The Crookston City Council met on Monday in the City Hall council chambers.
RAPID ASSESSMENT REPORT OF CROOKSTON FINANCE DEPARTMENT
The meeting continued with a presentation regarding the Rapid Assessment of the city’s Finance Department, which Lifton Larson Allen LLP conducted out of St. Cloud. “This is a very common assessment, and more cities should probably go through with this assessment,” said Lifton Larson Allen employee Bill Conboy, “From the ones I’ve done, the problems are all similar. And everything I presented, I think, was expected.”
Highlighted issues that the report showed was the lack of technology circulating within the Finance Department, making payroll quite tricky. Another issue presented was the lack of staffing in the department and how that has caused challenges in getting audits and other reports to the council in a timely manner. “They have to add capability capacity,” said Conboy. “They’re very short in staff capabilities and quantity; they have to get more, get more technology. The ERP system would go a long way toward that; the system they have now is old, outdated, and cumbersome.”
MAIN AGENDA
The council reviewed the resolution to prepare the Preliminary Engineer’s report for the 2024 city street improvements. The public works department and engineering services have recommended streets that need improvement as soon as this summer. “What needs to happen is the engineer prepares a preliminary report,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds. “The report states what needs to be done and then makes a preliminary estimate about what that cost is to complete the work.” The council approved the order for the preparation of the engineer’s report.
The council also approved the resolution regarding the United States Environmental Protection Agency, Climate, Pollution, Reduction grant. The Federal Government has indicated billions in funding to help reduce carbon footprints. The state has since applied for a portion of that funding. “The state of Minnesota, through UMC and the osmosis out there,” said Reynolds, “Has asked us to participate in the application to receive a part of the money that the state will receive. This will involve homes in (Wards) 1, 2, and 4, and there could be as much as $22 million coming into Crookston for residents in those wards.”
The funds can potentially be used for analysis of structure and adjustments that could made with insulation, water heaters, flooring, etc. Ultimately, money can also be used to repair homes that need these improvements.
The final item the council approved was a recommendation brought by the Development and Policy Committee regarding the Intermediary Relending Program (IRP) loan application, which the committee reviewed for CRK Coffee (doing business as) Scooter’s Coffee. Scooter’s Coffee is looking to open a location in Crookston in the North Half of the Opticare building on 2nd Street. The loan will be worth up to $250,000.
WINTER WALK TO SCHOOL DAY
The meeting began with Mayor Dale Stainbrook partaking in the proclamation regarding the Winter Walk to School Day. Winter Walk to School Day comes from the Safe Routes to Schools program and promotes prioritizing child safety when biking or walking to school. It also advocates for children’s physical activity and the mental benefits that come from it. February 7 has now been declared Winter Walk to School Day in the city of Crookston.
CONSENT AGENDA
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the January 8 council meeting and the acceptance of bills and disbursements in the amount of $860,269.97. It also included the approval of the resolution regarding payment for the 2023 street improvement rebid, approving the Manufactured Home Park Evacuation Plan, and authorizing a grant contract agreement for the Violent Crime Enforcement Teams (VCET) for 2024-25. The final item was the approval of the Gas Fitters and Cement Mason license renewal for 2024.
To view the full meeting, click here.
