The Crookston City Council met on Monday night at City Hall. The meeting consisted of only items on the consent agenda and one public presentation during the Crookston Forum. Passed on the consent agenda were the Council Minutes from the January 14 meeting and resolutions approving bills and disbursements in the amount of $690,887.47, approving Confidence Learning Center’s application for a lawful gambling premise permit at the Eagles, approving both the budgeted and unbudgeted mower purchase for Parks and Recreation, approved the appointment of candidates to boards and commissions, approving the preliminary and final plat of Barrette Street Estates Plat 2, receiving the report and calling for a public hearing on the 2019 street improvements, approving an amendment to the Street Improvement Special Assessment Policy and conforming the comprehensive plan for Outlot A1, A2, and A3 of Barrette Street.
The consent agenda also included three resolutions assigning interim roles of Floodplain Administrator, Zoning Administrator, and Building Official. The interim roles will be held until a search for Matt Johnson’s replacement is completed explains City Administrator Shannon Stassen. “Pat Kelly, our Public Works Director, has agreed on an interim basis to do the Floodplain management and Zoning administration for us,” said Stassen. “Again, on an interim basis as we search. Brad Bail with WSN out of East Grand Forks will cover our Building Official. He’s an engineer over there that has the Building Official license. He’ll take care of that for us with plan reviews and some of the more detailed stuff. We do have some people who can do some of the inspection work, but we do need a licensed person, and Brad is willing to cover that for us for the time being.”
The final resolution on the consent agenda was calling for a public hearing on approval of TIF District 3-11 explained Finance Director Angel Weasner. “TIF District 3-11 is the Fournet Building,” said Weasner. “We’re creating a redevelopment district to help with taxes on that building. Taxes are frozen and will be distributed to County, School, and City. The difference between the amount and the final taxes will be returned to the developer to help with payments on his loans.”
The Council also heard from Xavier Davis during the Crookston Forum portion of the meeting. Davis is concerned about the lack of affordable transportation at night, especially for night shift workers. Davis started talking with community members after learning the price for Ampride Taxi Service had increased and while Davis says he understands they are a business there are plenty of people struggling with affordable transportation. He also said he would be attending a transportation meeting with Tri-Valley in February to bring up his concerns and that while he is just one guy, people are struggling, and they need a voice. Several council members expressed support for Davis including councilman Jake Fee who said he’d like to attend that meeting as well if possible. Councilwoman Cindy Gjerswold said that while the meeting isn’t technically public Davis had been invited to voice his concerns adding that there are logistical issues for Tri-Valley with their transportation grant if they were looking at expanded hours.
CROOKSTON CITY COUNCIL APPROVES TIF DISTRICT, INTERIM POSITION ASSIGNMENTS
