The Crookston City Council met on Monday evening in the jam-packed City Council Chambers at City Hall.
SIDEWALK CONCERNS
During the Public Forum, Crookston resident Bob Magsam spoke and 
said his recently redone sidewalk has caved in a bit and has caused a tripping hazard, and he would like to see the city do something about it as soon as possible. “The city had to dig up the sidewalk and dig up my front yards a few years back because of a water leak by my shutoff. The city replaced the sidewalk as it was. However, a year afterward, there were some settling issues going on, and it trapped ice, snow, water, and things of that nature,” said Magsam. “I asked the council basically to look at the sidewalk because I have approached the city a couple of times, and to my knowledge, nobody has looked at it and came back and communicated with me. I just want the city to look at it and have a discussion about replacing it.”
Magsam also said he would like the city to start looking at doing better with the sidewalks, especially in the older neighborhoods, like the Woods Addition. “They are in rough shape, and in one of the older additions of town, it is expected,” said Magsam. “I understand the city can’t replace every single sidewalk every year type of thing. However, as a whole, as a city, in fairness to our residents, the city can do better. Put in some better sidewalks, be a little more proactive, and that was my approach to the council tonight.”
PRESENTATION OF RETIREMENT PLAQUES
Crookston Mayor Dale Stainbrook presented the soon-to-be-retired Scott Riopelle (Crookston Park and Rec Director) and Pat Kelly (Crookston Public Works Director) with plaques honoring them for their many years of service to the City of Crookston. (Pictures of the presentation are at the bottom of the page)
EFFICIENCY UPDATE
Crookston City Administrator Amy Finch gave a restructure and efficiency update to the council. They are taking a hard look at resources, including staff, supplies, and other things. “We are taking a hard look at our structure and how are we operating, how efficiently. We identified a couple of areas in our finance department. Our City Clerk’s duties were under the finance department. Prior staff served as the clerk in the finance department. The clerk truly serves in a way that benefits the council, preparing the agenda, finalizing the agenda documents, and we felt that it would make the most sense to move those duties under the administrator’s office.”
They are also looking at developing a human resources position. “That person would serve as a non-union person that can work to serve our union employees, understand each contract and talk to them about benefits,” said Finch. “Also to look at what the city is offering in our benefits packages. Is it cost-effective for the employer? Is it a good benefit for the employee? We are working on attracting and retaining employees, and that is tough right now with good employers in town, and we want to offer the best to our employees.”
The other area was the Park and Rec Department, especially with the retirement of Director Scott Riopelle. “We are trying to look at a job description that really focuses on promoting/marketing, increasing awareness and the use of our facilities either through hosting events or partnering with other organizations,” said Finch. “Also looking at increasing an interest in participation so that will be coming forth soon in the form of a job description when we post that.”
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS ON CHEDA
The city council approved a resolution calling for a public hearing on Rescission of the enabling resolutions concerning the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority. The council voted 5 to 1 to move forward with a public hearing with two abstaining. The five yes votes were Wayne Melbye, Don Cavalier, Kristy Jerde, Clayton Briggs, Dylane Klatt. The one no vote was Joe Kresl, and the two abstaining were Tom Vedbraaten and Steve Erickson. Erickson, Melbye, and Vedbraaten said they weren’t happy that they found out about this on Friday when they got their council agenda packets. “The reason for not having this as a Ways and Means discussion to talk about to talk about, I don’t think it would have facilitated the healthy and respectful conversation that we saw from our city leaders tonight,” said Finch. “While there is a little bit of discomfort, this wasn’t an easy conversation for me to lead either. I am proud of the way our city functioned today. I am proud of the conversation that was had, I am thankful for the people that came out and sat in the audience, and overall I think it went well. The respectful, courteous, thoughtful conversation was had, and it’s okay when governing members don’t agree, and that is fine. That is real life.”
The next resolution was calling for a public hearing questioning the need for a Housing and Redevelopment Authority to function in Crookston. The council approved moving forward with a public hearing on a 6-1 vote with one abstaining. Voting yes were Clayton Briggs, Don Cavalier, Joe Kresl, Dylane Klatt, Wayne Melbye, and Kristy Jerde. Voting no was Steve Erickson, and abstaining again was Tom Vedbraaten.
City Administrator Finch said she wants to see everything run more efficiently, and that is why this discussion needs to take place. “There is certainly an option of having an EDA, there is an option of having economic development under the city umbrella, and some of the things that aren’t working as efficiently is right now we have a director and an administrator, two sets of financials, two governing boards, two audits,” said Finch. “The city serves as the main source of funding for many of the economic initiatives, including grants, projects, and state funding applications.”
The final agenda item was introducing an ordinance to authorize and create a community development department, which also passed. Finch said if this were the route the city decided to go, the HRA would be independent, and they would keep the current staff, and they would have a Community Development Director, which they would need to hire. “Having a Community Development Director makes them part of the leadership team at the city. The city hires an administrator. Professional staff that we expect to be subject matter experts in their areas and having that economic development person be a part of that team and have direct access to the city finance person, the building official, the engineer, the fire department if it is the matter of street width, I think it could work better,” said Finch. “We spoke about communication when it’s a developer talking to someone in our EDA, who then talks to me, who then goes to staff, and rolls it back up. It sets it up where important and pertinent information can just simply get lost. It can be accidental. It can be an interpretation of what something met. So, looking at that, we think we can do it better.”
Councilman Vedbraaten said he would like the pros and cons of the current CHEDA setup and the pros and cons of the possible new setup. Councilwoman Jerde said she is a big picture person and would like to see how this would help the city be more efficient.
“It is important for the public, who came out in great numbers tonight, which is a great compliment that they were willing to come out and spend their evening to learn, hear what was said. I think it is good. I think it is good that there were people that weren’t comfortable yet to vote, or no, or yes. That is important for the public to see, and that is real. I am happy with how tonight went, and I realize this is a tough and emotional conversation for Crookston to have, but it is important.”
KROX proposed the question to Finch on what happens to the housing aspect of CHEDA if everything moves forward and the city takes over EDA and HRA activities. “We would get a community development department established. A community development director would have to be hired. Our intent would be to re-establish the housing and redevelopment authority as an independent entity, and that is a discussion we would have to have,” said Finch. “The thing we would want the least of all is to cause a disruption in our ability to service our community. There has been no intent to fire the housing authority employees if they know the program and are familiar with it that would allow consistency and continuity. It is certainly not our recommendation to do anything that would disrupt peoples services or our ability to serve them or offer the same programs we do now.”
The public hearings will be Monday, June 14.
MISC.
The council approved the limited use permit for two new Welcome to Crookston signs. They will be replacing the old signs on Highway 2 by the railroad tracks by UMC. The other will replace the sign on Highway 75 by Titan Machinery.
The council approved the minutes from the May 10 meeting and the bills and disbursements of $186,144.50.
