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Red Lake Falls council adopts assessments with deferred payments, orders 2026 street work and ends maintenance on detached road
Summary
At its March 2 meeting the Red Lake Falls City Council approved Resolution #03-01-2026 adopting property assessments with 10-year deferments plus 20-year options for unimproved lots, authorized planning for 2026 street and utility improvements (Resolution #03-02-2026), ceased maintenance on a detached private road without a written agreement, and extended the pool-ownership plan deadline to Jan. 1, 2027.
RED LAKE FALLS, Minn. — At a regular meeting on March 2, 2026, the Red Lake Falls City Council approved a package of actions including property-assessment rules, planning for 2026 street and utility improvements and changes to city road-maintenance policy.
Councilmember Joyce Kalbakdalen moved to approve the agenda and later moved the consent agenda, which included approval of the Feb. 9 minutes, closed-session minutes and bills and disbursements; the motions passed unanimously. Kalbakdalen then moved to adopt Resolution #03-01-2026, which adopts proposed assessments and specifies a 10-year deferment plus a further 20-year deferral option for unimproved city lots; when the city sells a lot the assessment becomes payable upon completion of the home. The resolution passed on a unanimous 6–0 vote.
Councilmember Neil Knaack moved to approve Resolution #03-02-2026, ordering improvements and authorizing preparation of plans for 2026 street and utility improvements. The council recorded that the improvements were "deemed necessary, cost-effective and feasible" based on a feasibility report prepared by Moore Engineering; the motion passed unanimously.
Councilmember John Kleven moved that, effective March 3, 2026, the city will no longer perform snow plowing or road maintenance on the private or township road associated with the property detached by Johanneck's in the Park Addition in 2005 unless Red Lake Falls Township provides a written agreement. The motion cites a Notice of Detachment filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings in 2005 and passed on a 6–0 vote.
Kleven also moved to extend the deadline to submit a plan to acquire ownership of the city pool to Jan. 1, 2027; that motion passed unanimously.
Votes at a glance
• Approve agenda — Moved: Councilmember Joyce Kalbakdalen; Second: Cheryl Matzke; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved.
• Consent agenda (minutes, closed minutes, bills, authorize City Administrator to pay bills through next meeting) — Moved: Councilmember Joyce Kalbakdalen; Second: Kyle Thibert; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved.
• Resolution #03-01-2026 (adopt assessments; 10-year deferment + 20-year on unimproved lots; assessments due upon home completion when city sells a lot) — Moved: Councilmember Joyce Kalbakdalen; Second: Cheryl Matzke; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved.
• Resolution #03-02-2026 (order and prepare plans for 2026 street and utility improvements; feasibility report: Moore Engineering) — Moved: Councilmember Neil Knaack; Second: Cheryl Matzke; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved.
• Snow-plowing/road maintenance policy for detached property (effective Mar. 3, 2026) — Moved: Councilmember John Kleven; Second: Neil Knaack; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved. The motion references a Notice of Detachment filed with the Office of Administrative Hearings (2005).
• Extension of deadline to submit pool-ownership plan (to Jan. 1, 2027) — Moved: Councilmember John Kleven; Second: Kyle Thibert; Vote: 6–0; Outcome: approved.
The meeting was called to order at 6:35 p.m. and adjourned at 8:03 p.m. City Administrator Kathleen Schmitz was authorized to pay bills through the next council meeting. The full text of the minutes is available for public inspection at City Hall or by mail or electronic request.
