Kettle River public meetings in 2023
10 substantive meetings from 2023, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council voted to close the city office until further notice due to ongoing conflict involving Councilor Doward, who was accused of impeding staff and using profanity. The council also approved a policy restricting elected officials' use of City Hall, accepted a $3,742.87 bid for LED lighting retrofits, and approved delinquent water and sewer charges of $4,146.56 to be added to taxes.
- Motion to close city office until further notice passed 4-1
- Policy on Elected and Appointed Official Use of City Hall approved 4-1
- AUS Electric LED retrofit bid of $3,742.87 accepted
- Delinquent water and sewer charges of $4,146.56 added to taxes
- Special assessments of $4,800.00 tabled for next meeting
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved several items, including an amended animal ordinance restricting free-range animals, hiring Travis Leino for a full-time maintenance position at $18.00 per hour, and re-hiring Councilor Kohmetscher for winter part-time help. They also approved a resolution for Carlton County to conduct voting by mail, a task order with Bollig Engineering for a potential $600,000 grant, and certified special assessments to property taxes for unpaid fees.
- Amended Animal Ordinance 91.26 to require permits and confinement for animals, no free range
- Hired Travis Leino as full-time maintenance at $18.00/hour starting Nov 20, 2023
- Approved Bollig Engineering task order for $600,000 small cities improvement grant application
- Certified special assessments for unpaid administrative fees and water/sewer bills to 2024 property taxes
- Approved voting resolution 2023-09 for Carlton County mail-in ballots
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council held a workshop with Bollig Inc. Engineering and Environmental to discuss immediate and future city infrastructure needs. Bollig conducted a walk-through and will research findings, including water quality improvements for well #2, water tower footing replacement, and mapping water and sewer lines. The council asked Bollig to seek funding for city building repairs and other upgrades.
- Well #2 water quality improvement recommended
- Water tower footing replacement needed
- Back wash filter media replacement considered (20 years old)
- Unused tank at lift station removal recommended
- Backup generator at sewer ponds to be made automatic
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council met on October 10, 2023, and approved several items, including software upgrades for water and sewer meters, fire service contracts with Kalevala and Automba, and the Mud Bog's use of the ice rink area and bleachers for next year's Ma & Pa Kettle Days. They also discussed but tabled the animal ordinance amendment and lagoon insurance. The meeting included routine reports from the fire department and city administrator.
- Approved $11,700 software upgrade for water/sewer meters, contingent on a $10,000 grant
- Approved Kalevala Fire Service Contract
- Approved Automba's Fire Service Contract
- Approved Mud Bog use of ice rink area and bleachers for Ma & Pa Kettle Days
- Claims approved totaling $10,053.83
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved several routine items including an event permit for Ma & Pa Kettle Days, a rezoning for a campground, and a building code update. They also voted to require Councilor Doward to remove her chickens within 14 days due to ordinance violations, and hired a new firefighter. The council discussed but did not decide on feral cat removal and a lighting quote.
- Approved outdoor event permit for Tower Tap for Ma & Pa Kettle Days
- Approved rezoning of Callen Eschenbach's property from R-1 to R-R for campground
- Adopted Ordinance 108 updating building code for state compliance
- Approved Resolution 2023-08 to abate special assessments on Bryan Alberg's property
- Hired Jordan Azzam as new firefighter
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council voted down all seven resolutions and policies proposed by Councilor Doward, including measures on scraping city property, recouping misappropriated funds, transparency, access to policies, free use of venues, discipline, event fees, and sale of commercial land. The council approved the consent agenda (4-1), accepted two new fire/EMS personnel, and approved a pickleball court at the basketball court. No major financial or policy decisions were adopted beyond routine approvals.
- Approved consent agenda including minutes, claims ($4,180.81), and financial reports (4-1)
- Accepted Logan Tomczak as a firefighter (5-0)
- Accepted John Peura as an emergency first responder (5-0)
- Approved pickleball court at the basketball court (5-0)
- Denied policy for scraping city-owned property (motion failed after second retracted)
- Denied resolution to recoup misappropriated funds (no second)
- Denied resolution for council transparency and financial oversight (1-4)
- Denied resolution for sale of commercial land (1-4)
🗳️ How they voted (5 roll-call votes)
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved the utilities superintendent's resignation, authorized advertising for a replacement, and approved a $7,000 estimate to inspect well #1. They also accepted a $6,150 bid from Kettle River Classics for repairs to City Hall/Senior Center and approved budgets for National Night Out. The meeting included routine reports and discussion of landscaping and camera systems.
- Accepted resignation of Utilities Superintendent Jerry Peterson, effective May 15, 2023
- Approved $7,000 estimate from Thein Well to inspect well #1
- Accepted $6,150 bid from Kettle River Classics for City Hall/Senior Center repairs
- Approved $150 budget for National Night Out food and $250 for kids' giveaways
- Approved claims totaling $13,002.23
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved Dan Dahl's request to subdivide his 35-acre parcel into 15- and 20-acre lots. Chad Schmidt was hired for the maintenance position, and Building Inspector Rob Tschida received a wage increase from $16.00 to $21.30 per hour. Monique Doward was restored to her council office after refusing to sign the Code of Conduct and Ethics Policy. The council also approved a $1,691.50 quote to replace lift station pumps and accepted donations from the American Legion.
- Approved Dan Dahl's property subdivision into 15-acre and 20-acre parcels (3-0).
- Hired Chad Schmidt for the maintenance position (3-0).
- Approved Building Inspector Rob Tschida's wage increase from $16.00 to $21.30 per hour (3-0).
- Accepted the revised step structure for wages (3-0).
- Approved $1,691.50 quote from Minnesota Pump Works to replace lift station pumps (3-0).
- Approved Silver Township and Automba fire service contracts (3-0 each).
- Restored Monique Doward to her council office via Resolution 2023-04 (3-0).
- Approved a temporary gambling license for Northern White Pine Riders' raffle (4-0).
🗳️ How they voted (6 roll-call votes)
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved Beaver Township's withdrawal from the Kettle River Fire Service Area, approved the 2024 Fire Department Budget, and changed the city's official newspaper back to the Star Gazette. The council also terminated a new maintenance hire who failed to report for work and reinstated a temporary replacement.
- Approved Beaver Township leaving Kettle River Fire Service Area (4-0)
- Approved 2024 Fire Department Budget (4-0)
- Changed city newspaper back to Star Gazette (4-0)
- Terminated Alex Stolberg from maintenance position (4-0)
- Reinstated Bob Kohmetscher retroactively to maintenance position (3-0, Kohmetscher abstained)
- Approved $50 donation to Barnum High School Post Prom (4-0)
- Approved $50 donation to Moose Lake Historical Society (4-0)
- Approved Federated Co-op as secondary package drop-off location (4-0)
🗳️ How they voted — 1 divided vote
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved routine consent items, appointed Isaac Gran as interim fire chief, changed Kathy Lake's title to City Administrator, and issued a liquor license to Tower Taps. They also discussed water quality issues, including a resident's filter turning brown, and approved hydrant markers.
- Approved claims totaling $54,095.72
- Appointed Isaac Gran as Interim Fire Chief
- Changed Kathy Lake's job title to City Administrator
- Approved purchase of hydrant markers
- Issued Tower Taps liquor license upon receipt of payment