The Crookston City Council met on Monday night in the City Hall council chambers.
The meeting began with public hearings regarding the street assessment on Project 990. Project 990 is which pertains to the capital improvements and costs of the Alexander Street improvement. The total cost of this project is in the amount of $589,668.
The public hearing also called for proposed assessments for unpaid water and sewer charges and for current services. It was established that the city will be able to assess bills that are overdue to property owners.
There were no community members who spoke during the public hearing.
The council approved a resolution regarding the declaration of Slum and Blighted areas in Crookston. “This is a declaration that certain areas in the city of Crookston are designated as Slums and blighted,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds, “This declaration is absolutely necessary so the city of Crookston can apply for a community development block grant program funding, which would allow improvements in areas of Crookston such as Ward 4, and Ward 1.”
The council followed by approving the resolution to submit a preliminary grant application to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) regarding the slum and blighted areas. The grant application is in respect to the rehabilitation of residential properties in the downtown Crookston area as well as homes and buildings in Ward 4 and Ward 1. DEED will review the preliminary application and decide if Crookston has enough merit to be selected. If selected, the city is looking to receive up to $1.2 million from this program.
The council received recommendations to approve resolutions regarding acceptance of the external auditor’s report and the audit of the City of Crookston financial statements, as well as the engagement of Clifton Larson Allen, LLP to perform specific accounting services. These were presented to the Ways and Means Committee on Monday, November 6, in which the committee recommended the city council to approve, and both resolutions were approved.
The council also approved the resolution regarding a working agreement with the Crookston Fire Association for the years 2024-2026. “This will be in contributions for things they need to buy,” said Reynolds, “Things like equipment, volunteers, those types of things. In addition, the city supplies training, and it will help with maintenance like fire engines.”
Previously, the city contributed approximately $41,000 to the agreement in 2024, the city will pay the amount of $52,000 to the Crookston Fire Association.
The consent agenda included the approval of minutes from the October 23 and 30 city council board meetings. It also included the approval of bills and disbursements in the amount of $1,312,703.81.
To watch the full meeting, click here.
