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Red Lake Falls council approves street project plans, accepts $9,500 City Hall design proposal
Summary
At its March 23 meeting, the Red Lake Falls City Council unanimously approved the 2026 Street & Utility Improvement plans and ordered advertisement for bids, accepted the 2025 audit, amended the personnel policy, and accepted a $9,500 design services proposal from Widseth for City Hall; the city attorney clarified bidding rules for city-owned projects over $175,000.
RED LAKE FALLS, Minn. — The Red Lake Falls City Council on March 23 unanimously approved plans and specifications for the 2026 Street & Utility Improvement project and ordered the city to advertise for bids, accepted the city audit for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, amended its personnel policy and accepted a professional design services proposal for City Hall.
Council action led by Cheryl Matzke approved Resolution #03-03-2026 to adopt plans and specifications and to advertise for bids for the street and utility project. The resolution passed unanimously; the council recorded votes in favor from Joyce Kalbakdalen, John Kleven (participating remotely), Neil Knaack, Matzke, Kyle Thibert and Mayor Allen Bertilrud.
The council also voted to accept the audit for the year ended Dec. 31, 2025, as presented by Hoffman, Philipp & Martell, PLLC. "Council has reviewed and approved the audit report for the City of Red Lake Falls for year ended December 31, 2025," the motion record states; the motion was moved by Joyce Kalbakdalen and seconded by Kyle Thibert and passed unanimously.
Council members approved an amended Personnel Policy during the meeting. The motion to adopt the amended policy was moved by Kalbakdalen and seconded by Neil Knaack and carried on a unanimous vote.
On City Hall work, the council accepted a Professional Design Service Proposal from Widseth for $9,500. The scope listed in the accepted proposal includes a site visit, a planning meeting, a preliminary plan, review meetings and cost estimating. The motion to accept Widseth's proposal was made by Kyle Thibert, seconded by Kalbakdalen, and passed unanimously.
City Attorney Delray Sparby clarified procurement rules relevant to upcoming projects, telling council members that "if property is owned by the city, and a project is over $175,000 the City is required to put it out for competitive bids." He said the city must decide whether plans and specifications will be engineered documents or supplied/generic specifications that bidders can use.
Votes at a glance - Approval of agenda: moved by Joyce Kalbakdalen, seconded by Cheryl Matzke — approved unanimously. - Consent agenda (including March 2, 2026 minutes and two public hearing minutes): moved by Kalbakdalen, seconded by John Kleven — approved unanimously. - Acceptance of 2025 audit (Hoffman, Philipp & Martell, PLLC): moved by Kalbakdalen, seconded by Kyle Thibert — approved unanimously. - Resolution #03-03-2026 (Plans/specs and advertise for bids for 2026 Street & Utility Improvement): moved by Cheryl Matzke, seconded by Neil Knaack — approved unanimously. - Amended Personnel Policy: moved by Kalbakdalen, seconded by Knaack — approved unanimously. - Acceptance of Widseth Professional Design Service Proposal for City Hall ($9,500): moved by Kyle Thibert, seconded by Kalbakdalen — approved unanimously.
Mayor Allen Bertilrud and City Administrator Kathleen Schmitz signed the minutes. The meeting adjourned at 7:30 p.m. The published minutes are a summary; the full text is available for inspection at City Hall or by standard or electronic mail.
