City of Red Lake Falls
City Council Meeting
January 12, 2015
Minutes
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a regular meeting of the City Council of the City of
Red Lake Falls, Red Lake County, Minnesota was duly held in the Council Chambers of said
City on the 12th day of January, 2015.
Members Present: Kevin Harmoning, Sara Kenfield, Kevin Brevik, Neil Knaack, Cheryl Matzke.
Members Absent: Barry Schultz.
Others Present: Kathleen Schmitz, Delray Sparby, Alan Cassavant, Carol Seeger, Deb
Derouin, Marie Scott, Troy Schmitz.
Mayor Kevin Harmoning called the meeting to order at 6:37 p.m.
The official swearing in of newly elected officials was given by Administrator Schmitz. Mayor
Kevin Harmoning and Council Members Kevin Brevik and Sara Kenfield began new terms.
Knaack moved, seconded by Kenfield, to approve the Agenda with the addition of 7.16
Warranty Deed – Kevin Baumbach. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Matzke moved, seconded by Knaack, to approve the December 22, 2014 City Council Meeting
Minutes with the addition “2015” to the motion at the top of page 6. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Knaack moved, seconded by Matzke, to approve the January 6, 2015 Special Council Meeting
Minutes. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Mayor’s Report:
At-Large Councilmember Barry Schultz has asked to resign from the council due to health
concerns. His term doesn’t expire until 12/31/16. For the remainder of his term, his position
will be filled by appointment.
Matzke moved, seconded by Knaack, to accept Barry Schultz’s resignation with regrets.
MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Knaack moved, seconded by Matzke, to put an advertisement in the Gazette for the At-Large
Council position with response due at City Hall by February 2, 2015 at 4:00 p.m. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Citizen’s Comments: none
Business:
Knaack moved, seconded by Brevik, to elect Sara Kenfield as Vice Mayor for 2015. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded by Knaack, to designate the Red Lake Falls Gazette as the 2015
Official Newspaper. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded Knaack, to select Unity Bank North, Promontory (ICS) Sweep and
Red Lake Co-op Federal Credit Union as 2014 Official Depositories. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Matzke moved, seconded by Brevik, to approve the 2015 Employee Holidays with the
inclusion of December 24, 2015 – ½ day as submitted. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Matzke moved, seconded by Knaack, to approve the 2015 Council Meeting Dates as
presented. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The 2015 Committee Appointments will not take place at this meeting due to the departure of
Councilmember Barry Schultz. The Committees will be appointed when the council has a
replacement for the At-Large position.
Kenfield moved, seconded by Knaack, to table the 2015 Committee Appointments until the
February 9, 2015 council meeting and if we need a committee decision during this time we
will meet with the council as a whole. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Knaack moved, seconded by Matzke, to approve Kathleen Schmitz, Kevin Harmoning and
Carol Seeger as authorized signers on the signature card. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Knaack moved, seconded by Brevik, to approved the 2015 Fee Chart with the following five
changes: addition of Hangar Rent $80 per month under AIRPORT, PRIVATE OPERATOR, the
deletion of the ANIMAL REDEMPTION section, addition of ‘Blue Line pays until 6/30/16’ to
ARENA Open Skating and Membership Fees, NSF CHECK RETURN FEE $30 and SWIMMING
POOL Season Membership, Family $150 with $140 pre-pay. For: Knaack, Brevik, Harmoning.
Against: Kenfield, Matzke. MOTION CARRIED
Knaack moved, seconded by Kenfield, to approve Resolution #01-01-15 – Identity Theft
Prevention Program. For: Brevik, Knaack, Kenfield, Matzke, and Harmoning. Absent:
None. Against: None. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Knaack moved, seconded by Matzke, to recommend offering the Public Works position to
Matthew Swendra at a wage of $17.50 per hour with a potential start date of February 2,
2015. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to nominate Kevin Harmoning as the Red Lake County
municipal representative to the Northwest Regional Development Commission. Abstained:
Harmoning. MOTION CARRIED
George Eilertson, Northland Securities, has been in contact with Adm. Schmitz concerning a
Bond Restructure Proposal. With this restructuring the city would have lower bond payments
the next two years and higher bond payments for three years after that, but the saving years
are greater than the cost. If we start the restructure process and decide not to go through
with it, it would cost the city $10,000. We have the possibility to save up to $126,000 over
the next ten years if we restructure. Bonds 2005, 2007 and 2008 will become Bond 2015.
Discussion was held on the pros and cons of the proposal.
Knaack moved, seconded by Kenfield, to approve Resolution #01-02-15 – Approving the
Issuance of General Obligation Refunding Bonds, Series 2015A. For: Brevik, Knaack,
Kenfield, Matzke, and Harmoning. Absent: None. Against: None. MOTION CARRIED
UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to accept the Northwest Minnesota Foundation grant
and direct Administrator Schmitz to sign on behalf of the city subject to clarification about
the Grace Lake Charitable Fund on the last page of the terms of the grant. MOTION
CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded by Knaack, to authorize the Mayor and Administrator to sign the
Limited Warranty Deed for Kevin Baumbach with Administrator Schmitz checking with the
Auditor to see that the information on the back is correct. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
Kenfield moved, seconded by Matzke, to approve Finance Check #038257-#038274 noting
it’s the last batch written in 2014, not previously approved, for 2014 expenses and budget
period, not yet mailed, but held for council approval and available for view, and Finance
Checks #038302-#038324 and Payroll Checks #038275-#038301 (printed on regular checks
instead of payroll check blanks) + Payroll E Checks 1-13. MOTION CARRIED UNANIMOUSLY
The meeting adjourned at 8:46 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
__________________________________
Kevin Harmoning, Mayor
_________________________________
Kathleen Schmitz, City Administrator
