The Crookston City Council met on Monday evening and approved paying half of the Minnesota Paid Leave Program costs, with employees covering the other half. The council also unanimously approved an amendment to an ordinance that allows slaughterhouses in the Heavy Industrial zone. The meeting recap is below.
MINNESOTA PAID LEAVE POLICY –
The State of Minnesota has enacted the Minnesota Paid Leave Program that will begin on January 1, 2026. The Minnesota Paid Leave Program is a state administered insurance program overseen by the Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development (DEED). Most Minnesota workers who earn at least $3,900 in wages in 2025 will be covered under the program. Eligible employees may receive up to 12 weeks of medical leave and up to 12 weeks of family leave within a benefit year, not to exceed a combined 20 weeks.
The Minnesota Paid Leave Program premium rate is 0.88 percent of employee wages, split equally between the employer and the employee, requiring the City of Crookston to contribute 0.44 percent and deduct 0.44 percent from each employee’s wages.
The council gave unanimous approval, as the reason for the vote was that the employees are paying half. “It’s a program that’s mandatory by state statute. And what that looks like tonight is that it costs 0.88% of each employee’s wages, up to a certain amount. So, how they figured that out is 0.88% of each $100 of each employee’s wages. And per statute, the city is required to cover half, and then the employees are required to cover half,” said Interim City Administrator Darin Selzler. “So again, you break that down, the city would be paying 0.44%, and the employee would be paying 0.44%. So, it was a resolution to inform the council of the cost that the city will incur, and again, with the deduction of wages from the employees.“
ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENT ALLOWS SLAUGHTERHOUSES IN THE INDUSTRIAL ZONE
After several public hearings and meetings, the council approved amendments to Ordinance Chapter 152.65.B and Chapter 152.65.E, allowing slaughterhouses in the Heavy Industrial Zone. “In a prior council meeting, it was decided to table that resolution to take it under more consideration. We came back at a ways and means, which had some real good discussion on that. I think at that ways and means, there was a consensus among council to bring it back to the council for a final vote, which we did tonight,” said Selzler. “So it was just the resolution allowing slaughterhouses in the heavy industrial zone, and it passed unanimously tonight.”
The move is to allow B & E Meats to expand and offer meat processing of beef and pork.
CITY OFFICES TO CLOSE AT NOON ON CHRISTMAS EVE
The council unanimously approved closing the City offices at Noon on Christmas Eve to allow employees to spend more time with their families and friends.
CONSENT AGENDA –
The council approved a three-year contract with Crookston Municipal Airport Manager Lowell Miller for the period of 2026-2028. He will receive a three percent increase and will be paid $20,062 in 2026, $20,664 in 2027, and $21,284 in 2028.
The council approved bills and disbursements totaling $807,282.71, as well as Amendment No. 1 to the non-commercial hangar lot lease at the airport.
The next Crookston City Council meeting will be on Monday, December 15 at 5:00 p.m.