The Crookston City Council met Monday evening in the Crookston City Hall Council Chambers.
The Council approved the August 26 meeting minutes and the City of Crookston bills and disbursements of $518,183.00. It also passed a resolution regarding the donation of $18,100.00 from the Crookston Baseball Association and a resolution regarding the approval of the license renewals for 2024—Cement Mason.
The Regular Agenda for the meeting consisted of three items, with the third one being a late addition.
The first item was the approval of the Acquisition of real property and demolition of the structure located at 429 Riverside Avenue. “Basically, must be going back three years now,” said Mayor Dale Stainbrook. “We had a breach in the levy there; we were sandbagging and couldn’t hold the water back, and the man that owns the house got flooded out.” Mayor Stainbrook said that the owner was part of a buy-out years ago but that they opted to stay but have now sold to the city, and the house will be demolished, “Basically, the City owns the house now, so we got all the legal documents done so we can move forward and remove that house down there.”
The next item on the regular agenda was a resolution regarding a conditional use permit with respect to a conditional use permit with respect to parcel 82.00169.00 (on 2nd Street) in downtown Crookston. The owners had come to the August 26 City Council Meeting wanting to have an apartment on the first floor of the building. The item was tabled while the Council did some research and came back at this meeting and didn’t approve the resolution. “Once again, it doesn’t fit our Comprehension Plan for downtown,” said Mayor Dale Stainbrook. “I know years ago we did one on Fletcher, but at that time, we didn’t have a Comp Plan.” The owners of the property were clearly not too happy with Council’s decision and the Mayor says he understands that. “I understand their frustrations, I get it,” said Mayor Stainbrook. “But you know, I think if we don’t stay true to our word, following our housing study, our comp plan that it would open up a can of worms for more first-floor downtown apartments.”
The final, late addition to the regular agenda was a resolution approving City Administrator Jeff Shoobridges choice to be excluded from participating in the PERA Coordinated Plan. The Council approved the request. “I do believe in the American Entrepreneurial System, stock market, moving forward,” said Shoobridge. “In my previous city when I was in Madison Lake, I also signed for the Contribution Plan as opposed to the Coordinated Plan.”
Shoobridge said he wishes that this was an option for others, “ I feel bad that everyone doesn’t have the option because I think we should have the options, but I just believe very firmly that the American economic system can’t be beaten by anyone in the world, and that’s where I think I’m gonna get the best bang for my buck.” Shoobridge did mention, that his choosing the Contribution Plan will also save the City a small amount in the matched contributions.
During the Reports and Staff Recommendations portion of the Agenda, Mayor Stainbrook made notice of the troop of Boy Scouts sitting in attendance at tonight meeting. Troop 41, along with their Leader Gary Marsala sat in on tonight’s meeting as part of earning their Citizenship in Community Badge. The Mayor and Council thanked them for being there.
After the City Council Meeting adjourned, the Council went into Budget Workshop where they discussed the Administration and IT budgets. The meeting went smoothy.
The next City Council Meeting is August 23, at 5:30 p.m.
