Watch the meeting
What happened
- Resolution 2025-12 adopted, declaring cost to be assessed and calling the assessment hearing for the 2025 Street & Utility Improvements at the May council meeting
- Six bids received by the April 2, 2025 deadline on the street and utility project; bids still being evaluated, award to follow the assessment hearing
- Doug Ims of Icon, LLC objected that the city engineer would not recommend his low bid because of how he bid the job
- Chip seal contract awarded to Pearson Bros., with approval to exceed the quote by up to $20,000 to cover 2026 work; low quote was about $60,000 against a $90,000 budget
- Council voted to follow past precedent and not waive LMCIT state liability limits ($500,000 per claimant / $1,500,000 per occurrence)
- Council authorized Administrator Lehner to negotiate a limited 2025 agreement with Taco Express after the March non-renewal decision
- Consent agenda approved checks 77014-77071 and 5383E-5499E plus budget transfers totaling $17,750
- Finance Director Kyllo reported IRS and MN Department of Revenue claims from quarter three of 2023 are legitimate and must be paid with penalties
- Four candidates applied for the police officer position and were scheduled for interviews April 15
- Capital finance planning workshop scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
- Citizen Bailey Ament requested a May agenda item to allow educational chickens in residential areas
What was asked 21 raised · 13 settled
Every question, assignment, pending figure and unsourced claim from this meeting, quoted from the record, each checked against the county, census, listing, bid and budget data we hold.
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to award the chip seal contract to Pearson Bros. as written, with additional approval to exceed the total quoted by up to $20,000 as directed by the City Engineer.
Olinger wanted to expand the contract to cover work planned for 2026 while staying under budget.
At the meetingMotion carried 4-0-0.
The chip seal contract went to Pearson Bros at $59,951.55 with authority to exceed that by up to $20,000 at the City Engineer's direction, for a ceiling of $79,951.55. Pearson beat Asphalt Surface Technologies at $68,726, Allied Blacktop at $69,913.20 and Fahrner at $96,685.70. The final expanded scope amount actually spent is not in our record.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2025-05-13 entry; data/bids.csv
He would like to be informed of the meeting where the bid would be awarded. 2025 Chip Seal Project Engineer Olinger stated that four quotes were received for the chip seal project. $90,000 was budgeted for the project. The low bid was approximately $60,000. Olinger would like to expand the contract by $20,000 to cover what was planned for 2026. This would still come in $10,000 under budget.
Basis for recommending expansion of the chip seal contract into 2026 work.
At the meetingCouncil approved the expansion up to $20,000.
The engineer's numbers hold. Four quotes were received, the low quote from Pearson Bros was $59,951.55, and adding $20,000 brings the ceiling to $79,951.55, which is $10,048.45 under the $90,000 budgeted. The spread across the four quotes was $36,734.15, with Fahrner at $96,685.70 bidding 61 percent above Pearson.
KENYON_BIDS.md, 2025-05-13 entry; 5-13-25 council packet updated
Administrator Calendar Administrator Lehner stated that he will be out of the office on Friday, April 11, 2025. He is closing on a house in the area.
Administrator calendar update.
The calendar note is confirmed verbatim in the May 13 2025 packet: Administrator Lehner was out of the office Friday April 11 2025, closing on a house in the area. It required no council action and nothing turns on it.
5-13-25 council packet updated, Administrator Calendar
She is interested in raising chickens as part of her homeschool instruction and her children's 4-H project. She requested to be added to the May council agenda to allow educational chickens.
She wants to raise chickens as part of her homeschool instruction and her children's 4-H project and reviewed what surrounding cities allow.
The item reached the council on June 10 2025 as Consider Revising Chicken Ordinance, and the council voted against looking at a change. The roll call was Bailey aye, Kirchmann aye, Brunner nay, Sjolander nay, Helgeson nay. Administrator Lehner noted it was the fourth time the request to allow chickens in the city had come before the council since 2015.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated, New Business · taken up again 2025-06-10
Bailey Ament questioned what the process was for allowing chickens in the residential area for educational purposes.
Citizen comment asking how Kenyon could permit chickens, with options from surrounding cities presented.
At the meetingNo process answer recorded; she was to be added to the May agenda.
The process was an ordinance amendment, and the council declined to start it. Attorney Riggs reviewed the history of the current ordinance at the June 10 2025 meeting and the council took a roll call vote on whether to look at changing it, losing 2 to 3. An earlier request by letter had drawn a council consensus to uphold the ordinance restricting chickens in residential areas.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; 5-13-25 council packet updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
He would like to be informed of the meeting where the bid would be awarded. 2025 Chip Seal Project Engineer Olinger stated that four quotes were received for the chip seal project. $90,000 was budgeted for the project.
Icon was low bidder but was told by the city engineer its bid would not be recommended.
At the meetingEngineer had stated the bid would be awarded following the assessment hearing at the May council meeting.
There was no award meeting from that round. On June 10 2025 Attorney Riggs recommended rejecting all bids and the council voted 5-0-0 to reject them and rebid, tabling Resolution 2025-14. The project was rebid and awarded on July 8 2025 to Fitzgerald Excavating at $2,294,629.25. Whether Icon received written notice of any award meeting is not in our record.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; KENYON_BIDS.md, 2025-07-08 entry · taken up again 2025-06-10
The bids are still being evaluated for conformance with project requirements. The bid will be awarded following the assessment hearing during the May council meeting.
Six bids were received April 2 and are still being evaluated for conformance with project requirements.
At the meetingCouncil adopted Resolution 2025-12 calling the assessment hearing.
The council rejected every bid from the first round on June 10 2025, 5-0-0, on Attorney Riggs' recommendation, and Resolution 2025-14 was tabled. The rebid opened July 8 2025 with Fitzgerald Excavating low at $2,294,629.25 against BCM at $2,423,525.98, Alcon at $2,426,712.04, Heselton at $2,653,939.05 and an engineer's estimate of $2,764,170.05, and Fitzgerald took the contract. The winning rebid price came in $12,023.16 below the lowest first-round bid.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; KENYON_BIDS.md; data/bids.csv · taken up again 2025-07-08
ENGINEERING 2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that six bids were received by the April 2, 2025 deadline. The pricing was competitive. The bids are still being evaluated for conformance with project requirements.
Bids were received by the April 2, 2025 deadline and pricing was competitive.
The review concluded that Icon's bid materially deviated from the specifications. The City Engineer's letter of May 12 2025 found Icon failed to provide bid unit prices as the request for bids required, citing bid items 1, 13, 17, 1009, 1011, 79 and 105, and staff recommended rejecting it. The council then rejected all six bids on June 10 2025 and rebid the project.
5-13-25 council packet updated, City Engineer letter dated May 12 2025; 6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE KMU Process Update: Administrator Lehner stated that there is a meeting scheduled with KMU and the personnel committee on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. 15 Hiring of Police Officer: Administrator Lehner stated that four qualified candidates applied for the police officer position. The four candidates are scheduled to be interviewed on April 15.
Four candidates applied for the open police officer position after Josey Homeier's departure.
The interviews produced a hire. By June 10 2025 Administrator Lehner reported the city was moving forward with one of the police officer applicants, a background check was underway, and the officer should be on board by mid to late June 2025. The department did not stay staffed: by September 8 2026 the officer position was posted again with no applicants and part-time officers filling in.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; 9-8-26 Council Packet · taken up again 2025-06-10
Capital Finance Planning Workshop Engineer Olinger stated that the city's financial advisor is invited to review the plans for current and future capital investments every few years. A capital finance planning workshop meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m.
The financial advisor is invited every few years to review plans for current and future capital investments.
At the meetingMotion carried 4-0-0 to schedule the workshop.
The workshop was held and George Eilertson presented. He updated the financial management plan he had last prepared for the city in 2021, rebuilt on Bolton and Menk's 2025 Infrastructure Management Plan, covering estimated property taxes for debt service, the impact on utility revenues, and the financing plan for the 2025 street project. Engineer Olinger summarized the infrastructure management plans and the city's infrastructure goals.
5-13-25 council packet updated · taken up again 2025-05-13
Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, stated that the May meeting will be held at Kenyon City Hall. He stated that their budget is up in the air right now, waiting to see where government cuts will be.
Commissioner update during citizen comments about county finances.
The county settled on a 6.5 percent levy increase for 2026, which Commissioner Greseth reported to the council in the February 10 and March 10 2026 packets. He added that an even larger increase is coming in 2027 because of state mandates. For comparison, the city's own certified 2026 levy rose 9.18 percent to $1,528,541 and its 2027 preliminary levy rose 9.26 percent to $1,670,115.
2-10-26 and 3-10-26 Council Packets; taxes/data/kenyon_tax.json · taken up again 2026-02-10
PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS/RECOGNITIONS/PROLAMATIONS ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE KMU Process Update: Administrator Lehner stated that there is a meeting scheduled with KMU and the personnel committee on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m. 15 Hiring of Police Officer: Administrator Lehner stated that four qualified candidates applied for the police officer position.
Part of the ongoing KMU process update.
The meeting track produced five signed contracts. The KMU Commission accepted and signed five agreements with the city on April 23 2025, two weeks after the April 9 personnel committee meeting, and the council gave final approval on June 10 2025 to the administrative staff supervision agreement, the building and property control agreement, the personnel utilization agreement, the billing agreement, the municipal project agreement and the organizational chart. Minutes of the April 9 meeting itself are not in our record.
6-10-25 COUNCIL PACKET Updated; 5-13-25 council packet updated · taken up again 2025-06-10
The bid will be awarded following the assessment hearing during the May council meeting. The assessment hearing process and the assessment criteria that the council will need to set were discussed.
The assessment hearing process and criteria were reviewed ahead of the May hearing.
At the meetingResolution 2025-12 declaring cost to be assessed and calling the hearing was adopted 4-0-0.
The council adopted Resolution 2025-12 declaring the cost to be assessed and calling the hearing, 4-0-0, held the assessment hearing on May 13 2025, and then continued it to July 8 2025 with an updated assessment summary after the project was rebid. No council-adopted assessment policy appears in our record, only the project-specific roll.
5-13-25 council packet updated; 7.8.25 Updated Council Packet and Agenda · taken up again 2025-07-08
Doug Ims of Icon, LLC stated that his company was the low bidder on the street project, but he was told by the city engineer that his bid would not be recommended because of the way he bid the job.
Icon disputed the engineer's role in recommending against its bid.
At the meetingNo response from the engineer is recorded in the minutes.
Icon was not low on base plus all alternates. The bid tabulation puts Icon at $2,313,649.71 and BCM Construction at $2,306,652.41, a difference of $6,997.30 in BCM's favor, and our bid record marks Icon's bid nonresponsive. The engineer's stated reason was specific and documented: Icon did not provide the bid unit prices the request for bids required, affecting bid items 1, 13, 17, 1009, 1011, 79 and 105. Whether Icon was low on some narrower basis cannot be determined from the tabulation we hold.
Doug Ims told the council Icon was the low bidder, but the tabulation shows BCM Construction at $6,997.30 less on base plus all alternates.
5-13-25 council packet updated, bid tabulation and engineer letter; KENYON_BIDS.md
He stated that they were requesting that the city allow them to remain on city property for one more year because of the short notice.
They were shocked to learn the contract was not renewed and need time to find an alternative location for 2026.
At the meetingCouncil authorized the administrator to negotiate a limited 2025 agreement.
The council met the request in principle, authorizing Administrator Lehner 4-0-0 to negotiate and execute a limited 2025 agreement so Taco Express could stay on city property for the year. The decision not to renew had been made at the March 2025 meeting and the owners learned of it from a newspaper article, for which Lehner apologized. The executed agreement and its terms are not in our record.
5-13-25 council packet updated, Old Business · taken up again 2025-05-13
He stated that their budget is up in the air right now, waiting to see where government cuts will be. If you have any questions for the commission, please come to the May meeting in Kenyon.
The county board's May meeting will be held at Kenyon City Hall.
The practice recurred: Commissioner Greseth again told the council in early 2026 that the May county commissioner meeting would be held at Kenyon City Hall, though by then he asked residents to contact him directly rather than attend. We hold no county board agenda or confirmed meeting date for either year. The Goodhue County Board calendar would settle it.
2-10-26 and 3-10-26 Council Packets · taken up again 2026-02-10
State statutes limit a city's tort liability to a maximum of $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence.
Explanation given before the council voted not to waive LMCIT liability limits.
At the meetingCouncil voted 4-0-0 to follow past precedence and not waive the limits.
The same figures appear verbatim in the city's own packets across two years: $500,000 per claimant, $1,500,000 per occurrence, and optional additional coverage up to $2,000,000 annually. The council took the question up again on May 12 2026 and voted 5-0-0, again on Helgeson's motion seconded by Kirchmann, to follow past precedence and not waive the limits. We hold no copy of the statute or the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust waiver form itself.
5-13-25 council packet updated; 4-12-26 Council packet; 5-12-26 Council Packet Updated · taken up again 2026-05-12
CITIZEN COMMENT Pat Shea provided information on a proposed wind farm that is trying to move into the Kenyon area. She stated that this is a huge 300-megawatt farm project that would have 60-85 turbines.
Citizen comment raising awareness of a wind project that could affect the city.
At the meetingNo council response recorded.
We hold no wind project application, state permitting filing or turbine count for any development near Kenyon. The city's only wind commitment in our record is unrelated: a half-megawatt power sales agreement with CMPAS at Bingham Lakes, adopted as Resolution 2025-31 in December 2025. A Public Utilities Commission site permit application would settle the 300-megawatt claim.
would settle it: The developer's project application or state permitting filing
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to authorize Administrator Lehner to negotiate and execute a limited agreement with Taco Express for 2025.
Taco Express representatives asked to stay on city property one more year after learning of non-renewal from a newspaper article.
At the meetingMotion carried 4-0-0.
We hold no signed 2025 agreement with Taco Express. The executed limited agreement or a council report on its terms would settle it.
would settle it: The signed limited 2025 agreement with Taco Express
LEGAL FINANCIAL Explanation of Recently Received IRS Statements Finance Director Kyllo explained two letters that she received, one from the IRS and the other from MN Department of Revenue claiming money was owed to them from quarter three of 2023. Both claims are legitimate, and the city needs to pay these bills plus penalties.
Two letters claimed money owed from Q3 2023 and both claims were determined to be legitimate.
At the meetingKyllo explained the letters to council.
The IRS and Minnesota Department of Revenue notices are not in our archive, so the amounts owed and the penalties cannot be stated. The nearest figure we hold is Abdo's one-time $15,000 charge to reconcile January through July 2025 records.
9-8-26 Council Packet · would settle it: The IRS and Department of Revenue notices showing amounts owed and penalties
LEGAL FINANCIAL Explanation of Recently Received IRS Statements Finance Director Kyllo explained two letters that she received, one from the IRS and the other from MN Department of Revenue claiming money was owed to them from quarter three of 2023.
She explained two letters claiming money owed but the minutes record no dollar figures.
No dollar figures for the IRS or Minnesota Department of Revenue claims appear anywhere in our record, and the later passages attached to this item concern accounts payable procedure and street assessments. The two agency notices would settle it.
would settle it: Dollar amounts from the IRS and state notices
Decisions 7 motions
Who did what
| Person | At this meeting |
|---|---|
| Donald Kirchmann Mayor | Called the meeting to order; seconded Resolution 2025-12 and the LMCIT waiver motion; thanked Officer Josey Homeier |
| Kim Helgeson Council Member | Moved to adopt the agenda, award the chip seal contract, authorize the Taco Express agreement, not waive LMCIT limits, and adjourn; reminded everyone of the April 19 Easter egg hunt at Depot Park |
| Mary Bailey Council Member | Arrived at 7:17 p.m.; moved the consent agenda and Resolution 2025-12; thanked city staff |
| Elana Brunner Council Member | Seconded the motion to adopt the agenda |
| Lee Sjolander Council Member | Absent |
| Scott Lehner City Administrator | Reported on the KMU process meeting, police officer hiring, Josey Homeier's departure and his calendar; presented the Taco Express request and apologized for the notification lapse |
| Derek Olinger City Engineer, Bolton & Menk | Reported six competitive bids on the street project, explained the assessment hearing process, and recommended expanding the chip seal contract |
| Holli Gudknecht Administrative Assistant / Deputy City Clerk | Recorded and signed the minutes; prepared agenda item reports |
| Joe Sathe City Attorney | Present at the meeting |
| Wayne Ehrich Public Works Supervisor | Present at the meeting |
| Pat Shea Citizen | Provided information on a proposed 300-megawatt wind farm with 60-85 turbines near Kenyon |
| Bailey Ament Citizen | Asked about the process for allowing chickens in residential areas for homeschool and 4-H purposes and requested a spot on the May agenda |
| Todd Greseth Goodhue County Commissioner | Announced the county's May meeting would be at Kenyon City Hall and that the county budget is uncertain |
| Doug Ims Icon LLC | Stated his company was the low bidder and objected to the city engineer's recommendation against his bid |
| Bonnie Rapp Citizen | Spoke in support of Taco Express remaining on city property |
| Brenda Tellez Daughter of Taco Express owners | Said the family was shocked to learn of the non-renewal from a newspaper article |
| Josey Homeier Police Officer | Recognized for her service; leaving for a DNR job |
| Brian Homeier Police Officer | Present at the meeting |
| Kyllo Finance Director | Explained IRS and MN Department of Revenue letters claiming money owed from quarter three of 2023 |
Organizations named: City of Kenyon, Kenyon Municipal Utilities (KMU), Goodhue County, Bolton & Menk, Inc., Icon, LLC, Pearson Bros. Inc, BCM Construction Inc., Wencl Construction Inc., Heselton Construction LLC, Snow Contracting LLC, A-1 Excavating LLC, Asphalt Surface Technologies Corp., Fahrner Asphalt Sealers LLC, Allied Blacktop Company, League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT), Kenyon VFW, Kenyon Fire Relief Association, Kenyon Area Historical Society, Rose Fest, Taco Express, Internal Revenue Service, Minnesota Department of Revenue, Minnesota DNR, Kennedy & Graven Chartered, Kenyon Leader, Kenyon EDA
Figures
| Amount | What |
|---|---|
| $2,500 | Budget transfer to Kenyon Area Historical Society for Gunderson House management fees |
| $2,000 | Budget transfer to Rose Fest |
| $10,000 | Kenyon Fire Relief budget donation |
| $3,000 | Kenyon Fire Relief 2025 audit portion |
| $250 | Fire and Rescue administrative fee |
| $90,000 | Amount budgeted for the 2025 chip seal project |
| $60,000 | Approximate low bid for the chip seal project (Pearson Bros. quote $59,951.55) |
| $20,000 | Additional amount the City Engineer may authorize on the chip seal contract to cover work planned for 2026 |
| $500,000 | Statutory tort liability limit per claimant |
| $1,500,000 | Statutory tort liability limit per occurrence |
| $2,000,000 | Maximum additional annual insurance coverage cities may purchase |
Said at the meeting
She stated that this is a huge 300-megawatt farm project that would have 60-85 turbines.
Pat Shea, citizen · minutes, verbatim
He stated that their budget is up in the air right now, waiting to see where government cuts will be.
Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner · minutes, verbatim
He felt that the city engineer was out of place to make this recommendation.
Doug Ims, Icon LLC · minutes, verbatim
Administrator Lehner apologized for not informing them of the decision before it came out in the newspaper.
Scott Lehner, City Administrator · minutes, verbatim
Both claims are legitimate, and the city needs to pay these bills plus penalties.
Minutes (Finance Director Kyllo report) · minutes, verbatim
Resolutions and ordinances
- Declaring Cost to be Assessed and Calling for Assessment Hearing 2025 Street & Utility Improvements Motion by Bailey seconded by Kirchmann toRes. 2025-12
Agenda
Each item links to where it appears in the packet.
- I. CALL TO ORDER AND ROLL CALL
- II. CITIZEN COMMENTS
- III. ADOPT AGENDA
- III.A Council Agenda 4/8/2025
- IV. CONSENT AGENDA
- IV.A Items to be approved with one motion on the Consent Agenda
- V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES and APPOINTMENTS
- V.A City Council Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2025
- VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS
- VII. ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- VII.A ADMINISTRATOR UPDATE
- VIII. ENGINEERING
- VIII.C Capital Finance Planning - Council Workshop
- IX. LEGAL
- X. FINANCIAL
- X.A FINANCIAL
- D. Explanation of Recently Received IRS Statements
- XI. OLD BUSINESS
- XII. NEW BUSINESS
- XII.A LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver
- XIII. F.Y.I. - Department Updates
- XIII.A FYI 4-8-25
- XIV. COUNCIL AND STAFF GENERAL COMMENTS
- XV. ADJOURNMENT
- A. On-Sale Liquor License Renewal- VFW
- B. Kenyon Fire Relief Association Request for Liquor Permits
- A. City Council Meeting Minutes of March 11, 2025
- VI. PRESENTATIONS/PUBLIC HEARINGS RECOGNITIONS/PROCLAMATIONS
- A. KMU Process Update
- B. Hiring of Police Officer
- C. Congrats and Thank You to Josey Homeier
- D. Administrator Calendar
- C. Capital Finance Planning Workshop
- A. LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver
- XIII. OTHER BUSINESS
- A. Schedule of Upcoming Meetings
Full packet text (156k characters)
The minutes
Official minutes as adopted, from 5-13-25 council packet updated; text extracted from the PDF.
Council Meeting was duly held in the City Council chambers at 7:00 p.m. on the 8th day of April 2025. The meeting was called to order by Mayor Donald Kirchmann.
- Present
- Mayor Donald Kirchmann, Council Members Kim Helgeson, Mary Bailey (arrived at 7:17 p.m.), and Elana Brunner
- Absent
- Lee Sjolander
- Also present
- City Administrator Scott Lehner, Administrative Assistant Holli Gudknecht, Engineer Derek Olinger, City Attorney Joe Sathe, Public Works Supervisor Wayne Ehrich, Officer Brian Homeier, Lizzie Cooper-Kenyon Leader, Doug Ims-Icon LLC, John Lee, Josh Johnson, Todd Greseth, Bailey Ament, Bonnie Rapp, Brenda Tellez, Caleb Langer, Lorry and Jennifer Kispert, Shannon & Pat Shea,
The meeting opened with the Pledge of Allegiance.
Citizen Comment
Pat Shea provided information on a proposed wind farm that is trying to move into the Kenyon area. She stated that this is a huge 300-megawatt farm project that would have 60-85 turbines. She wanted to get awareness out there since this would probably affect the city in some way.
Bailey Ament questioned what the process was for allowing chickens in the residential area for educational purposes. She presented possible options of allowing chickens in Kenyon and reviewed what some surrounding cities allow. She is interested in raising chickens as part of her homeschool instruction and her children's 4-H project. She requested to be added to the May council agenda to allow educational chickens.
Todd Greseth, Goodhue County Commissioner, stated that the May meeting will be held at Kenyon City
Hall. He stated that their budget is up in the air right now, waiting to see where government cuts will be. If you have any questions for the commission, please come to the May meeting in Kenyon.
Adopt Agenda
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Brunner to approve the agenda. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Consent Agenda
Motion by Bailey second by Helgeson to approve the amended Consent Agenda, which includes:
Motion carried 4-0-0Presentations / Public Hearings / Recognitions / Prolamations
Administrator Update
KMU Process Update: Administrator Lehner stated that there is a meeting scheduled with KMU and the personnel committee on Wednesday, April 9, 2025 at 4:00 p.m.
Hiring of Police Officer: Administrator Lehner stated that four qualified candidates applied for the police officer position. The four candidates are scheduled to be interviewed on April 15.
Congrats and Thank You to Josey Homeier: Administrator Lehner thanked Officer Josey Homeier for her contributions and service time with the City of Kenyon. She will be moving on to a DNR job. Best Wishes.
Administrator Calendar Administrator Lehner stated that he will be out of the office on Friday, April 11, 2025. He is closing on a house in the area.
Engineering
2025 Street and Utility Improvements Engineer Olinger stated that six bids were received by the April 2, 2025 deadline. The pricing was competitive. The bids are still being evaluated for conformance with project requirements. The bid will be awarded following the assessment hearing during the May council meeting. The assessment hearing process and the assessment criteria that the council will need to set were discussed. Resolution 2025-12: Declaring Cost to be Assessed and Calling for Assessment Hearing 2025 Street & Utility Improvements
Motion by Bailey seconded by Kirchmann to adopt Resolution 2025-12. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Doug Ims of Icon, LLC stated that his company was the low bidder on the street project, but he was told by the city engineer that his bid would not be recommended because of the way he bid the job. He felt that the city engineer was out of place to make this recommendation. He would like to be informed of the meeting where the bid would be awarded.
2025 Chip Seal Project Engineer Olinger stated that four quotes were received for the chip seal project. $90,000 was budgeted for the project. The low bid was approximately $60,000. Olinger would like to expand the contract by $20,000 to cover what was planned for 2026. This would still come in $10,000 under budget.
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to award the chip seal contract to Pearson Bros. as written, with additional approval to exceed the total quoted by up to $20,000 as directed by the City Engineer. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Capital Finance Planning Workshop
Engineer Olinger stated that the city's financial advisor is invited to review the plans for current and future capital investments every few years. A capital finance planning workshop meeting was scheduled for Tuesday, April 29, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Legal
Financial
Explanation of Recently Received IRS Statements
Finance Director Kyllo explained two letters that she received, one from the IRS and the other from MN Department of Revenue claiming money was owed to them from quarter three of 2023. Both claims are legitimate, and the city needs to pay these bills plus penalties.
Old Business
16 2025 Agreement with Luis Tellez – Taco Express Administrator Lehner stated that at the March council meeting, the council decided not to renew the city's agreement with Taco Express for 2025. Bonnie Rapp and Brenda Tellez, who is the daughter of the Taco Express owners, were present and stated that they were shocked to learn that the contract was not being renewed. They learned about the non-renewal from a newspaper article. Administrator Lehner apologized for not informing them of the decision before it came out in the newspaper. He stated that they were requesting that the city allow them to remain on city property for one more year because of the short notice. This would allow them to find an alternative place for business in 2026.
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to authorize Administrator Lehner to negotiate and execute a limited agreement with Taco Express for 2025. Motion carried 4-0-0.
New Business
LMCIT Liability Coverage Waiver
stated that the City Council is required to choose either to waive or not to waive the monetary insurance liability limits. State statutes limit a city's tort liability to a maximum of $500,000 per claimant and $1,500,000 per occurrence. These limits apply whether the claim is against the city, against the individual officer or employee, or against both. Cities can choose to waive the state liability limits. Cities can purchase additional insurance coverage up to $2,000,000 annually.
Motion by Helgeson, seconded by Kirchmann to follow past City precedence to not waive LMCIT State Liability limits. Motion carried 4-0-0.
Schedule for Upcoming Meetings
KMU/Personnel Committee Meeting: Wednesday, April 9th @4:00 p.m. KMU Meeting: Tuesday, April 15th @ 4:00 p.m. EDA Meeting: Tuesday, April 22nd @ 8 a.m. City Council Workshop Meeting: Tuesday, April 29 @ 6:00 p.m. City Council Meeting: Tuesday, May 13th @ 7 p.m.
Council And Staff General Comments
Mayor Kirchmann thanked Officer Josey Homeier and wished her well.
Council Member Helgeson congratulated Officer Josey Homeier. She thanked her for her service to the city and wished her the best. She also reminded everyone of the Easter egg hunt on April 19 at the Depot Park.
Council Member Bailey thanked the city staff for their work.
Motion by Helgeson seconded by Bailey to adjourn the meeting at 8:12 p.m. Motion carried 4-0-0.