Month: June 2025

On Friday, May 30, the Crookston School District held its annual Service and OSPY Award Presentation.

The OSPY (Outstanding Service to Pirate Youth Awards were presented to: Laurie Wavra (HES), Laurie Awender (HES), Travis Oliver (CHS), Marita Kendig (Special Ed/CMS), Jim Bregier (CHS), Cindy Flikka (CHS), Coach Austin O’Hare, and Dave Emanuel.

Marita Kendig, Laurie Wavra, Travis Oliver, Dave Emanuel, and Cindy Flikka are Pictured above. Not pictured: Laurie Awender, Jim Bregier, and Austin O’Hare

Service Awards Recipients:

20-Year Employees: Kathy Aderson, Dan Halland, Steve Kofoed, Jamie Kresl, Tim Moe, Marilyn Wahouske, and Holly Wavra.

Holly Wavra, Tim Moe, Dan Halland, Jamie Kresl and Marilyn Wahouske are pictured above. Not Pictured: Kathy Anderson and Steve Kofoed

25-Year Employees: Brigette Burzette-DeLeon, Susan Garmen, Janell Vatthauer, and Kevin Weber.

Brigette Burzette-DeLeon, and Janell Vatthauer are pictured above. Not pictured: Susan Garmen and Kevin Weber

30-Year Employee: Lynn Samuelson

Lynn Samuelson

35-Year Employees: John Barrus and Robin Reitmeier 40-Year Employee: Susan Akerlind

Susan Akerlind and Robin Reitmeier are pictured above. Not pictured is John Barrus.

The Final Award during the presentation was to honor the 2025 Retiree, Kim Davidson.

Kim Davidson

The Crookston City Council will meet Monday, June 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers.

The first item of business for the council Monday night will be the Oath of Office for newly appointed Council Member Joseph Shostell. Shostell will be appointed to the vacant At-Large term at the Special Council Meeting happening just ahead of the regular meeting on Monday. Shostell will fill the term left vacant with the resignation of Tim Menard which expires on December 31, 2026.

On the consent agenda for Monday’s meeting is the approval of the May 19, 2025, Meeting Minutes and the City of Crookston Bills and Disbursements for $248,375.25. The final consent item is a resolution for Easement for an underground electric power line to be installed by Ottertail Power Company adjacent to Bridge Street in the Aunt Polly Slough Area of Jeromes Addition in Crookston. On May 20, 2025, the Planning Commission reviewed, approved, and recommended that the City Council grant an underground electric power line easement.

The regular agenda for Monday’s meeting includes two items. The first is the second and final reading of the Ordinance for the “Regulations of Cannabis Businesses” in the City of Crookston. No changes have been made to the ordinance since the initial reading.

The second item is a resolution authorizing the City of Crookston to apply for the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant and commit matching funds.  The resolution states that Crookston has been identified as a Workforce Housing Community and a Top Job Center within the Northwest Region by Minnesota Housing. Due to being recognized as such, Crookston is eligible for funding through the Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant Program. The Greater Minnesota Housing Infrastructure Grant requires a 50% local match to secure the financing. The council is being asked to affirm that it has the financial ability to provide and hereby approves up to $500,000 in matching funds as required by the grant program. Community Development Director Karie Kirschbaum and her staff will work with the City Administrator, Finance Director, and Public Works to consider the best combination of Bonding, Tax Increment Financing, Assessments, and any other financial means for the match. Kirschbaum says the application will not be submitted if no combination is satisfactory.  The infrastructure grant would be used to start the housing development process behind Casey’s, just off of Fisher Ave, in Crookston. The grant application is due June 12, 2025.

The Crookston City Council will meet for a Special Meeting on Monday, June 2, at 5:15 p.m. at City Hall in the Council Chambers to appoint Joseph Shostell to fill the vacant At-Large Council Member seat.  The vacancy for the At-Large position was declared on May 5, 2025, following the written resignation of Tim Menard. Shostell will fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term that Menard was serving. Shostell was one of eight applicants for the vacant term, and after conducting interviews at the May 19 Ways and Means meeting, Shostell received the majority vote to fill the At-Large term. The term Shostell will fill, expires December 31, 2026.

The regular City Council Meeting will occur immediately after the Special Meeting on Monday, June 2, 2025, at 5:30 p.m.