The Crookston City Council met on Monday night in the Crookston City Hall Council Chambers in the lower level of Crookston City Hall.
CHEDA SPECIAL MEETING
Before the meeting began, the Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) met for a Special Meeting inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
After the Call to Order, the board began the approval of the payables. The first item was the CHEDA Checks for $38,555.68 and EFT bills totaling $2,148.74 for a total of $40,703.74. The other item was the end-of-month payroll and bills for August 1, for $63,637.29. The board approved all payments unanimously.
The next CHEDA meeting will take place on Tuesday, August 9, at noon at the Valley Technology Park.
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION
After the Call to Order for the meeting, the council heard a presentation from Crookston Area Community Funds Board Chairperson Shirley Iverson on Disaster Funds. She gave each council member a bulletin explaining that the community has used over $2 million to help with many projects around the community, such as building sheds and picnic areas in parks, many of the assets at the Crookston Sports Center, and Splash Park. She explained that the community had many spendable funds to donate to the various projects in Crookston. “You can always give a donation to the Crookston Area Community Fund, both for an active spendable fund to support the Sports Center, Parks and Recs, the Disaster funds, and downtown Crookston development,” Iverson explained. “You can also give a donation for an endowment, which grows for the community, and then all of the interest profits are spendable each year for grants.” She mentioned that the Crookston Disaster Relief Community funds had received $11,500 in donations after the spring flooding that leaked into parts of the city and used them to help pay for over $1 million in household damages. She explained that the community and the council can designate their funds to a specific account and wished to remind the council about them and the funds they give to projects around the community. If you wish to donate funds to the Crookston Area Community Funds, you can send them to PO Box 543, Crookston, MN, 56716, or contact Shirley at shirley.iverson@gmail.com.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Council’s Consent Agenda consisted of them approving the City Council Minutes from their meeting on July 11 and the approval of the City of Crookston Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $303,472.66. It also included appointing the Election Judges for Primary and General Elections for 2022. The final item on the Consent Agenda was a resolution to approve partial payments estimate No. 1 to R.J. Zavoral & Sons, Inc. on street improvements totaling $438,270.30 with a 5% retainage to make a total final of $416,356,78. The council approved the agenda unanimously. The list of judges can be seen down below.
Kathy Altringer, Marsha Odom, Carol Dufault, Ray Dusek, Joel Kulenkamp, Judy Meyer, Darcy Pester, Linda Cournia, Randy Beattie, Rebecca Rude, Lavonne Froemke, Debbie Domier, Gene Ovsak, Earl Hill, Karen Hanson, Geri Ovasak, Ashley Rystad, Beth Benoit, Paulette Melbye, Marlys Mjoen, Jan Kelly Kari Kujava, Jerome Knutson, Carol Weber, Bob Altringer, Jacalyn Coautte, Laureen Anderson, Mark Ecklund, Tom Skjei, Juli Tubby, Dennis Jacobs, Patti Benjamin, and Ryan Lindtwed.
REGULAR AGENDA
The only item on the Regular Agenda was a resolution to approve the Impound and Sheltering Services of Impounded Animals. Interim City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds explained that the city, through the Police Department, impounds shelters and cares for animals held to the Authority of Minnesota Statutes, but the city has never owned nor operated an animal impound shelter for the care and shelter of animals that the Police Department impounded. So, the Humane Society of Polk County Inc. Scruffy Tails Humane Society reviewed a proposed agreement for the impounding and sheltering services involving animals held to the authority of Minnesota Statutes and Crookston Ordinances. Police Chief Darin Selzler explained that the city would agree to pay $350 per month for five kennels for impound use and pay $18 each day for each animal impounded. The people would pay an initial impound fee of $15 with a $20 add-on for every day the city would have to hold the animals along with any other required veterinary care costs and other necessary fees. “It’s the same services we’ve always provided through the Humane Society, which is doing business with Scruffy Tails. It’s the service that we use for any impounded animals, cats or dogs, throughout the city,” Chief Selzler explained. “We’ve been working with them for many years and off a contract that’s been around since 2008. This is just a new contract with updated prices more applicable to today’s economy and inflation. So, nothing changes, it’s the same services that we’ve always provided, but our fees are going to be going up a little bit since we’ve been working off an old contract.” Chief Selzler expressed his hope that this would potentially help people come in and recover the animals that the police impound. As sadly, he reported that only 45% of the animals they find and impound are picked up by their owners. The board approved the motion unanimously.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The council then heard from Police Chief Darin Selzler reminded everyone that Night To Unite was on Tuesday, August 2, from 4:30 to 7:30 p.m., and encouraged many of the Council members and department members to come out. He is also working with the Ox Cart Days Committee about what events they needed to be covered with police security.
Fire Chief Tim Froeber then came forward, thanking Shirley for all the help they’d provided during the spring floods. He also mentioned that on Thursday, July 28, the fire department will install a new fire siren by the Holiday Gas Station and test it on Friday.
Public Works Director Brandon Carlson reported that street improvements are still coming along, but they have pushed the blacktop paving dates back until the second week of August. The Street Crews had been busy cleaning up the mess from the storm on Friday night and believe they should be finished by the end of the week.
Parks and Recreation Director Jake Solberg reported that they are continuing to maintain the fields and parks and that the Sub State Tournament went well. He also said that the pool had a high Ph level on Saturday and high chlorine on Monday morning, which he had to come in and fix and get the pool opened by 9:30 a.m. He also explained that starting every weekend, there will be someone on call for the pool if anyone has any problems so they can fix any problems that arise. When asked about some of the pool issues, he explained that he purchased a new monitor that monitors the pool’s chemical levels and currently is not sure why there have been problems with it, but he is working with the contractor to try and figure that out. They will finish summer programs on August 4 and open fall programs by September.
Ward 2 Council member Steve Erickson revealed that he will not be running for the 2022 Primary and General Elections this summer and is open for a new candidate.
The next City Council meeting will take place on Monday, August 8, at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
