The Crookston City Council met on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers in the lower level of City Hall.
PRESENTATION AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
After the Call to Order, Charles “Corky” Reynolds introduced Jordan Bergquist, the new Human Resources Director who began employment for City Hall in June.
The meeting began with a presentation about the Coalition of Greater Minnesota Cities by Marty Seifert, who joined the meeting via a Zoom call. He gave a few updates at the latest legislative session. He explained the board of directors’ top priority for the year was local government aid. They want to update the formula and add $90 million to the aid, but the House of Representatives and Senate agreed to add $30 million to the aid.
The next item was Childcare and facility grants with a jobs and bonding bill, but they didn’t pass. They also advocated for broadband, which came out of the conference with a proposal of $210 million. The $210 million was higher than what any of the groups proposed, and it was passed as a part of the Omnibus agriculture, broadband, and housing bill.
Transportation was the final item, $25 million, but the governor and House had no increases, and a bill wasn’t passed. Seifert explained that they had replenished the Rebuild Trust Fund, and the budget surplus had dropped from $9 billion to $7 billion thanks to inflation and raising income taxes. Councilmember Kristie Jerde asked Seifert about the conversation of cannabis legalization and if it would be a subject for future sessions. Seifert explained that he believed the conference was maybe looking to create a tax format for it and would look to revisit the topic and respond in the future. Councilmember Steve Erickson asked about the status of Daycare Centers for future topics. Seifert explained there were a few things they had to discuss, such as funding, planning out the training and education for caretakers, and other initiatives.
CONSENT AGENDA
The council’s Consent Agenda consisted of approving the City Council Minutes from their meeting on October 10 and the City of Crookston’s Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $487,700.38. The agenda also included declaring the costs to be assessed and ordering the preparation of the proposed assessment for projects 984-988. The agenda also included approving a $50 donation from Mercy Petersen for the Crookston Fire Department Smoke Detectors and calling for a public hearing on amending an ordinance from the City Code Chapter 117 entitled “Peddlers and Solicitors” for November 14. The final item on the agenda was to approve the Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) agenda for their rescheduled meeting on Thursday, October 27. The council approved the agenda unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
The council’s Regular Agenda included approving a resolution to approve entering into contracts with Schmitz Building Inc., the Lighting Gallery, and Valley Electric for the Crookston Public Library Building repairs. “Corky” Reynolds explained that this was for repairs at the Library due to water leaking through the window and ceiling. The Library and city had contracted Widseth to do a study to find this problem, which will cost $138,800 to complete and address a slope issue on the roof. He also explained that the heat loss and other cooling problems may have also been due to the windows leaking. Brent Dammann of Widseth approached the council and explained what they had found that caused the leaks in the window. “The primary cause was the failure of the joints of the window thanks to minimal routine maintenance program just to monitor the ceiling joints over the years,” Dammann explained. “It’s a step that we recommend for building owners to keep on top of their regular maintenance items for their building.”
The other item the city contracted to Schmitz Building Inc. was that the parking lot lights had gone out, which caused issues during open hours after dark and other safety concerns. Reynolds explained the lowest bid for this contract was about $20,018.64, which the city could fund. Dammann explained that the project’s schedule and completion would depend on the lead times for products and materials, but they would begin work on the window this winter and complete it by the end of winter or early spring. Still, they would aim to complete the lighting as soon as possible and even use temporary lighting until it was completed for the safety of the citizens. The council approved the contract unanimously.
Gift of Real Property and Dedicating Real Property as a Public Park
The council then began a resolution to accept a gift of Real Property from Nature View Development to Outlot A, Nature’s View Estates Plat 5. Reynolds explained that the city had entered an agreement with local developer Bob Herkenhoff of Nature View Estates Development in 2020. The city had made improvements in areas where he had housing developments in exchange for him donating land to the city to be used for public parks. The plot is located in the northeast corner of the city, near Eickhof Boulevard, and has two ponds. Herkenhoff said it was well-used by city residents for fishing and other activities. The council approved the gift unanimously.
Providing Grants to Non-Profit Organizations for 2023
The council then began a resolution to provide grants to four non-profit organizations within the city that had sent in requests for funds. The grants included $91,980 to the Golden Link Senior Center for Community health, entertainment, and educational events, $14,500 to the Tri-Valley Opportunity Council for Public Transportation, $5,000 to the Downtown Crookston Downtown Partnership for public entertainment events, and $6,000 to the Ox Cart Days Committee for public entertainment. The council approved the grants unanimously.
Councilmember Dylane Klatt asked if there was a chance for the council to approve granting $5,000 to the Scruffy Tails Humane Society, which they had denied at their last meeting. However, councilmember Steve Erickson voiced his support to give them their full request of $10,000, as, without them, the city would have more animals running the street and would cause citizens to travel to other cities for pet services. Councilmember Melbye voiced his concern about using taxpayer dollars to go to a non-profit organization, which could cause other non-profits to request funds from the city. “This evening, when the resolution came forward to make grants to predetermined grantees. After that was passed, a council member motioned to offer the $5,000 to them again. There was significant discussion about it. Some council members wanted $10,000, some wanted $5,000, and some wanted none. But the motion was made, seconded, and passed to award Scruffy Tails $5,000 for their use of the purchase of kennels for cats and dogs.” After much discussion, the council approved the grant to Scruffy Tails with a 6-2 vote in favor, with Councilmembers Tom Vedbraaten and Wayne Melbye voting against the motion.
Calling Public Hearings for Projects 984-988
The council then did a series of resolutions calling for public hearings for the proposed assessment for five projects, mainly for people who would be affected by the construction of the roads. The first project (project 984) was a contract to improve First Avenue North – Stearns Street to Albert Street for $355,946.04.
The second project (project 985) was a contract to improve Second Avenue North – Stearns Street to Albert Street for $420,847.03.
The third project (project 986) was a contract to improve Sunflower Street – 3rd Avenue S to Crescent Avenue by reclamation and bituminous paving for $223,021.84.
The fourth project (project 987) was a contract to improve South Washington Avenue – Brower Street to East Robert Street by Bituminous Mill and Overlay for $68,002.22.
The fifth project (project 988) was a contract to improve Eickhoff Boulevard – 400ft North of Prairie Rose to Fisher Avenue by Bituminous wearing course for $91,815.37. The council approved all resolutions unanimously.
Public Hearing for Unpaid Water and Sewer Charges and Current Services
The final item on the agenda for the council was to approve a resolution to schedule a public hearing on November 28 to hear from people owning property affected by the services done by the Crookston Water Department. Corky Reynolds explained that there were certain items they had done and would allow the public to comment on the charges and services the city made. The council approved the motion unanimously.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION
City Administrator “Corky” Reynolds reported that he had met with various individuals in the airport, the Library, CHEDA, and he had even attended a webinar about cannabis sales, which gave him some ideas for a resolution about its sale and use. He would also invite many people to discuss working sessions for the creation of Childcare Centers and Housing and setting the tone for its discussion for 2023.
City Public Works Director Brandon Carlson reported that the air exchange at Station 4 was almost installed. There were issues with their lift station, which caused some discolored water due to high amounts of iron in the water, but that was clear now. He explained that Clean-Up Week had started this week, and the workers had completed their route for Monday, and he would send out letters to property owners with diseased trees that they were planning to remove.
Crookston Fire Department Chief Tim Frober reported that he was meeting with FEMA tomorrow to get reimbursed for some of their work. The department had also held an open house last Saturday and was pleasantly surprised with the number of people that had come from Crookston and even out of town. They were also in the process of looking for his next successor as Fire Chief and would have an answer in the coming weeks.
Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler reported he had given a presentation with Officer Don Rasicott for Emergency Preparedness at the Crookston School Board meeting earlier in the night. The department was also preparing for a Halloween Drive-through Party on October 31 at the west doors of the Crookston High School, where they would give candy and helpful trinkets.
Crookston City Clerk Ashley Rystad reminded the public to go and vote on November 8 for the general election. She reminded everyone that citizens living in Wards 1, 2, and 6 would have to go to St. Paul’s Lutheran Church to vote, and Wards 3, 4, and 5 would have to go to First Presbyterian Church. The polls will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.
