As we continue covering the upcoming election, we are hearing from Morgan Hibma, Council Member at Large, and Clayton Briggs, Ward 3, who are running for Crookston City Council for another term. Hibma and Briggs are running unopposed. We asked the two of them a series of questions.
Tell us a little about your family.
Hibma – I live in Crookston with my husband, who works for the Polk County Sheriff’s Department. I have a two-and-a-half-year-old son who is full of all the energy and one dog.
Briggs – My wife and I were born and raised in Crookston. We have two kids and four grandchildren. I am a retired police officer, and my wife works at RiverView part-time.
Why are you running for City Council again?
Hibma – I am running for city council because I chose to live here, I did not have to live here. My husband and I have chosen to settle here, and I love the city of Crookston, and I love this community, and it has been so welcoming. I wanted to give back to that community. I also think there are many things we can do here to make this a place where people choose to live and want to live and want to stay here. I would love this to be a place where my son decides to grow up and stay here. I just feel very passionately on giving back and making sure the city stays great.
Briggs – There are so many projects going on that we initiated that I want to see it follow through, like the Tri-Valley Building, street development and stuff like that.
What previous experience will help you if you win?
Hibma – I am currently already on the City Council, so I have a good understanding of what is going on and where our goals are, and where we want to continue. I’ve also been serving on the local EDA for almost two years, so I have experience with where we are going with Economic Development, and I have a good understanding of the grants that we are looking at and where we are looking to develop and bring business opportunities in. I serve on a couple of other community boards and have a good idea there. I am also very passionate and have been working very closely with a couple of other members of the community about daycare and how we can bring and provide more daycare spots here.
Briggs- 10 years of experience. Currently Ward 3 and Vice-Mayor of Crookston. We’ve done a lot of things in the last ten years, and we want to continue to make things better.
Are there any issues/topics that you are concerned about?
Hibma – I have a couple concerns. One of them would be, as I mentioned, our daycare and daycare spots. As a mother, I understand how hard it is to get daycare spots here. When I found out I was pregnant I put myself on lists everywhere and it was not just Crookston, I was looking in Grand Forks, East Grand Forks, Fosston and Fertile. I was desperate, and I was lucky to stumble into somebody who was just opening up and getting their feet on the ground. I have heard from many different community members that are struggling , deciding which parent is having to stay home, are they having to cut back, is somebody having to quit a job and trying to find a different job with different schedules. I don’t believe that is something our community members should have to work with. Another one is infrastructure. I know it’s not fun or exciting to talk about but, when it comes down to the basics, it is roads and sewers and water, and we have, unfortunately, over the years, been a little neglectful. I believe that that is something that is a focus that we need to work on.
Briggs – A little bit of the budget stuff at this point. I have some concerns on things. We want to keep it lower, the taxes, so that’s one of the main things I think at this point.
Is there anything else you want voters to know?
Hibma – I’m just a community member here, who has her family here, that understands the lifestyles of young families, young families with two working parents, and an understanding of what this community might need to continue to thrive and to grow. Our city council right now, is very lucky that we have a very diverse group of people to represent many different types of members in our community. I pride myself as somebody, that wants to continue to want to represent the people that are looking to grow in those younger families.
Briggs – I appreciate any support that they have, and if they have any questions at any time, feel free to call me.
