The Crookston City Council met Monday evening at the council chambers of Crookston City Hall.
Items approved on the consent agenda were the minutes from the September 23 and 30 meetings and the payment of bills and disbursements in the amount of $739.382.60. The board also approved resolutions regarding the City of Crookston Liability Coverage Waiver Form, updating bank information at Bremer and United Valley Banks, and having Todd Johnston fill an opening on the Planning Commission. The Council also approved a Cement Mason License for Klemmetsen Concrete. Item 6.08, a resolution regarding approving a Garbage Hauling License for Countrywide Sanitation and Waste Management, was removed from the consent agenda for discussion in the regular agenda where it was approved.
RED RIVER VALLEY WINTER SHOWS LAND
The regular agenda this evening included a resolution regarding the rezoning of parcels 82.00162.00 & 82.00162.15, and 82.00162.16 in the City of Crookston. The council approved the resolution. This approval allows the rezoning from Rural Commercial R-C to Commercial Shopping District C-3. This rezoning is being done ahead of the RRVWS being purchased by the City for future development.
TRI-VALLEY DONATES BUILDING/LAND TO THE CITY
The city council approved a resolution regarding the donation of the Tri-Valley building to the City of Crookston. Tri-Valley, a private, nonprofit organization, donated the Tri-Valley building in downtown Crookston, legally described as Parcel 82.00664.00, to the City of Crookston. “The resolution for tonight was for the council to accept the donation of the Tri-Valley property at 102 N Broadway,” said Jason Carlson, Tri-Valley Opportunity Council CEO. “Going back to 2018, Tri-Valleys Board indicated a willingness to convey the property to the city,” Carlson says they knew they were moving, and because of some safety concerns by the board members, they said if the city was interested that it would be an option when we actually made our move. “I was the last one to move out in April of 2023, so it’s been about a year and a half,” said Carlson. “We did take some time to clean out completely and were storing some things in there as a matter of convenience.”
After holding on to the building for a while, Carlson says it was time to make the offer to the city. “The board decided we would also offer $50,000 in cash or professional services because we didn’t know if there was any asbestos remaining in the building,” says Carlson. “And also, we wanted to provide the city with some options for redevelopment of the site, so we engaged with a group that helped us with Agassiz Town Homes; they are actually going to be in town this week, and we are going to be giving the city a report, and we will have all of the asbestos abated by the time we convey the deed to the city.”
Carlson told the City Council tonight that the $50,000 that is the original donation will fall short of covering the report and abatement. “Tri-Valleys board has said that if it goes slightly beyond that number, that they are ok with that.”
CITY ADMINISTRATOR CONTRACT
The Council approved a resolution updating City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge’s employment contract regarding time earned. A conflict in wording had been identified within Shoobridge’s employment agreement and will be changed.
LOANS FOR OPTICARE AND REAL GOOD BATH AND BODY
Two resolutions were passed Monday regarding loans to Opticare and Real Good Bath and Body LLC. Council Member Morgan Hibma explains. “This is a Small Cities Development Program Rehabilitation Loan,” says Hibma. “This is money through a grant from DEED, where small businesses can come and ask for a loan to update their current businesses.”
Opticare will have a $40,000 loan with the most visible part of the project being a new roof at their new location. Real Good Bath and Body will receive a $38,400 loan.
MnDOT Active Transportation Program Grant
The Council approved a resolution regarding a letter of intent with respect to the MnDOT Active Transportation Program Grant. City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge explains that this is an exciting program. “It’s going to allow us to connect a lot of our sidewalks and pathways throughout the city, and it’s a zero match grant, so MnDOT is going to pay for the whole project if we are awarded,” says Shoobridge. “It will give us a lot more walkability and a lot more access between businesses and between sites in town.”
After the City Council Meeting was adjourned, the Council held a Workshop on Cannabis and the City’s Financial Position.
Cannabis
The council discussed whether to investigate Municipal Cannabis. The council agreed to explore having a municipal cannabis shop and it would possibility provide tax revenue for the city. The cost to start up the City owned Cannabis shop would be an estimated $3 million. The City would get eight percent of the tax collected and having the shop is a possible revenue stream for the City of Crookston. There will be more discussion in the future and KROX will have a more in-depth story on this later this week or early next week.
Financial Position/Budget Discussion
City Administrator Jeff Shoobridge gave a presentation to the Council on the city’s current financial position. Shoobridge explained that he wanted to paint a picture of where the city is compared to East Grand Forks. He gave a slide presentation and compared the East Grand Forks swimming pool, which is outdoors and only open for a few months and loses $60,000 per year while Crookston’s is open year-round in loses over $300,000 a year. There was discussion on going from three to two sheets of ice at the Crookston Sports Center and having turf down in the third arena. The discussion will continue as they continue to look at the budget. “Many Council Members had identified, prior or during my hiring process, their desire for regular updates on the city’s financial status,” says Shoobridge. “And as we are in budget season, I want to make sure that the Council is fully aware of where our current situation is so we can put our best foot forward.” KROX will have more on this story in the next week as well.
Shoobridge says he just wants to keep the Council updated while they try to move forward with what is best for the residents. “I just felt it was really important for the Council to understand where we are and where we’ve been and how we can move forward into the future.”
To watch the full budget discussion and the full City Council meeting, click on the video below.
