The Crookston Ways and Means Committee met Monday night after the city council. During this meeting, they discussed the preliminary budget plans for the Crookston Fire Department and Crookston Parks and Recreation.
The Crookston Fire Department chief, Shane Heldstab, presented his ideas to the committee. He estimated if all the fire department’s wants were to be met, their budget for the future would raise approximately $200,000 from the original $1,000,000 budget. “Just like everyone else has seen, the cost is going up. And we feel the same pinch at the fire department,” said Heldstab, “Where parts, labor, and everything costs a little more.”
If the Fire Department receives this additional funding, they will use it for salary increases for all staff in the department. They also mentioned purchasing a new air compressor for the firefighters. The new air compressor is estimated at $81,000. The Crookston Fire Department can trade its current compressor to lower that cost. The existing compressor is worth an estimated $12-14,000.
Heldstab also stated there is plenty of grant funding from the state, and he plans to take advantage of receiving them. “We’re going to take a more aggressive approach. We’re going to start focusing on searching out these grants,” said Heldstab, “For instance, the AFG grant is a big grant throughout the country. We want to be able to get in on that.” Heldstab claimed the taxpayers of Crookston deserve to know the Fire Department is working hard on receiving additional funding through grants.
The Crookston Fire Department is also looking to build a training compound in the future. Various schools have been notified of the project. “It’s time to work with other municipalities and see how they operate,” said Heldstab, “there is a surplus property in the area, and that’s when the idea came to fruition.” The compound would be used primarily for proper “hands-on” training, teaching, and instruction. This training compound is not official and is in the preliminary stages. Still, the Crookston Fire Department believes the city of Crookston could generate revenue from a regional training compound.
The Crookston Fire Department has contractual agreements with service entities outside the City of Crookston. Contracts from three entities have not been updated since 2006. Those three entities are American Crystal, University of Minnesota Crookston, and The County of Polk. These agreements will be re-negotiated.
CROOKSTON PARKS AND RECREATION PRELIMINARY BUDGET DISCUSSION
Like the Fire Department, Crookston Parks and Rec are looking to raise wages for part-time staff. “The big one was part-time salary and part-time staff. Our temporary staff is low right now,” said Director of Parks and Recreation Jake Solberg, “We’re trying to pay $18 an hour to our part-time employees.” Solberg claimed Parks and Rec contain many part-time staff they need throughout the year. They believe the increase in wages can bring more applicants and employees.
Park and Rec also want to purchase a new mower and resurface the Pickle Ball Court at Schuster Park for $110,000. Some mowers reportedly need replacement. The city is looking to either outright purchase or lease the purchase.
The Park and Recreation preliminary budget was listed at approximately $2,018,000.
“Tonight was the opportunity for the Fire Department and Parks and Rec to come before the council and say, ‘this is what we would ideally like,'” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds, “All of the departments, including myself, recognize that when the departments claim what they want. We will have to make some cost savings.”
The council will have the two department heads present budget ideas for several weeks. The Ways and Means Committee will have a special meeting on Monday, August 21, at 5:30 pm in the City Hall Council Chambers.
