The Crookston City Council met last night at the Crookston City Council chambers in the lower level of Crookston City Hall.
PRESENTATIONS AND PUBLIC INFORMATION ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Council began with a Proclamation read by Mayor Stainbrook, by the Benedictine Living Community, and RiverView Memory Care to recognize National Skilled Nursing Care Week for the week of May 8 to the 14. Mayor Stainbrook then recognized Karen Swatlowski and Ashley Melsa of the Benedictine Living Community and Kelly Beiswenger of RiverView with official documents of the Week’s recognition. A picture of them can be seen below.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Council’s Consent Agenda consisted of them approving the proposed City Council Minutes from their emergency meeting on April 23 and regular meeting on April 25. It also included the approval of all City of Crookston Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $446,407.63. The Council then approved the schedule of the Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) Meeting Agendas for their regular meeting on Tuesday, May 17, and their Special Meeting on Tuesday, May 31.
The Council approved all motions unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
The Regular Agenda included a Resolution supporting Dee Inc. Expansion Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development’s (DEED) creation of the Minnesota Investment Fund Incentive (MIF) Program. They asked for $242,000 to purchase equipment for 24 new jobs for Crookston over the next two years.
The Board then resumed a resolution they tabled during their last meeting on April 25, which was a sale for Tax Forfeited Non-Conservation Land property on Ingersoll Ave. for a price that Polk County has set for the Council to buy or have it conveyed to an adjacent landowner. The Board decided to purchase the property but first has to inform its owners, James D and Marlys R Johnson, of the sale and discuss a sale of their interest that they need for their driveway to cross the property. Then with a survey that the Council has already completed, Interim City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds feels that they can sell him a portion of the property to Johnson for his driveway. “Mr. Johnson and his son live adjacent to the property, and he has done a considerable amount of work looking at this. He supplied me with some of the documents, so I think we can come to a reasonable consensus about what needs to be done,” said Reynolds. The Council members rescinded their motions on the resolutions they made last week to approve the sale of the Tax Forfeited Non-Conservation Land property and approved a new resolution to take the survey to the Planning Commission with the sale after Reynolds discusses prices with Johnson and make a final movement.
The Council continued with a Resolution to approve support on behalf of Libraries across Minnesota regarding the Capital Project Fund. Interim Administrator Reynolds explained that multiple libraries across the state were asking for support from the Councils to send a letter to Governor Walz to assign or distribute $110 million to libraries across the state to allow them to help create internet infrastructure, repair their buildings, and complete other library service enhancements. They also hoped that the Crookston Public Library would then receive the funds as well. Councilmember Kristie Jerde voiced her support for the movement because many people still work remotely and rely on libraries for various essential needs. “Libraries provide access to people for health care, appointments, and legal services. That was what the Council wanted, and I will be drafting such a letter to Governor Walz,” Reynolds explained.
The Council then made a resolution approving a Master Partnership Contract with the Minnesota Department of Transportation to allow the City Engineers to enter contracts and agreements with the Department without having to go through the City Council every time.
The Board then began a discussion to set the final schedule for the Interviews for all of the visiting City Administrator Candidates coming on May 26-27. However, Councilmember Jerde voiced her concerns about the candidates because they lacked experience and questioned if any of them was the right person for the job and would work well with the City Council to help the City. Mayor Stainbrook and Councilmember Donald Cavalier shared her concerns with Councilmember Clayton Briggs, stating that he feels that the Council rushed the process a bit too quickly with the sense of urgency to find one quickly rather than find the best one. “The Council had a very vigorous discussion about the three candidates for the City Administrator position. The Conesus of the Council was that at this point, we do not want to interview any of those three candidates. The Council then indicated that they wished for me to seek out the process and procedures to start the City Administrator search again,” said Reynolds. “So the interviews that were to be set for the 26-27 of May will no longer occur.” The Council will begin a new procedure to find the next appropriate City Administrator for Crookston.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS
City Administrator Reynolds then read a letter of resignment from Economic Development Executive Director Robert Barnes Jr. Crookston Police Chief Darin Selzler approached the Council next, reporting that Polk County Deputy Heith Hanson is joining the force as a Sergeant on May 16, but that Officer Shane Mendez is resigning to go to the UND Aerospace Division on May 15. With him and another candidate choosing not to make a move to Crookston, the Police Department has two open positions that he will begin advertising for again.
Fire Chief Tim Froeber came up next and reported that the Red Lake River levels are predicted to rise to 22 feet with last weekend’s storms and expect that the numbers will change again later this week with the upcoming storms. He reported that he, the EOC, and the Polk County Emergency Manager will continue monitoring the river levels and continue to work until the State of Emergency is over.
Public Works Director Brandon Carlson came forward and reported that their 4th pump had sprung a leak, and they had tried to repair it over the weekend, but the backup pump for it broke as well. Currently, the leak is not hindering any of the water flow, so people are allowed to use water normally, but when they gather more materials and try to fix the pump again, they will inform the public as to when they need to reduce their water usage again.
The next City Council meeting will take place on Monday, May 23, at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
