The Crookston City Council met on Monday night at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers in the lower level of City Hall.
CHEDA SPECIAL MEETING
Before the meeting began, the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority met to approve their financials for the month of August. The first item was to approve the payables CHEDA Checks from August 22-31 totaling $66,324.11 and the September Housing Assistant Payments (HAP) checks totaling $61,409. The board approved both motions unanimously.
PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENT
After the Call to Order, the Council first heard from Tracee Bruggeman from BradyMartz Accounting Firm on the city’s Audited Financial Statements for 2021. Bruggeman said that the city had no instances of non-compliance but noted that in recent years there had been multiple changes within the City Administration and encouraged the Financial Department to review its policies and procedures to ensure the processes are done properly. “She made a recommendation that the city reviews its policy and procedure because of the number of individuals that have occupied positions of an administrator or financial director or both positions, and we look back and see what policies we followed and analyze those policies in the future to make sure that they are providing the security and depth that is needed to make our financial statements accurately reflect the city’s position,” Interim City Administrator “Corky” Reynolds explained. Reynolds explained that he and Finance Director Ryan Lindtwed were reviewing the policies and working with the city staff to understand their financial statements better and are seeking accountants and CPAs that could assist them in the creation and presentation of the city’s financial statements.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Council’s Consent Agenda consisted of them approving the City Council Minutes from the meeting on August 8 and the approval of the City of Crookston Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $280,481.67. The Council approved the agenda unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
The Regular Agenda included a resolution to approve the City of Crookston Redistricting Ward Boundaries. Interim City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds explained that in May, a resolution was passed to detach property from the city, legally described as Government Lot 10 Section 31 Township 150 North Range 46, by the Sisters of Saint Benedict Monastery that was given to the Biermaier family. He said that the Planning Commission had recommended accepting the ward boundaries after their meeting on Tuesday, August 16, as there are no people or property in that area. As part of the ordinance for the amendments to the boundaries, the Council began to prepare a public hearing to amend City Code Chapter 11, entitled “Ward Boundaries,” and other procedures the Council will have to partake in. “When there is an amendment to an ordinance in the city of Crookston, you first have to have a first reading of the ordinance and call for a Public Hearing, so people can come and comment on the proposed ordinance amendment. That has been done and will be held on September 12,” Reynolds explained. “After the public comment, there’s a second reading. Then at the following meeting, there’s a vote by the Council as to whether to amend the ordinance.” The Council approved all motions unanimously.
Ottertail Power Company Electric Line Easements
The Council finished the meeting with resolutions to approve Ottertail Power Company an Electric Line Easement for the Water Plant and Ag Innovation. Planning Commission head Greg Hefta approached the Council to explain that Ottertail had requested an easement for an underground electric power line to provide a secondary electrical line to the Crookston Water Plant to use as a secondary source of power. Public Works Director Brandon Carlson explained that the line would be good for the plant as a line had broken during the winter, and the plant was required to use a generator to run at one point. Reynolds said Ottertail had also requested another easement to have an electric line approved to pass through 30 feet of city property to the Ag Innovation Campus. Reynolds explained that the Planning Commission had reviewed, approved, and recommended both easements in their meeting last Tuesday. The board approved both easements unanimously.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Interim City Administrator “Corky” Reynolds reported he had met with several people about clarity on the Transient Merchant License and wanting to purchase land in the city. He had also been working with Ryan Lindtwed to complete a lot of the budgets for the year.
Crookston Parks and Recreations Director Jake Solberg then approached the Council to thank the Ox Cart Days Committee for their work for Ox Cart Days and to his staff for their work in preparing it. He then reported that they had started their compressor in the Crookston Sports Center to make ice for the Blue Line Club, and they hope to have ice made by tomorrow. Solberg also noted that 5th-6th grade tackle football will begin tomorrow and has over twenty kids apart of the program and 5th-6th grade Youth Volleyball begins on September 7, and 3rd-5th grade Volleyball starts on September 10. When asked about when he would meet with the University of Minnesota Crookston about holding a Curling league in the Sports Center and with them selling alcohol during competitions, Solberg said he had already met with them, and the league would begin on January 11 and go through February 15 in the Gold Arena with matches happening on Wednesday nights. However, he mentioned that they had to revise their alcohol selling provisions. Interim Administrator Reynolds said it would have further discussions and public hearings in the future.
Public Works Director Brandon Carlson then approached the Council to report that the department had worked hard for Ox Cart Days and thanked Ox Cart Days Committee for their work over the week. He noted that the department is moving some trees to add blacktop patches over by the Dairy Queen. He also pointed out that the first levels of blacktop had been poured on Sunflower Street and First and Second Ave, and South Washington Street.
IT Director Chad Palms informed the Council that he had been working with Chief Darin Selzler to update their locker and storage center and have been working to place the service and networking equipment for their new data center.
WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE
The Ways & Means Committee soon met after the meeting to discuss multiple budgets for 2023.
The first budget discussion was for the Mayor. Finance Director Ryan Lindtwed asked Mayor Stainbrook if there were any changes he wanted to make to it. Stainbrook noted that it was similar to his budget from last year and would be fine with the budget if he is re-elected in November.
The subsequent budget discussion was for the City Administrator. Reynolds noted that there would be a $90,000 increase as the City Clerk position had transferred over to this department from the Finance Department.
The following budget discussion was for the Finance Department. Lindtwed noted that with the City Clerk moving into the City Administrator’s area, he had hired another Account Clerk to help complete duties that have been done by the Finance Director, Accountant, and City Clerk to let them complete their duties. “This clerk will be completing the duties of processing accounts, accounts payable, and other accounts. Those duties have been performed by the Finance Director himself, as well as Kathy Carlson and the City Clerk, Ashley Rystad,” said Reynolds. “With the hiring of this individual, the responsibilities and duties in which the Finance Director, the accountant, and the City Clerk will be removed from them so they can have more time to do their duties, and we’ll have someone specifically trained to carry out those accounts payable and accounts processing here in the city.”
The next budget discussion was for the Election. Lindtwed said he had trained to be an election judge and said he had taken the miscellaneous items and added $8,000 to replace their equipment to have them upgraded for the next election.
The next budget discussion was about the Audit. Lindtwed said that they had signed a $35,000 contract to have an outside entity moderate them to ensure they don’t commence any liabilities, and they were currently searching for CPAs to recommend to the committee.
The following budget discussion was for the Legal Department. Lindtwed said he and Corky had left it the same, and they are Harbott, Knutson, Larson & Holten Law Firm, and there were conflicts within the firm and would refer other matters to another law firm in East Grand Forks. He noted that they were good but cost double the amount as the firm he was from.
The final budget discussion was for the EDA. He said they had met with Theresa Tahran. Corky explained that he had met with Kari Kirschbaum, saying she was ready to begin work and would officially start on September 19.
The next City Council meeting will be on Monday, September 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.
