The Crookston City Council met last night at the Crookston City Council chambers in the lower level of Crookston City Hall. The meeting began with the Swearing-in Ceremony of Police Officer Mitchel with his family and fellow police officers. Pictures of his swearing-in can be seen below.
CONSENT AGENDA
The Council’s Consent Agenda consisted of them approving the proposed City Council Minutes from their last meeting on April 11 and all City of Crookston Bills and Disbursements in the amount of $241,514.38. The Council then approved the 2022 License Renewals for Walmart Fireworks and Gas Fitting and Cement Mason. The final item on the Consent Agenda was the resolution to approve a donation for Park Benches with respect to Karen Arel.
The Council approved all motions unanimously.
REGULAR AGENDA
The Regular Agenda included resolutions to approve a sale for Tax Forfeited Non-Conservation Land property on Ingersoll Ave. for a price that Polk County has set. After much discussion, the Council was not satisfied that for several years multiple people had bought the property and forfeited it for taxes. It also had a small issue with a point of the property holding a piece of the owner’s driveway. “The Council asked me to meet with the County in terms of not conveying it before we have a solution for this individual’s driveway and the amount of the taxes,” Interim City Administrator Charles “Corky” Reynolds explained. “The Council just had a sense that to allow an individual who had owned it, forfeited for taxes, then come back and buy it for a smaller amount just wasn’t in the best interest for the City,” he added. The Council chose to table the item for now to allow Interim Administrator Reynolds a chance to find out what options are available to them, how they could accommodate the individual, or get some money out of the sale for the City.
The Council continued with a resolution to approve an amendment with the University of Minnesota regarding the Occupancy of Elise Anderson in Suite 101 at Valley Technology Park as her lease ended that night, and the Council wanted to renew a one-year lease for her to continue her occupancy. The next item on the Agenda was to approve a Lawful Gambling Premise Permit at the Minakwa Golf Course for the Crookston Firefighters Association. The Council then made a resolution to call for a Public Hearing for Dee Manufacturing, LLC Expansion to sponsor assistance in the form of a forgivable loan using dollars sourced from the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) through its Minnesota Investment Fund (MIF) Program. The Council followed that up with a resolution regarding the support of a new program created by Dee Manufacturing LLC known as the Job Creation Fund Application. The Board then heard from Dee Manufacturing Representative Paul Cwickla, who explained that the Fund would reward businesses for retaining jobs in the State and bringing new jobs to the State, explaining that they plan to create over 30 new jobs in the next three years.
The Council approved all motions unanimously.
The Board then added two items to the Agenda. The first was to discuss the MNDOT Open House on Thursday, April 28th, and to discuss the interviews for the City Administrator candidates. Interim City Administrator Reynolds noted that due to the recent events with the flooding of Red Lake River, it may be difficult to bring some people to City Hall and limit the citizen participation that they hope for. And with Thursday having rain predicted in the forecast, many believed it would be better to move it to make it easier for the public and others to come to it. The new date for the MNDOT Open House will be discussed with an MNDOT representative for a later date but try to maintain the same timeline they have. A similar discussion began about the City Administrator candidates visit next week as the Council was unsure if the dikes would be taken down and have the river in safer conditions by the time they were scheduled to come on Monday, May 2, and Tuesday, May 3. Reynolds also reported that one of the candidates had dropped their candidacy. Some Council members believed that it would be a good time for the candidates to let them know what exactly they’re signing up for, with the potential of floods and other disasters being a part of the job they are applying for. Other Council members and City Department heads voiced their concerns that they wouldn’t be able to properly assess the candidates with all the things happening around the town. “The debate was that these interviews for the three finalists are set for May 2nd and 3rd. With our present high water event, is that enough time for the Department Heads here in the City to do their research about these candidates, and is it appropriate to bring them into this situation and see our City during this time,” Interim Administrator Reynolds explained. “We want to contact the organization that’s bringing these candidates in to see if we can move these candidates in to see if we can move that date back a bit to give all of us who have been working during this high water event a little more time to settle back and do our research and bring them in at an opportune time,” he added. Interim Administrator Reynolds agreed to discuss other dates with the candidate’s agency for when they could potentially set a new date.
REPORTS AND STAFF RECOMMENDATION
City Administrator Reynolds thanked the public and the Departments for all of their work during the flood this weekend and also to other people outside of the community that came to help with fighting the flood. Chief Tim Froeber came forward saying much of the same and reported that they are continuing to do a 24-hour watch of the levees and will do everything with the National Guard and Emergency Operations Center to keep the town safe. He reported that more rain is coming later this week but that there is no ice in the river to cause any jams and expects an inch or two of rain. He also reported that he’d seen many citizens standing on the levees that are not volunteers or National Guard members and greatly advised them not to stand on the levees as they are private property and people on them are trespassing in great danger. Public Services Director Brandon Carlson approached the Council next, saying that he is meeting with the County Engineer and Watershed Districts to figure out a Water Modeling Plan. He also mentioned that the Public Works Department and EOC are prepared for the upcoming rain forecasted later in the week. “The clay levees are in place, and there’s no reason to rush and get them out of the roads, so we’ll sit back and see what happens with this rain. Hopefully, they’re wrong about the forecast, but if not, we’ll be ready for it and go for Round Two!” Public Works Director Brandon Carlson explained. He also claimed that they are no longer looking for volunteers for flood fighting and containment as the National Guard is currently helping them do that but says they will put up a press release if they feel they need them again.
The next City Council meeting will take place on Monday, May 9, at 7:00 p.m. inside the City Hall Council Chambers.
