Month: July 2023

The Northwest Regional Correction Center reported the arrest of the following-

Blake Benjamin Abbey, 42, of East Grand Forks, for domestic abuse.

Miranda Marie Slebodnik, 32, of Grand Forks, for third-degree narcotic sales.

Kevin Roger Anderson, 29, of East Grand Forks, for first-degree burglary.

Cassandra Lynn Hamlin, 33, of Fosston, for traffic DUI.

Cynthia Esquivel Gonzales, 51, of Crookston, for third-degree traffic DUI.

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The Crookston City Council met in the City Hall council chambers on Monday night.

The council presented its first reading on cannabis products and usage throughout city limits. The city cannot make any changes to regulations for cannabis use that the state has mandated. City Administrator Corky Reynolds explains, “What the council did tonight was pass the resolution to create an ordinance to put a moratorium on certain aspects of the cannabis legislation that the state enacted recently.”

Recent legislative guidelines state that individuals can possess up to two ounces of cannabis if they are 21 or older. An individual can grow up to eight plants in their residence, up to four of which can be flowering. The moratorium does not impact these guidelines.

The council sought an ordinance to see where cannabis usage could occur. Reynolds stated other laws that were discussed, “how do we regulate such things as ordinances? Where can ordinances occur? Schools? How far away? What kind of fire ordinances are we going to need? What kind of fire ordinances are we going to need,” said Reynolds, “that’s what the council did tonight. Let’s let our administrative team find how we as a city can impact the orderly process of the business of marijuana sale.”

The moratorium states an exception to medical marijuana use by saying that medicinal marijuana is appropriate when prescribed, allowed, and proper. The suspension is put in place to put regulations on the business of cannabis, which is described with terms like sale, manufacturing, transporting, delivery, and distribution. Reynolds explains how the city can process the new rules in place from the legislature, “this multiple hundred-page piece of legislation needs to be digested, it needs to be looked at,” said Reynolds, “how does Crookston want to work within what’s allowed and what isn’t?” The last item on this topic was the council was asked to consider the possibility of a municipal dispensary. The board agreed to further discussion on the subject, pending information on the cost of the project, as well as wages, location, designs, etc.

CROOKSTON AIRPORT FINDS RESOLUTIONS

The council approved the resolutions regarding the Crookston Airport Manager’s agreement with Lowell Miller, which renews his three-year contract. The board also approved the resolution of the fixed base operator’s agreement which allows Lowell Miller to use specific space to repair aircraft that arrive, and the board approved the commercial agricultural hangar lease, which is a 10-year agreement that allows municipal use of Dan’s Flyer Service Hangar.

CENTRAL PARK CAMPGROUNDS IMPROVEMENTS

The council approved partial payment to Spruce Valley Corporation for the Central Park Campground in the amount of $11,013.20.

The council also approved partial payment to Spruce Valley for the Agricultural Road Street and utility construction for $25,418.34. This project also includes a $500,000 grant from the state of Minnesota, where the city must match 25% of the grant totaling $125,000.

WAYS AND MEANS

The Ways and Means Committee met immediately following the adjournment of the city council meeting in the city hall council chambers. It included recommending Josh Knaack for the Crookston Housing and Economic Development Board and Tim Menard to be the Liaison of the Golden Link Senior Center. Reynolds explained, “The mayor recommended that Josh Knaack be appointed to the EDA board,” said Reynolds,” Josh brings an agricultural background. He’s a younger gentleman in town who expressed an interest in being on the EDA board.”

Reynolds also explained the selection of Tim Menard, “Tim is a long-time citizen of Crookston; he is an elderly citizen who will fit right in the Golden Link,” said Reynolds, “he is recommended by the council to be that Liaison.”

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The Crookston School Board met Monday evening in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room with new Superintendent Randy Bergquist overseeing his first meeting.

LONG-TERM FACILITIES MAINTENANCE 10-YEAR PLAN
The board approved the district’s Long-Term Facilities Maintenance (LTFM) 10-year plan, which is required to be approved by the school board in July by the State of Minnesota. Crookston currently has $1.3 million in the LTFM account, which can only be used for certain things. “We allocate certain monies to different projects. For example, we can allocate money if a roof collapses in January because of heavy snow. It can be tuckpointing and anything else with the facilities and building itself,” said Superintendent Randy Bergquist. “Some might say, why don’t you use that for the new multi-use athletic complex? Well, you can’t. It can’t be for anything brand new.”

CROOKSTON EDUCATION ASSOCIATION (TEACHERS UNION) CONTRACT
The board approved a two-year contract with the Crookston Education Association (CEA). The CEA is the district teachers union, and they will get a pay raise of 3.75 percent in the 2023-24 school year and a four percent raise in the 2024-25 school year. There will be no changes to the insurance. “They all worked together to come up with a fair contract, and I would guess most school districts haven’t finalized with their teachers yet,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “I think it is a great opportunity to show that we are all in this together, we want to educate our kids and make them the best students we possibly can working together, and it is before the start of the school year, and that is great.”

CONSTRUCTION MANAGER FOR THE MULTIUSE COMPLEX FACILITY
The board approved hiring Gehrtz Construction Services out of Fargo, North Dakota, as the Multiuse Athletic Complex Construction Manager. Six companies bid on the job, and the district interviewed three before selecting Gehrtz. The amount Gehrtz will be paid depends on the bid that will be let in September. “Gerhrtz had more experience working with schools than the other companies,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “One thing I want to make sure they make sure contractors and businesses in Crookston have an opportunity to bid on the project going on.”

DONATIONS
The board approved $17,350 in donations. The Crookston Pirate Boosters donated $3,500 for a VIBE board for the Boys Hockey team. The Pirate Boosters donated $4,350 to the Pirate Athletic Department for half the cost of the Hudl subscription for Volleyball, Football, Boys, and Girls Soccer, Boys and Girls Basketball, and Boys and Girls Hockey. The Fraternal Order of the Eagles donated $2,500 to the FFA program, and the Eagles Charity donated $500 to the FFA program. The last donation was $6,500 from the Pirate Boosters for half the cost of a trailer to be used for the athletic programs. “Crookston is a very supportive community,” said Superintendent Bergquist. “Not only for extracurricular sports, but the fine arts too. It is a credit to this community for how much support they give to the school. That is awesome.”

CONSENT AGENDA
The board approved the resignation of Jessica Holzer as Administrative Assistant at the high school and the resignation of Heidi Achartz as a music instructor at Highland School.
The board approved the employment of Toni Gullekson as a special ed instructor at Highland School; Marianne Isaacs, Melinda Larson, Timothy Sanchez, Mandie Stoe, and Katie Scott as special ed paraprofessionals.
The board approved student handbooks for each school for the 2023-24 school year and the staff handbook at Highland School.
The board approved the official financial institution designations with the Payroll Account at United Valley Bank, the Financial Account at Bremer Bank, and the Lock Box Account (direct wire of State funds) at Bremer Bank.
The board designated Superintendent Randal Bergquist and Business Manager Laura Lyczewski as the district’s investment authority. Bergquist and Lyczewski were also named the designated personnel to lease, purchase, and contract for budgeted goods and services for the district.
The board designated School Board Chair Frank Fee, School Board Clerk Mike Theis, School Board Treasurer Tim Dufault, Superintendent Randal Bergquist, and Business Manager Laura Lyczewski as the official signatories.

The next school board meeting will be on Monday, August 28, at 5:00 p.m.

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At approximately 10:42 pm on Sunday, July 23, the Grand Forks Fire Department was dispatched to the Crooked Pint Ale House for a report of a fire alarm with visible smoke coming from the rear of the structure.

Fire Crews arrived on the scene to find smoke coming from the rear of the structure and an audible alarm indicating that the fire suppression system had activated. Fire crews accessed the building to see smoke conditions throughout the main floor. They then located the fire in a storage space between the top of the coolers and the ceiling. The suppression system appeared to have kept the fire small, allowing the crews to extinguish the remaining fire quickly. The structure sustained some fire damage, with smoke damage extending throughout the building. The cause of the fire remains under investigation. The business will remain closed until the damage can be cleaned and repaired.

The Grand Forks Fire Department responded with five engines, one truck, and one command vehicle with eighteen personnel. There were no injuries to the public or fire service personnel. The Grand Forks Police Department, Altru Ambulance, Xcel Energy, and Crooked Pint management assisted the Fire Department.

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The Crookston City Council will meet on Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers.

The consent agenda includes the approval of the City Council meeting minutes from July 10. It also includes the approval of bills and disbursements in the amount of $264,615.90. It will include the resolution of donations for the Parks and Recreation Department in memory of Wayne Melbye, the resolution regarding a donation for the Parks and Recreation Department for Take a Kid Fishing in memory of Adam Parnow, the resolution regarding a donation for the Police Department for Night to Unite, and the resolution regarding the approval of the mayor’s recommendations for Council Committees.

The regular agenda will include the resolution of regulating Cannabis products and businesses within the City of Crookston. It will also include the resolution regarding the Crookston Airport Manager’s agreement, a resolution for the Fixed Base Operator’s agreement, also a resolution regarding the Commercial Agricultural Hangar Lease, and a resolution regarding the Crookston Airport Maintenance and Operating Grant Contract. It will also include a resolution regarding the change order to the Central Park campground improvements and a resolution to approve a partial payment estimate for the Central Park campground improvement project. It also includes the resolution to approve a partial payment estimate for Agricultural Road Street and Utility Construction. It also includes the resolution regarding the approval of the Greater Minnesota Legacy Grant Application for Crookston Parks and Recreation. It will also include the introduction of an interim ordinance prohibiting the sale, testing, manufacturing, cultivating, growing, transporting, delivery, and distribution of cannabis products in the city.

There will be a Ways and Means Committee meeting immediately following the City Council meeting.

For the complete agenda packet, click here.

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