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Kiel City Council approves land sale, police equipment purchases, dam change orders and personnel hires
Summary
At its meeting the Kiel City Council approved the sale of a city lot, purchases for the police department, two change orders for dam repairs (partly eligible for a 50% DNR grant), and authorized filling two utility positions.
The Kiel City Council on an undated March session approved a set of routine and project-related actions, including the sale of a city-owned lot to a private buyer, purchases for the police department, two contract change orders for ongoing Kiel Dam repairs and the hiring or recruitment to fill two utility positions.
The council approved the sale of city-owned Lot 5 in Century Business Park to Pat Dickel for $20,000 after the city attorney and Dickel's attorney reviewed the offer. Staff said the buyer plans a building of roughly 8,000 square feet with additional area for future expansion. The council voted to accept the offer; the motion carried on a voice vote (5-0 recorded in the meeting).
The council also approved two public-safety purchases. It authorized the purchase of a mobile computer-aided-dispatch (CAD) system for the Kiel Police Department at a gross cost of $10,718.35; staff said a $6,000 grant offsets part of that expense and that available capital funds in the police budget will cover the remainder. The council approved a purchase of firearms from Nelson Tactical for the Kiel Police Department for approximately $11,092 (the item was listed as a 2025 budgeted capital outlay purchase). Both purchases were approved by motion and voice vote.
On infrastructure, the council approved change order No. 1 to Michael's Construction for Kiel Dam repairs at a cost of $32,751.08. Staff explained the extra cost resulted after contractors uncovered an undocumented wall near Pier No. 1 inside the cofferdam; additional engineering, sheeting beams, crane mats and installation time were required to work around that wall. Staff said the expense is within the project budget and that the city expects the costs to be eligible for a 50% cost-share under the Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant process once the change order is submitted and approved.
The council also approved change order No. 2 for work on the dam's north upstream retaining wall, at a cost stated in the meeting as $11,239. Staff said contractors increased the wall thickness and raised the footing after uncovering an undocumented footing during construction. Council discussion included whether a more extensive preconstruction drawdown and dredge would have revealed subsurface conditions but staff said such prework was not done and would have been more costly and largely not covered by the DNR match.
On personnel, the council authorized filling a vacant lead lineman position in Kiel Utilities (the position has been vacant since it was reorganized about eight years earlier) and voted to begin the hiring process for a water and wastewater operator 1 after the current operator, Chris Vincent, gave notice; staff said Vincent's last day will be Good Friday. The council approved both personnel motions by voice votes.
Other routine business included approval of March 25 meeting minutes and roll call attendance. Several items included brief council discussion but no changes to the staff recommendations.
Votes at a glance: - Sale of city-owned Lot 5 (Century Business Park) to Pat Dickel — Motion approved (voice vote recorded as 5-0). Sale price: $20,000; buyer-reported building estimate: ~8,000 sq ft. - Mobile CAD purchase for Kiel Police Department — Approved. Gross cost listed: $10,718.35; $6,000 grant offset noted. - Firearms purchase (Nelson Tactical) for Kiel Police Department — Approved. Listed cost: approximately $11,092; item listed as 2025 capital outlay. - Change order No. 1 (Michael's Construction) — Approved. Cost: $32,751.08. Staff said the cost is within budget and likely 50% eligible for DNR grant match. - Change order No. 2 (Michael's Construction) — Approved. Cost stated: $11,239. Roll-call result recorded in the meeting as 4 yes, 1 no. - Fill lead lineman position (Kiel Utilities) — Approved. - Begin hiring process for water/wastewater operator 1 (city of Kiel) — Approved; incumbent Chris Vincent to depart with last day on Good Friday.
The council did not adopt additional ordinances or long-range policy changes in this session. Several council members asked staff for clarifications about project budgets, grant eligibility and the potential cost of more exhaustive preconstruction investigations; staff responded that some additional costs would likely not be eligible for the DNR match and that the recommended change orders were within the current project scope and funding.
