The Crookston City Council met in the City Hall council chambers on Monday night and voted to approve the 2024 preliminary tax levy at the maximum of 65.09 percent. The council gave the preliminary levy unanimous approval.
During the public hearing, the council heard from Malissa Burnette of Crookston, and she shared her concerns with Levy. She expressed to the board that the city has had needs for years prior and has seen no change while having tax increases. “My concerns are for years, we’ve had money and funds and have been told we’re going to get new sidewalks and other improvements,” said Burnette, “But we continue not to receive what our city needs, and now we’re going to get another increase for things that were going to get fixed ten years ago?”
Burnette also expressed her frustrations with the sidewalk situation in the city, specifically a scenario that occurred during Ox Cart Days. “Over Ox Cart Days, there was a post on Facebook about an elderly person in a wheelchair that fell over,” said Burnette. “They hit a hole in the sidewalk. These are things that should not be happening. Especially with things they should’ve gotten done years ago.”
The Council is required by state statute to set the preliminary budget, which could be increased or decreased, above which the Levy cannot be fixed once established. Also, during the meeting, the Council directed the departments to meet with the finance director and the City Administrator to review items that could potentially reduce the preliminary Levy.
“By December 11, that levy percentage has to be established, which is also the Truth and Taxation hearing date,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds. “So between now and December 11, Department heads, myself, and the Finance Director will meet and look and determine what our needs for the city are.”
The preliminary Levy has been set so the departments can establish their needs. Over the next three months, the Council and others will evaluate each line item to determine whether those needs will be fulfilled. “Will there be a decrease? I fully expect there will be a decrease,” said Reynolds. “Where is it going to end up? That is yet to be determined because we will look at the items. Is it going to end up at 65.09%? I can tell you it will not.”
The Council also approved the commercial rehabilitation program and mortgage satisfaction on the property owned by TREC Properties and Wendy Nimens. “These were resolutions to authorize and execute mortgage satisfactions to an entity and individual who had borrowed money from the city from one of our programs,” said Reynolds. “They had completed the terms of from the promissory notes, but no satisfaction has ever been issued, and these money were loaned some time ago.” The owners of this property needed mortgage satisfaction because the property is now up for sale.
Council members also revisited the Parks and Rec budget during the meeting. Park and Rec director Jake Solberg presented the revised budget items to the board, which included a $5,000 increase for the Club Kid budget. “Last year, we had 62 participants, and this summer, we had 69,” said Parks and Rec Director Jake Solberg. “With the decrease that we have in this community with daycare, I think we’ll get more participants at Club Kid.”
The discussion also included a $5,000 increase in the recreational equipment portion of the budget, which would be used for general upkeep and equipment needs like athletic gear. The budget also included the contract of UMC and the Crookston Sports Center, which will see an increase of two percent. UMC is set to pay two installments to the Parks and Rec department, each payment is in the approximate amount of $53,000.
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the September 11 council meeting. It will also have the approval of bills and disbursements for $422,800.65. The final item on the consent agenda was the resolution to approve the Housing Incentive Program for 2022 through 2025.
To watch the recent council meeting, click here.
