The Crookston City Council held its first meeting of 2025 on Monday, January 6, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers. The meeting started with the Oath of Office for the Elected City Council Members Kristie Jerde, Clayton Briggs, Derek Brekken, and Morgan Hibma (see picture below..
The council approved task order approvals for work associated with Roadway and Corridor Improvements along Highway 2 through Crookston, which is concurrent with MnDOT updates and progress. “Both of these task orders, one is with SRF Consulting Group, and that is MnDOT and the City of Crookston’s Design Engineer for the upcoming Highway 2 project,” says Stephen Slick, Project Manager for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC. “Another task order with Advanced Engineering with regard to the Highway 2 project as well.”
What does getting the approval for these two task orders mean? “The task order with SRF is for easement acquisition on the city portion of the planned Highway 2 project,” says Slick. “Currently, with the design process, it’s looking like there will be 13 private parcels that will be temporarily impacted during construction, and as part of the construction process, what will have to occur is easements will have to be granted by landowners to facilitate the construction process.”
With SRF being the Design Engineer, it made sense for them to go ahead and go forward with the easement acquisition process on the City’s behalf. The cost for the professional consultant services SRF provides is $53,711.00 and includes time and expenses. The cost is reimbursable through state aid funding.
The task order for the Highway 2 project for Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC is to perform the engineering services for the Roadway and Corridor Improvements along Highway 2. This contract agreement is not to exceed $75,000. Approving both tasks now enables the surveys and research to get started so the project can move forward.
The city council approved a resolution asking for support to move forward with the Active Transportation Infrastructure full grant application previously discussed by the Council. The grant is for constructing a multi-use trail along 3rd Avenue SW and old Highway 75. The trail would extend the Fairfax Avenue trail to the intersection of Ampride and American Crystal Sugar, then near RiverView Health and Stenshoel Houske Funeral Home. “We found out there is a whole gap between the end of our Fairfax trail, and it doesn’t connect to downtown, it doesn’t go through the industrial park, it doesn’t go down Third Avenue, it doesn’t go down Highway 75, the old 75,” says Karie Kirschbaum, Community Development Director. “We have a lot of people trying to get to the Public Health, to RiverView, to New Flyer, to different jobs, and they are walking, and it might be ok in the summer when it’s light, but in the dark, it’s pretty dangerous.”
Kirschbaum said it was Mayor Stainbrook who said he would really like to see the trails connected. “The proposed trail extension starts at the west end of the old Fairfax trail. It will cross the railroad tracks, run up Third Avenue, and then connect to Old 75,” says Slick. “We are looking at keeping the trail on the South side of Third Avenue and the East side of Old 75 until it can connect up with the existing city sidewalks and infrastructure.”
The trails will provide safer access and walking roads for pedestrians, people who must go to work, and families who want to bike.” This approval allows Kirschbaum to finish writing the complete grant for the trail project. “We were given approval to write the complete grant,” says Kirschbaum. “I believe the grant is due January 17, so we have to have everything put together, at least the initial project, but once we get into the weeds, if we get approved, then we will really get into the drawings and looking at crossings.” Kirschbaum says there are some logistical challenges, such as crossing a railroad track, but that overall, everyone is very excited about the project and how it will benefit the community.
The AT grant will cover the site preparation, construction, and materials for the trail, landscaping around the trail, pedestrian crossing infrastructure, and other safety items such as pavement striping. The maximum AT grant award is $1,000,000. This application is due January 17, 2025.
Items not covered by AT grant:
• Engineering at 20% of project cost = $200,985
• Permits at 2.5% of project cost = $25,123
• Right of Way Acquisition at 6% of project cost = $60,295
To offset the costs not covered by the AT grant, the city will also pursue a Federal Recreational Trail Program Trail and Equipment grant from the MN Department of Natural Resources (DNR). The maximum trail grant award is $200,000. This application is due February 28, 2025.
The Federal Recreational Trail Program Trail and Equipment grant can cover capital and labor expenditures for facilities, equipment, other capital assets, materials and/or supplies, professional services, and project administration costs, provided that they do not exceed 20 percent of the project’s total cost. We would use this grant award to cover $200,000 of the AT grant’s engineering expenses (total = $200,985).
• Total project cost = $1,391,821
• AT grant award = $1,000,000
• Federal Recreational Trail grant award = $200,000
• City responsibility = $191,821; the source for these funds has yet to be confirmed but could be included in a future bond.
The consent agenda was approved and included Bills and Disbursements for $171,715.18. The council approved the official depositories for City of Crookston Public Funds for 2025 as United Valley Bank and Bremer Bank; and MN Municipal Money Market (4M fund)—League of Minnesota Cities, and Ehlers-Pershing Advisor Solutios, LLC.
The council approved using Tanner Holten of Harbott, Knutson, Larson and Holten PLLP as the city attorney again in 2025.
The appointment of Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC as the City Engineer for 2025. Advanced Engineering and Environmental Services, LLC was one of six companies that put in bids for the Engineering Firm position with the City of Crookston in 2024 and came in with the best bid .
The city council approved the following Gas Fitters: Economy Plumbing, Grove Mechanical, HN Quality Plumbing, Lunseth Plumbing & Heating, Proulx Refrigeration, Vilandre Heating & Air, Chris Plante Plumbing & Heating, Adams Heating & Cooling, Great Plains Natural Gas, Wilcox Plumbing & Heating, CHS, Inc. and Custom Aire, Inc. The council also approved the City of Crookston and Tony L. Anderson Construction, Inc. as cement masons.
There council approved license renewals for 2025 for:
Garbage Hauling: Alternative Sanitation, Waste Management, Inc. and Countrywide Sanitation Company and a theater license for Moore Family Theatres Inc. (The Grand Theatre)
There were multiple Appointments to Boards or Commissions for 2025. They are listed below.
The Airport Commission re-appointed Alan Brule and Dan Geist to a three-year term.
The Charter Commission re-appointed Donna Larson to a four-year term.
The Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority appointed Shannon Stassen and Wendy Ault.
The Library Board appointed Judy Meyer to a three-year term.
The Park Board appointed Mara Wiirre to a three-year term and reappointed Tim Moe and Lon Boike to three-year terms.
The Development Policy and Review Committee appointed Tom Skjei and re-appointed Nick Nicholas for three-year terms.
The Planning Commission appointed Mike LaFrance to a four-year term and reappointed Jennifer Tate.
The City Council Committee Composition for 2025 will be –
Charter Commission – Dylane Klatt and Derek Brekken
CHEDA – Morgan Hibma, Tim Menard
Crookston Visitors Bureau – Henry Fischer, Kristi Jerde
Development Policy & Review – Kristi Jerde, Henry Fischer
Downtown Crookston Development Board – Kristi Jerde
Library Board – Tim Menard
Pine to Prairie Drug Task Force – Clayton Briggs
Polk County Planning & Zoning – Don Cavalier
LIAISON TO:
Airport Commission – Derek Brekken
Chamber of Commerce – Don Cavalier
Golden Link – Clayton Briggs
Library Board – Tim Menard
Park Board – Dale Stainbrook
Planning Commission – Dylane Klatt
OTHER:
First Vice Mayor – Morgan Hibma
Crookston City Council members – Derek Brekken, Morgan Hibma, Kristi Jerde, and Clayton Briggs take the oath of office
Tags:
