Month: August 2023

The Ways and Means Committee met immediately following the city council meeting on Monday night in the City Hall council chambers. During the meeting, the committee discussed building an official budget discussion, the Crookston Police Department preliminary budget, and the Information Technology initial budget.

BUILDING OFFICIAL PRELIMINARY BUDGET

The budget discussions kicked off with Crookston Building Official Greg Hefta. Hefta estimated in the preliminary stages, he will need $148,209 for the total budget. It is reported that Hefta has no added charges estimated from his 2022-23 budget. Hefta was asked how his rates compare to other cities across the state. “Council did ask me to look at current rates for other cities,” said Hefta, “They would like me to compare it to the 2024 budget year so that I will be looking at that for them.” The change in rates would be proposed to the council in December or early January of 2024, and all other changes to the budget.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY PRELIMINARY BUDGET

The following information Technology budget was discussed to Ways and Means. Information Technology Director Chad Palm got his preliminary budget, including upgrading many systems and software. “As far as improvements go, we are looking at a major upgrade to our ERP, AKA our financial software across the city; we are also looking into electronic timekeeping management, which is essentially electronic timecards for the city.” Said Palm. Palm also mentioned purchasing a document imaging platform and a website add-on that would give a complete overview of the city code book. Palm also stated that the city wants to switch gears and forget about using Google as a primary email platform. “We have since migrated to what is now called Microsoft 365,” said Palm, “This licensing includes email hosting, and within this new system, we intend to have an email address for every city employee.”

POLICE DEPARTMENT PRELIMINARY BUDGET

The final budget discussed during Monday’s meeting was for the Crookston Police Department. Chief of Police Darin Selzler estimated a total budget increase for 2024 of $210,000, with reportedly $106,858 of that increase to be used for salary increases at the department. Selzler reported that the department should receive a PA1 grant worth up to $135,000 from Minnesota in 2024 and that the grant is meant to subsidize the retirement contributions for the officers.

The police department is also looking to upgrade equipment, including tasers, increasing the contractual fees portion of their budget. The current Tasers at the police department are out of service and will not be supported after the end of 2023. “For 2024, we are suggesting increasing that fund by $3,000,” said Selzler, “We also have money we reserved over the last few years for the purchase of tasers. We recently learned that our current model is out of service.”

Selzler also has plans to replace a couple of current squad cars. “We had two dollar amounts that we’re suggesting,” said Selzler, “The one-dollar amount is replacing the black and white squad cars that you see every day.” The black and white squad cars are currently on a five-year replacement plan. The other vehicles are a travel vehicle and a loading vehicle, which do not possess replacement plans. It was proposed to the committee that the Police Department could put money aside each year so those vehicles could be on a five-to-seven-year replacement plan.

The post MONDAYS WAYS AND MEANS COMMITTEE INCLUDED THREE PRELIMINARY BUDGET DISCUSSIONS appeared first on KROX.

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

The council first approved a resolution regarding the change order to the No.2 agricultural road and utility construction. This issue is related to installing the storm sewer on the roadway near the Ag Innovation campus, where non-ideal circumstances were discovered. “They had to order additional piping and equipment to get the pipe up and over while they lower the line so they could drop it down,” said City Administrator Corky Reynolds. The pricing of the new materials being ordered is estimated at $15,000.

The council also approved a resolution regarding the Laura Musser Foundation application and letter of support to be submitted by Crookston Parks and Recreation and CHEDA. This grant is intended for rural areas (towns with a population of 10,000 and below) to receive funds for project development. No match is needed for this grant, but other forms of payment will be asked for in return. “We won’t spend any dollars, but we have to perform in-kind services,” said Reynolds, “Like digging holes, spreading dirt, we have to do that kind of stuff.” The grant is estimated at the fact that the city is looking at renovating the Red Barn in Crookston.

The last item the council approved was the resolution regarding the Comprehensive Plan agreement with KLJ, an engineering firm. The most recent plan KLJ provided was in 2016, and now they want to update it. “March of 2016 was the last time that plan had been updated,” said Reynolds, “What we’re doing now was having that comprehensive plan of 2016 updated by an engineering firm.”

During the public forum, Crookston resident Michelle Kristofferson announced that UMC will start the 2023-24 academic year on Tuesday, August 29.

Also making statements during the forum was Evan Meyer, president of the Blue Line Club. Meyer spoke on behalf of the Blue Line Club and shared their frustrations with the council. Meyer stated there were disrespectful comments during one of the previous budget discussions and claimed false information was spread during the meeting. It was also reported that since 2017, the Blue Line Club has spent $384,000 on tournament fees, promotions, equipment, and player fees, which have not come from city funding.

The next City Council meeting will be on Monday, September 11, at 5:30 p.m. in the City Hall council chambers.

You can watch the whole meeting by clicking here.

The post CITY COUNCIL MEETING RECAP appeared first on KROX.

The Crookston School Board met Monday night in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.

The board also approved the contract renewal with Advanced Business Methods for the district’s copiers. “We have to make copies for various things like board meetings, report cards, things like that, so we’re going to continue doing business with this company,” said superintendent Randy Berquist.

The board also approved this year’s edition of the faculty handbook. The handbook is reviewed and approved annually after the committee reviews the slight changes made. Berquist reported that no significant changes have been applied.

Perhaps the most significant item on the agenda was the Set Truth in Taxation Meeting, which set a date for December 11 at 6:00 p.m., which the board also approved. “This is standard to meet in December, and we can’t meet till after 6:00 p.m.,” said Berquist, “This talks about the levy certification process for our taxpayers in our district and how much money will be allocated based on our school’s needs.” The preliminary levy is set to be approved in the September school board meeting, and December is when the budget is set for the exact amount local taxpayers will be charged. These charges are used for essential public school expenses like the curriculum and teachers’ salaries. Taxpayers are welcome to attend these meetings and ask questions to whom it may concern.

The consent agenda included acceptance of the retirement letter from bus driver Richard Heldstab, a resignation letter from paraprofessional Timothy Sanchez, and a resignation letter from age care coordinator Dawn Brusoe.

It also included approving the requests for a salary lane and leave of absence from Emily Fonteyn. It included approval of the employment of middle school science teacher Abigail Crisman, paraprofessional Izabella Hyde, and Instructional Assistant Megan Gangl. The final item on the consent agenda was the acceptance of the following grants and donations-

-Fraternal Order of the Eagles in the amount of $2,500 for the Multi-use Complex

-Pirate Boosters donation in the amount of $3,000 for the CHS Dance Team

-Donation from Robin Brekken in the amount of $1,000 for the CHS Dance Team

-Hot Stove Hockey Grant in the amount of $380 for a Vibe Smart Board.

The next school board meeting is scheduled for Monday, September 25, at 5:00 p.m. in the Crookston High School Choir/Orchestra room.

The post CROOKSTON SCHOOL BOARD MEETING RECAP-SET TRUTH IN TAXATION MEETING DATE SET FOR DECEMBER 11, 2023 appeared first on KROX.

This ticket was in a box at the Crookston Polk County Historical Society Museum. There is no date or location, but it must have been significant because it was preserved. There’s some speculation that it was for a boxing match. Anyone with any information can call the museum at 218-218-1038 and leave a message or email twyllaaltepeter@yahoo.com. The museum is open Tuesday through Sunday from 12:00 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission is free.

The post MYSTERY TICKET FOUND AT THE POLK COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY appeared first on KROX.