City to assist with Haunted Hotel events

At the Oct. 5 meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council, city staff discussed their ongoing conversation with the Celebrate Redwood Falls committee as they plan for the Monsters on Main Street Event as well as the Haunted Hotel. The event is scheduled to be open Friday through Sunday, Oct. 29-31. The City Council agreed to the following assistance and waiving of rental fees for the Celebrate Redwood Falls events: 2nd Street closed nightly from 6 to 11 p.m. between Mill and Washington; 2nd Street closed from 1 to 11 p.m. Saturday between Mill and Washington for Monsters on Main Event, six picnic tables and garbage bins along 2nd Street (request from West Central); and walk-through inspection by the building inspector the week prior to opening.

The council appointed Finance Director Kari Klages to the Fire Relief Association Board of Trustees. The term ends Dec. 31.

A public hearing was held to discuss a resolution: Adopting Assessments for Delinquent Accounts. The purpose is to handle delinquent utility account charges that are 30 days past due. (Similar resolutions are brought to the council on a quarterly basis in order to improve the time between the delinquent utility bill and the city's ability to disclose the information to new owners.) The hearing was closed and the council approved the resolution. Seven utility accounts labeled as delinquent, if still outstanding as of Nov. 1, will be charged a $50 fee and be transferred to Redwood County to be assessed on the tax rolls.

As part of the Supplement Service Plan with American Legal Publishing Corp. for the City's Codification Services Agreement, the council received and discussed the Eleventh Supplement to the Code of Ordinances. The section includes a new ordinance called a Unified Development Ordinance, replacing old ordinances on the topic. The proposed ordinance will have a second reading and motion for approval at the next meeting.

City staff worked to renegotiate a Group Health Insurance proposal for 2022 with the current health insurance provider, Preferred One/United Healthcare. The city will see an increase of 6% in premiums, which is partly due to a higher than normal claims utilization for 2021. The proposal maintains the same coverage provided in 2021. Staff also calculated employee/employer contributions, referenced in the table below, for 2022 using the 80/20 family policy formula and 90/10 single policy formula approved in prior years. The City Council accepted the staff's recommendation. A separate agenda item covered the dental portion of insurance, which is 100% employee paid.

The City Attorney and Police Department endorsed a Joint Powers Agreements with the state of Minnesota, Department of Public Safety, Bureau of Criminal Apprehension. The agreement allows the use of systems and tools available over the State's criminal justice data communications network for which the city is eligible. The Joint Powers Agreements further provide the City with the ability to add, modify and delete connectivity, systems, and tools over the five-year life of the agreement. The resolution was approved by a roll call vote.

The next meeting of the Redwood Falls City Council is at 5 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 19.