The Crookston City Council held a budget workshop meeting on Monday, September 22 at the Crookston City Hall Council Chambers. The meeting had three items on the agenda: the Library budget, the airport budget, and the Capital Improvement project discussion.
LIBRARY BUDGET
Chris Boike, Crookston Public Library Director went over the proposed 2026 library budget with the council. The budget ask is 6.1 percent more than in 2025, which would be $256,380 total. “We were looking for an increase for the coming year as part of Lake Agassiz Regional Library and what we call the C-Share as our signatory from Crookston, mainly to cover some of the wage increases” said Boike.
Boike was asked by councilman Dylane Klatt what it would cost and what would happen if they library wasn’t a member of the Lake Agassiz Regional Library System. Boike used the example of East Grand Forks being a stand-alone library and it costs the city around $1 million to operate. It only costs Crookston $256,380 in 2026 so it is about a third of the cost. Crookston also has more offerings because they cost share with the other libraries in the system.
Another ask from the Crookston Public Library is $15,000 for a new digital sign. The estimated cost of a sign would be around $30,000 and they are asking the city to cover half the cost ($15,000) and will get donations and fundraise for the rest.
AIRPORT BUDGET
The Crookston Municipal Airport budget was presented and the council went over the numbers. The expected revenue is $280,500 and the expenses, including capital improvement projects is estimated to be $462,835.
Almost half of the expenses are capital improvement project requests.
The city along with the airport are looking into applying for a grant to pay for a new mower, which could help save up to $18,000 a year. The mower they would look at buying is $150,000 and they would apply for a grant to help pay for it. The grant is a 70/30 match and the city would have to pay (30 percent) $45,000 for the mower
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS DISCUSSION
The department heads are asking/wishing/requesting a total of $7,115,250 in capital improvement projects. The council is tasked with deciding which projects, if any, will be funded. Interim City Administrator and Police Chief Darin Selzler told the council that there are some capital improvement projects the city has to pay. Some of the requests from the Park and Rec Department and Public Works requests are part of a lease agreement and need to be paid. Other items that have to be funded are in the Water Department with the funding of water main and sewer line replacement for when they break throughout the year. “We’re still working hard to get this done, it’ll happen fast as we have to report our preliminary levy number with the county by end of night Tuesday, September 30th. So we’re still full speed ahead getting that number,” said Selzler. “You know, it’s a large number, obviously we’ll have to whittle through that and kind of go through what’s a must for 2026, but it just kind of gave the council a clear picture of what those requests are on kind of an easy chart form versus trying to kind of whittle that out of a budget worksheet, which sometimes doesn’t detail exactly what each fund is for.”
The list of Capital Improvement requests are below.
AIRPORT –
Hanger sheeting – $150,000
Replace/re-route outdated waterlines – $17,000
Crack sealing – $16,000
Office table and chairs – $5,000
Lawnmower (grant 70/30 match – $45,000) – $150,000
TOTAL – $238,000
FIRE DEPARTMENT-
Turn out gear – $15,000
Fire vehicle fund – $92,000
Auto extraction tool – $18,000
Air handling unit replacement – $25,000
Water heater replacement – $20,000
20’ enclosed trailer – $10,000
GasTrac Laser gas detector – $15,000
Lawn tractor with snow blower – $25,000
Radio replacement reserves – $10,000
Concrete apron at the fire hall – $15,000
Replace garage bay #2 overhead door – $8,500
TOTAL – $253,500
FINANCE DEPARTMENT –
Replace/update office furniture – $1,500
INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY-
Getac MTD Squad computer – $7,250
Verge.io hardware – $80,000
Verge.io licensing – $40,500
Verge.io install/training – $3,000
Network upgrade reserves – $50,000
3-year workstation replacement – $24,000
TOTAL – $204,750
CROOKSTON PUBLIC LIBRARY
Digital sign for the library – $15,000
POLICE DEPARTMENT
Squad car and vehicle emergency equipment – $75,000
Replace service pistols – $18,000
Investigator squad-reserve fund – $20,000
Speed display signs – $10,000
Back parking lot retaining wall repair – $30,000
Basement upgrades – $10,000
Police radio-reserve fund – $20,000
TOTAL – $183,000
PARK AND REC DEPARTMENT
John deer mower lease (annual payment) – $57,500
Hustler Super 104 mower – $35,000
Boss pick-up snow plow – $10,000
Polaris UTV – $25,000
John Deere snow blower – $8,500
Replace lights at Ray Ecklund Tennis courts – $75,000
Replace light pole on diamond 1 – $60,000
Install pickleball court at Ray Ecklund complex – $55,000
Zamboni battery replacement fund – $5,000
Replace zamboni garage doors and openers – $15,000
TOTAL – $346,000
PUBLIC WORKS – STREET
CAT lease payment – payloader – $39,000
Street light reserve fund – $20,000
AES CIP project (S. Minnesota Street/Strandner and South Front Street) – Bond – $1,700,000
Sand spreader – $35,000
Heated pressure washer – $10,000
Dump truck with a box and plow – $190,000
Crew Cab F-350 pick-up – $75,000
Mosquito sprayer – $22,000
Telehandler – $250,000
TOTAL – $2,341,000
PUBLIC WORKS – WATER
Watermain replacements – $300,000
Well Field Water Supply upgrade/study – internet study – $150,000
Water plant dehumidifier replacement – $250,000
TOTAL – $700,000
PUBLIC WORKS WASTEWATER
Sewer line replacement – $75,000
Sewer main rehab – $300,000
Manhole rehab – $75,000
Rip rap for lagoons – $50,000
Sludge and H25 reduction program — $35,000
Wastewater master plan and Model-MS4 program and recert – $250,000
LS4 and LS5 improvements – new wetwell and control plan – $1,500,000
Construction shed for Lift Station #3 – $15,000
2 stand alone generators for lift stations – $100,000
TOTAL – $2,400,000
VALLEY TECHNOLOGY DEPARTMENT
Replace roof on the Valley Technology Park building – $350,000
Another city council budget workshop is scheduled for Wednesday, September 24 at 5:30 p.m.