Two members of the Crookston community addressed City Council Monday night during the Crookston forum portion of the City Council meeting. The time is allotted for individuals to address the council about any item not on the regular agenda. Monday night, Lester Wilkens, Master of the Masonic Lodge and Patrick Yates, 110 South Hubbard, addressed the council on unrelated topics.
Parcel being sold to Jeff Evers
Wilkens, who came prepared with a written statement, addressed perceived issues with the process that has led the City to move forward towards the sale of a parcel between the Masons Lodge building and the Fournet building to the east that was discussed during a closed Ways & Means committee meeting on November 13. In Wilkens statement, which lasted about six minutes, he said he was notified at 4:22 p.m. on November 13 by City Administrator Shannon Stassen that the council was meeting in closed session to sell the parcel to Evers.
Evers has been in discussion a council since September, when in a meeting at the University of Minnesota Crookston, Evers told the council he’d like to purchase the parcel adjacent to the Fournet building. Council members proposed in a lease to Evers in October, but he told them he was no longer interested in a lease, he wanted to buy the space. One of the reasons included that by purchasing the space he could possibly put a second-floor escape out into the parcel. During construction, space would be used to keep demolition and building material off the streets.
Wilkens contended during his statement that he had inquired with Stassen several times in the past six months about the Masons purchasing the lot and said he questioned why a new person to town gets special consideration over the long-established Masons. “Shannon said that the City was not giving [the parcel], that Jeff was buying it for the same price that I had told Shannon would be the starting price for the Masonic Lodge,” said Wilkens. “I then asked Shannon why the Masonic Lodge would not be given the opportunity to buy the lot since we had been established in the city for over 100 years [later said 138 years] and paying taxes, yet a new person comes to town and gets special consideration.”
Wilkens continued he was told by Stassen, “Jeff pays taxes too and he needs the lot for his project.” Wilkens questioned the motive behind Stassen “extending the truth to benefit him” saying, “I will not say Shannon did not tell the truth, only he told his version of it or in other word extended the truth to fit his need or story,” said Wilkens. “I warn you, the council, now that if Shannon will do this to me and the Masons on this project, how many other times has he extended the truth on other issues.” He added that the process to sell Evers the parcel, “stinks of a good ole’ boys’ arrangement. What is worse, the one doing it or the ones that allow it to happen,” said Wilkens. “And yes, Shannon’s under the table dealings do reflect on you, the members of the council and the smell is hard to get rid of.”
He concluded that anyone who had worked for him who extended the truth the way he claimed Stassen has would not be working for him very long as it affects the integrity of the business and name.
Following Wilken’s statement, Mayor Wayne Melbye appeared to be attempting to shift the focus on the Masonic Lodge not being involved in the sale from the City to the Lodge itself, referencing an earlier interest by the City to sell some green spaces in town several years prior, saying at the Masonic Lodge didn’t want anything to with the parcel back then, didn’t have any plans for it. And later asking whether the Lodge had ever used or asked to use the property and, “what kind of use did you have in mind for it,” prompting Councilman Tom Vedbraaten to say, “Does it matter?”
Subsequently, Wilkens responded to each of Melbye’s questions that no they had never used the property, as they didn’t own it and had not asked to use it. He did say about purchasing the property the Lodge had, “asked three times recently, not a century ago, not 10 years ago. Three times in the last six months.”
And he told Melbye the Lodge has been “looking at putting on some pancake feeds and doing some other things with kids. That’s what the Masons and Shriners do.”
Melbye also stated that because it’s needed for an economic development that does have some precedence saying we were directed with some issues towards economic development and that property. He asked CHEDA Executive Director Craig Hoiseth for help on the economic development piece, to which Hoiseth replied, “it’s the will of the council.” Before adding, “you can set all the priorities you like for development work, absolutely.”
Wilkens, who appeared to have intimate knowledge of what was said during the closed session between Evers, City Council and staff, said Stassen misled the council by not informing them of the Masons interest, saying Stassen told them the Masons had no interest. He said had they not been misled, and given the economic development perspective he, “wouldn’t have a whole lot to say to the Ways & Means committee if Shannon had expressed the Masons interest with an offer for a starting price, but he didn’t do that.”
Stassen responded, “in closed session, I did say the Masons had made an offer that was less than Jeff’s offer. I did make that statement as I remember.” He added, “We can check the tapes to be sure.”
Again, showing an intimate knowledge of a meeting that was closed to the public, Wilkens stated: “it wasn’t less, I told you we’d start at $1,000 and that’s what I understand the price was.” Stassen claimed Wilkens had offered $500, but Wilkens stated that was a starting price and the Lodge was willing to go to $1,000.
Vedbraaten and Councilman Steve Erickson both expressed that they had previously made suggestion that the parcel should’ve been put out to bid to keep issues like this from arising. “I was adamant on that when we set that up for sale and I can read the minutes word for word, and I said – is anybody else interested in this? – There was nothing there and I was the first one to bring this up about putting it out for bid because issues like this arise,” said Erickson. “And that’s where it should’ve been gone.”
Wilkens also brought up Melbye’s affiliation with the Crookston Eagles and whether what Melbye would say if this process happened to the Eagles. At which time Melbye responded, “Wow Lester, I think you’re out of line here,” effectively ending the discussion. This was the second straight meeting of the council and Ways & Means where Stassen’s actions were called into question. On November 13 Dana Johnson, on the heels of her failed Mayoral campaign, accused Stassen of being a liar and questioned his conduct, claiming there have been issues since his hiring. A transcript of Wilkens’ opening statement to the council following this story.
Issue with alley right of way off South Hubbard
The second topic addressed in the Public Forum was by Patrick Yates and related to the right of the alleyway behind South Hubbard street. He was concerned that a neighbor had been told in the past they couldn’t put a fence up behind their garage, while another neighbor has a fence behind their yard. They continue to infringe upon the right of the alleyway by placing stakes in the ground behind their property.
City Building Official Matt Johnson said, “I’ve been down there a few times with Bobby [Baird] and Pat [Yates]. Last time we talked, I offered to sit down with you, the neighbor you’re having an issue with, and the council member to get this straightened out. That’s the last I’ve heard from you until tonight. The offer still stands so that we can get this straightened out.”
Melbye and Vedbraaten, who have both been involved with the council in some form for several years both talked with Yates about an ordinance created four or five years ago that dealt with fences. Johnson confirmed the fence ordinance was created in 2013 or 2014. Yates was asked whether the neighbor being told the fence couldn’t be put behind the garage was building his fence after that, which Yates said he believe was later than 2014. Vedbraaten explained, “the other fence may have been up when there was no ordinance,” adding, “we did put something in for fences so they could’ve been one before that and one after that.”
It was explained that the neighbor the issue is with, probably had his fence before the ordinance, but that new fence must follow the ordinance. Johnson said he believed that the fence in question had been there for some time. Melbye then told Yates the council was putting “the ball in [Yates] court” to get a hold of Johnson and that Johnson would coordinate a meeting time for himself, Baird, and Public Works Director Pat Kelly to meet with Yates at the property.
Transcript of Lester Wilkens opening statement to the City Council
“On November 14 at 4:22 [p.m.] Shannon Stassen called me and informed me that he and the Ways and Means Committee were going to meet in a closed-door meeting about the property between the Masonic Lodge and Jeff Evers’ building and were going to sell it to Jeff. I asked if it was legal to sell property behind closed doors. He, Shannon, said yes.
I then asked if the City was going to give it Jeff or sell it because the first price I had heard was not much over legal cost. He, Shannon said that the City was not giving it, that Jeff was buying it for the same price that I had told Shannon would be the starting price for the Masonic Lodge. I guess that’s how the price was established. I then asked Shannon why the Masonic Lodge would not be given the opportunity to buy the lot since we had been established in the city for over 100 years and paying taxes. Yet a new person comes to town and gets special considerations. Actually it’s 138 years. Shannon’s answer was Jeff pays taxes too and he needs the lot for his project.
My next statement to Shannon was since the decision has already been made to sell the lot to Jeff it didn’t matter what the Mason’s wanted to do or bid. I was then informed that Jeff didn’t to lease it because when the lease was done the purchase price might change. I told Shannon that all the necessary prices could be put into the lease agreement. Shannon guaranteed me that if Jeff didn’t keep the lot clean, he would be fined by the city and the fines would be put on his taxes. I mentioned to Shannon that this type of fine is meaningless because they don’t have to be paid for so many years or at all. I then said that since the decision has already been made to sell it to Jeff it appeared the Masonic Lodge didn’t have any recourse. I then told him everything better be as he said.
Shannon told me that Jeff would have renters in the 2nd floor within six months. To which I replied that he was blind and hopeful considering all the windows and ledges had to be replaced along with the wiring, plumbing, install sprinklers and elevator in place before you could legally rent it. I had already talked to Shannon two different times before the phone call, first when the process started and second when I went to City Hall. The receptionist asked what I needed, and I asked if I could speak to Shannon about the lot by the Masonic Lodge. She took my name and phone number so Shannon could call me as she stated Shannon was in a meeting and could not be interrupted. When he called, he informed me that nothing had been completed at that time. That’s when I brought up the idea of Jeff leasing [the lot] instead of selling it for better control of the mess. Shannon said he would look into it.
At that time I informed Shannon, we, the Masonic Lodge were definitely still interested in the lot. I would’ve liked to have talked to him face-to-face, but it appeared like the meeting must involve young children because they were running around in his office. I don’t believe City Hall should be a babysitting service or daycare center at city expense.
I understand that Shannon told the councilmen at the special ways and means committee meeting that the Masons were not interested in the lot. Not entirely true or false. When you put a box of Widman’s candy on the table and a person reaches for it to get a piece and gets his finger slapped, each and every time eventually the person will quit reaching and lose interest. This is an analogy of what happened to the Masonic Lodge. We expressed interest in the lot several times, only to have Shannon tell the Ways and Means Committee we had no interest. How does this extended truth benefit him? Or why would he tell the council an untruth? I will not say Shannon did not tell the truth, only he told his version of it or in other words, he extended the truth to fit his needs or story. I may warn you now, the council, if he, Shannon, will do this to me and the Masons on this project, how many other times has he extended the truth on other issues?
This stinks of a good ole boys’ arrangement. Or if you have a buddy in City Hall anything is possible. Remember, what is worse? The one doing it or the ones that allow it to happen? And yes, his, Shannon’s, under the table dealings do reflect on you, the members of the City Council and the smell is hard to get rid of. In closing, if anyone had worked for me and was caught extending the truth the way Shannon has to the Masonic Lodge and myself, they would not be working for me very long. Because in doing so, it affects the integrity of my business and name. Do as you see fit. Thank you.”
