The Crookston City Council met on Monday night with Mayor Dale Stainbrook issuing a proclamation declaring May 2021 as Community Action Month to recognize the hard work and dedication of the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council and all Minnesota Community Action agencies.
The Council approved a resolution to authorize a contract with SEH to provide professional services to replace runway end identifier lights (REIL). The Minnesota Department of Transportation (MnDOT) will provide a grant for most or all of the light replacement, said City Administrator Amy Finch. “A representative from MnDOT identified that our REILS at each of the runway needs to be replaced,” said Finch. “They are over 30 years old. We are eligible for a state-funded grant. The resolution today authorizing the agreement with SEH consultants allows them to go out and collect contractor information and bids to determine what the total price would be. And to go back to MnDOT and try to get that full amount covered.”
On Monday, the city also published a request for proposal (RFP) for an airport consultant. “That went out today, so that is something separate,” said Finch. “After the completion of our airport master plan, we are required to go out for an RFP for airport consultant selection. That was published today (here). That is separate. While SEH is currently our airport consultant, and they may choose to put in a bid, those are two separate items.”
The City of Crookston intends to retain the selected firm for five years.
The Council also passed a resolution consenting to the issue of revenue bonds by the Duluth Economic Development Authority to Benedictine Health System. City Attorney Corky Reynolds said the city needed to consent because of two previous revenue bonds issued by the city to the Villa St. Vincent for $750,000 and $5.1 million for constructing the nursing home and assisted living facility on August 11, 1992, which would be paid off by the new bonds. “The Benedictine Order is now refinancing the bonds that exist throughout their facilities in the entire state,” said Reynolds. “They’ve used the Duluth Economic Authority to do that. And they needed the cities’ previous enactments, legislation, and ordinances to finance that. They needed that part of that to be able to do it. The City has no responsibility, no individual liability, no taxing authority in on this. It’s something that will benefit the Villa directly. Bonds will be paid off. There can be some updates to the facility with these funds of $150 million that cover the entire Benedictine organization.”
A resolution was passed accepting a $10,000 donation from the Crookston Baseball Association. Parks and Recreation Supervisor Scott Butt said the baseball program wouldn’t function at the level it does without the support of the baseball association. “They’ve done that now for about two or three years,” said Butt. “It’s really been a huge impact on what we do as far as equipment and stuff like that. We can’t thank the baseball association enough for the gift. We genuinely appreciate everything the baseball association does for us. They are such a great partner to have, and we appreciate it greatly. Youth baseball probably wouldn’t be able to function at the level it does at times without the donation. We’re really excited to get it. It makes a big difference paying for tournaments, equipment, upgrades at (Jim) Karn Field and the rest of the fields.”
As part of the donation, the City of Crookston will provide a report to the Baseball Association on the number of participants at each level, how the money was spent, a summary of how the baseball program went, and the plans for 2022. The Council also passed a resolution declaring Police impound vehicles as surplus vehicles and passed the consent agenda consisting of the April 26 meeting minutes along with bills and disbursements totaling $309,236.95. It was also noted that 84.22 tons of waste were collected by the city during the cleanup week.
