The Crookston City Council met on Monday to discuss the approval of a donation for a new electronic sign at the public library, a quote for the Front Street stormwater project, and the city’s new comprehensive plan.
EMBOLDEN CROOKSTON COMPREHENSIVE PLAN
Joel Quanbeck of KLJ Engineering was in attendance to present the final draft of Embolden Crookston, the city’s new comprehensive plan, to the council for approval. The plan, which has been in development since 2023, will serve as the city’s guiding document for long-term community planning, including future land use, economic and residential development, and transportation. The Planning Commission reviewed the plan at its October 20 meeting and approved a recommendation to the city council. The council approved the new plan in a unanimous vote.
Community Development Director Taylor Wyum thanked Quanbeck for his work in developing this plan for Crookston, which replaces the comprehensive plan adopted in 2016. Quanbeck thanked those involved in developing the Embolden Crookston plan, including city staff, community stakeholders, and residents, who provided feedback at multiple city meetings and open houses. “It’s been a lot of years in the making at this point, and a lot of people have worked on the project,” said Wyum. “And Joel’s kind of been the constant through it all. So it’s really great that he could come and present today, and I’m glad that we’re able to get this plan adopted and approved, and now it’s part of our guiding documents.”
CROOKSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY SIGN DONATION
The council also heard from Crookston Public Library Director Chris Boike regarding the acceptance of a $34,000 donation from LARL to purchase and install an electronic sign at the library. Boike has been working to raise funds for this sign for several years, and she thanked the groups that came together to support this project, including the Carnegie Foundation, American Crystal Sugar, the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Authority, Friends of the Library, and LARL. “I’ve always been impressed that the citizens of Crookston, the businesses, and the citizens step up when something is needed, and they want to get something done,” said Boike. “This is a can-do spirit community, and we recently started the Light the Way campaign here. The Friends of the Library started it. We got it out to businesses and individuals. We’re already receiving some really nice donations to help finish the project. We were about a good $5,000 short, so we’re starting to see those come in already, and we’re very grateful for everyone’s support and the contributions they have made and are still making.”
The sign will allow the library to communicate important information to its visitors, including its hours of operation, programs offered, and upcoming events, and can also help promote city meetings and events, such as Ox Cart Days. “We’ve been working on this for several years now,” Boike said. “And so, the fact that it’s finally going to happen is really exciting. I hope people like it, and they certainly can use it in their planning in terms of what they’re going to attend for programs and events at the library, and hopefully here in the downtown area, potentially Ox Cart Days. I mean, just like I said, we haven’t even looked at all the potential uses of it, but certainly, first and foremost, the library. That’s what it exists for, and grateful that the city was willing to back us on it and support us in getting one and receiving it as a capital improvement.”
Following the council’s unanimous vote to approve the donation, Interim City Administrator Darin Selzler thanked Boike for her dedication to the library and for spearheading the campaign to raise the remaining funds through the Light the Way fundraiser, which is still accepting donations to help cover the costs. The sign is expected to be around four feet tall with the concrete slab and four feet wide. The city’s cost to maintain the sign includes $100 per year for insurance and a five-year warranty on the sign and its cellular modem. “The partnership is that the city would accept that sign as a donation, and then moving forward, we’d accept maintenance on that,” said Selzler. “But it does have a five-year warranty, which includes most or all of anything related to that. Insurance is $100 a year, and electricity is very minimal, so the cost back to the city should be very low. I think overall it’ll be a good thing for promoting events at the library and throughout the city.”
FRONT STREET STORMWATER PROJECT QUOTE
The council approved a quote from Spruce Valley Corporation in the amount of $119,719 for the Front Street Stormwater Outfall improvement project. Public Works Director Chuck Getsman presented the quote to the council, which was one of two quotes received for the Front Street project. Selzler added that the original estimates that were based on a preliminary engineering report from AE2S were close to $158,000, but the quote from Spruce Valley came in significantly lower. The proposed improvements include the removal and replacement of stormwater infrastructure, the installation of a new manhole, stormwater piping, erosion control measures, and associated site restoration. Funding for the project is included in the 2026 budget. “The preliminary engineering reports that we have are high-level reports, and there are some contingencies and everything else budgeted in there. We were excited that the preliminary engineering report came back significantly lower than we had originally assumed. Again, always better to kind of assume the worst and hope for the best, which was certainly the case.”
With the council’s approval, Getsman and the public works department will get the parts ordered for Spruce Valley to begin work this fall, with an estimated completion before the end of the year.
CROOKSTON INDUSTRIAL PARK DEVELOPMENT AGREEMENT
The council voted to approve a Greater Minnesota Business Development Public Infrastructure grant agreement between the city and the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED) for the Crookston Industrial Park. The grant is $750,000, issued through general obligation bonds, and requires a matching contribution from the city. Wyum thanked DEED for approving their application in July and for sending them a contract this week to approve the funding, which will help cover eligible construction costs for the industrial park project. The agreement identifies an anticipated project completion date of December 31, 2028, so Wyum is looking forward to the continued efforts being made to further development in the industrial park, including the current railroad spur project being conducted on the site. “This, as you said, is another grant. This one is from the state to kind of match with some of our federal dollars that we were awarded,” Wyum explained. “Every little bit helps us to just bring that cost down and reduce what the city will ultimately pay for the project. And so, we’re really grateful to the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development for offering this program to Greater Minnesota, and for awarding us. I know it’s a competitive program, so it’s really nice to be able to bring some of that money to Crookston.”
CONSENT AGENDA
The council approved the consent agenda. Items on the agenda included the proposed minutes from the October 19 city council meeting, bills and disbursements in the amount of $768,091.75, a resolution approving the 2026 gas fitting license renewal for Apex Mechanical, LLC, a resolution canceling the tobacco license for Crookston Tobacco and Vape, a resolution calling for a public hearing regarding the assessments for the City of Crookston in 2026, a resolution approving to not waive the statutory limits of liability established by Minnesota State Statute Section 466.04, and a resolution approving State of Minnesota Joint Powers agreements with the City of Crookston on behalf of the Crookston Police Department.
The next Crookston City Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, November 16, at 5:30 p.m. in the council chambers at City Hall.
