private stores were benefiting from those sales, and the council voted on a motion by Brunner seconded by Bailey to authorize him to move forward with registering. The same meeting approved 4-0-0 letting him start the process of expanding the Muni into the city-owned former NAPA building at 641 2nd Street with a separate off-sale entrance. Card processing at the liquor store has grown alongside, from $18,515 in 2024 to $22,956 in 2025.
4-8-25_council_packet; KENYON_IT_SPEND.md · taken up again 2025-04-08
Currently, the city allocates property and liability costs to each individual fund (police, streets, pool, city administration). It may be best to lump them together in the general fund instead of in each individual fund.
Review of how property and liability costs are currently charged to police, streets, pool, and city administration.
At the meetingNo decision recorded.
We hold no dataWe hold nothing showing whether insurance costs were consolidated into the general fund. The only later insurance language in our record is a contractor's comprehensive general liability requirement of not less than $1,000,000 per occurrence in a development agreement, which is unrelated to how the city books its own premiums. The adopted 2025 budget, showing whether property and liability lines still sit in police, streets, pool and city administration, would settle it.
8-20-24_AGENDA · would settle it: A revised budget showing insurance costs consolidated in the general fund
The plan does increase the wage figures in all budgets. This will be discussed more at the August 2024 City council meeting.
Council's second priority, which increases wage figures in all department budgets.
Partly answeredThe plan was built and brought forward, but no adoption vote appears in our holdings. The August 29 2024 work session describes its construction: a consultant scored every job description against responsibility criteria and sorted the positions into nineteen vertical grades across six departments, Administration, Public Works, Kenyon Utility, Finance, Library and Liquor Store, with the compensation plan built from collected market data. The August 20 2024 packet carries it as an approval item. A council motion adopting the Classification and Compensation Plan would settle it.
8-20-24_AGENDA; 8-29-24_work_session
This would increase the fuel costs to the parks. 10 The city council's first priority is to hire a long-term competent city administrator, which will be advertised August 14.
Council identified hiring a permanent city administrator as its first priority in the 2025 budget discussion.
What happened nextThe recruitment ran on schedule and produced a hire. Finalist interviews were held October 29 2024, an offer went to one of three candidates, and the council adopted Resolution 2024-26 approving the city administrator hiring on November 12 2024 by roll call 5-0-0. The search was run by South Central Service Cooperative under Mike Humpal at $14,500, awarded in July 2024 over David Drown Associates.
8-20-24_AGENDA; 11.12.24_Council_Packet_And_Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
After the maximum levy is adopted, it cannot be increased but can be decreased. The final levy and budget must be adopted by the end of December.
Timeline for the 2025 budget process.
What happened nextResolution 2024-28 adopted the budget and set the final 2025 tax levy, with the packet noting the December 30 2024 statutory deadline and staff recommending the final stay at the 9.55% maximum approved in September. The certified result was a 2025 levy of $1,400,000, a 9.55% increase.
12.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda_Updated; taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2024-12-10
Discuss Options for Maximum 2025 Levy The maximum proposed levy increase must be adopted by the council by the end of September. The draft budget showed an 8% maximum levy, but this is only preliminary.
Council reviewed draft levy options at the work session.
At the meetingNo final percentage was set at the work session.
What happened nextThe 8% draft did not hold. By the time the council adopted the preliminary levy it had risen to a maximum of 9.55%, and the final levy stayed at 9.55% rather than being trimmed. In dollars that set the 2025 levy at $1,400,000. The pattern repeated the following year from the other direction, when the 2027 draft opened at 19.50% on July 14 2026, fell to 10.34% on August 6 and was certified at 9.26%.
The work session presented 8% as the draft maximum, but the maximum the council actually certified seven weeks later was 9.55%, and the final levy was never brought back down.
10-8-24_AGENDA; 12.10.24_Council_Packet_and_Agenda_Updated; taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2024-12-10
Discuss Options for Maximum 2025 Levy The maximum proposed levy increase must be adopted by the council by the end of September.
Discussion of options for the maximum 2025 levy during the budget work session.
What happened nextResolution 2024-21 adopting the 2025 preliminary budget and levy at a maximum of 9.55% was adopted in the October 8 2024 record, on a motion by Ryan seconded by Bailey with a roll call of Bailey, Sjolander and Ryan all aye. The certification rule was stated correctly: the preliminary maximum goes to Goodhue County by the end of September, the final levy by the end of December, and it can be lowered but never raised. Kenyon has used that room only once in our records, cutting the 2026 levy from a 9.93% maximum to 9.18% final.
10-8-24_AGENDA; 10.14.25_Council_Packet__Agenda; taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2024-10-08
Council Member Ryan stated Rose Fest was coming and hopefully the rain would hold off for it. Fire Chief Ehrich reminded everyone of National Night Out that will be held August 6.
General comment reminding the public of an upcoming community event.
At the meetingAnnouncement only.
We hold no dataNo details, location or follow-up for the August 6 2024 National Night Out are in our holdings, and no later passage records the event happening. The comparable community events we do hold are different ones, including a fire hall summer safety event with Kenyon-Wanamingo Community Education on June 2 2026 from 5 to 7 pm and a Family Fun Day at Depot Park on August 22 2026. A city or police department event notice would settle it.
4-12-26 Council packet and 8-6-26 Council Packet Updated · would settle it: Event details and location
Approval to Proceed with Door Installation Between City Council Chambers and Library Interim Administrator Boyles stated that the Kenyon Public Library Board requested that a door be installed between the library and the city council chambers.
Library board sought city approval to proceed with the connecting door using library funds.
At the meetingCouncil approved the installation using library board funds.
Partly answeredThe funding source was settled at the meeting, with the council approving installation using library board funds 4-0-0, but no construction schedule or completion record for the door is in our holdings. The library's budget posture that year was flat on most lines, with increases only in benefits and salaries per council approval and a 10 percent increase in county funding covering other expenses. An invoice or completion sign-off from L and M Construction would settle it.
8-20-24 AGENDA
Street Closure – Whitetail Block Party Carolee Miller requested to close Whitetail Lane on Saturday, July 20, 2024, from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm for a neighborhood block party and fundraiser for the Linaman family, who recently lost their house to a fire.
Fundraiser for a family who recently lost their house to a fire.
At the meetingCouncil approved the closure 4-0-0.
What happened nextThe closure was approved on a motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson, carried 4-0-0, for Whitetail Lane on Saturday July 20 2024 from 4:00 to 8:00 pm for the Linaman family fundraiser. The event became recurring, with a second annual Whitetail Lane block party flyer appearing in the May 13 2025 council packet advertising games, a bouncy house and corn hole. The permit document itself is not in our holdings.
8-20-24 AGENDA and 5-13-25 council packet updated · taken up again 2025-05-13
Kenyon City Code 900.11 Animal Control - Number of Animals Attorney Riggs stated that revisions were made to city code 900.11 on animal control limiting the number of dogs or cats over six months of age to three. The existing ordinance had some unclear and problematic 7 aspects that needed to be clarified.
Rationale for amending Section 900.11 to limit dogs or cats over six months of age to three.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Ordinance 105 amending Section 900.11.
Partly answeredThe prior text of Section 900.11 is not in our holdings, so the specific defects Riggs called unclear and problematic cannot be identified. What the record establishes is the fix, Ordinance 105 limiting dogs or cats over six months of age to three, and the pace of code cleanup around it: Ordinances 108 on accessory buildings, 109 on residential performance standards, 110 on downtown commercial permitted uses and 111 on tattoos and body art all came before the council on January 14 2025, with Ordinance 112 on cannabis the same night. The superseded code text would settle it.
8-20-24 AGENDA and 1-14-25 council packet
Resolution 2024-18 Accepting Kenyon Fire Relief Association Donations to the City of Kenyon Motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson to adopt Resolution 2024-18 accepting donations of $38,764.00 8 from the Kenyon Fire Relief Association to the City to be used for specified items.
Resolution 2024-18 accepting fire relief association donations.
At the meetingResolution adopted 4-0-0 without the items listed in the minutes.
Partly answeredThe itemized list behind the $38,764.00 donation is not in our holdings, and this is the only Fire Relief donation in the record adopted without a stated destination. Later donations name one: Resolution 2025-10 accepted $10,000.00 specifically for the fire truck fund in April 2025, Resolution 2025-14 followed in the October 2025 consent agenda, and the fire chief reported in December 2025 that Fire Relief had donated $27,000 to the truck fund from gambling proceeds. The full text of Resolution 2024-18 would settle it.
8-20-24 AGENDA, 4-8-25 council packet, 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated · taken up again 2025-04-08
LEGAL Development Agreement - 98 Gunderson Blvd Sanitary Sewer Reroute Engineer Olinger stated that Dollar General had proposed a new building and other site improvements directly over an existing public sanitary sewer main.
Explanation of why a sewer reroute and development agreement are needed at 98 Gunderson Blvd.
At the meetingAccepted as the basis for the development agreement.
Partly answeredNo site plan or utility map showing the main under the proposed building is in our holdings, so the conflict is documented only by the engineer's description and the agreement it produced. The September 2026 record does confirm that watermain, sanitary sewer and storm sewer within Gunderson Blvd, State St and 3rd St are municipal utilities owned and maintained by the city, with private service leads off them. The recorded reroute plan or as-built would settle the alignment.
9-8-26 Council Packet and factbook taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that electrical work is nearly completed on the lift station.
Progress report on the Pearl Creek and Gates Avenue project.
At the meetingReported as status; no further detail.
What happened nextThe lift station was brought into service. By the August 2024 report BCM had installed the remaining sanitary services, mains and manholes, the new lift station started in mid-July was operational with sewer flow diverted, the driveway was paved, and only a few minor control issues remained before final completion. Yard restoration around the station finished in late September 2024 and final testing of the major infrastructure components was submitted by November 2024.
8-20-24 AGENDA, 10-8-24 AGENDA, 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda · taken up again 2024-11-12
The library uses the city council chambers for programming space and has increased programming over the last few years.
Justification offered for installing the connecting door.
At the meetingAccepted as the rationale; council approved the door.
We hold no dataWe hold no library program usage counts for the council chambers, so neither the growth in programming nor the resulting distraction to staff can be measured. The related spending we do hold is the library automation line, $7,850 in 2022, $6,634 in 2023, $4,892 in 2024, $4,956 in 2025 and $6,500 budgeted for both 2026 and 2027, which tracks systems rather than room use. Library board program calendars or room booking logs would settle it.
factbook KENYON_IT_SPEND.md · would settle it: Library program usage counts for the council chambers
Installing this door would eliminate the distractions for city staff during library events. The library board approved a quote in the amount of $3977.00 from L and M Construction.
Request to install a door to reduce distractions to city staff during library programming.
At the meetingCouncil approved the installation using library board funds.
Partly answeredThe written L and M Construction quote and the library board minutes approving it are not in our holdings, so the $3,977.00 figure rests on Boyles' report. The council approved the installation using library board funds on a motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson, carried 4-0-0, and the special purpose donations fund shows $5,197.00 of library donations in the period, enough to cover the quote. The signed quote would settle it.
8-20-24 AGENDA
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS Summary of 2023 City Audit - Tyler See - Abdo Tyler See presented a summary of the 2023 City and KMU audits and an overview of the overall City financial condition. The city received an "unmodified" or clean opinion on the audit.
Presentation summarizing the 2023 audit and overall city financial condition.
At the meetingPresented as the audit result; no questions recorded.
What happened nextThe clean opinion repeated the next year. Brad Falteysek of Abdo presented the 2024 city and KMU audits on July 8 2025 and reported another unmodified opinion. For 2025 the auditor changed, with Dustin Opatz of Creative Planning presenting on May 12 2026, acknowledged by the council 5-0-0, and those minutes record no opinion type. The change follows the December 10 2024 audit RFP, which the council awarded to BerganKDV at $27,540 over CliftonLarsonAllen at $97,640 to $70,940.
7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda, 5-12-26 Council Packet Updated, factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2026-05-12
OLD BUSINESS NEW BUSINESS Payoff City Hall Roof Loan to KMU Finance Director Kyllo recommended paying off the city hall roof loan to KMU. The city has the money available to pay off the loan amount of $53,000.
Basis for recommending early payoff of the KMU loan.
At the meetingCouncil accepted the recommendation and approved payoff.
We hold no dataNo fund balance statement is in our archive, so the cash available against the $53,000 roof loan payoff cannot be confirmed.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · would settle it: Current fund balance statement showing available cash
The city has the money available to pay off the loan amount of $53,000. The interest savings by paying the loan off early would be $4,979.
Recommendation to retire the city hall roof loan held by KMU.
At the meetingCouncil approved the $53,000 payoff.
Partly answeredThe payoff went through and the interest line went to zero, but the $4,979 savings figure cannot be verified. The budget detail shows account 202-48100-610, loan interest interfund KMU, at $1,478.00 in 2024 and $0.00 in every year after, with the principal line at zero, which is what a retired loan looks like. The KMU amortization schedule showing remaining interest at the payoff date is not in our holdings.
9-9-25 Council Packet budget detail · taken up again 2025-09-09
ADOPT AGENDA Deletion: / XI / New Business / F / Transient Merchant/Solicitor Peddler License Fee Waiver Motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson to approve the amended agenda.
Item XI.F was removed when the amended agenda was adopted.
At the meetingNo discussion or decision on the fee waiver.
What happened nextThe fee waiver never came back. The 2025 fee schedule adopted January 14 2025 carries peddlers, canvassers and transient merchants at $125 investigation, $125 daily and $500 annual, plus mobile merchant at $125 initial and $75 annual, with no waiver provision of any kind. Deleting the item from the July agenda ended it in our record.
1-14-25 council packet fee schedule · taken up again 2025-01-14
South Central Service Cooperative Contract Attorney Riggs stated that a special council meeting was held on June 20, 2024, to select a firm to oversee the process of hiring a full-time city administrator. South-Central Service Cooperative was selected to oversee this process.
A firm was selected at the June 20 special meeting to run the administrator search.
At the meetingCouncil approved the services agreement for $14,500.
What happened nextThe search ran and produced a permanent hire. Mike Humpal of South Central Service Cooperative attended a special council meeting on October 29 2024 alongside Interim Administrator Boyles, and Scott Lehner appears as city administrator throughout the record from 2025 onward. The cooperative was chosen over David Drown Associates and paid $14,500 on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan, carried 4-0-0. The search timeline and candidate list are not in our holdings.
11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda and factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that electrical work is nearly completed on the lift station. The project is expected to be completed by mid-August.
Status update on the ongoing utility improvements and lift station work.
At the meetingEstimate given; no firm completion date.
What happened nextMid-August 2024 was badly optimistic. Yard restoration around the new lift station was finished only in late September 2024, final testing of the major infrastructure was still being submitted in November 2024, and grading, stabilization and turf on the Barrett property carried into spring 2025. The closing change order of August 12 2025 set substantial completion at October 12 2024 and ready for final payment at July 9 2025, and waived liquidated damages.
The project did not finish by mid-August 2024. Substantial completion was fixed at October 12 2024 and final payment readiness at July 9 2025, roughly eleven months past the estimate.
8.12.25 Council Packet and Agenda Updated, 10-8-24 AGENDA, 11.12.24 Council Packet And Agenda · taken up again 2025-08-12
Set Council Work Session to Review 2025 Draft Budget Finance Director Kyllo requested that a work session be set up to review the 2024 draft budget. Tuesday, July 30 at 1:00 pm was tentatively set up.
Finance Director requested a budget review work session.
At the meetingA tentative date and time were set but not finalized.
What happened nextThe work session was held as tentatively set, Tuesday July 30 2024 at 1:00 pm, called to order by Mayor Henke to review the draft 2025 levy and the department budgets funded by it. The city kept the practice in following years, scheduling the 2026 draft budget work session for Tuesday August 26 2025 at 5:30 pm. Note the minutes describe the session as reviewing the 2024 draft budget while the purpose statement and the agenda title both say 2025.
8-20-24 AGENDA and 9-9-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-07-30
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson approving the development agreement for the 98 Gunderson Blvd sanitary sewer rerouting subject to final review by Interim Administrator Boyles, Engineer Olinger, and Attorney Riggs.
Council conditioned its approval on staff's final review of the agreement terms.
At the meetingMotion carried 4-0-0.
We hold no dataNo sign-off record from Boyles, Olinger and Riggs on the final 98 Gunderson Blvd agreement is in our holdings. The window was narrow on one reviewer, since Boyles served as interim administrator under a contract extended only to January 31 2025. An executed agreement carrying the three reviews, or a staff memo confirming them, would settle it.
8-20-24 AGENDA · would settle it: Confirmation the three reviewers signed off on the final document
Riggs and Olinger drafted a development agreement defining the essential terms for the developer to complete this relocation. The draft is currently being reviewed by the developer.
Dollar General proposed a building over an existing public sanitary sewer main requiring relocation.
At the meetingCouncil approved the agreement subject to final review.
What happened nextThe reroute and the building both went ahead. Dollar General at 98 Gunderson Blvd now carries an estimated market value rising from $138,700 to $972,800 for pay 2027 as the new building hits the tax roll, and the September 2026 record confirms municipal water, sanitary sewer and storm sewer in the Gunderson Blvd right-of-way remain city owned and maintained. The developer's countersigned copy of the agreement is not in our holdings.
factbook taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json and 9-8-26 Council Packet
CITIZEN COMMENT Jeremy Flotterud, Wanamingo City Council member, approached the Kenyon city council with the idea of possibly looking into the City of Kenyon servicing the City of Wanamingo for police services. If Kenyon is interested, he would like us to put some numbers together for costs.
Follow-up work requested as part of the police-services proposal.
At the meetingNo commitment or assignment recorded.
We hold no dataNo staff cost analysis of police coverage for Wanamingo appears in our holdings. The inputs such an analysis would start from are on file: Kenyon posted a full-time officer position at $33.54 an hour to start, $38.57 at three to five years and $42.61 at five to ten years, and as of September 8 2026 that position was still posted until filled with no applicants, with the chief and the full-time officer both on vacation and part-time officers filling in. A staff memo pricing patrol hours for a second city would settle it.
Kenyon has been unable to fill its own full-time officer vacancy, with no applicants as of September 2026, which cuts against its capacity to take on a second city's coverage.
factbook data/jobs.csv and 9-8-26 Council Packet · would settle it: A staff cost analysis of police coverage for Wanamingo
CITIZEN COMMENT Jeremy Flotterud, Wanamingo City Council member, approached the Kenyon city council with the idea of possibly looking into the City of Kenyon servicing the City of Wanamingo for police services.
Raised during citizen comment as a possible shared-services arrangement between the two cities.
At the meetingNo decision or response recorded in the minutes.
Not a data questionWhether to explore selling police services to Wanamingo is the council's decision, and nothing in our record shows Kenyon ever answering Flotterud. The only police agreement the council acted on afterward is the communications subscriber agreement between the Kenyon Police Department and the Goodhue County Sheriff's Department, approved December 10 2024 on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson, carried 4-0-0. That is a dispatch arrangement, not a service contract with Wanamingo.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
Pat Melvin, Management Consultant for David Drown and Associate Human Services, reviewed his 12-page proposal and eight-page position profile.
Description of the documents presented by the David Drown vendor.
We hold no dataWe do not hold Melvin's 12-page proposal or eight-page position profile, and no price for the David Drown submission appears in our bid record. The filed proposal documents would settle it.
KENYON_BIDS.md, data/bids.csv · would settle it: The proposal and position profile as filed with the city
Vendor Presentations Regarding the Recruitment and Selection of a New Full-time City Administrator Mike Humpal, CEcD and manager for the South Central Services Corporation, reviewed the terms of his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile.
Description of the documents presented by the South Central vendor.
We hold no dataWe do not hold Humpal's eight-page proposal or 13-page position profile. Our record carries only the award and the $14,500 contract price approved August 20 2024. The filed proposal documents would settle it.
KENYON_BIDS.md · would settle it: The proposal and position profile as filed with the city
Discussion of Vendor Presentations Council members said they liked the presentations of each proposal. They noted that the steps and timelines were very similar.
Council discussion comparing the two recruitment proposals before voting.
At the meetingStated as the basis for the council's comfort with either proposal.
We hold no dataWe do not hold either written proposal, so we cannot test whether the steps and timelines truly matched. Neither firm's fee is recorded either, which means the council also had no priced comparison in the minutes. The two proposal documents as filed with the city would settle it.
KENYON_BIDS.md, data/bids.csv · would settle it: Side-by-side comparison of the two written proposals' process steps and timelines
Vendor Presentations Regarding the Recruitment and Selection of a New Full-time City Administrator Mike Humpal, CEcD and manager for the South Central Services Corporation, reviewed the terms of his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile.
The same vendor is named two different ways within the same set of minutes.
Partly answeredThree spellings appear across the record: South Central Services Corporation, South Central Services Cooperative, and South-Central Service Cooperative in the August 20 2024 contract approval. Our bid record files it as South Central Service Cooperative, which is the form used when the $14,500 agreement was approved. The registered business filing would settle the legal name.
The minutes name the same vendor as a Corporation in one paragraph and a Cooperative in the motion that binds the city.
KENYON_BIDS.md; 8-20-24 Agenda
Pat Melvin, Management Consultant for David Drown and Associate Human Services, reviewed his 12-page proposal and eight-page position profile.
Melvin presented a 12-page proposal and eight-page position profile as a competing vendor.
At the meetingThe council selected the other vendor instead.
What happened nextDavid Drown Associates lost the selection to South Central Service Cooperative and no dollar figure from its proposal appears anywhere in our bid record. This is one of 43 documented competitive processes in the council record 2019 to 2026, and one of several where the losing bidder's price was never entered in the minutes.
KENYON_BIDS.md, data/bids.csv · taken up again 2024-06-20
Vendor Presentations Regarding the Recruitment and Selection of a New Full-time City Administrator Mike Humpal, CEcD and manager for the South Central Services Corporation, reviewed the terms of his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile.
Humpal presented an eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile as a candidate vendor.
At the meetingThe council approved Humpal and South Central Services Cooperative 4-0-0.
What happened nextHumpal's firm won the work and was paid $14,500 under an agreement approved August 20 2024. We do not hold the eight-page proposal itself, only the record that it was presented and selected over David Drown Associates.
8-20-24 Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-08-20
Pat Melvin, Management Consultant for David Drown and Associate Human Services, reviewed his 12-page proposal and eight-page position profile. The council asked questions about the process and timeline.
Melvin reviewed his 12-page proposal and eight-page position profile for the administrator search.
At the meetingThe minutes record that questions were asked but do not record the questions or the answers.
We hold no dataWe hold no recording or notes listing the specific questions council members asked Melvin about process and timeline. The minutes record only that questions were asked. An audio recording or the clerk's working notes from the June 20 2024 work session would settle it.
7.9.24 Council Packet · would settle it: A recording or detailed notes of the work session listing the specific questions and answers
Vendor Presentations Regarding the Recruitment and Selection of a New Full-time City Administrator Mike Humpal, CEcD and manager for the South Central Services Corporation, reviewed the terms of his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile. Members of the city council asked a series of questions about the process.
Humpal reviewed his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile for the administrator search.
At the meetingThe minutes record that questions were asked but do not record the questions or the answers.
We hold no dataWe hold no recording or notes listing the specific questions council members asked Humpal on June 20 2024. The minutes say only that questions were asked. An audio recording or the clerk's working notes from that work session would settle it.
7.9.24 Council Packet · would settle it: A recording or detailed notes of the work session listing the specific questions and answers
Vendor Presentations Regarding the Recruitment and Selection of a New Full-time City Administrator Mike Humpal, CEcD and manager for the South Central Services Corporation, reviewed the terms of his eight-page proposal and 13-page position profile.
The work session was called solely to hear vendor proposals for conducting the administrator search.
At the meetingA vendor was selected; the search itself was not completed.
What happened nextThe search ran to completion. Humpal conducted candidate interviews with the council on November 12 2024 at 45 minutes each, and the city has had a permanent administrator, Scott Lehner, in place through the 2026 record. The recruitment cost $14,500.
11.12.24 Council Packet; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to approve Mike Humpal and South Central Services Cooperative to provide executive search services for the City of Kenyon City Administrator.
After hearing two vendor presentations, the council voted to select a recruitment firm for the full-time City Administrator search.
At the meetingMotion carried 4-0-0.
What happened nextThe contract was signed at $14,500 and approved by the council 4-0-0 on August 20 2024, after the city attorney reviewed and revised the draft South Central Service Cooperative supplied. Our bid record carries it as the awarded quote in the two-firm recruitment solicitation against David Drown Associates.
8-20-24 Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-08-20
Holiday Office Closing - City Office/Library Close July 5 Interim Administrator Boyles requested approval for City Offices and the Library to be closed on Friday, July 5, 2024.
Holiday office closing item.
At the meetingApproved 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved closing the city offices and library on Friday July 5 2024 on a motion by Bailey seconded by Ryan, carried 5-0-0. The same approval pattern repeats for winter closings, with December 24 and 26 2025 approved 4-0-0 and December 24 2024 plus an early library close on December 31 approved 5-0-0.
7.9.24, 1-13-25 and 1-14-25 Council Packets · taken up again 2024-07-09
Approve Request for Liquor at Depot Park – Colin Lambert, July 13, 2024 Motion by Helgeson, seconded by Henke to approve the liquor request for Colin Lambert in Depot Park on July 13, 2024.
New business liquor request for a park event.
At the meetingApproved 5-0-0.
Not a data questionNothing is outstanding on this item. The request was approved 5-0-0, and park alcohol permits carry no condition on glass, vendor or insurance under the city's ordinance.
KENYON_DEPOT_PARK.md
Receive Fulltime City Administrator Solicitation and Recruitment Proposal Interim Administrator Boyles stated two quotes were obtained for the solicitation and recruitment of a new city administrator. He would like the council to hear their proposal presentations.
Council will hear presentations from the two firms at a special meeting.
At the meetingNo selection made; a special meeting is to be scheduled.
What happened nextBoth proposals were presented at the June 20 2024 special meeting, attached to that agenda as the David Drown Associates and South Central Service Cooperative documents, and the council selected South Central Service Cooperative with Mike Humpal at $14,500. Humpal then ran the selection through to November 12 2024, when the council picked a candidate and directed him to negotiate the employment agreement.
6-20-24 Agenda, KENYON_BIDS.md, 11.12.24 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-11-12
Motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson to implement the "Request for Council Action" form for council agenda items.
Standardizing staff reports so the public and commissions can find information consistently.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe form was adopted 5-0-0 and is visibly in use across the record that follows. Packets from June 2024 onward carry its headings, with the June 20 2024 agenda using Title of Issue and Background and Supplemental Information, the August 29 2024 work session using Requested Council Action, and packets through 2026 using Subject and Suggested Action. The blank template itself is not in anything we hold.
6-20-24 Agenda, 8-29-24 work session, 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-06-20
NEW BUSINESS City Council Prioritization of Upcoming Action Interim Administrator Boyles reviewed a list of 11 tasks to be completed that were identified as priorities by staff and city council.
Council prioritization discussion, from which four items were selected.
At the meetingCouncil selected four of the tasks by motion.
Partly answeredOnly the four tasks the council selected are recorded, not the full list of 11. The four are recruiting a firm to solicit a city administrator, running the selection and executing an employment agreement, reviewing the pay study in detail, and implementing the modified pay plan over time. The seven unselected tasks are not named in anything we hold, and the packet attachment listing all 11 would settle what the council set aside.
7.9.24 Council Packet
Pay Application #5 to BCM Construction Motion by Helgeson second by Bailey to approve pay request No. 5 to BCM Construction in the amount of $104,318.56 for work completed through May 31, 2024.
Approval of a progress payment on the Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue utility project.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextPay request 5 for $104,318.56 through May 31 2024 was approved on a motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey, carried 5-0-0. Payments continued with request 6 at $112,532.25 through June 28 2024, request 10 in November 2024 and request 11 at $4,430 in January 2025. The underlying contract is BCM Construction at $1,241,494.22, awarded June 13 2023 against Minger at $1,327,721.90, Heselton at $1,385,155.00 and an engineer's estimate of $1,536,065.
7.9.24 and 8-20-24 packets, KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-01-14
Jay Kindseth questioned the enforcement of the animal control ordinance that states it is unlawful for a residential unit or site to keep more than three animals over six months of age without securing a permit from the city. He knows of a residence with at least nine dogs.
Supporting his question about animal control ordinance enforcement.
At the meetingNo verification offered at the meeting.
We hold no dataWe hold no code enforcement file, police report or animal permit register for any Kenyon address, so the nine dogs cannot be confirmed or ruled out. A city inspection record for the address would settle it. The complaint did move the ordinance: two months later the council clarified code 900.11, in part because the old text capped animals generally rather than dogs and cats.
7.9.24 Council Packet and 8-20-24 Agenda · taken up again 2024-08-20 · would settle it: A police or code enforcement inspection record for the address.
Nate Rud from Bigelow & Lennon Construction stated that the covenants were changed before they bought the lots in April. He thought everything was fine.
Builder's response to the citizen's covenant complaint.
At the meetingNo action taken by council.
Partly answeredThe builder's account matches the attorney's on sequence, covenants revised in March 2024 and lots sold in April 2024, but neither is supported by a document in our record. Only the recording date stamped on the covenant amendment and the date on the deed, both held by the Goodhue County recorder, can establish which came first. Our assessment data confirms only the end state, that Bigelow and Lennon Construction LLC now holds 5 buildable vacant lots in the city.
7.9.24 Council Packet and taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
The original covenants were revised in March 2024 with several of the covenants being deleted. The remaining open lots were sold to Bigelow & Lennon Construction in April 2024.
Response to citizen complaint about covenant compliance.
At the meetingOffered as the attorney's explanation; no document cited.
Partly answeredNo recorded covenant amendment and no April 2024 deed appears in anything we hold, so the March and April sequence rests on the attorney's statement alone. Current assessment records do corroborate the purchase: Bigelow and Lennon Construction LLC holds 5 buildable vacant lots, and it is the only owner in Kenyon with more than one. The recorded amendment and the deed from Goodhue County would settle the dates.
7.9.24 Council Packet and taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json
The CD was only gaining about $105 of interest quarterly, with this new interest rate, we should expect over $1,000 quarterly in interest earnings.
Finance item on the Security State Bank of Kenyon public funds CD.
At the meetingReported as an update in the council packet; no action noted.
We hold no dataThe Security State Bank certificate of deposit confirmation is not in our archive, so the rate, term and principal cannot be verified.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · would settle it: The CD confirmation document from Security State Bank showing rate, term, and principal.
Attorney Riggs stated that the city would need to get additional liability insurance if the public was allowed to use city buildings.
Basis for denying the KW Wrestling Booster Club facility request.
At the meetingCouncil denied the request.
Not a data questionWhether public use of a city building requires added coverage is a determination for the city's insurer and its attorney, and no written coverage opinion or premium quote appears in anything we hold. For contrast on how the city treats liability elsewhere, it requires developers to carry at least $1,000,000 in public liability naming the city as an additional insured, while alcohol at a private party in a city park is allowed by permit with no condition on glass, vendor or insurance.
The city refuses a monthly booster club meeting in the fire hall on liability grounds while permitting private parties to serve alcohol in its parks with no insurance condition at all.
9-8-26 Council Packet and KENYON_DEPOT_PARK.md
Facility Use Form – KW Wrestling Booster Club Interim Administrator Boyles stated that the KW Wrestling Booster Club filled out a facility request to meet at the Fire Hall once a month during the school year.
New business item on facility use by outside groups.
At the meetingThe request was denied after council concerns about opening city buildings to public use.
What happened nextThe request was denied, on the stated grounds that opening city buildings to the public would require additional liability insurance and that allowing one group would require allowing all. The rule has since been applied with one carve-out: on April 12 2026 a Community Summer Safety Event at the Fire Hall on June 2 2026 was put forward for approval specifically because the fire department was a participant, with the packet noting that the fire department is usually not used for public events. No written facility use policy appears in anything we hold.
7.9.24 Council Packet and 4-12-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-04-12
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek & Gates Avenue Utility Improvements 8 Engineer Olinger stated that work is continuing on the lift station.
Engineering project update.
What happened nextThe lift station finished but the project did not close cleanly. Electrical work was nearly complete by August 20 2024 with completion expected mid-August, and by January 14 2025 most work was done but minor grading, stabilization and turf establishment on the Barrett property remained. The engineer recommended setting a completion date in early spring, with liquidated damages suspended over the winter, and pay application 11 covering November 2 to December 3 came to just $4,430 against a contract of $1,241,494.22.
8-20-24 Agenda and 1-14-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-01-14
Sanitary Sewer Flows Engineer Olinger stated that continued support to monitor and make improvements to the City's sewer system is needed.
Sewer flows exceeding treatment plant capacity after heavy rain.
At the meetingNo specific work plan or cost presented.
What happened nextThis became a standing capital program. By March 10 2026 the sanitary sewer plan listed five items: prioritize inflow and infiltration reduction, continue replacing and rehabilitating clay pipe, a future sump pump program, detailed sewer televising and review, and treatment plant considerations. Work already spent against it includes $1,241,494.22 to BCM Construction for Pearl Creek sanitary sewer and Gates Avenue in 2023, $12,782.68 to Empire Pipe Services for televising in 2022, the Visu-Sewer award for Highway 60 televising in May 2026, and sewer lining inside the $2,294,629.25 2025 project. A costed list of specific problem areas still does not exist in our record.
3-10-26 Council Packet and KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2026-03-10
With the recent heavy rains, the sanitary sewer flows at the wastewater treatment plant have spiked well above the facility's capacity.
Engineering update on sanitary sewer flows.
At the meetingOlinger said continued support to monitor and make improvements to the sewer system is needed and public works has been working to resolve known problematic issues.
Partly answeredWe hold no wastewater plant flow data and no rated capacity figure, so the size of the spike cannot be checked. The cause is documented: Bolton and Menk's existing conditions report for the 2025 project states that many sanitary sewers throughout Kenyon are older clay pipes susceptible to groundwater infiltration. The plant had a separate compliance failure in May 2025, when testing showed mercury out of compliance and the Pollution Control Agency was notified. Plant flow logs against the permitted capacity would settle the original claim.
9.10.24 Council Packet and 9-9-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-09-09
Review in detail the pay study to determine what portions are usable, and which need modification. 4. Implement the modified pay plan, over time.
Fourth of four prioritized tasks.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextImplementation ran over the following two years and was still being argued in 2026. The fourth employee group was brought into line through the 2024 plans, then the 2026 budget carried a 3 percent cost-of-living adjustment but no step increase, which Lehner put at approximately $41,000 to add. The council voted to pay the 2026 step increase retroactive to the first payroll and to move to a January cost-of-living adjustment with steps on anniversary dates from 2027.
8-29-24 work session and 2-10-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-01-13
Conduct the selection process and execute an employment agreement with the new administrator. 9 3. Review in detail the pay study to determine what portions are usable, and which need modification. 4.
Third of four prioritized tasks for the interim administrator.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe review produced two adopted plans rather than a memo. At the August 29 2024 work session staff reported that 2024 pay adjustments had already been made for three of the city's four employee groups and that adopting a compensation and classification plan plus a performance evaluation plan would let the fourth group be treated comparably. From 2025 both plans apply to all groups at the start of the year and are updated on the market and council action. The pay study document itself is not in anything we hold.
8-29-24 work session · taken up again 2024-08-29
Receive two proposals and select one to solicit and recruit a new full-time city administrator. 2. Conduct the selection process and execute an employment agreement with the new administrator. 9 3.
Second of four prioritized tasks.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe selection finished on November 12 2024, when the council reviewed each candidate's strengths and concerns and Mayor Henke announced for the public that a candidate had been chosen, with consultant Mike Humpal directed to negotiate the employment agreement and return for final approval. The administrator named in every packet from January 2025 onward is Scott Lehner, and the recruitment that produced him cost $14,500.
11.12.24 Council Packet and KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-11-12
Motion by Sjolander seconded by Helgeson to prioritize the following four items to be completed first. 1. Receive two proposals and select one to solicit and recruit a new full-time city administrator. 2.
Council prioritization of 11 staff- and council-identified tasks down to four.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0.
What happened nextBoth proposals were heard at the June 20 2024 special meeting and the council selected South Central Service Cooperative, represented by Mike Humpal, at $14,500, over David Drown Associates. The motion setting this as priority one carried 5-0-0.
6-20-24 Agenda and KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-07-09
Date Change of August Council Meeting Interim Administrator Boyles stated the August council meeting is scheduled for August 13, which is the date of the Primary Election.
August 13 regular meeting conflicts with the Primary Election.
We hold no dataWe hold no record of the date the August 2024 meeting was moved to. The council packet or posted notice for the rescheduled August 2024 meeting would settle it. The only fixed dates in our record for that month are the August 13 2024 primary election and an August 20 2024 council agenda and an August 29 2024 work session, which suggests the meeting landed on August 20.
8-20-24 Agenda and 8-29-24 work session · would settle it: A set meeting date adopted by council.
Date Change of August Council Meeting Interim Administrator Boyles stated the August council meeting is scheduled for August 13, which is the date of the Primary Election. He will work on setting up an alternative meeting date in August.
Conflict between the regular August meeting and the Primary Election.
At the meetingNo alternative date selected at the meeting.
Partly answeredNo alternative August 2024 meeting date appears in anything we hold, so whether the meeting moved and to when is unresolved. The city faced the identical conflict two years later and handled it on the record: on August 6 2026 Lehner reported the August 11 council meeting had to move for the primary election, and the council rescheduled it to Thursday August 6 at 7:00 p.m. on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Bailey, carried 4-0-0. The 2024 rescheduling notice would settle this one.
7.9.24 Council Packet and 8-6-26 Council Packet
He would like the council to hear their proposal presentations. A special council meeting will be held after checking with the two firms on a possible date.
Two quotes were obtained for solicitation and recruitment of a new full-time city administrator.
At the meetingNo date set at the meeting.
What happened nextThe special meeting was held on June 20 2024, with both firms presenting: David Drown Associates and South Central Service Cooperative, whose proposals are attached to that agenda. The council selected South Central Service Cooperative, with Mike Humpal, at $14,500.
6-20-24 Agenda and KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-07-09
Jay Kindseth questioned the enforcement of the animal control ordinance that states it is unlawful for a residential unit or site to keep more than three animals over six months of age without securing a permit from the city.
Citizen said he knows of a residence with at least nine dogs.
At the meetingAttorney Riggs said the council may direct city staff to look at the ordinance and propose possible changes to be enforced.
What happened nextThe ordinance was rewritten rather than enforced as written. On August 20 2024 Attorney Riggs reported revisions to city code 900.11 limiting dogs or cats over six months of age to three, and stated the existing ordinance had unclear and problematic aspects. One named defect was that the old text said animals rather than dogs and cats, so any animal not otherwise regulated appeared to be capped at three. No permit register and no enforcement action record appears in anything we hold.
8-20-24 Agenda and 7.9.24 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-08-20
SEMMCHRA had signed a "Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for Countryside Meadows Addition" in 2004 that stated it was to be in effect for 30 years. Kindseth stated that the covenants were not being followed.
Citizen comment on new home construction in the Countryside Meadows subdivision.
At the meetingAttorney Riggs said the city was not involved in the original or revised covenants and that as long as the builder follows the current covenants there should not be an issue.
Not a data questionEnforcement of the Countryside Meadows covenants is not the city's call. Attorney Riggs stated the city was not a party to the original or the revised covenants, which makes this a private matter between the covenant holders and the builder. Assessment records do confirm the builder's position in town: Bigelow and Lennon Construction LLC is the only owner in Kenyon holding more than one buildable vacant lot, with 5, and the covenant signer SEMMCHRA holds 3 parcels worth $2,391,700 on which it pays no city tax.
7.9.24 Council Packet, taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json, dashboard/data/entities.json
Discussion of Interim City Administrator Candidate Council and staff reviewed some of the terms of the contract including days and hours of work.
Council and staff discussed terms of the interim administrator contract before adopting the hiring resolution.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-11 approving the interim city administrator hiring 4-0-0.
What happened nextThe council adopted Resolution 2024-11 approving the interim city administrator hiring 4-0-0 on a Bailey motion seconded by Helgeson, and the arrangement ran long enough to need extending: Resolution 2024-31 extending the interim administrator contract came before the council on December 10 2024 with the original interim contract attached. The city separately spent $14,500 on permanent recruitment, awarding the search on July 9 2024 to South Central Service Cooperative with Mike Humpal over David Drown Associates. The days and hours of work in the signed contract are not in our record.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; KENYON_BIDS.md, 2024-07-09 entry · taken up again 2024-12-10
Motion carried 4-0-0 Other Authorized Safe Deposit Users Motion by Helgeson seconded by Ryan to remove access for Susan Dodds, Michael Engel, Mark Vahlsing, and Richard Nielsen to the City of Kenyon's safety deposit box at the Security State Bank in Kenyon and add access to the safety deposit box to Holli Gudknecht and Whitney
The record of the safe deposit user motion ends mid-sentence with no vote tally noted.
We hold no dataCorrected minutes for the May 22 2024 meeting are not in our archive, so the vote count on the safe deposit box motion remains unrecorded.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · would settle it: The complete, corrected minutes showing the motion's vote count
Motion carried 4-0-0 Other Authorized Safe Deposit Users Motion by Helgeson seconded by Ryan to remove access for Susan Dodds, Michael Engel, Mark Vahlsing, and Richard Nielsen to the City of Kenyon's safety deposit box at the Security State Bank in Kenyon and add access to the safety deposit box to Holli Gudknecht and Whitney
Under 'Other,' the council moved to update the list of authorized users of the city's safety deposit box.
We hold no dataThe bank's updated signature card is not in our archive. Our Security State Bank material covers property holdings and a certificate of deposit, not authorized-user records.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · would settle it: The bank's updated signature/authorized-user card and the completed motion record showing the vote
LEGAL Kenyon Fire Relief Donations to City Resolution 2024-14 Accepting Kenyon Fire Relief Association Donations to the City of Kenyon Motion by Helgeson seconded by Ryan to adopt Resolution 2024-14 accepting donations of $23,718.99 from the Kenyon Fire Relief Association to the City to be used for specified items.
Resolution accepting Fire Relief Association donations and funding of the tanker truck reservation payment.
At the meetingResolution 2024-14 adopted 5-0-0.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-14 accepting $23,718.99 from the Kenyon Fire Relief Association was adopted 5-0-0, and Resolution 2024-18 accepted a further $38,764.00 on August 20 2024, for $62,482.99 accepted in 2024. Tanker truck fund donations appear separately at $15,000 in the 7.9.24 packet and $10,000 in the 3-11-25 packet. The list of specified items attached to each resolution is not in our holdings, so what the money bought cannot be traced.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 8-20-24 AGENDA; 7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-08-20
OLD BUSINESS Sound System Finance Director, Whitney Kyllo updated the council on the sound system repairs in the council chambers.
Old business update on sound system repairs in the council chambers.
At the meetingUpdate given but not described in the minutes; no action taken.
Partly answeredThe system under discussion had been bought two months earlier. Our bid records show the council room sound system awarded to Sim Sound at $17,026.29 on March 12 2024, chosen over EPA Audio Visual at $23,246. The content of the May 2024 update and any remaining repair cost are not recorded in the minutes or anywhere else we hold.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda
Projects include reconstruction of Langford Avenue and 8th Street. Fifth Street behind the school will be an alternate project.
Review of the preliminary 2025 project list, which includes Langford Avenue and 8th Street reconstruction.
At the meetingNo decision on whether the alternate will be built.
What happened nextThe 5th Street alternate was carried through and built. Resolution 2024-20 receiving the feasibility report was adopted with the addition of the sidewalk on 5th Street, 5th Street reconstruction appeared as Alternate 1 in both the May 2025 and July 2025 bid resolutions, and on July 8 2025 the council awarded the Fitzgerald Excavating contract with all three alternates included. By October 2025 the engineer reported utility and grading work nearly complete on both 5th and 8th streets.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 5-13-25 council packet updated; 7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-07-08
Purchase Built-in Desks for Fire Hall Office Fire Chief Ehrich stated that the Fire Department would like to purchase built-in desks for their office. The Fire Relief Association would pay for this project. The cost would be approximately $13,000.
Request to purchase built-in desks for the fire hall office.
At the meetingCouncil approved the purchase of built-in cabinets 5-0-0.
Partly answeredThe council approved the purchase 5-0-0 on an approximate $13,000 figure, and no written quote for the desks is in our holdings. The Fire Relief Association funding is corroborated only at the aggregate level, through Resolution 2024-14 accepting $23,718.99 and Resolution 2024-18 accepting $38,764.00, which together total $62,482.99 in Relief Association donations accepted in 2024. Neither resolution's specified items list is in our records.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 8-20-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-08-20
A claim was filed with our insurance company. Six juveniles were identified by the Kenyon Police Department in this incident.
Update to council on vandalism damage at the municipal pool.
We hold no dataWe hold no police incident report and nothing further on the six juveniles. No restitution, charge, diversion or follow-up appears in any later packet we hold. The Kenyon Police Department incident report for the April 28 2024 pool vandalism would settle it.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The police department incident report
Public Works Shop Roof Repair Quote Public Works Director Ehrich informed the council that the roof of the Public Works Shop at 109 Gates Avenue has five leaks in the roof and water is running into the light fixtures.
Justification for the Heyn Brothers roof repair quote.
At the meetingCouncil approved the Heyn Brothers quote of $7,650.00 5-0-0.
Partly answeredThe repair was bought at the stated price, but the leak count rests on the director's word. The council approved the Heyn Brothers quote of $7,650.00 5-0-0, and our bid records confirm the June 2024 public works shop roof repair award to Heyn Brothers at $7,650. No roof inspection report documenting five leaks is in our holdings, and no competing quote was sought.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda
By paying this loan off, there would be an interest savings of $6,631.48. motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to pay off the First Responder vehicle loan of $61,712.
Proposal to use truck fund money to retire the First Responder vehicle loan early.
At the meetingMotion made and seconded; no vote result recorded.
Partly answeredThe $6,631.48 savings figure appears once and is never supported or repeated. No amortization schedule, payoff quote, interest rate or loan term is in our holdings, and because no vote was recorded we cannot show the payoff happened at all. The comparable City Hall roof loan payoff of $53,000 to KMU was documented with a savings figure of $4,979 and a recorded 4-0-0 vote.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 8-20-24 AGENDA
Per State Statute, the fee for Sunday on-sale liquor may not exceed $200 and the fee for a bad check may not exceed $30.
Fee corrections in Resolution 2024-13 after the January fee schedule raised both fees.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-13 leaving the bad check charge at $45.00 but revising the wording to "Bad check charge and penalty".
Partly answeredThe council kept the bad check charge at $45.00 after being told in the same staff report that state statute caps it at $30, changing only the label to Bad Check Charge and Penalty. The 2025 fee schedule still lists Bad Check Charge and Penalty at $45.00, so the figure survived the correction it was meant to receive. We hold no statute citation and no legal opinion on whether the penalty framing takes the charge outside the cap, which is what would settle it.
The city's own staff report states the statutory maximum bad check fee is $30, yet the council adopted and has since kept a $45.00 charge.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 1-14-25 council packet (1) fee schedule · taken up again 2025-01-14
Also, the wording for the Fire Dept./First Responder Repeated Non-Fire or Non-Medical Calls needs to be revised to match the city code.
Resolution 2024-13 updating license fees and compensation adopted January 10, 2024 as Resolution 2024-01.
At the meetingResolution 2024-13 was adopted 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe wording was revised and carried into the fee schedule. Resolution 2024-13 was adopted 5-0-0, and the 2025 fee schedule lists the Fire Department and First Responder repeated non-fire or non-medical calls fee at $150.00 with the code threshold spelled out as more than 3 calls in 12 months.
1-14-25 council packet (1) fee schedule; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-01-14
By paying this loan off, there would be an interest savings of $6,631.48. motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to pay off the First Responder vehicle loan of $61,712.
Helgeson moved and Bailey seconded paying off the loan using truck fund money.
At the meetingNo motion carried line was recorded.
We hold no dataNo vote result on the First Responder loan payoff exists in anything we hold, and no later packet records whether the loan was retired. By contrast the comparable payoff of the $53,000 City Hall roof loan to KMU carries a clean tally, motion by Helgeson seconded by Ryan, carried 4-0-0. Corrected minutes or the meeting recording would settle the missing tally.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 8-20-24 AGENDA · would settle it: The official vote tally from the meeting recording or corrected minutes
Electrical Panel Repair Public Works Director Ehrich reported that there was a short in the electrical panel at the pool. Sparks flew when the lights were turned on. R&K Electric repaired the panel on May 7.
A short in the pool electrical panel caused sparks when the lights were turned on.
At the meetingReport only; no cost given and no motion recorded.
We hold no dataThe R&K Electric cost is never stated. The repair was reported to the council as already done on May 7 2024 with no motion and no amount, unlike the pool drainpipe repair reported in the same section, where H&M Underground Solutions was paid $3,753.50 from the capital fund. The R&K Electric invoice would settle it.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The R&K Electric invoice
Sewer Plant Valve Replacement 11 Public Works Director Ehrich stated a sewer pump valve repair is needed at the sewer plant to fix the recirculation pump. A quote for three new 6" plug valves, pump removal, new hardware and gaskets, and labor was received.
Sewer pump valve repair needed to fix the recirculation pump at the sewer plant.
At the meetingCouncil approved the quote 5-0-0 without stating the amount.
We hold no dataNo dollar figure for the three 6-inch plug valves, pump removal, hardware, gaskets and labor appears anywhere in our records, and the vendor is not named. The council approved it 5-0-0 on an unstated amount. The written quote or the paid invoice would settle it.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The written valve replacement quote
City Hall Door Repair Quote Public Works Director Ehrich stated he received a quote from Johnson Hardware out of Dodge Center to repair some issues with the City Hall doors.
Front door needs weather stripping, a new hydraulic closer, and new supports; back door needs an aluminum sweep.
At the meetingCouncil approved the quote 5-0-0 without stating the amount.
We hold no dataThe Johnson Hardware amount never appears. Our bid records list the June 2024 City Hall door repair as awarded to Johnson Hardware with no dollar figure attached, and nothing later restates it. The written quote or the invoice would settle it. For scale, the separate library pocket door installed that summer was quoted at $3,977.00 by L and M Construction and paid entirely by the library board.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · would settle it: The Johnson Hardware written quote
NEW BUSINESS City Hall Camera Update Quote Finance Director Kyllo reviewed a quote from WH Security to replace three cameras and the panic buttons that weren't working.
Council approved the quote to replace three cameras and panic buttons plus one in the library.
We hold no dataThe WH Security quote amount never appears. Our bid records carry the June 2024 City Hall cameras and panic buttons award to WH Security with no price, exactly as they carry the 2021 liquor store camera and DVR award to the same vendor with no price. The written WH Security quote or the paid invoice would settle it.
factbook KENYON_BIDS.md; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The WH Security written quote
NEW BUSINESS City Hall Camera Update Quote Finance Director Kyllo reviewed a quote from WH Security to replace three cameras and the panic buttons that weren't working. Council member Sjolander would like a panic button added to the library.
Review of a WH Security quote to replace three cameras and non-working panic buttons at City Hall.
At the meetingCouncil accepted the WH Security quotes including a library panic button, 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe library panic button was added to the order. The council accepted the WH Security quotes to install three new cameras and panic buttons including one in the library, on a motion by Sjolander seconded by Ryan, carried 5-0-0. Our purchase records list the June 2024 City Hall cameras and panic buttons awarded to WH Security with no dollar figure, and no installation confirmation is in our holdings.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md
Fire Department – Wayne Ehrich, Fire Chief Goodhue County MOU Agreement Fire Chief Ehrich stated that Earl Merchlewitz, Goodhue County Emergency Management Director, had requested that their mobile command center vehicle be stored at the Kenyon Fire Hall.
The city has bay and office space available and the arrangement is at no cost to the city or fire department.
At the meetingCouncil approved the Goodhue County MOU Agreement 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved the Goodhue County memorandum of understanding 5-0-0 and the vehicle was in fact housed at the fire hall. Goodhue County Commissioner Todd Greseth thanked the Kenyon Fire Department and the city for storing the county mobile command center vehicle during citizen comment in the 7.9.24 packet. The signed memorandum itself is not in our holdings.
7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-07-09
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the City Council will hold a Special Meeting pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, Section 13D.04, subdivision 2 on Tuesday, May 14, 2024, commencing at 6:00 p.m. at City Hall, 709 2nd Street, Kenyon, Minnesota for the following purposes: 1. General Discussion of Interim City Administrator 2. Interim City Administrator Contract Proposal 3.
Special session agenda item following the general interim administrator discussion.
What happened nextThe contract proposal came back and was approved. Resolution 2024-11 approving Interim City Administrator hiring for the City of Kenyon was adopted on a motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson, carried 4-0-0, with council and staff reviewing terms including days and hours of work. The 12.10.24 packet then carries Resolution 2024-31 extending the interim administrator contract along with the original interim contract.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-12-10
Motion by Bailey to create an Interim Administrator job description and post to hire a temporary city employee. No second to the motion.
Special session debate over whether to hire an in-house temporary employee or an outside interim administrator.
At the meetingNo second; council instead directed the personnel committee to seek an outside interim.
What happened nextThe in-house route was rejected in favor of an outside interim, and the council never drafted an Interim Administrator job description. It did use the in-house path later for a different position, when Administrator Lehner worked with Abdo on a job description for a part-time administrative assistant, the personnel committee reviewed it, and the council continued the hiring process 4-1-0 with Sjolander voting no.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-12-09
The chassis payment would be due upon arrival in the spring of 2025. This money is available in the truck fund.
Purchase of a 2025-26 tanker truck from Midwest Fire, with a $10,000 Relief Association down payment to reserve the build date.
At the meetingCouncil approved the purchase 5-0-0 without a stated chassis payment amount.
Partly answeredThe chassis payment amount is never stated, and the delivery date moved out a full year. The council approved the purchase 5-0-0 on the understanding that the chassis payment was due on arrival in spring 2025, but the 7.9.24 packet and the 3-11-25 packet both describe the tanker as due to arrive in the spring of 2026. The Midwest Fire quote and payment schedule would settle the amount.
The chassis payment was said to be due on the truck's arrival in spring 2025, but both later donation records describe the tanker as due to arrive in spring 2026.
7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda; 3-11-25 council packet (1) · taken up again 2025-03-11
Public works would like noncompliant residents to be notified by letter to bring their mailboxes into compliance.
Noncompliant mailboxes are causing problems for snowplowing and street sweeping; Administrative Policy #5 had to be updated first.
At the meetingRevised Administrative Policy #5 adopted 5-0-0, clearing the way for the letters.
Partly answeredThe obstacle was cleared but the letters are not on record. The council adopted the revised Administrative Policy #5 on Snow and Ice Control 5-0-0, which the public works director said had to be updated with more specific information before the letter could be issued. No notification letter, no list of noncompliant addresses and no follow-up on mailbox compliance appears in anything we hold.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda
The damage included a broken window, dents in the outside door, holes in the privacy fence, and dented picnic tables. A claim was filed with our insurance company.
Vandalism at the pool included a broken window, dented outside door, holes in the privacy fence, and dented picnic tables.
At the meetingNo claim amount or settlement reported.
We hold no dataWe hold nothing on the insurance claim. No claim number, determination, settlement amount or repair cost for the April 28 2024 pool vandalism appears in any later packet, and the two later matches concern unrelated FMLA filings and a township payment. The insurer's claim determination letter or the repair invoices would settle it.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The insurance claim determination and payment amount
The first step in this process is authorizing the preparation of a feasibility report to define the need for improvements, scope of work, cost and funding, and to prepare estimates of assessments.
First step in the 2025 street and utility project with special assessments to abutting properties.
At the meetingResolution 2024-12 adopted 5-0-0 and a $81,600 preliminary engineering proposal approved.
What happened nextThe feasibility report was produced and accepted. Resolution 2024-12 passed 5-0-0 with an $81,600 preliminary engineering proposal, the report was attached to the 9.10.24 packet, and on October 8 2024 the council reviewed it and adopted Resolution 2024-20 receiving the report and calling for the improvement with the addition of the 5th Street sidewalk, roll call carried 5-0-0. The council consensus that day was to follow past practice and assess 30 percent of project costs to property owners.
The council's October 2024 consensus called 30 percent of project costs the city's past practice, while the July 2025 assessment request describes the standard as a 50 percent surface cost policy reduced to 32 percent for this project.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-10-08
CSAH 12 Partnership Agreement City Engineer Olinger stated that the partnership agreement defining the responsibilities for the county and city and the process for proceeding with the design of the project was being worked on, but no agreement has been reached yet. This project is not a county priority at this time.
Engineering report on the CSAH 12 partnership agreement.
At the meetingNo further action was taken on the item.
We hold no dataThe CSAH 12 partnership agreement never reappears in anything we hold. The only later text matching the term is boilerplate in the 2026 developer documents about formation documents and a disclaimer of partnership, neither of which concerns the county highway. A signed city and county partnership agreement, or a Goodhue County highway department project priority list, would settle it.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 9-8-26 Council Packet · would settle it: A signed partnership agreement or written county statement of project priority/schedule
CONSENT AGENDA Motion by Henke seconded by Ryan to approve the Consent Agenda, which includes payment of check numbers 75972 through 76081; 4922E through 4968E.
Special session discussion of filling the Interim City Administrator position, which has had no progress since April 1, 2024.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0; no candidate or timeline named.
What happened nextThe search produced an outside interim rather than an in-house hire. Resolution 2024-11 approving Interim City Administrator hiring was adopted 4-0-0, council and staff reviewed contract terms including days and hours of work, and the interim contract was later extended by Resolution 2024-31 in the 12.10.24 packet. Separately the city hired South Central Service Cooperative and Mike Humpal for the permanent administrator recruitment at $14,500 in July 2024.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-12-10
1.5 Million of street cost assumed to be grant 2028 Totals $ 1,545,000.00 $ 740,000.00 $ - $ 450,000.00 $ - $ 450,000.00 $ - $ 580,000.00 $ 1,545,000.00 $ 2,220,000.00 Annual Chip/Crack Seal $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ - N 2029 $ - $ - Totals $ 45,000.00 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 45,000.00 $ - Annual Chip/Crack Seal $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ - $ - $ - 2030 $ - $ - Totals $ 45,000.00 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 45,000.00 $ - Annual Chip/Crack Seal $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ - 5th Street (Spring to Bullis) $
Notes column of the CIP table for future projects.
What happened nextThe assumed grant was the MnDOT Local Road Improvement Program and Kenyon did not get it. The city was not awarded the LRIP grant for the 6th Street reconstruction, the project was moved back to 2028, and staff noted they may apply again at the next solicitation. The $3,000,000 wastewater treatment plant figure remains a placeholder with no actual cost estimate anywhere in our holdings.
5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-05-14
Move to 2028 or 2031 2031 Overlays & New Paving (Various Streets) $ 446,420.00 $ - $ 446,420.00 Final Locations TBD (Remaining Overlays, Mogren, 9th/Forest) Trondheim Rd Extension (.43 Mi Gravel) $ 1,550,000.00 $ - $ 1,550,000.00 N Street Add 210K for pavement Totals $ 45,000.00 $ 2,318,920.00 $ - $ 125,000.00 $ - $ - $ - $ 165,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ 2,608,920.00 Annual Chip/Crack Seal $ 45,000.00 $ 45,000.00 $ - $ - $ - 2032 $ - $ - Totals $ 45,000.00 $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ - $ 45,000.00 $ - Other Outstanding
CIP street and utility improvements table presented for approval.
What happened next5th Street from Spring to Bullis moved sharply forward rather than back. The September 2024 feasibility report carries it as a reconstruction segment inside the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements project, not in 2028 or 2031. The 2031 overlay locations remain to be determined in our record, with the CIP note still reading remaining overlays, Mogren and 9th and Forest.
The CIP listed 5th Street Spring to Bullis for 2028 or 2031, while the feasibility report six months later placed it in the 2025 project.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 5-14-24 AGENDA, CIP table · taken up again 2024-09-10
It was presented to the KW High School to be applied for by Seniors going into Law Enforcement. The school's counselor stated there were no applications filled out.
2024 Kenyon Police Department Scholarship to be presented at the May council meeting.
What happened nextThe scholarship was presented to Armani Tucker, who introduced himself to the council and described his law enforcement education. He was enrolled at RCTC with a spring 2025 graduation target, worked as a Cadet for the Rochester Police Department and volunteered as a Kenyon Police Department Reserve. He was later sworn in as a Kenyon police officer, with Mayor Kirchmann reciting the oath of office in the record carried in the August 12 2025 packet.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 5-14-24 AGENDA; 8.12.25 Council Packet & Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-06-11
In other areas of the project boundary survey will only be required if we determine the need for new temporary or permanent easements to build the improvements. If needed, we will inform the City and we can perform the work as additional services.
Detailed boundary surveys are excluded from the base proposal scope.
Partly answeredNo easement determination and no cost proposal for added boundary survey work appears in our holdings. The CSAH 12 agreement stated at the time that no significant easements were anticipated, while the December 2024 finding that parts of Langford Avenue lie outside the right of way and that the encroachments will grow points the other way. A written determination on easement need would settle it.
5-14-24 AGENDA; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated
This area consists of vacated railroad right-of-way and title work will be necessary to determine the location of rights-of-way and property lines.
Boundary survey scope; fee breakdown estimates 6 title reports at $350 each.
What happened nextThe title work confirmed a real problem. By the December 10 2024 packet the city reported that the Langford right of way is within and adjacent to former railroad right of way, that its width varies, and that portions of the existing street already sit outside the right of way. Because the project slightly widens Langford, those encroachments grow as a result of the work. The completed title reports themselves are not in our holdings.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-12-10
Geotech and televising costs are estimated based on past projects. The city will be billed based on actual costs for these services. 2.
Proposal totals $92,900 including $9,700 geotech and $6,000 televising.
Partly answeredThe work was done, since the October 2024 packet reports survey, sewer televising and geotechnical review all complete, but no subcontractor invoices appear in our holdings so the estimates were never reconciled to actuals. The estimates themselves were $9,700 for soil borings and $6,000 for televising, the latter assuming 1,200 linear feet at $4 per foot with no cleaning or root cutting.
The proposal's own line items sum to $89,900, matching the fee spreadsheet subtotal, yet the same page states a total of $92,900, a $3,000 overstatement.
10-8-24 AGENDA; 5-14-24 AGENDA
The County will reimburse the city for reasonable and applicable portions of these design and planning costs at a later date.
Cost participation and terms of payment article.
We hold no dataNo invoice, payment schedule or reimbursement establishing the county's share of CSAH 12 design and planning costs appears in our holdings. A county payment record against the city's design invoices would settle it.
would settle it: An invoice and payment schedule establishing the county's design cost share
At the outset of preliminary design, the City and County will coordinate to obtain municipal consent, if required by MnDOT State Aid. 5.1.
Preliminary design coordination step.
We hold no dataNo MnDOT State Aid determination on whether municipal consent is required for CSAH 12 appears in our holdings, and no municipal consent resolution from the county is in the record. The State Aid determination letter would settle it.
would settle it: A MnDOT State Aid determination on whether municipal consent is required
Following concurrence from the County, the City will award the Project to the lowest responsible contractor. 10. Cooperative Agreement The City will draft a cooperative agreement following bidding.
Cost shares in Appendix B may be revised in the cooperative agreement.
Partly answeredThe triggering condition occurred, since the street and utility work was bid and awarded on July 8 2025, but no drafted cooperative agreement with final cost share totals, maintenance terms or payment schedule appears in our holdings. The drafted cooperative agreement is what is missing.
5-14-24 AGENDA; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md
Following submittal, the County will review and provide comments to the City within 4 weeks. Following 30/60/90% plan reviews, final plans will be sent to the County for state aid review and approval.
30/60/90 percent plan review process before state aid review and approval.
We hold no dataNo county review comments on any 30, 60 or 90 percent plan submittal appear in our holdings, and no submittal dates were ever fixed, since the agreement leaves them to be determined by the city during preliminary design. The county's written review comments would settle whether the four-week turnaround was met.
would settle it: County review comments on each plan submittal
Schedule The City will draft an initial Project schedule of key milestones. Regular schedule updates will be provided as needed. 1.2.
Detailed work scope and deliverables assigned to the city.
We hold no dataNo CSAH 12 project schedule document, design team meeting agenda or meeting notes appears anywhere in our holdings. The city project manager's distributed agendas and notes, which the agreement requires for each monthly design meeting, would settle whether this obligation was met.
would settle it: The project schedule document and meeting agendas/notes
The Project bid letting is tentatively scheduled for winter of 2024/25 and construction during the summer of 2025. Intermittent milestone dates will be identified during preliminary design. 3.
Schedule section of the agreement.
What happened nextThe schedule slipped by roughly six months. The improvement hearing landed in October 2024 rather than the August target, bidding ran to April 2 2025 rather than January or February, the first bids were rejected on June 10 2025, and the rebid opened July 2 2025 with the award to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 on July 8 2025. Construction did fall in summer 2025 but the award came two months past the May 2025 target.
10-8-24 AGENDA; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-07-08
Each Party's Authorized Representative is responsible for administering this Agreement and is authorized to give and receive any notice required or permitted under this Agreement. City's Authorized Representative is: Name: _______________ or successor.
Article 4 requires each party to name an authorized representative to administer the agreement.
Partly answeredThe city side of Article 4 is blank in every copy we hold, while the county side is complete with Jess Greenwood, P.E., County Engineer and Public Works Director, 2140 Pioneer Road in Red Wing, telephone 651-385-3025. The executed agreement naming the city's designated representative is what is missing.
5-14-24 AGENDA, CSAH 12 Partnership Agreement Article 4
Previous Rate Current Rate Revenue Source Change Change Levy +$59k / 5.7% +$78k / 4.9% Storm Sewer Rates +8% +30% Sanitary Sewer Rates +5% +10% Water Rates - +0-1% Note: all projections are very high level and will be verified later Requested Action: We are seeking any comments, suggestions or concurrence on project scope as presented, but no specific action is requested with this agenda item.
Discussion-only item with no specific action requested.
What happened nextThe council did give direction, repeatedly and informally rather than by motion. The September 10 2024 packet again requested informal consensus on project scope and areas including alternates and on adjustment of assessment rates, and the June 10 2025 packet again invited direction on scope or alternates so the plans could be amended before bidding.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
Storm sewer costs are mostly due to inflation and may change following a more detailed look during the feasibility study.
Storm sewer component estimated at $794,000, up from $550,000.
Partly answeredNo storm sewer figure broken out of the completed feasibility study appears in our holdings. What the record does show is the rate consequence, with the residential storm maintenance fee rising from $9.00 to $13.00 a month for 2025, a 44.4 percent increase, against a scope memo estimate of $794,000 for storm sewer work. The feasibility study's storm sewer cost line is what is missing.
5-14-24 AGENDA; 3-11-25 council packet
To summarize, approximately 10-20% of the cost increases are from inflation with the remainder being a result of work scope changes. The majority of the additional cost (+$870k) is from additional watermain replacement at the request of KMU.
Explaining why total project cost rose from $2,571,125 to $4,154,000 versus the 2022-23 CIP.
Answered from our recordsThe watermain figure checks out exactly. The component table moves water from $372,000 to $1,241,000, an increase of $869,000, which is 54.9 percent of the total $1,582,875 cost growth from $2,571,125 to $4,154,000. The 10 to 20 percent inflation share cannot be verified from our holdings, and the September 2024 feasibility report later brought the estimate down to $3.658 million with alternates.
5-14-24 AGENDA; 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda
Previous Rate Current Rate Revenue Source Change Change Levy +$59k / 5.7% +$78k / 4.9% Storm Sewer Rates +8% +30% Sanitary Sewer Rates +5% +10% Water Rates - +0-1% Note: all projections are very high level and will be verified later Requested Action: We are seeking any comments, suggestions or concurrence on project scope as presented, but no specific action is requested with this agenda item.
Memo shows projected levy +$78k/4.9%, storm sewer rates +30%, sanitary sewer rates +10%, water rates +0-1%.
What happened nextThe high level projections were verified and most of them were wrong. Actual 2025 rates set in March 2025 raised the residential sanitary rate from $7.40 to $7.77 per thousand gallons and the base from $26.25 to $27.57 a month, both about 5 percent against a projected 10 percent, while the storm maintenance fee went from $9.00 to $13.00 a month, a 44.4 percent rise against a projected 30 percent. The certified 2025 levy rose 9.55 percent to $1,400,000, roughly double the projected 4.9 percent and $78,000.
The actual levy increase of 9.55 percent was nearly double the 4.9 percent projected, and the storm sewer fee rose 44.4 percent against a projected 30 percent.
3-11-25 council packet; factbook taxes/levy.html · taken up again 2025-03-11
be referred to Bolton & Menk, Inc. for study and that that they are instructed to report to the council with all convenient speed advising the council in a preliminary way as to whether the proposed improvement is necessary, cost-effec ve, and feasible; whether it should best be made as proposed or in connec on with some other improvement; the es mated cost of the improvement as recommended; and a descrip on of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels. Adopted by the council of
Feasibility report required before special assessments under Minnesota Statutes Chapter 429.
What happened nextThe feasibility report was delivered and reviewed at the September 10 2024 meeting. It put the base project area plus two alternate areas at approximately $3.658 million and the base without alternates at $3.077 million, and warned that the estimates are opinions for general information with financing to be based on actual competitive pricing.
9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda, feasibility report · taken up again 2024-09-10
Motion Approving Resolution 2024-12 Motion Approving Preliminary Engineering Proposal for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements 36 ATTACHMENTS: 04.1_Resolution 2024-12_Order-Feas-Rpt.pdf 04.2_2025 Street-Util_Preliminary Design Proposal.pdf 37 RESOLUTION 2024-12 CITY OF KENYON COUNTY OF GOODHUE STATE OF MINNESOTA RESOLUTION ORDERING PREPARATION OF REPORT ON IMPROVEMENT 2025 STREET & UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS WHEREAS, it is proposed to improve the following streets and u li es as generally described in the table below:
First step in the Chapter 429 special assessment process for the 2025 project.
What happened nextResolution 2024-12 ordering preparation of the feasibility report was adopted 5-0-0, and the Bolton & Menk preliminary design scope covering the feasibility report, internal and public meetings, survey, contract soil borings and sanitary sewer televising was moved separately. The proposal was priced at $92,900.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-06-11
Anticipated cost shares are also included. This is an ongoing conversation and the agreement may be updated again prior to the meeting.
Agenda summary notes the agreement remains an ongoing conversation.
Partly answeredOur copy remains the draft, and the agreement itself contemplates further change, stating that some adjustments to the cost shares may be revised with the later cooperative agreement if mutually agreeable. No final revised version and no final cost-share totals appear in our holdings.
5-14-24 AGENDA
Requested Action: Motion Authorizing Mayor and Staff to enter into the CSAH 12 Partnership Agreement with Goodhue County ATTACHMENTS: 03.1_CSAH 12_Partnership Agreement_p3c.pdf 24 PARTNERSHIP AGREEMENT BETWEEN CITY OF KENYON AND GOODHUE COUNTY FOR PLANNING & DESIGN OF CSAH 12 IN KENYON, MN This Agreement is between the City of Kenyon acting through its city council ("City") located at: 709 2 nd St, Kenyon, MN 55946 and the County of Goodhue acting through its Board of Commissioners ("County") located at: 509 West
Agreement defines city and county responsibilities and cost shares for planning and design of CSAH 12.
Partly answeredNo council motion authorizing the mayor to sign and no executed CSAH 12 agreement appears in our holdings. What we hold is the requested action language, the draft agreement dated as last revised May 9 2024, and the appendix of anticipated cost shares. The signed agreement bearing city and county signatures would settle it.
5-14-24 AGENDA
Requested Motion: Approving Pay Application #4 to BCM Construction ATTACHMENTS: Pearl Creek LS_Pay App 4.pdf 16 Contractor's Application for Payment Owner: CITY OF KENYON Owner's Project No.: N/A Engineer: BOLTON & MENK Engineer's Project No.: 0H1.126462 Contractor: BCM CONSTRUCTION Agency's Project No.: N/A Project: 2023 PEARL CREEK SANITARY SEWER & GATES AVE UTILITY IMPROVMENTS Contract: N/A Application No.: 4 Application Date: 5/14/2024 Application Period: From 1/1/2024 to 5/3/2024 1.
Lift station work resumed; pay application covers work and materials through May 3rd.
What happened nextPay Application No. 4 for $125,374.39 covering work through May 3 2024 was approved 5-0-0 while the lift station structure was being plumbed and the driveway graded. Applications No. 5 at $104,318.56 and No. 6 at $112,532.25 followed, and by August 2024 electrical work on the lift station was nearly complete.
6.11.24, 7.9.24 and 8-20-24 Council Packets · taken up again 2024-06-11
Motion carried 4-0-0. Resolution 2024-11: Approve Interim City Administrator Hiring for the City of Kenyon, Minnesota No action.
Agenda item following the tabled contract decision.
At the meetingNo action taken.
What happened nextResolution 2024-11 was later adopted 4-0-0 as recorded in the June 11 2024 packet. The interim arrangement was extended by Resolution 2024-31 in December 2024 before a permanent administrator agreement was approved by Resolution 2024-26.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2024-06-11
The consensus was that the city does need someone in this position, but maybe take some time to explore other options.
Extensive discussion of what the City needs in an interim administrator and the wording of the draft contract.
At the meetingNo specific options or assignments were named.
What happened nextExploring other options produced nothing. The record states that the objective since April 1 2024 was to bring an interim administrator in as soon as possible, that the council was now back at day one, and that no progress had been made. A motion to write an interim job description and hire a temporary employee died for lack of a second, and the council instead directed the personnel committee to find an outside option.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-06-11
Approval of Interim City Administrator Contract Motion by Helgeson seconded by Ryan to table the decision until other options could be checked out. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Special work session on hiring an interim city administrator after interviewing one retired administrator candidate.
At the meetingMotion to table carried 4-0-0; no contract approved.
What happened nextThe contract came back and passed. Resolution 2024-11 approving interim city administrator hiring was adopted 4-0-0 as recorded in the June 11 2024 packet, the contract was later extended by Resolution 2024-31 in December 2024, and a permanent City Administrator employment agreement was approved by Resolution 2024-26 on a 5-0-0 roll call recorded in the November 12 2024 packet. The city paid South Central Service Cooperative $14,500 for the permanent administrator recruitment.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 12.10.24 and 11.12.24 Council Packets; factbook KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-06-11
Chief Ehrich presented the fire department's truck needs, a plan to pay for a needed tanker, and possible future plans.
Presentation of apparatus needs and future planning to the council work session.
Partly answeredNo presentation materials, cost figures or apparatus timeline from the chief survive in our record. What is documented is the spending that followed: a tanker truck ordered in June 2024 for spring 2026 delivery, and before that a December 2023 purchase of self-contained breathing apparatus and a compressor from Alex Air Apparatus totalling $156,445, made up of $116,805 for the SCBA and $39,640 for the compressor. The city's broader capital needs went to a Northland Securities workshop on April 29 2025. The chief's handout would settle what the department asked for.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2023-12-12 entry; 4-8-25 council packet
Chief Ehrich presented the fire department's truck needs, a plan to pay for a needed tanker, and possible future plans.
Chief presented truck needs and a funding plan for a tanker during the work session.
What happened nextThe council approved the tanker purchase 5-0-0 on June 11 2024, on a Bailey motion seconded by Henke, against a quote from Midwest Fire for a 2025-26 tanker truck. The Kenyon Fire Relief Association donated $10,000 to cover the down payment reserving the build date, and by July 2024 the record shows $15,000 from the Relief Association in the tanker truck fund, with the chassis payment due on arrival and the truck due at the city in spring 2026. No total purchase price for the tanker appears anywhere in our record.
The June 2024 record puts the chassis payment due on arrival in spring 2025 while the July 2024 record has the truck arriving in spring 2026.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-06-11
Two townships have stated they may move their township sections serviced by Kenyon to neighboring departments. The townships would like to see the budget before December and have more say in how the money is spent.
Township concerns over the fire budget process and spending authority.
Partly answeredThe budget-timing half of the request was met in form: the city has held an annual fire contract meeting with the six townships to review the coming year's contracts, in December 2024 for the 2025 contracts and December 2025 for the 2026 contracts. The spending-authority half is not: the allocation formula stayed fixed at 51 percent city and 49 percent township with each township's share set by sections covered, and nothing in our record gives the townships a vote on how the money is spent. A revised fire service agreement would settle whether their role changed.
12.10.24 and 12.9.25 Council Packets, Fire Contract Meeting with Townships · taken up again 2025-12-09
Two townships have stated they may move their township sections serviced by Kenyon to neighboring departments.
Work session discussion of issues raised by the fire district townships.
What happened nextNeither township left. The Kenyon Fire Department service area still covered six townships when the 2025 contracts were reviewed in December 2024 and again when the 2026 contracts were reviewed in December 2025, on the same 51 percent city and 49 percent township split of the operating budget with each township's share set by the number of sections it has covered. The two townships that threatened to leave are never named in our record.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; 12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated · taken up again 2025-12-09
EDA Meeting: Tuesday, April 23rd @ 8:00 am Board of Appeals & Equalization, Thursday, April 25 @ 3:00 pm (Run by County-Open Book) City Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 14th @ 7 pm COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS Council Member Helgeson reminded everyone of the Spring Clean-up scheduled for April 27 from 9 am to noon.
Schedule of upcoming meetings.
Answered from our recordsThe county runs Kenyon's Board of Appeal and Equalization as an open book session because no member of the city council holds the training the state requires to sit on a local board. That arrangement has been in place since 2023, so the April 25 2024 open book session was the county assessor's meeting, not a city board.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md; 5-14-24 Agenda
Mayor Henke stated that Police Chief Sjoblom had a good FYI report, and he was proud of our city police department. Zach Bubany gave an update on the projects he is working on in the city.
Council and staff general comments.
We hold no dataWe hold no list of Zach Bubany's city projects and no identification of his role. The minutes record the update without content. A staff or consultant scope of work naming him would settle it.
5-14-24 Agenda · would settle it: A written list of Bubany's current city projects
Finance Director Kyllo thanked Matt Bartel and Wayne Ehrich for working on the Liquor Store IT issues two Fridays ago until 11:30 pm.
Staff general comments thanking employees, related to city IT problems.
We hold no dataWe hold no incident record or timesheets for the liquor store IT work. The liquor store's own digital costs are documented, with card processing at $18,515 in 2024 and $22,956 in 2025, the city's largest digital cost after managed IT. An incident ticket from the IT provider or the two employees' payroll detail would settle the hours worked.
KENYON_IT_SPEND.md · would settle it: Incident record or timesheets for the liquor store IT work
EDA Meeting: Tuesday, April 23rd @ 8:00 am Board of Appeals & Equalization, Thursday, April 25 @ 3:00 pm (Run by County-Open Book) City Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 14th @ 7 pm COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS Council Member Helgeson reminded everyone of the Spring Clean-up scheduled for April 27 from 9 am to noon.
Council general comments reminder to residents.
We hold no dataWe hold no posted Spring Clean-up notice for April 27 2024. The city's public notice channels are thin, with the Rose Fest signup running on a Google Form and a Jotform that now reads over quota because the free plan is exhausted. The posted notice or the city newsletter would settle it.
KENYON_IT_SPEND.md · would settle it: The posted Spring Clean-up notice
LEGAL Draft Tobacco Ordinance – Chief Jeff Sjoblom City Attorney Riggs reviewed the draft ordinance amending section 1105 of the city code regarding tobacco. This updated ordinance will now bring the city current with state law.
Review and adoption of Ordinance 103 on tobacco.
At the meetingCouncil approved Ordinance 103 and Resolution 2024-10 for publication by title and summary, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredWe hold no comparison of Ordinance 103 to the Minnesota tobacco statutes. The December 10 2024 packet does carry the state guidance the ordinance had to track, that a cannabis or hemp business licensee may also hold a tobacco license under chapter 461 but cannot sell tobacco at the cannabis retail location, and that tobacco authority may be suspended or revoked if the cannabis license is revoked. The ordinance text against chapter 461 would settle whether the update is complete.
5-14-24 Agenda; 12.10.24 Council Packet
Kenyon Muni - 2024 Rose Fest Street Dance Band Contract Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to approve the 2024 Rose Fest Street dance band MTV's for Saturday, August 17, 2024.
Kenyon Muni new business item on the Rose Fest street dance band contract.
At the meetingCouncil approved the band contract, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredNo contract and no fee for the band MTV's appears in our record, only the 3-0-0 approval for Saturday August 17 2024. The surrounding Rose Fest approvals are documented, with the August 20 2024 council approving the street dance permit for the municipal liquor store, parade permit, street closures, 5K route and the Depot Park liquor permit. The signed band contract would settle the cost.
5-14-24 and 8-20-24 Agendas
Motion by Helgeson second by Henke to delete Mark Vahlsing as a signatory on the City of Kenyon account at the Security State Bank of Kenyon.
Removal of an outdated bank account signatory.
At the meetingCouncil approved the deletion, 3-0-0.
What happened nextThe council deleted Mark Vahlsing as a signer 3-0-0, and the signature card kept turning over as the administration changed. On January 14 2025 the council added Scott Lehner and Mary Bailey and deleted Douglas Henke and Mary Ryan, and on February 11 2025 it added Donald Kirchmann. We do not hold the bank signature cards themselves.
5-14-24 Agenda; 1-14-25 and 2.11.25 Council Packets · taken up again 2025-02-11
The County is going through some personnel changes. The Goodhue County Commission meeting will be held at Kenyon City Hall on May 1 at 9:00 am.
Citizen comment county update.
Partly answeredWe hold no posted county meeting notice for May 1 2024 and no record of the county's personnel changes. The practice of holding a May commission meeting at Kenyon City Hall continued, and Commissioner Greseth confirmed it again on March 10 2026 while reporting the county levy would rise 6.5 percent for 2026 with a larger increase coming in 2027 because of state mandates. Kenyon's own city levy rose 9.18 percent for the same year.
3-10-26 Council Packet; taxes/levy.html
Motion carried 3-0-0. 2024 Pool Wages Gudknecht stated that the pool wages were updated with the pool manager, Brandi Kyllo, in February.
Approval of the 2024 pool wages.
At the meetingCouncil approved the 2024 pool wages, 3-0-0.
We hold no dataWe hold no 2024 pool wage schedule and no record of the February update with the pool manager. What the record shows is the revenue side, a swimming pool budget of $28,000 in fees plus $4,500 in concessions for 2024, $32,700 in all. The adopted wage schedule would settle what the city pays its pool staff.
5-14-24 Agenda, 6.11.24 Council Packet budget tables · would settle it: The 2024 pool wage schedule as updated in February
Approve Purchase of iPad for New GIS System Wayne Ehrich, Public Works Director, requested the approval to purchase an iPad for use with the GIS mapping system. This purchase was included in the budget.
Request for approval to buy an iPad and protective cover for public works GIS use.
At the meetingCouncil approved the purchase of the iPad and protective cover, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe budget line naming the iPad is not in our archive. Computer support across all funds ran $15,961 actual in 2024 and $26,903 in 2025 against an $8,500 budget, and at that price the purchase sat below the $4,999 staff limit the city set four months later.
KENYON_IT_SPEND.md
Depot Building Window Replacement Ehrich stated that the Park and Rec Committee met on April 2. They are recommending the replacement of the ten large windows in the Depot building.
Introduction of the Depot building window replacement item.
At the meetingCouncil approved the replacement estimate, 3-0-0.
We hold no dataWe hold no Park and Rec Committee minutes from April 2 2024. The committee was thinly staffed, with vacant seats on it and on the Historic Preservation Commission still being advertised in January 2025. The committee's own minutes would settle what it recommended and on what basis.
5-14-24 Agenda; 1-14-25 Council Packet · would settle it: Park and Rec Committee April 2 minutes
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to approve the Kenyon Fire Relief Association's request for a dance permit and temporary liquor license.
New business item on Fire Relief Association requests.
At the meetingCouncil approved the dance permit and temporary liquor license, 3-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved the dance permit and temporary liquor license 3-0-0 for the June 22 2024 Fireman's Dance, and the same package came back the following year with the April 8 2025 consent agenda covering both the April 26 2025 fundraiser and the June 21 2025 Firemen's Dance. We do not hold the issued permit documents themselves.
5-14-24 Agenda; 4-8-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-04-09
Motion carried 3-0-0. 2024 Pay Equity Report Finance Director Kyllo stated that the State requires a pay equity report be completed and adopted every three years. The last one was approved in January 2021.
Adoption of the 2024 Pay Equity Report.
At the meetingCouncil adopted the pay equity report as presented, 3-0-0.
We hold no dataWe hold no Minnesota pay equity reporting rules and no record of the January 2021 adoption. The 2024 report was adopted 3-0-0 on the finance director's representation alone. The state's pay equity compliance file for Kenyon would settle both the three-year cycle and the prior filing date.
5-14-24 Agenda · would settle it: State pay equity reporting rules and the January 2021 adoption record
Gudknecht stated that Tax Increment Financing District No. 4-5, which was originally created for Countryside Way, is now completed. The city is required to decertify the district.
Basis for Resolution 2024-09 decertifying TIF District No. 4-5.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2024-09 approving decertification, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe council adopted Resolution 2024-09 decertifying TIF District No. 4-5 by a 3-0-0 vote, and no later reference to that district appears in our record, which is consistent with decertification. We do not hold the district plan or the county filing. The city's only live TIF district in the later record is District No. 2-1 for the apartment building, created June 30 2026 with $1,855,000 of assistance over 26 years.
5-14-24 Agenda; 9-8-26 Council Packet; KENYON_INCENTIVES.md
State statutes limit a city's tort liability to a maximum of $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence.
Explanation before the council voted on the LMCIT liability coverage waiver.
At the meetingCouncil voted to follow past city precedence and not waive the state liability limits, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe same three figures are repeated verbatim in the LMCIT waiver item every year, in 2024, 2025 and 2026, and the council has voted not to waive each time. The chapter behind them appears in the September 8 2026 developer agreement, which cites the maximum monetary limits on liability established by Minnesota Statutes chapter 466. We hold neither the statute text nor the signed waiver forms.
5-14-24 Agenda; 5-13-25, 5-12-26 and 9-8-26 Council Packets
FTO Pay – Police Chief Sjoblom Police Chief Sjoblom discussed paying for FTO (Field Training Officers). He requested one hour of overtime or comp time per shift be paid when current officers train new hires.
New business item on FTO pay for the police department.
At the meetingCouncil approved one hour of overtime or comp time per shift for FTOs, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe council approved one hour of overtime or comp time per shift for field training officers 3-0-0, but we hold no written policy and no budget impact figure. The cost depends on how often new officers are trained, and the department has been hiring part-time officers steadily, with the council approving part-time hires again in February and March 2026. The city's personnel policy and police payroll detail would settle the cost.
5-14-24 Agenda; 2-10-26 and 3-10-26 Council Packets
Robert Peterson, a Kenyon property owner, outlined the cons of allowing apartments on the rear half of the first floor of C-1 district buildings. Council member Bailey agreed with Peterson's comments.
Citizen input during review of the draft C-1 zoning ordinance.
At the meetingCouncil voted not to adopt the ordinance.
We hold no dataThe minutes record that Peterson outlined the cons but preserve none of them, and we hold no written statement from him. His objections carried the vote, since Council Member Bailey agreed with them and then moved to reject the ordinance. A recording of the meeting or a written submission from Peterson would settle what he argued.
5-14-24 Agenda · would settle it: A written record of Peterson's stated objections
Review Draft Zoning Ordinance to Allow Apartments on the Rear ½ of the First Floor of Buildings in the C-1 District as a Conditional Use –Zoning Ordinance Section 515.15 Subd. 3 a) Attorney Riggs stated that the planning commission recommended to not adopt this ordinance.
Review of draft Zoning Ordinance Section 515.15 Subd. 3 a).
At the meetingCouncil accepted the planning commission recommendation not to adopt the ordinance, 3-0-0.
What happened nextThe council accepted the planning commission's recommendation and did not adopt the C-1 apartment ordinance, 3-0-0. The council did amend the same code section the following year, adopting Ordinance No. 110 on January 14 2025 to add tattoo parlors and body art establishments as permitted uses in the C-1 downtown commercial district, after a January 7 2025 public hearing drew no public comment.
5-14-24 Agenda; 1-14-25 and 2.11.25 Council Packets · taken up again 2025-01-14
Declare 1936 Ford Open-Air Fire Truck as Excess Inventory Fire Chief Wayne Ehrich stated that the Fire Department voted to get rid of the 1936 Ford Open-Air Fire Truck. They are requesting council approval to sell the old fire truck. Proceeds would go into the truck fund.
The Fire Department voted to get rid of the 1936 truck and asked council approval to sell it.
At the meetingCouncil declared the truck excess inventory to be properly disposed of, 3-0-0.
We hold no dataNo sale, disposal method or deposit amount for the 1936 Ford Open-Air Fire Truck appears in our record. The council's motion changed the request, declaring the truck excess inventory to be properly disposed of rather than sold, which is a different disposition from the proceeds-to-truck-fund outcome the department asked for. The disposal record or the truck fund deposit entry would settle it.
The fire department asked to sell the truck and put proceeds in the truck fund, but the motion that passed authorized disposal rather than sale.
5-14-24 Agenda · would settle it: Record of the sale/disposal method and the proceeds deposited to the truck fund
Motion by Bailey seconded by Henke to approve the estimate from L&M Construction to replace ten windows in the Depot Building at a cost of $21,368.00.
Park and Rec Committee met April 2 and recommended replacing the Depot building windows.
At the meetingCouncil approved the L&M Construction estimate, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe written L&M Construction estimate is not in our archive and no competing bid for the Depot Building windows appears in the 43-row bid record. L&M's $21,368 was the only price before the council.
A $21,368 single-quote award would need council approval plus two quotes under Administrative Policy No. 34, which the city did not present until August 20 2024, four months after this vote.
KENYON_BIDS.md
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to schedule a special city council meeting on Tuesday, April 23 at 5:00 pm. motion carried 3-0-0.
Added to the agenda as new business item N at the start of the meeting.
At the meetingCouncil set the special meeting for Tuesday, April 23 at 5:00 pm.
What happened nextThe special meeting was held on April 23 2024 and produced a substantive warning. Chief Ehrich reported that two townships said they may move their township sections served by Kenyon to neighboring departments, that the townships want to see the budget before December and want more say in how the money is spent, and he presented the department's truck needs and a plan to pay for a tanker. The township budget presentation practice took hold, with Ehrich presenting the 2026 fire budget to township board members on December 2 2025.
5-14-24 Agenda; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet · taken up again 2024-04-23
OLD BUSINESS Update on Payroll Services Finance Director, Whitney Kyllo updated the council on the background on switching over from Paycom to ADP for payroll. The city would go live with ADP on June 10 and the payroll costs would be cut in half.
Old business update on payroll services before the council voted to switch to ADP.
At the meetingCouncil approved changing payroll services to ADP, 3-0-0.
Partly answeredOur archive holds no Paycom or ADP contract, only bid-round pricing. ADP quoted $5,032 a year in March 2023 and $8,250 a year in August 2023, against Paycom at $6,515 plus $2,100 in implementation.
Neither ADP price on file is half of Paycom's, so the claim that payroll costs would be cut in half is not supported by the pricing in our record.
KENYON_BIDS.md
IT Security Update Finance Clerk, Whitney Kyllo explained her research concerning IT issues in the city. Our current provider is not BCA certified for police department security.
Basis for pursuing an IT security update and a quote from On-Site.
We hold no dataWe hold no Bureau of Criminal Apprehension certification requirements and no certification status for the city's former IT provider. Our record shows only what the city did next, replacing managed IT with On-Site Computers at roughly $20,000 to $25,000 a year. The BCA's criminal justice data security standard and the prior vendor's compliance documentation would settle it.
KENYON_IT_SPEND.md · would settle it: BCA certification requirements and the current provider's certification status
Motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to authorize hiring On-Site to come in and give a quote for security update for the city.
IT security research found the city's current provider is not BCA certified for police department security.
At the meetingCouncil approved authorizing On-Site to provide a quote, 3-0-0.
What happened nextOn-Site Computers became the city's managed IT provider and the cost record is substantial. The city pays Microsoft 365 at $201.60 a month, Core Security at $616 a month, backup at about $170 a month and block time at $147 a month, plus $13 to $95 per site for monitoring, running $1,500 to $2,700 a month in spring 2025, roughly $20,000 to $25,000 a year. The computer support object code went from $15,961 actual in 2024 to $26,903 actual in 2025 against an $8,500 budget.
Computer support ran $26,903 in 2025 against an $8,500 budget, more than three times the budgeted line.
KENYON_IT_SPEND.md, packet budget tables
NEW BUSINESS City Administrator Position Update Attorney Riggs stated he had contacted some parties about serving as an interim city administrator. He had not found an interim yet.
Update on filling the vacant city administrator position.
At the meetingNo interim identified as of the meeting.
What happened nextAn interim was found but the council hesitated. Riggs contacted a retired city administrator, then Riggs, Mayor Henke and Council Member Ryan interviewed the candidate and Riggs drew up a contract, with the consensus being that the city needs the position filled but should take time to explore other options. Terms including days and hours were still being reviewed on June 11 2024, and the record shows Interim Administrator Boyles serving by July 2024.
5-14-24 and 6.11.24 Council Packets; 7.9.24 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-06-11
CSAH 12 Partnership Agreement City Engineer Olinger stated that a partnership agreement with the county engineer for the construction of County Road 12 should be ready for the May council meeting. The agreement was drafted, sent to the city attorney, and is now in the county for approval.
Construction of County Road 12 requires a city-county partnership agreement.
At the meetingOlinger reported the agreement is drafted and awaiting county approval.
What happened nextNo agreement was reached. On June 11 2024 Olinger reported that the partnership agreement defining county and city responsibilities was still being worked on, that the project is not a county priority at this time, and the council took no further action. A draft dated May 9 2024 exists in the record but nothing signed.
The May report said the agreement should be ready for the May council meeting, but by June the county had not made it a priority and no agreement existed.
6.11.24 Council Packet · taken up again 2024-06-11
Public Works, KMU, and Engineering staff have met to review the infrastructure. A formal recommendation list of street/utility segments will be compiled for Council consideration.
Review of the street and utility improvement project programmed for 2025.
What happened nextThe list was compiled and narrowed within two months. By June 11 2024 Olinger had reviewed the preliminary list with staff and the city's financial advisor and named the segments: reconstruction of Langford Avenue and 8th Street, with 5th Street behind the school as an alternate. That scope carried through to the contract awarded to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 in July 2025.
6.11.24 Council Packet; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-06-11
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS ENGINEERING 2025 Street & Utility Project 6th Street LRIP Grant Engineer Olinger stated that the City of Kenyon was not awarded the LRIP Grant for the 6th Street reconstruction project. This project will be moved back to the 2028 project. We may apply again during the next solicitation.
Engineering update on the 6th Street LRIP grant application outcome.
At the meetingCouncil was told the grant was denied and the project deferred to 2028.
What happened nextThe city reapplied. On December 9 2025 the council adopted Resolution 2025-26 authorizing pursuit of 2025 Local Road Improvement Program funding for the 6th Street reconstruction, 5-0-0, with Lehner noting the 2023 application scored well despite being denied and that the project's financial feasibility is highly dependent on outside funding. The project remains programmed for 2028 in the infrastructure management plan.
12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet · taken up again 2025-12-09
A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
Agenda item XII.A on the regular meeting agenda listing.
Partly answeredThe March 2024 posted list is not in our holdings, but the meetings that followed are documented: KMU on Tuesday May 21 2024 at 4:00 pm and city council on Tuesday June 11 2024 at 7:00 pm, then council on Tuesday September 9 2024 at 7:00 pm. The schedule at that time carried KMU and council only, without the EDA line that appears in 2026 packets. The posted schedule from the March meeting would settle it.
5-14-24 AGENDA / 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda
The impact of the increases to the overall budget are: Option 1 $64,744.51 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 2 $64,381.74 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 3 $153, 036.09 (1/1/25 implementation) I have met with the department heads to review the salary study prior to the Council meeting.
Reported as completed prep work ahead of the compensation discussion.
At the meetingReported as already done.
We hold no dataWe hold no department head feedback from the pre-meeting review of the salary study. The comparable record two years later shows how such reviews are handled: in early 2026 Lehner had completed department head performance reviews but was holding distribution pending a council decision on step increases. Notes from the 2024 department head session would settle it.
3-10-26 Council Packet Updated · would settle it: Any department head feedback recorded from that review
Earl Merchlewitz – Emergency Management Director
Presentation item VI.B on the regular meeting agenda.
What happened nextMerchlewitz was asking for garage space. The Goodhue County Emergency Management Director requested that the county mobile command center vehicle be stored at the Kenyon Fire Hall, which had bay and office space free, at no cost to the city or the fire department. The council approved the Goodhue County memorandum of understanding 5-0-0 on June 11 2024.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-06-11
KW School's Habitat for Humanity House – Superintendent Beth Giese
Presentation item VI.A on the regular meeting agenda.
What happened nextThe school partnership became a funded Habitat house. Superintendent Giese presented on April 9 2024, and by September 8 2026 Kenyon had a 75,000 dollar Minnesota Housing Tier II grant aligned with Goodhue County Habitat for Humanity, with the home planned for the 2027 to 2028 school year built by Kenyon-Wanamingo construction classes under Doug Thompson. The city serves as fiscal agent, submitting receipts and disbursing reimbursements, and the funds must be spent by 2031.
9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2026-09-08
Trail Committee Summary
Agenda item VII.A on the regular meeting agenda.
We hold no dataWe hold no written Trail Committee summary. The passages cited for this item are unrelated summary reports on construction engineering and treasurer's reports. Park Board minutes or the committee's own report would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: The Trail Committee's written summary
CSAH 12 Project update.
Agenda item VII.B on the regular meeting agenda.
What happened nextCSAH 12 moved from an update to a contract. A CSAH 12 partnership agreement appears on the April 9 2024 agenda and again on May 14 2024 as a partnership agreement for planning and design, bundled with the 2025 street and utility project items including Resolution 2024-12 ordering preparation of the report on improvement. Our records hold the agenda entries but not the executed agreement.
4.9.24 and 5-14-24 agendas · taken up again 2024-05-14
Draft Tobacco Ordinance – Chief Jeff Sjoblom
Agenda item VIII.B on the regular meeting agenda listing.
What happened nextThe tobacco ordinance passed on May 14 2024. Attorney Riggs presented it as amending section 1105 of the city code to bring Kenyon current with state law, and Ordinance 103 carried 3-0-0 on a motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson. Resolution 2024-10 authorizing publication by title and summary passed on the same vote.
5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-05-14
On-Sale Liquor License Renewal- Kenyon Country Club
New business agenda item XI.A/B.
What happened nextThe license has been renewed continuously. The Kenyon Country Club on-sale renewal recurs as a routine consent item, appearing again on March 11 2025 and March 10 2026, each time paired with the Cahill Bistro and Bar renewal. The 2024 vote itself is not in our extract.
3-11-25 council packet / 3-10-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-03-10
Lot Combination – Kevin Maring
Agenda item VIII.B/C under Legal.
What happened nextThe Maring lot combination returned as Resolution 2024-07 approving lot combination, listed under Legal on the April 9 2024 agenda alongside the Taco Express agreement with Luis Tellez. Our records carry the agenda listing but not the recorded vote or the legal descriptions.
4.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-04-09
X.A Muni Roof Replacement ... A. Muni Roof Quotes
Agenda items X.A 'Muni Roof Replacement' and 'Muni Roof Quotes' are listed for the regular meeting.
Answered from our recordsThe Muni roof went to Chandler Roofing at 40,640 dollars. The competing figure in the record is L and M at 53,000 dollars from 2022, so Chandler came in 12,360 dollars lower, and a third quote was attached. The award followed the staff recommendation.
KENYON_BIDS.md
Administrative Assistant/Police (Eliminated) ... Pool Manager (Eliminated-insufficient responses and seasonal)
Two of the 14 listed benchmark positions carry an 'eliminated' notation.
Partly answeredNeither eliminated position gets a documented pay scale placement in our records. The Pool Manager job continued to be filled by committee recommendation rather than by scale, with Chrissy Alexander recommended as manager and Vanessa Bartel as assistant manager on February 11 2025, and pool wages before that were set with the manager directly in February 2024. The adopted classification plan divides the organization into nineteen grades across six departments, but where these two jobs land in it is not recorded.
2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda / 8-29-24 work session
Given the low participation rate, the survey was also supplemented with published sources available to BCC and the City of Kenyon. Published sources were aged by a factor of 3% to bring all data to the effective date when applicable.
Methodology note on how supplemental published data was adjusted.
We hold no dataWe hold no aging calculation methodology from the consultant. The passages cited here concern surveying certifications and pay application retainage factors, not wage data aging. The consultant's methodology appendix would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: The consultant's aging calculation methodology
Average # of Organizational Employees: 61 ... Range of Population Size: 1,000 – 4,000
General summary data describing the comparison group.
Partly answeredKenyon sits in the lower half of the stated comparison band. Its population is 1,811 on the 2019 to 2023 American Community Survey, against a survey range of 1,000 to 4,000, and the city has 732 households. We hold no participant by participant employee or population counts, so whether the 61 employee average describes cities like Kenyon cannot be checked.
dashboard/data/census.json
Average Anticipated Pay Increase: 3.9% Page 10 Bjorklund Compensation Consulting LLC 15 Page 11 Bjorklund Compensation Consulting LLC 16 Page 12 Bjorklund Compensation Consulting LLC 17 CITY OF KENYON Survey Analysis of Market Pay Lines Graph I $60.00 $50.00 $40.00 Hourly Rate $30.00 $20.00 $10.00 $0.00 0 200 400 600 800 1000 1200 1400 1600 1800 2000 Job Evaluation Points Kenyon Avg. Pay Rate Market Median Average Pay Rate Market Median Minimum Pay Line Market Median Maximum Pay Line Page 13 Bjorklund Compensation
General summary data in the salary survey report.
We hold no dataWe hold no survey responses reporting planned pay increases and cannot test the 3.9 percent average. The passages cited for this item concern land surveying, not the salary survey. The consultant's response tabulation would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: Survey responses reporting planned increases
Administrative Assistant/Deputy Clerk Page 8 Bjorklund Compensation Consulting LLC 13 LIST OF PARTICIPATING ORGANIZATIONS Data are provided from 12 organizations that completed and participated in the salary survey out of the 36 identified organizations for a participation rate of 33%.
The survey report explains why published sources had to supplement the responses.
Partly answeredThe arithmetic holds, 12 of 36 is 33.3 percent, so two thirds of the comparison group never responded and published sources had to fill the gap. We hold no list of which organizations returned questionnaires, so the comparability of the responding third cannot be tested. The consultant's participant roster would settle it.
3.12.24 Council Work Session Packet Agenda
The impact of the increases to the overall budget are: Option 1 $64,744.51 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 2 $64,381.74 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 3 $153, 036.09 (1/1/25 implementation) I have met with the department heads to review the salary study prior to the Council meeting.
Budget impact figures given for each of the three pay scale options.
We hold no dataWe hold no payroll worksheet behind the 153,036.09 dollar figure. Option 3 costs 2.36 times Option 1 and 2.38 times Option 2, and its January 1 2025 start date pushed the whole burden into the 2025 budget year rather than splitting it across two. The costing spreadsheet would settle how it was built.
no holding · would settle it: The underlying payroll calculation worksheet
The impact of the increases to the overall budget are: Option 1 $64,744.51 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 2 $64,381.74 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 3 $153, 036.09 (1/1/25 implementation) I have met with the department heads to review the salary study prior to the Council meeting.
Budget impact figures given for each of the three pay scale options.
We hold no dataWe hold no payroll worksheet behind the 64,381.74 dollar figure. Option 2 is the cheapest of the three by 362.77 dollars over Option 1 and by 88,654.35 dollars over Option 3, and it was the one option the personnel committee did not recommend. The costing spreadsheet would settle how it was built.
no holding · would settle it: The underlying payroll calculation worksheet
The impact of the increases to the overall budget are: Option 1 $64,744.51 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 2 $64,381.74 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 3 $153, 036.09 (1/1/25 implementation) I have met with the department heads to review the salary study prior to the Council meeting.
Budget impact figures given for each of the three pay scale options.
We hold no dataWe hold no payroll worksheet behind the 64,744.51 dollar figure. What the three options show on their own numbers is that Option 1 and Option 2 differ by only 362.77 dollars, so the choice between them was not a cost decision. The consultant's costing spreadsheet would settle how the figure was built.
no holding · would settle it: The underlying payroll calculation worksheet
The impact of the increases to the overall budget are: Option 1 $64,744.51 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 2 $64,381.74 (7/1/24 implementation) Option 3 $153, 036.09 (1/1/25 implementation) I have met with the department heads to review the salary study prior to the Council meeting. KMU will discuss their part of the salary study separately at their regular meeting in March.
The utility's share of the compensation study was carved out from the Council work session.
We hold no dataWe hold no KMU Commission minutes from March 2024 and no record of its action on the study. The commission meeting referenced in later packets is the March 17 2026 session on the electric rate study, two years later. KMU Commission minutes would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: KMU March meeting minutes and action on the study
KMU will discuss their part of the salary study separately at their regular meeting in March. Also attached is the Salary Survey Report. The executive summary report will be posted on Monday.
The packet included the full salary survey report but not the executive summary.
We hold no dataWe hold no executive summary of the salary survey. Nothing in any later packet records it being posted. The posted summary or the packet attachment list from the following meeting would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: The posted executive summary report
III.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: March 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: New Business AGENDA SECTION: Business to be discussed and Possible Action SUBJECT: Review of Compensation Study- Robert Bjorkland-Bjorkland Compensation Consulting SUGGESTED ACTION: Robert Bjorkland will review the salary study and the pay scale recommendations via Zoom at the Council meeting.
Agenda item III.A of the special session work session.
We hold no dataWe hold no record of Robert Bjorklund's presentation to the council or of the questions asked. The later passages cited here are budget work sessions from August 2024 and September 2025, none of them the compensation review. Minutes of the March 12 2024 work session would settle it.
no holding · would settle it: Record of the consultant's presentation and council questions
Options 1 and 3 were recommended by the Personnel Committe to the Council for consideration. If option 3 is selected by the Council cost of living and longevity should also be applied.
Conditional instruction attached to the Option 3 implementation date of January 1, 2025.
Partly answeredCost of living increases have been applied but no longevity schedule appears in our records. The 2026 budget was built on a 3 percent cost of living increase for full-time employees with health insurance up 5 percent, and the 2027 budget assumptions repeat 3 percent cost of living, 5 percent health insurance and 5 percent workers compensation and property insurance. Whether the longevity schedule tied to Option 3 was ever adopted is not documented.
9-9-25 Council Packet / 6.9.26 Council Packet Agenda
Option 3 would be implemented January 1, 2025. Options 1 and 3 were recommended by the Personnel Committe to the Council for consideration.
Three pay scale options were presented, with two recommended by the Personnel Committee.
Partly answeredOur records never say which option the council chose. They do show a compensation plan in force by mid 2025, when the personnel committee recommended moving the city administrator to grade 18 step 10 and described that as consistent with using the 2025 employee compensation plan, retroactive to June 14 2025. The adopting resolution or minutes would settle which of Options 1 and 3 became that plan.
7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda
III.B Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: March 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Miscellaneous AGENDA SECTION: Business to be discussed and Possible Action SUBJECT: Further discussion of Compensation Study SUGGESTED ACTION: Consideration of adoption of Salary Study. MOTION NEEDED ATTACHMENTS: 34
Work session item III.B lists consideration of adoption of the salary study with a motion needed.
What happened nextThe council did not adopt the study in March 2024. On July 9 2024 it instead made a detailed review of the pay study one of four priorities assigned to the interim administrator, ranked behind hiring a recruiter and executing an employment agreement for a new city administrator. The instruction was to determine what portions of the study were usable rather than to adopt an option.
7.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-07-09
Demolition **Existing roof system consists of the following: PVC roof membrane, 1" EPS Insulation, EPDM roof membrane, wood fiberboard insulation and wood decking. Building code does not allow more than two roof systems. 1.
Scope of work justification for tearing off one roof layer at the municipal liquor store.
Partly answeredThe scope of work describes the layers as claimed, PVC membrane over 1 inch EPS insulation over EPDM membrane over wood fiberboard and wood decking, and proposes removing the PVC and EPS down to the EPDM, which stays, with wet roofing under it replaced on a time and material basis. The same document states the Minnesota State Energy Code requires R-30 or greater when insulating above the roof deck but that the building has an attic so no rooftop insulation is required, while also noting the new single half-inch wood fiberboard layer at R-1.35 will not meet or exceed the energy code. We hold no code citation and no core sample report, so the two-roof-system limit cannot be verified.
Chandler's proposal says no additional rooftop insulation is required because the building has an attic, then states the new insulation system will not meet or exceed the Minnesota State Energy Code.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda, Chandler Roofing scope of work
VI.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: March 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Administration ITEM TYPE: Miscellaneous AGENDA SECTION: PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS SUBJECT: KW School's Habitat for Humanity House – Superintendent Beth Giese SUGGESTED ACTION: Superintendent Beth Giese will provide an update on a Habitat for Humanity house project that the High Scholl will be constructing.
Upcoming presentation scheduled for the next council meeting.
Partly answeredThe presentation moved to the April 9 2024 agenda, where Superintendent Giese was scheduled alongside Emergency Management Director Earl Merchlewitz, and the house was to be built in the Countryside Meadows development south of the high school. No project plan, lot number or completion record appears in our record. Kenyon-Wanamingo school district 2172 holds five parcels in the city worth $28,516,400 and pays no city tax, and the district is now led by Superintendent Patrick Heiderscheit.
4.9.24 Council Packet Agenda; dashboard/data/entities.json; data/kw_school_staff.csv · taken up again 2024-04-09
He stated that other cities are looking at running the cannabis business in the city, maybe this is something we could look into then we would have control and be making the money.
Mayor's general comment suggesting the city explore a municipal cannabis operation.
At the meetingNo direction given or motion made.
Partly answeredNo staff report, feasibility study or council direction on a Kenyon municipal cannabis store appears in our record. The material the mayor would have needed did circulate: the December 2024 and January 2025 packets both carry the state guidance on municipal cannabis stores under section 342.32, including the requirement that the Office of Cannabis Management issue a license to a qualifying city. Nothing indicates the council ever took it up.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 1-14-25 council packet
He stated that other cities are looking at running the cannabis business in the city, maybe this is something we could look into then we would have control and be making the money.
General council comments about municipal cannabis operations.
At the meetingNo action taken.
Partly answeredThe legal authority is confirmed in the city's own packet materials, though the list of cities is not. Under Minnesota Statutes section 342.32 a local government may apply for a cannabis retail license to establish a municipal cannabis store, and the Office of Cannabis Management must issue the license if the city submits the application information, meets minimum licensure requirements and pays the fees. A municipal store is not counted in the state's total of retail licenses. The same materials state that local governments may not ban cannabis businesses outright or limit operations beyond what state law provides. No inventory of Minnesota cities actually operating municipal stores is in our record.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 1-14-25 council packet
Review 2024 Pool Rates Administrator Vahlsing stated that he and Pool Manager Brandi Kyllo looked at the pool rates and recommended increases for the upcoming season. Motion by Helgeson seconded by Henke to approve the 2024 pool rates as stated.
Council approved recommended pool rate increases for the upcoming season.
At the meetingRates approved but amounts not recorded.
We hold no dataThe 2024 pool rate schedule is not in our archive, and no pool rates for any year appear in our data.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md · would settle it: The 2024 pool rate schedule document
Motion by Helgeson, seconded by Sjolander to approve a spring clean-up day for Saturday, April 27 from 9 am to noon at the pool parking lot for city residents for a fee.
Council approved the clean-up day "for a fee" without stating the amount.
We hold no dataNo fee amount for any Kenyon spring clean-up day appears in our record. The same for a fee phrasing recurs without a figure across years, and the only fee schedule references we hold are for cannabis event permits. The city's adopted fee schedule would settle it.
would settle it: The adopted clean-up day fee schedule
Schedule Spring Clean-Up Day April 13 or 27 Administrator Vahlsing stated that the Park Board requested that the Council check out holding a Spring Clean-up Day in April.
Scheduling of the annual spring clean-up event.
At the meetingCouncil approved Saturday, April 27 from 9 am to noon at the pool parking lot for city residents for a fee.
What happened nextThe council approved the clean-up day 3-0-0 on a Helgeson motion seconded by Sjolander, choosing Saturday April 27 2024 over April 13, from 9 a.m. to noon at the pool parking lot, open to city residents for a fee. Council Member Kim Helgeson volunteered to work the event. The fee schedule and the rest of the logistics are not in our record.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-03-12
Schedule Spring Clean-Up Day April 13 or 27 Administrator Vahlsing stated that the Park Board requested that the Council check out holding a Spring Clean-up Day in April. Flom Disposal indicated that they would participate in the clean-up day again this year.
Planning the April spring clean-up day.
At the meetingCouncil set clean-up day for Saturday, April 27, 9 a.m. to noon at the pool parking lot.
What happened nextFlom Disposal stayed the city's hauler throughout and still is. Its solid waste hauling agreement expired June 30 2026 and Attorney Riggs developed a replacement, with the council approving a new three-year agreement containing increased rates 4-0-0 on August 6 2026. Written confirmation of Flom's participation in the 2024 clean-up day specifically is not in our record.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated, Flom Contract Approval · taken up again 2026-08-06
Review Quotes for replacement of Council Room Sound System Administrator Vahlsing stated that two quotes were obtained to replace the sound system in the council room. Sim Sound at $17,026.29 and EPA Audio Visual at $23,246.00.
Replacement of the council chambers sound system.
At the meetingCouncil accepted the Sim Sound quote.
Answered from our recordsBoth figures match our record exactly. Sim Sound quoted $17,026.29 and EPA Audio Visual $23,246, and Sim Sound took the award at $17,026.29 on two quotes.
KENYON_BIDS.md
ENGINEERING 2024 Asphalt Rejuvenator Project Engineer Olinger stated that one quote from Corrective Asphalt Materials was received for the 2024 asphalt rejuvenator project. The quote was lower than the engineer's estimate.
Award of the 2024 street rejuvenator project.
At the meetingCouncil approved the quote 3-0-0.
Partly answeredThe quote is confirmed: Corrective Asphalt Materials at $16,188.30 for the 2024 asphalt rejuvenator project, approved 3-0-0 on a Henke motion seconded by Helgeson, and it is one of the few purchases in the city's 43-entry bid record made on a single quote. The engineer's written estimate is not in our record, so the claim that it came in below estimate cannot be checked. The following year's comparable project drew four quotes, with the low from Pearson Bros approximately $20,000 below the engineer's estimate.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda; 4-8-25 council packet; KENYON_BIDS.md
Action Plumbing and Heating quoted $11,485 for the heating and air conditioning and Luikens quoted $6,995 for the mini split. The 2023 budget included $10,000 for the mini-slit and the 2024 budget included $10,000 for the HVAC.
Funding justification for the liquor store furnace and mini split replacement quotes.
At the meetingCouncil approved Action Plumbing and Heating at $11,485 and Luikens at $6,995.
Partly answeredThe awards are confirmed at $11,485 to Action Plumbing and Heating for the heating and air conditioning and $6,995 to Luikens for the mini split, $18,480 together, each carried 3-0-0. Against the stated $10,000 in the 2023 budget and $10,000 in the 2024 budget, the pair came in $1,520 under the combined $20,000, but the HVAC piece alone overran its line by $1,485 while the mini split came in $3,005 under. The 2023 and 2024 budget line items themselves are not in our record.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md, 2024-03-12 entry · taken up again 2024-03-12
The quotes varied in price by approximately $2,500. The mower purchase is on a three-year rotation schedule and was included in the 2024 budget.
Justification for the mower replacement.
Partly answeredThe purchases do not fall on a three-year cycle. Our bid record shows mowers bought in March 2021 from Kenyon Ace Hardware on three quotes, in April 2022 from Traxler on three quotes to replace a 2018 Cub Cadet, and in March 2024 from Traxler again, which is a one-year gap followed by a two-year gap. No 2024 budget line for the mower and no written equipment rotation schedule appears in our record.
The council was told the mower runs on a three-year rotation, but our bid record shows mower purchases in 2021, 2022 and 2024.
KENYON_BIDS.md mower entries
Motion by Henke seconded by Helgeson to approve the purchase of the quoted Toro lawn mower from Traxler Equipment.
Council approved the purchase without a price recorded in the minutes.
At the meetingOnly that the mower was in the 2024 budget on a three-year rotation.
Answered from our recordsThe Toro mower came in at a net $2,459 from Traxler Power and Equipment, against a competing net quote of $4,500. The city has kept a running account with Traxler since, including $1,534.70 for Peterbilt truck work in March 2025 and $381.98 for a headlamp assembly in June 2025.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2024-03-12 mower entry; 3-11-25 and 6-10-25 Council Packets
Purchase Lawn Mower – Wayne Ehrich – Public Works Superintendent Director Ehrich stated that two quotes were received to replace the 72" Cub Cadet mower. The quotes varied in price by approximately $2,500.
Lawn mower replacement purchase under new business.
At the meetingCouncil approved the Toro mower from Traxler Equipment.
Partly answeredOur bid record carries two mower quotes with net prices of $2,459 from Traxler and $4,500 from an unnamed second vendor, a spread of $2,041. Traxler Power took the award at $2,459, and at that price the buy sits below the $4,999 staff limit the city set six months later.
The spread in our record is $2,041, not the approximately $2,500 Ehrich reported to the council.
KENYON_BIDS.md
CEDA and Bolton & Menk are currently preparing surveys, maps and other informational materials for use over the next year.
Public engagement plan for the proposed citywide trail network.
We hold no dataNo completed trail surveys, maps or informational materials from CEDA and Bolton and Menk appear in our record, and no results from any public engagement on the trail. The committee's intended channels were pop-up event stands, surveys and other activities over spring and summer 2024. The survey instrument and its tabulated responses would settle it.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda, Trail Committee Summary · would settle it: The completed surveys and maps
At this point there are many ideas amongst the group regarding potential trail locations and connection points or type(s) of trails desired. These decisions will not me made for some time.
The committee's inaugural meeting was February 27 and it will first gather community feedback.
Partly answeredThe Trail Committee held its first meeting February 27 2024 and set its next for April 9 at 5 p.m., but the record confirms only that no decisions on locations, connection points or trail types were expected for some time. The committee planned to spend spring and summer 2024 posting content and gathering community feedback through pop-up event stands, surveys and other activities before turning to those details. No survey findings or committee results appear anywhere in our record.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda, Trail Committee Summary
Resolution 2024-07: Approving Lot Combination (Maring) SUGGESTED ACTION: Kevn Maring is seeking Council approval of Resolution 2024-07 to combine two lots 201 and 203 Bergen Street.
Minor subdivision lot combination under Kenyon City Code Section 565.17.
Partly answeredResolution 2024-07 approving the Maring lot combination at 201 and 203 Bergen Street carried from the March 12 2024 legal agenda to the April 9 2024 legal agenda, but no adoption vote appears in our record. A survey and the resolution were attached to the packet. The adopted resolution and any easement dedications would settle it.
4.9.24 Council Packet Agenda; 3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-04-09
The City will also request a schedule of when they will be operating the food truck on the City property this year.
Condition attached to the Taco Express lease renewal.
What happened nextNo written operating schedule from Taco Express appears in our record, and the arrangement ended instead. In early 2025 Administrator Lehner recommended discontinuing the lease, citing the perception of renting city space to a food vendor for a minimal fee when other food businesses in town own their lots and pay taxes, and the liquor store's plan to improve a patio area involving the Taco Express location, and the council followed that recommendation on a Helgeson motion seconded by Sjolander. The council softened it on April 8 2025, authorizing a limited 2025 agreement after the owners appeared and said they learned of the non-renewal from a newspaper article.
4-8-25 council packet; 3-11-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-04-08
VIII.A Agenda Item Summary CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM REPORT DATE: March 12, 2024 SUBMITTED BY: Holli Gudknecht, Legal ITEM TYPE: Legal AGENDA SECTION: LEGAL SUBJECT: 2024 Agreement with Luis Tellez – Taco Express SUGGESTED ACTION: Mr. Tellez is again seeking Council approval to lease City owned land east of the Muni to operate a food trailer.
Annual food trailer lease renewal on city property.
Partly answeredThe proposed 2024 rent was $450 and the item required a council motion, but no adopted 2024 lease with Luis Tellez appears in our record. The city's other land leases in the same period were three-year agricultural renewals approved 5-0-0 in February 2025, 10.5 acres along Highway 60 east of the waste treatment plant to Scott Wickum and 2.25 acres east of the wastewater overflow lagoon to Richard Nystuen. The signed 2024 food trailer lease would settle it.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda; 2.11.25 Council Packet Agenda
On a related note, we also plan to discuss the initial steps for the 2025 reconstruction projects during the April meeting.
Planning ahead for the 2025 infrastructure reconstruction program.
What happened nextThe 2025 reconstruction program went forward and the feasibility and assessment steps were completed, ending in the award of the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 on July 8 2025 after a first round of bids was rejected. The next priority did not get the same treatment: 6th Street reconstruction, described in December 2025 as a high priority for several years, sits in the infrastructure management plan as a 2028 project whose financial feasibility is highly dependent on outside funding, and the city was applying to the state Local Road Improvement Program for it.
11-12-25 Council Packet; 12.9.25 Council Agenda and Packet Updated; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-12-09
The agreement will define roles and responsibilities as well as cost shares. We currently plan to have an agreement ready for review and consideration by the April meeting.
Ongoing negotiation of a city-county cost share agreement for the County Road 12 reconstruction.
What happened nextThe agreement slipped one month, from April to May 2024. Engineer Olinger reported it had been drafted, sent to the city attorney and forwarded to the county for approval, and the May 14 2024 packet carries the partnership agreement as an attachment defining county and city responsibilities, the design process and anticipated cost shares, with the caveat that it remained an ongoing conversation. The executed agreement and the actual cost share percentages are not in our record.
5-14-24 AGENDA, CSAH 12 Partnership Agreement; 3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-05-14
Alternate 1: Price can be configured once we know how much insulation is needed. This can be done with access to the current celling insulation for measurement.
Alternate roofing bid depends on verifying whether the building is insulated at the ceiling.
What happened nextThe insulation was never measured because Schwickert's lost the job. Its Alternate 1 was left unpriced pending access to the ceiling insulation, with a potential $4,000 saving if one layer of 2.6 ISO could be dropped, and its Alternate 2 came to $64,920 after a $1,400 saving on gutter and downspout work. Chandler Roofing won the roof at $40,640, which is $24,280 below Schwickert's best stated price.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda, Schwickert's proposal; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-03-12
Proposed Price: E01 Base Bid 60 Mil TPO RhinoBond System, One Roof Removal - The net sum payable for the project as described in the above referenced scope of work and specifications is: $40,640.00 Forty-One Thousand Six Hundred Forty and NO/100 dollars. **Please also note that these prices are based on current pricing.
Discrepancy between the numeric and written amounts in the roof replacement proposal.
Answered from our recordsThe numeric figure is the one that governed. Both the staff recommendation and our bid record carry Chandler Roofing at $40,640, so the written words Forty-One Thousand Six Hundred Forty are a typographical error overstating the price by exactly $1,000. Nothing in the record suggests the city was ever billed the higher figure, though a corrected signed proposal is not in our holdings.
Chandler Roofing's proposal writes out $1,000 more than the numeric price it quotes for the same scope of work.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda, Bid No. 508; KENYON_BIDS.md
Staff is continuing to gather quotes. We are working toward proceeding with Council approval at the January meeting.
Old business agenda item on the municipal liquor store roof, to be financed through KMU.
What happened nextChandler Roofing took the muni roof at $40,640, chosen over an L&M quote of $53,000 from 2022 and a third attached quote, and the cost was to be financed through KMU. The flooring went separately to Hamernick's at $7,480.86 against Picture Perfect at $11,745 and Hiller at $25,364.60. Three roof quotes were attached to the packet: Chandler, Schwickert's and WHV.
KENYON_BIDS.md 2024-03-12 and 2024-02-13 entries; 3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-03-12
Parks Board Discussion – Depot Park City Engineer Olinger stated that the park board is working on prioritizing the improvements to Depot Park. Once that is completed, a funding plan will be created.
Depot Park plan discussion under Engineering.
At the meetingUpdate only; no priority list or funding plan presented.
Partly answeredNo prioritized improvement list and no funding plan for Depot Park appears in our record. What is documented is money moving in: the council approved transferring $4,594.59 of remaining Park and Rec 5K Run funds and $2,750.41 of remaining Carriage and Cutter funds into the Depot Park Fund, both 3-0-0 and both as of January 31 2024, totalling exactly $7,345.00. Depot Park shelters were separately funded by a $10,000 SMIF grant. The Park Board's priority list would settle what the money is meant to buy.
3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda; KENYON_DEPOT_PARK.md · taken up again 2024-03-12
LEGAL OLD BUSINESS Discuss Status of Payroll Processing Service Finance director Kyllo provided an update on the payroll processing with Paycom. There continue to be issues with their service. Other payroll options are being explored.
Old business update on the city's payroll processing vendor.
At the meetingUpdate only; no decision made.
Partly answeredOur archive holds no 2024 payroll vendor comparison. The last competitive payroll pricing on file is the August 2023 round, Paychex at $6,540 plus $1,650, Paycom at $6,515 plus $2,100, ADP at $8,250 and Paylocity at $5,758 plus $1,000.
KENYON_BIDS.md
Update Personnel Policy - Grievance Policy Administrator Vahlsing recommended adopting a new grievance policy. The policy will be reviewed by the personnel committee, then presented at a council work session.
Vahlsing recommended adopting a new grievance policy as a personnel policy update.
At the meetingNo vote taken; referred to committee.
Partly answeredNo adopted grievance policy and no work session on it appears in our record. Personnel policy work was still unfinished two and a half years later: on August 6 2026 Administrator Lehner reported he and Abby had been updating the personnel policy, that it was close to done, and that department heads would review it before it went to the personnel committee. The adopted policy document would settle whether a grievance procedure was ever put in place.
8-6-26 Council Packet Updated, Personnel Policy Update · taken up again 2026-08-06
CITIZEN COMMENT ADOPT AGENDA Addition: / X / Old Business / B / Request to amend Zoning Ordinance to allow apartments on the rear ½ of the first floor of buildings in the C-1 district. –Zoning Ordinance Section 515.15 Subd. 3 Motion by Helgeson second by Sjolander to approve the amended agenda.
Item had been tabled the prior month and was added to the agenda as Old Business X.B.
At the meetingCouncil directed the attorney to draft the ordinance; Vahlsing suggested requiring a conditional use permit with a public hearing per case.
What happened nextStephanie Brezina's request was refused on May 14 2024. The ordinance was drafted to allow apartments on the rear half of the first floor in the C-1 district as a conditional use, which would have meant a case-by-case permit with a public hearing for each application as Administrator Vahlsing suggested, but the Planning Commission recommended against it and the council accepted that recommendation 3-0-0. No amended text of Zoning Ordinance Section 515.15 Subd. 3 a) was ever adopted.
5-14-24 AGENDA; 3.12.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-05-14
Vahlsing stated the ordinance could be revised to require a conditional use permit which would be issued on a case-by-case basis with a public hearing being held for each case. 7 Motion by Sjolander, seconded by Helgeson to instruct the city attorney to draft a zoning ordinance to allow apartments in the rear half of first floor buildings. Motion carried 3-0-0.
Stephanie Brezina asked to amend Zoning Ordinance Section 515.15 Subd. 3 for a building she owns.
At the meetingMotion carried 3-0-0; attorney directed to draft the ordinance.
What happened nextThe attorney drafted the ordinance as a conditional use, and the council then refused to adopt it. On May 14 2024 Attorney Riggs reported the Planning Commission had recommended against adoption, Kenyon property owner Robert Peterson outlined the drawbacks and Council Member Bailey agreed with him. The motion by Bailey seconded by Helgeson to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation not to adopt carried 3-0-0.
5-14-24 AGENDA; 4.9.24 Council Packet Agenda · taken up again 2024-05-14
Fire Department 2024 Freightliner Chassis Quotes Attorney Sathe pulled this item from the agenda due to not following the public bidding rule. Mayor Henke tabled this item.
Attorney Sathe pulled the fire chassis purchase item from the agenda over bidding compliance and the Mayor tabled it.
At the meetingNo action taken; item tabled.
Partly answeredOur record contains no written city purchasing policy before August 20 2024, so the rule Attorney Sathe invoked in February 2024 was Minnesota Statute 471.345. Administrative Policy No. 34 was presented six months later, and no re-advertised chassis bid appears in our record.
council/txt/8-20-24_AGENDA.txt
The commissioners have a goal session tomorrow night if we want anything added. An ordinance was passed for a transfer station in Goodhue County. This is open to anyone who wants to apply.
Citizen comment county update.
At the meetingReported as information only.
We hold no dataWe hold no Goodhue County ordinances, so the transfer station ordinance and its application process cannot be confirmed or described. The adopted county ordinance text and the county's application materials would settle it.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: The adopted Goodhue County transfer station ordinance and application process
Update Administrative Policy 23 – Fund Balance Policy Finance Director Kyllo stated that Policy #23 Fund Balance was vague and incomplete. She proposed an updated policy that was approved by our auditors.
Update of the fund balance policy.
At the meetingUpdated Policy #23 approved 5-0-0.
We hold no dataThe auditors' written review of the revised fund balance policy is not in our archive. Our audit material for this period covers fees and findings only, including the December 2024 award of auditing services to BerganKDV at $27,540.
KENYON_BIDS.md · would settle it: The auditor's written review of the revised fund balance policy
OLD BUSINESS Muni Roof and Flooring Replacement Quotes Administrator Vahlsing stated that two quotes were received for commercial flooring in the Muni. He recommended accepting the quote from Hamernick's.
Old business on Muni roof and flooring replacement quotes.
At the meetingCouncil accepted the Hamernick's flooring quote 5-0-0; dollar amount not recorded.
What happened nextThe council accepted Hamernick's 5-0-0 at $7,480.86. Our bid record holds three flooring quotes, not two: Hamernick's at $7,480.86, Picture Perfect at $11,745 and Hiller at $25,364.60, so the winning quote was 36% below the next one and 70% below the highest.
The administrator told the council two flooring quotes were received, while our bid record lists three for the same February 13 2024 decision.
KENYON_BIDS.md; 2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-02-13
ENGINEERING Pearl Creek Sanitary Sewer Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that the electrical subcontractor was able to get some of the electrical service installed along Gates Avenue and Pine Street due to the warmer weather this winter. These costs are included in pay request #3.
Pearl Creek Sanitary Sewer Improvements update supporting BCM Construction pay request No. 3 of $16,078.75.
At the meetingPay request approved 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved pay request No. 3 to BCM Construction for $16,078.75 for work completed through December, carried 5-0-0. The project ran through at least pay application No. 6 of $112,532.25 for work through June 28 2024, and by August 20 2024 electrical work on the lift station was nearly complete with the project expected to finish by mid-August. The pay application detail itself is not in anything we hold.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 8-20-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-08-20
Olinger outlined the infrastructure plan for 2025 that includes parts of CSAH 12, Langford Avenue, and 5th Street and the sanitary sewer lining on Forest, Pine, and Pearl Creek. 8 GIS Approve GIS Summary City Engineer Olinger explained how the GIS mapping works and outlined the advantages of using the services provided by Bolton & Menk versus the County.
GIS summary presentation comparing vendors before approving the Bolton & Menk proposal.
At the meetingPublic Works Director Ehrich recommended switching and the proposal was approved 5-0-0.
Partly answeredNo side-by-side comparison of Bolton and Menk against the county service exists in anything we hold, so the claimed advantages were never costed at the table. What is documented is the price of leaving: the city moved off the county's shared mapping to its own ArcGIS Online through Bolton and Menk in 2024 at $14,500 for conversion plus $1,260 a year in ESRI licensing, with updates billed as general engineering. A follow-on iPad purchase for the new system came on May 14 2024.
KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md; 5-14-24 AGENDA
NEW BUSINESS Resolution 2024-02: A Resolution Authorizing Acceptance of 2023 Donations Motion by Helgeson second by Bailey to approve Resolution 2024-02 authorizing the acceptance of the 2023 donations of $78,672.57.
Resolution 2024-02 authorizing acceptance of 2023 donations.
At the meetingResolution approved 5-0-0.
What happened nextResolution 2024-02 passed 5-0-0 accepting $78,672.57 in 2023 donations, the largest annual figure in our record. Donations fell to $45,488.23 for 2024, accepted by Resolution 2025-02 on February 11 2025, a drop of $33,184.34 or 42.2%. The itemized donation schedule behind either resolution is not in anything we hold.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-02-11
Approve Increase to General Engineering Rates City Engineer Olinger requested a $10 per hour general engineering rate increase for 2024.
Request to approve an increase to general engineering rates.
At the meetingIncrease approved 5-0-0; the resulting hourly rate is not stated.
Partly answeredThe council approved the $10 an hour increase 5-0-0, but neither the old nor the new general engineering rate is recorded anywhere we hold, so the percentage cannot be computed. Bolton and Menk's 2024 rate schedule would settle it. The rate matters beyond routine work, since the city's GIS updates after the 2024 conversion are billed as general engineering rather than a fixed fee.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda; KENYON_DATA_IN_MEETINGS.md
This increase would raise the hourly base rate for general civil and prosecution matters from $188.00 to $196.00 an hour.
Review of Kennedy & Graven's 2024 rates for legal services.
At the meetingRates approved 5-0-0.
What happened nextThe council approved the 2024 rates 5-0-0, moving the base rate from $188.00 to $196.00, a 4.26% rise. Kennedy and Graven then proposed $204.00 for 2025, with litigation and development work at $240.00 and pass-through developer matters at $287.00, and the council moved the item to the consent agenda on February 11 2025. The base rate rose from $174.00 in 2022 to $204.00 in 2025, or 17.2% in three years.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 1-14-25 council packet · taken up again 2025-02-11
Olinger outlined the infrastructure plan for 2025 that includes parts of CSAH 12, Langford Avenue, and 5th Street and the sanitary sewer lining on Forest, Pine, and Pearl Creek. 8 GIS Approve GIS Summary City Engineer Olinger explained how the GIS mapping works and outlined the advantages of using the services provided by Bolton & Menk versus the County.
Infrastructure projects update outlining future work.
At the meetingPresented as information; no action taken.
What happened nextThe plan held and became the 2025 Street and Utility Improvements project. The May 14 2024 scope tables list CSAH 12 Mantorville Road full reconstruction, 2nd Street water and storm sewer replacement, Langford Avenue full reconstruction, sanitary lining on Pine Street, Pearl Creek Main and Forest Street from 3rd to 8th, and 8th Street full reconstruction. All six bids in the first round were rejected on June 10 2025 and the rebid went to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25 on July 8 2025, against an engineer's estimate of $2,764,170.05.
5-14-24 AGENDA; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2025-07-08
LEGAL 2024 Appointments and Designations Library Board – 3 Year Term – Bev Emerson, Cathy Whipple Planning Commission – 2 Year Term – Jerry Barrett, Dennis Wickum, John Cambronne Historic Preservation Commission (HPC) – 3 Year Term – Kevin Anderson Park & Recreation – 3 Year Term – Melissa Bartel, Tedd Pederson, Vacant, Vacant a.
2024 appointments and designations listed Park & Recreation members with two vacancies.
At the meetingAppointments approved 5-0-0 with the vacancies unfilled.
Partly answeredThe board was never brought back to full strength. The 2025 appointments list one Park and Recreation member, Jill Warner, plus one vacancy, and the following year's list shows Bailey Ament plus one vacancy. Two of the four seats named in January 2024 were filled over two years, and the Historic Preservation Commission stayed entirely vacant across both lists.
1-14-25 council packet; 1-13-25 Council Packet Updated
Resolution 2024-01: Establishing License Fees and Compensation Administrator Vahlsing stated that the 2024 fee schedule had a few increases from last year. Motion by Bailey second by Ryan to approve Resolution 2024-01 with change in the fee for depot rent.
Adoption of the 2024 fee schedule, which had a few increases from last year.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0 but the amended depot rent figure is not recorded.
Partly answeredThe amended depot rent figure is missing from everything we hold, though the resolution itself is dated January 10 2024. What the record does show is that the same fee schedule had to be reopened in June 2024 as Resolution 2024-13, because the January increases put the Sunday on-sale liquor fee and the bad check charge against statutory caps of $200 and $30. The council then voted 5-0-0 to leave the bad check charge at $45.00 and change only its wording.
The council was told state statute caps a bad check charge at $30 and then voted to keep the city's charge at $45.00, $15 above the stated cap.
6.11.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-06-11
Brett Reese – Rebound Partners – Update on Kenyon Senior Living Project Brett Reese and Jana Viscomi-Reese of Rebound Partners shared their future vision of the former Sunset Home property. They are looking at having 35-36 new apartments with possible underground parking.
Presentation of the future vision for the Kenyon Senior Living project.
At the meetingPresented as a future vision; no site plan submitted.
What happened nextThe count settled at 36 units, the top of the range floated in January 2024, with a mix of studios, one bedrooms and two bedrooms, NCC Builders as general contractor and rents of $1,000 to $1,400 described as aligning with 60% to 70% of HUD 2024 income limits for Goodhue County. Underground parking does not appear in the 2025 plan. The city later approved $1,855,000 in tax increment assistance over 26 years on May 18 2026, more than double the $800,000 Northland Securities recommended, and Rebound reported seeking $3,000,000 from investors in August 2026.
2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda; KENYON_INCENTIVES.md · taken up again 2025-02-11
They are looking at having 35-36 new apartments with possible underground parking. The older, original Sunset Home building may be demolished due to the high cost of renovating it.
Update on the Kenyon Senior Living project on the former Sunset Home property.
At the meetingPresented as a possibility; no decision made.
What happened nextDemolition was agreed. The February 11 2025 packet records that Kenyon Real Estate LLC, Rebound Real Estate and the City all agreed the Sunset Home building should come down, after a January 13 2025 environmental analysis found asbestos and other hazardous materials with removal estimated at $116,000 and a financial analysis found renovation did not pencil. Demolition was set to begin June 2025 with project completion projected for early fall 2026.
2.11.25 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-02-11
CITIZEN COMMENT Goodhue County Commissioner, Todd Greseth, gave an update on what's happening in the County. The commissioners have a goal session tomorrow night if we want anything added.
Citizen comment update on county business.
At the meetingNo items were recorded as submitted.
We hold no dataNothing we hold records whether Kenyon submitted any item to the Goodhue County commissioners' goal session. Greseth's later updates cover personnel changes, a county commission meeting at Kenyon City Hall on May 1 and the mobile command center, never the city's goal-session items. Goodhue County's goal session agenda or minutes would settle it.
2.13.24 Council Packet and Agenda · would settle it: Confirmation of whether the city submitted any agenda items to the county
Set Council Work Session Date to Review Salary Compensation Study Motion by Ryan seconded by Helgeson to set a council work session for 1:00 pm on Tuesday, January 30 with Bjorklund to review the salary compensation study.
Scheduling review of the salary compensation study.
At the meetingDate set; study not yet reviewed.
What happened nextThe study was reviewed and acted on. By March 12 2024 the administrator had met with department heads on the salary study ahead of the council meeting, the Salary Survey Report was attached to the work session packet with the executive summary to be posted that Monday, and KMU took its own part separately at its March meeting. A Classification and Compensation Plan for Kenyon then reached the council agenda as new business in the fall of 2024.
3.12.24 Council Work Session Packet and Agenda; 9.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2024-03-12
CEDA Contract Services City Administrator Vahlsing stated that the contract with CEDA needs to be renewed. The council members stated that they would like to receive quarterly reports on CEDA's projects and services.
Renewal of the CEDA contracted services agreement for 2024.
At the meetingContract approved 5-0-0 with the reporting expectation stated.
We hold no dataNo quarterly CEDA report appears in anything we hold, in 2024 or after. What the record does show is the contract growing, from one day a week to two days a week at $53,580 for 2025, then $55,053 for the following year, both approved without any reference to the quarterly reporting the council asked for. A delivered CEDA quarterly report in a council packet would settle it.
12.10.24 Council Packet and Agenda Updated; 1-13-25 Council Packet Updated · would settle it: A first quarterly CEDA report delivered to council
Motion by Henke seconded by Ryan to direct the city engineer and staff to solicit quotes for the 2024 street sealing project.
Council reviewed the proposed 2024 street sealing plan.
At the meetingMotion carried 5-0-0; quotes not yet in hand.
What happened nextQuotes came back for the February 13 2024 meeting as a street rejuvenator project quote set plus a separate CAM sealing quote, and the city awarded the 2024 Asphalt Rejuvenator work to Corrective Asphalt Materials at $16,188.30 on March 12 2024. The city ran this preventative maintenance deliberately small for several years, then directed a larger 2025 chip seal project estimated at $80,000 to $90,000, which was awarded to Pearson Bros at $59,951.55.
KENYON_BIDS.md; 4-8-25 council packet · taken up again 2024-03-12
Infrastructure Projects Update City Engineer Olinger stated that the LRIP application for 6th Street was submitted in December, but we may not hear back on funding awards until April.
Infrastructure projects update on the Local Road Improvement Program application submitted in December.
At the meetingNo award known; timing is an estimate.
What happened nextThe application failed. MnDOT's letter in the April 9 2024 packet says the 6th Street project was not selected for funding in the 2023 Local Road Improvement Program solicitation, which closed December 8 2023, and that the application would stay on file until the 2024 legislative session ended in case more funds appeared. The city applied again, adopting Resolution 2025-26 pursuing 2025 program funding for the same 6th Street reconstruction on November 12 2025.
4.9.24 Council Packet and Agenda; 11-12-25 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-11-12
OLD BUSINESS Muni Roof and Flooring Replacement Quotes Administrator Vahlsing stated that two quotes were received for commercial flooring in the Muni. He recommended accepting the quote from Hamernick's. He is still waiting for a second quote on the roof.
Old business on Muni roof and flooring replacement; flooring quote was awarded but roof quotes were incomplete.
At the meetingOnly the flooring quote was acted on; roof left open.
What happened nextThree roof quotes were in hand by March 12 2024, and staff recommended Chandler Roofing at $40,640, which is what the city awarded. The competing quotes were L&M at $53,000 dating from 2022 plus a Schwickert's proposal and a WHV quote, and the cost was to be financed through KMU. Chandler came in $12,360 below the L&M figure.
3.12.24 Council Packet and Agenda; KENYON_BIDS.md · taken up again 2024-03-12
Currently, apartments are only allowed on the second floor in the C-1 district. The Planning Commission recommended the change.
Current ordinance allows apartments only on the second floor in the C-1 district; Planning Commission recommended the change.
At the meetingCouncil discussed and tabled the request until February.
What happened nextStephanie Brezina's request was denied. The council voted 3-0-0 on May 14 2024 to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation not to adopt the ordinance, so apartments in the C-1 district remain second floor only.
5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-05-14
The council discussed the pros and cons and options to allowing apartments in the rear half of the first floor. This was tabled until February.
Council discussed pros and cons of allowing first-floor rear apartments in the C-1 district after a Planning Commission recommendation to approve.
At the meetingNo decision; item tabled.
What happened nextThe amendment was rejected on May 14 2024. A draft ordinance treating rear first-floor apartments as a conditional use went back to the Planning Commission, which reversed its earlier position and recommended against adopting it, and the council accepted that recommendation 3-0-0 after property owner Robert Peterson spoke against it and Council Member Bailey agreed with him. The item had been carried forward again on the March 12 2024 agenda before that.
The Planning Commission first recommended approving the change and then recommended against it, without any reason for the reversal appearing in the record.
5-14-24 AGENDA · taken up again 2024-05-14