The Crookston City Council met Monday night and began the night with the Crookston Forum, an opportunity for members of the public to bring up topics not already on the agenda. During the Forum Shaun Ness addressed the Council about an incident that was referred to during the March 26 meeting by Elizabeth Boucher as part of her request the City of Crookston looks into adding “more teeth” to its dangerous dog ordinance. Ness said he had a statement from a police officer and sworn testimony from the victim to contradict what Boucher had told the council. “I am said owner of the supposed dangerous dog,” said Ness. “I have proof from both a police officers statement and a sworn testimony that the woman who brought this up lied to this council. Her son, she had said, was on the sidewalk walking their dog. I have sworn testimony from him in court and the police officer’s report that states he was in my backyard at 10:00 p.m. at night trying to find his dog.”
Ness also asked about trespassing, saying he believed trespassing was anyone not invited on your property being there. Police Chief Paul Biermaier explained that unless someone is asked to leave, has received written notification or there are posted and signed no trespassing signs being on a property is not trespassing. Ness also said he wanted to set the record straight on this instance. Asked by Councilman Tom Vedbraaten if this had been the only issue with the dog Ness said, “They’ve had another problem with it, but the case I’m speaking of our dog was labeled potentially dangerous after that. The way I saw it, was my dog was protecting his property, his yard, from somebody running around. The second time he got out, yes, there was an incident where he ended up getting maced. I’m just up here to get the other half of the story out that she had said.”
The council thanked Ness for speaking with them and Mayor Guy Martin closed the Forum.
Martin then issued a proclamation declaring the month of May as National Oncology Nursing Month during the council meeting at City Hall. The council approved the consent agenda, including two checks that were initially questioned by Councilman Bobby Baird.
Baird questioned two checks, no. 061401 and 061404. One was a check originally mislabeled, which had been corrected in the updated packet. The second, 061404 related to a trophy purchase from a company outside of Crookston that Baird said shouldn’t happen when there are three businesses that provide that service in town. Parks and Recreation Director Scott Riopelle explained he was contacted by the Mites hockey program for help after they decided last minute to order plaques and weren’t able to get them in time locally. Riopelle said the Mite program would be repaying the City of Crookston for the purchase. Baird said he was okay as long as the money was getting repaid, but said the City of Crookston shouldn’t purchase outside of town without getting local quotes first.
Nobody was present to speak during a public hearing for on the Business Subsidy Agreement and Assumption Agreement for The Meadows, LLC. Following the closing of the public hearing, a resolution to approve the agreements passed unanimously. City of Crookston Finance Director Angel Weasner explained that the new business, The Meadows, LLC, purchasing The Meadows Apartments will be assuming responsibility for the business subsidy loan as part of their purchase. “The Meadows was a company created to purchase The Meadows Apartment complex in Crookston,” said Weasner. “There was a business subsidy loan given to the previous company and balanced needs to be repaid yet. The new company will be assuming that balance with the same interest rate. The balance is approximately $200,000 and they have 8 years to pay it off.”
The Council also approved the hiring of Scott Elliott Hendrickson Inc (SEH) as the Airport Engineering Consultant for completing the master plan required by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
