The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority met on Thursday, December 12, at 7:00 a.m. at Valley Technology Park.
The board members approved the agenda for the meeting, meeting minutes from October 30, 2024, and November 7, 2024, and the Consent Agenda. Next, the board approved the Crookston Housing and EDA Payables.
Theresa Tahran gave the housing Report. In her report, Tahran says that they are getting ready to replace all cameras at Oak Court and that work on a downtown apartment building that incurred extensive water damage is almost complete. Tahran also noted that Public housing is currently 97% full with a long waiting list. She was complimented on how quickly her department has been able to turn over vacancies, flip them, and fill them.
Tahran also mentioned that she would apply for the remaining Small Cities Development grant money for the camera replacement project at Oak Court. There is currently around $2,600 left in that fund, which is not enough for any development project in the city for the remainder of 2024.
The board moved on to old business with some exciting topics to discuss. “We were really excited that we received a letter dated November 11, but we just got it in December here, obviously, that says thank you for applying for the Childcare Strategic Supply Plan,” says Community Development Director Karie Kirschbaum. “I am happy to share that the City of Crookston has been awarded this process by the First Children’s Finance,” Krischbaum says. This means they will be working with the EDA on looking at the supply chains. There have been a lot of changes in childcare in Crookston; some businesses have closed, and others are trying to open. “As everyone knows, childcare is a huge issue, and so the city has really been working hard to backfill and just to do whatever we can to support what is happening,” says Kirschbaum. “Hopefully, maybe even open doors to create new things for that.”
Kirschbaum also talked about Housing Development in the old business part of the agenda. “We are excited to say that we have been awarded a Technical Assistance Award, a consultant, through the Greater Minnesota Housing Fund,” says Kirschbaum. “The Consultant, Brianna Rothstein, of Thrive Consulting, pretty much runs the gamut of every kind of housing grant or opportunity,” Kirschbaum says Rothstein has worked with Minnesota Housing and Minnesota Public Housing and has a real wealth of knowledge on the different programs. “So what we are looking at with them is looking at all the different programs that the government has made available through different tax breaks, loans and grants and to use those to be able to get houses built in Crookston,” says Kirschbaum. “It’s one thing to fix our houses, but we also need to get some new houses for people to live in.”
On the regular agenda for the meeting, the Board approved the 2025 Budget. The revenue for 2025 has decreased some as CHEDA will not be receiving as much from HUD, but overall, the budget was looking good, says Kirschbaum. “ Yeah, we are looking really good, I want to thank Nick Nicholas and Tom Skjei for working with us on that budget, and Theresa Tahran, our housing director,” says Kirschbaum. “It turned out to be a good year; every year, we are getting stronger and stronger in our capacity and being able to really serve the community, so we are really happy with the results of it.” The board approved the 2025 Budget unanimously. The next item wsa for the board to approve a resolution approving the 2025 Budget, this is needed for HUD and the board approved.
Taylor Wyum, a staff member at the EDA, was looking for approval to apply for a Local Climate Action Grant at the meeting. “It’s a grant for up to $50,000 for different weatherization and that type of thing,” says Kirschbaum. “We will be working with the University of Minnesota Extension.” The grant is called the Emerging Small Minnesota Communities Grant. The partnership and labor of the University of Minnesota Extention will be the in-kind match for the grant. Kirschbaum says they will identify the things they would like to do with the grant monies and apply this week. The board unanimously approved the application.
On the main agenda was also an invoice for Houston Engineering and an update on the Industrial Park. “We finished our final engineering for the US EDA Grant for Public Works,” says Kirschbaum. “Right now, all the engineering is completed; we are just waiting for one little report to come back.” The board approved the invoice payment for the completion of work by Houston Engineering.
The next two items on the agenda concerned setting up the RRV Winter Shows Grounds as a TIF District and getting a few things to the City Council in the future to continue with that project. “Just a recommendation as we move forward with the proposed TIF District out at the Red River Valley Winter Shows,” says Kirschbaum. “Although there will be a final vote for the council, to receive that grant, so, that is not assured yet.” In the meantime, Krischbaum says they are moving forward with the project, which would be to create a TIF District. The board approved the TIF Schedule and Supported the Modification of TIF District for the RRV Winter Shows Ground.
The next item concerned Vertical Malt, a company that was promised land to develop back in 2019. However, the job had to be stopped because the land was used for something else. The Board unanimously approved writing off $36,000 because Vertical Malt was not at fault for its inability to proceed.
There was also a USDA-RBDG Loan Request, and Rev Loan Request brought to the board for approval. The USDA Loan is for $50,000, and the REV Loan is for $75,000. The board approved the requests from their end with 3.25% interest on both loans. This will return to the Development, Policy, and Review Committee on December 17, 2024.
The last item on Thursday morning’s agenda was for the board to approve a write-off of a revolving loan taken out by Immaculate Lawn in 2023. Business owner Jonathan Stapp was given a loan of $2,500 a year for ten years, totaling $25,000 over ten years. Back when Stapp applied for the loan, he said that he wanted to build credibility so that if he wanted to get another loan, he could return and get one. It was discussed Thursday that his loan went into deferment at a point where only two or three payments had been made, and since coming out of deferment, no payments have been started back up. The board approved the write-off of the loan but will continue with collections.
Finally, the Board and CHEDA thanked both Nick Nicholas and Tom Skjei for their years of service to the board, as today’s meeting was their last.
