The Crookston City Council met for a regular meeting on Monday night inside the City Hall Council Chambers in the lower level of City Hall.
CONSENT AGENDA
The council’s Consent Agenda consisted of approving the City Council Minutes from their meeting on November 28 and the City of Crookston’s Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $490,754.82. It also included approving the Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) Agendas for their meetings on Wednesday, December 14 and 27. It also included a resolution approving a Tobacco and Liquor License for 2023 and to approve the Designate the Election Precinct Polling location for 2023. The final items on the agenda included a resolution calling for a Public Hearing on changing the City of Crookston Utility Rates and to approve a Confidence Learning Center application for a Lawful Gambling Premise Permit at the Crookston Eagles Club. The council approved the agenda unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
The council’s Regular Agenda included listening to a summary of the Closed meeting from the Ways and Means Agenda on November 28. Mayor Dale Stainbrook explained that the committee met to discuss Labor Negotiations with the Law Enforcement Labors Service (LELS). City Administrator Reynolds had given a presentation about the nature and extent of the potential negotiated terms of contracts for officers and informed the council members of the Labor Services’ initial wage and COLA adjustments for a two-year contract. Reynolds informed the council regarding the city’s response to negotiating a contract to include a wage adjustment and COLA for an amount less than proposed by LELS. The terms of the tentative agreement were provided to the council. Discussions were held by council members about budgetary concerns and if it would be consistent with the preliminary levy provided by the county, and they reached a consensus to recommend the City Council to accept and approve the tentative contractual agreement.
2023-24 LELS Contract
The council then held a resolution approving the Law Enforcement Labors Service (LELS) Contract for 2023-24, which the city’s committee had been discussing, and the Ways and Means Committee had recommended for the council. The council approved the contract unanimously.
Multiuse Facility by the Crookston Public School
The council then discussed a resolution to support the construction of a new Multiuse Facility by the Crookston Public School. Council member Tom Vedbraaten mentioned that he had heard some people ask questions about the University of Minnesota Crookston not willing to work with the Crookston Public School District, but Chancellor Mary Holz-Clause had released a statement stating they would be willing to work with the school and give them other options if the referendum does not pass. The council noted that the school still had good reasons for wanting its own facility for sports and activities and approved the motion unanimously.
2023 Tax Levy
The council then began a discussion for a resolution to adopt a property Tax Levy for Taxes Payable in 2023. Reynolds explained that the preliminary levy would be approved, which would be the city’s final levy of 18.15%. Councilmember Steve Erickson noted they could use more of their general funds as there were several items that wished to be built and added by the city, which would increase the taxes once again. Councilmember Dylane Klatt recommended that they use the time for next year to find their quota and make preparations for better ways to prepare their levy to prevent it from increasing. The motion carried with a 6-2 vote in favor of the tax levy, with councilmembers Steve Erickson and Thomas Vedbraaten voting against it.
Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan
The council then discussed a resolution to approve a Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan for 2023 to 2027. Reynolds explained that it was a plan they had for their plans for the next five years. “In a Capital Improvement Plan, you typically put major capital expenses in it. If you’re going to buy a fire truck, how are you going to do that when you budget so much each year? If you’re going to buy a squad car for the police department, you set aside money for each of the next five years, so when the time comes to purchase it, you have the money set aside,” City Administrator “Corky” Reynolds explained. “Those would be designated type reserves. There were a number of items, each of the departments prepares one.” Some of these items included a replacement squad rotation and vehicle safety and emergency equipment for the police department, a new garbage truck and furnace for the Public Works and Central Garage, Exterior Lighting and HVAC system for the Crookston Public Library, and improvements to the sidewalks, and a Water Main Replacement. The total for all of these funds over five years came to $11,470,700. The council approved the plan unanimously. The complete five-year capital improvement plan can be found below.
Adopting 2023 Budget
The council then began a discussion on a resolution to adopt the city’s projected budget for the 2023 Calendar Year. Reynolds explained it showed the budget’s revenues from all sources anticipated to be $9,893,777, with expenditures coming to a total of $9,760,560 for the year. These sources included the Property Tax Levy, Intergovernmental aid, Fines & Forfeits, and other Miscellaneous revenues. The council approved the motion unanimously. The city’s projected budget can be found below.
Crookston Police Department Body Worn Cameras Independent Audit
The council finished the meeting with a discussion on a resolution approving an Independent Audit of the Crookston Police Department’s Body Worn Cameras (BWC). “Every two years, law enforcement must have its body cameras audited. The Police Department was audited in October, and the state sets up certain criteria: how your cameras function, how the data is recorded, and how it is accessed and transmitted. All of the criteria established were found to have no deficiencies on the part of the cameras our law enforcement uses, a very good report.” Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler approached the council to explain that the data in the cameras had different times they needed to be stored, ranging anywhere from 90 days to two years, but they were aware of the categories that were retained and organized. The council approved the resolution unanimously.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Parks and Recs Director Jake Solberg reported that the Crookston Sports Center had all of its rinks ready and open and expected more games to come in January. The Community Pool was also making improvements where they were planning on adding special events and looked to have their outdoor rinks and skating trail ready before Christmas. The Sports Center was also looking to add and improve on all of its sections with the new contractor in sections and have them completed over the next two to three months.
Crookston Public Works Director Brandon Carlson reported they had finally received their moto riders which gave them two again to help clear the roads, and they had cleared some of the main and emergency routes in the streets. He also explained he would work with Police Chief Darin Selzler about a new parking and snow emergency parking policy.
Crookston Fire Department Chief Tim Froeber reported the hiring deadline for a new full-time firefighter was tonight, and they would begin the next steps of finding the person to fill Shane Heldstab’s former position.
Crookston Police Department Chief Darin Selzler reported that action around the department had slowed down thanks to the holidays and that Polk County had started an Opioid Advisory Settlement board to help the county spend $62,000 to inform the public and help protect people from Opioid use. He had applied and joined the committee and planned to keep the council informed of some of its operations. He also noted that tomorrow’s storm would push the Shop with a Hometown Hero back to December 20.
Councilmember Tom Vedbraaten announced this would be his last meeting with the council and thanked all of his fellow members and city employees for their time working with him.
The next City Council meeting will take place on Monday, December 26, at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
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