Kettle River public meetings in 2024
12 substantive meetings from 2024, with official agendas or minutes and plain-English summaries.
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved a pay increase for two staff members and discussed whether Local Government Aid (LGA) can be used for fire vehicles. The council also received updates on utility repairs, property tax settlement, and a lack of auditing firms available for hire.
- Approved moving Carol Grutkoski off probation with a raise to $12.90/hour
- Approved reinstating Kathy Lake's wages at step 2 for $19.00/hour
- Discussed using LGA money for fire vehicles; 2025 LGA is $39,529.00
- Received $49,940.93 in November property tax settlement from Carlton County
- Ordered eight-bank of solenoids for treatment plant at $1,037.91
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council certified the November 5, 2024 election results, with Patricia Lund winning a council seat by drawing a higher card after a tie with Laura Simi. The council also approved the 2025 water and sewer budgets, the final general tax levy, and several resolutions, and hired a part-time maintenance worker and two new EMRs.
- Resolution 2024-18: Canvassing results, Patricia Lund wins tie-breaker for council seat
- Resolution 2024-19: Unpaid water and sewer to be assessed to 2025 property taxes
- Resolution 2024-20: 2025 Final General Tax Levy approved
- Hired Jon Lingle as part-time maintenance worker at $14/hour
- Approved $30,781.76 in claims (7146-7182)
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council voted to hire Douglas Booker as a full-time maintenance worker at $18/hour and Logan Tomczak as a part-time worker at $15/hour. The council discussed a water billing dispute involving a property that reverted to a previous owner and agreed to consult the city attorney. A $600,000 small city development grant was noted, with Bollig Engineering as administrator. The council also accepted a $100 donation to the fire department and tabled the post office lease agreement.
- Hired Douglas Booker as full-time maintenance worker at $18/hour, 35 hours/week, starting Oct 10
- Hired Logan Tomczak as part-time maintenance worker at $15/hour, up to 15 hours/week
- Discussed water/sewer billing liability for property that reverted to LaBounty; will consult city attorney
- Accepted $100 donation from Talon Nichol for the Fire Department via Resolution 2024-17
- Tabled discussion of water and sewer budgets until November meeting
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved the 2025 budget and proposed tax levy (Resolution 2024-15), set special assessments for unpaid water and sewer bills (Resolution 2024-16), and authorized several expenditures including a third lift station pump ($1,400) and hiring AUS for pond mowing and spraying. The council also accepted a resignation, approved Frontier to bury a cable, and discussed a new maintenance employee posting.
- Approved Resolution 2024-15: 2025 budget of $97,000 (up from $94,220) and proposed tax levy
- Approved Resolution 2024-16: special assessments for $10,568.06 in unpaid water/sewer plus $90 service fee
- Approved $1,400 for a third lift station pump
- Approved hiring AUS to mow and spray ponds for compliance
- Accepted Travis Leino's resignation from Maintenance Supervisor position
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council held a special meeting to discuss joining a police district with neighboring cities and townships, and to consider several action items. The council approved a new sewer/water line to serve a mobile home and granted a one-year conditional use permit for a travel trailer residence. Other topics included a data practice complaint appeal, software upgrades, and repaving quotes that were tabled.
- Discussion of joining a police district with Barnum, Moose Lake, Sturgeon Lake, and several townships
- Approved $12,947 sewer/water line from 3rd Ave N & Birch St to Calen Eschenbach's property, funded by a $10,000 inter-governmental loan
- Approved 1-year conditional use permit for Elizabeth Mascarenas to use a travel trailer as a family residence
- Claims approved totaling $16,682.03
- Data practice complaint appeal by Councilor Doward seeking $15,000 in monetary relief
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council discussed a $1,000,000 state appropriation for lead pipe removal, approved a $2,200 bid to cap a sewer access, and accepted several donations to the fire department. They also approved a variance and conditional use permit for a property, and passed resolutions on write-in vote counting and opting out of a state statute.
- Approved $2,200 bid to cap sewer access from Mercantile Co-op
- Accepted $10,000 donation from Essentia Health to fire department
- Approved variance and conditional use permit for PID 19-140-0010
- Passed Resolution 2024-10 on write-in vote tallying
- Passed Ordinance 2024-14 to opt out of Minnesota Statute 326B
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council held an administrative hearing for Monique Doward regarding her delinquent water bill and vehicle towing, but she did not appear. The Council discussed the situation and voted to send a letter outlining the steps required to restore her water service, including installing a new meter, paying the delinquent amount or having it posted to property taxes, and paying the reconnection fee.
- Administrative hearing for Monique Doward on water billing and vehicle towing; she did not appear
- Council voted to send letter to Ms. Doward with steps to restore water: install new meter, pay delinquent amount or post to property taxes, pay reconnection fee
- Water shut-off procedures per Ordinance V, Section 52.05 (delinquent accounts) and 52.40 (water meter access)
- Vehicle parked over water meter led to towing; future option to move vehicle instead of tow
- Delinquent water charges may be assessed to property taxes per ordinance
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved several expenditures and personnel actions, including a $3,740 bid to replace firehall lights, the purchase of an orthophosphate pump for $1,079.95, and the hiring of two new firefighters. They also accepted the resignation of the building inspector/zoning official and set a public hearing for a conditional use permit and variance for a mobile home on Calen Eschenbach's property. A request for an administrative hearing on harassment claims by Councilor Doward was not moved, and a public hearing on water and sewer billing is scheduled for June 17.
- Approved $3,740 bid from AUS to replace firehall lights
- Ordered orthophosphate pump for $1,079.95
- Hired John Lingle and Chad Walsh as firefighters
- Set public hearing for July 9 on mobile home conditional use permit and variance
- Accepted resignation of building inspector Rob Tschida
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved a consent agenda, heard updates on grant applications and the Ma & Pa Kettle Days event, and took several actions including censuring Councilor Doward, appointing an assistant fire chief, and hiring a new account clerk. The meeting also included discussion of a special event permit for alcohol sales and a claim filed against the city.
- Resolution 2024-09 to censure Councilor Doward passed unanimously
- Hired Carol Grutkoski as Account Clerk, starting 6/28/2024
- Appointed Thomas Simi as permanent Assistant Fire Chief
- Approved Special Event Permit for Park Lake to sell alcohol at Ma & Pa Kettle fundraiser on June 1, 2024
- Accepted donations: $10,000 from Polaris, $250 from Kwik Trip, and others for fire department
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council discussed a resident's claim that water rate increases were improperly enacted and may require refunds, and agreed to consult the city attorney. The council also approved the 2025 fire department budget and fire service contract, accepted a $23,248.72 claims list, and moved forward on federal grant applications.
- Approved claims totaling $23,248.72
- Approved task order #4 to apply for federal grants
- Approved 2025 fire department budget and fire service contract
- Discussed potential water billing refunds due to improper rate increase process
- Accepted resignation of Deputy Clerk Jamie Dobosenski
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council approved several routine items, including claims totaling $23,248.72, donations, and training expenses for staff. They also approved a request for Nevada Messina to keep up to 15 hens (no roosters, no free range), and discussed moving fire department funds into a savings account to earn interest. Several items were tabled, including playground grant funding, a citywide emergency notification system, water billing, and ordinance violations.
- Approved claims (6910-6938) totaling $23,248.72
- Approved Nevada Messina's request to own up to 15 hens, no roosters, no free range
- Approved $50 donation to Moose Lake Historical Society and $25 to Moose Lake Post Prom
- Approved training for Kathy: MCFOA ($375 + hotel) and Municipal Clerk ($370 + hotel, $100 grant)
- Discussed moving fire department funds to savings account to accrue interest
Meeting
The Kettle River City Council met on January 9, 2024, and approved several resolutions, including an 11% water rate increase and a $5,000 payment for engineering services. They also discussed infrastructure needs, such as replacing old water and sewer pipes and upgrading the water treatment plant, and accepted a resignation from the Planning and Zoning Commission.
- Approved Resolution 2024-02: 11% water rate increase
- Approved $5,000 payment for Bollig Engineering Task Order #3
- Accepted $3,050 quote from Ace Hardware for Legion Building furnace replacement
- Approved Tower Tap's liquor license contingent on state approval
- Accepted resignation of Jeff Dotseth from Planning and Zoning Commission