Mhm.
» Mhm.
» public properties or capital properties
for themselves to then flatten them
and do what with them to maintain those
sites?
Um, I'm just confused. We have four
addresses in particular.
Uh, two of them are on the regular
agenda, but the four addresses in
question are 102 North Broadway, I'm
being just right down the street here,
1298 Memorial Drive, um, has a large
structure on it as well that the city's
looking to absorb for
a low rate. Uh it seems like kind of a
shoe-in
operation.
Pretty large parcel land trying to be
absorbed by the city right now with the
building on it when we don't even have
full demo plans for the long run down
the way. The other two addresses, they
don't directly pertain to this regular
agenda, but I think they are good um
insight for the overall agenda here. 724
University Avenue and 500 Ingersoll
Avenue.
Um those would be your Washington school
and the egg facility that sits on the
edge of town. Uh it seems like the city
has a good way of starting these
projects, obtaining these buildings that
were either owned by nonprofits or other
entities, and then taking it upon
themselves to cost the taxpayer
>> [clears throat]
>> for the next step with them without very
little real guidance. So, before you
guys all vote on this tonight, I just
strongly urge encourage you all to find
in yourselves if you are in support of a
plan or if you're just following suit to
the shoe-in
um and what that looks like. Uh cuz
there are other entities involved in
here, too. I mean, the city's
essentially getting
um by a church a prorated rate on a
public um available parcel. Like I said,
there's plenty of streets here in
Creston that need attention, and I think
everybody knows that, [clears throat]
and that's our main focus and priority.
So, taking on these large-scale projects
with heavy expense upon the city seems
burdensome and irresponsible.
Um thanks for your time. I'll keep it to
that topic tonight.
» Anyone else?
>> I just like to comment, your honor. We
don't own Washington school.
>> Not yet.
>> It's owned by the city. We don't own
Washington school.
>> We also don't own the egg center.
>> No, that the industrial park, but not
egg lands, correct?
>> And I don't think council's got an
appetite right now to purchase
Washington school.
>> No.
>> Yes, because we're in the middle of the
demo right now.
>> So, we'll leave it at that. Thank you.
Anyone else?
Okay, moving on. No presentations. This
brings us to the agenda. Does anyone
wish to add anything from
>> [clears throat]
>> from tonight's agenda?
I have a motion to approve tonight's
agenda. So moved, your honor. Thank you.
Is there a second?
>> Second.
by Joseph. Thank you. Discussion?
Hearing none, let's have a roll call,
please.
>> Briggs? Hi.
>> Cavalier?
>> Hi.
>> Brekken?
>> Hi.
>> Blatt?
>> Hi.
>> Alt?
>> Hi.
>> Kibma?
>> Hi.
>> Schestell?
>> Hi.
>> Fisher?
>> [clears throat]
>> Okay, motion carries. This brings us to
the consent agenda. Does anyone wish to
remove anything from the consent agenda?
I have a motion to approve tonight's
consent agenda.
>> So moved.
>> Thank you, Joseph. Is there a second?
>> Second.
by Henry. Thank you.
Roll call, please.
>> Briggs?
>> Hi.
>> Cavalier?
>> Hi.
>> Brekken?
>> Hi.
>> Blatt?
>> Hi.
>> Alt?
>> Hi.
>> Kibma?
>> Hi.
>> Schestell?
>> Hi.
>> Fisher?
>> Hi.
>> Okay, motion carries.
No public hearings. Regular agenda,
Ashley, please.
>> [clears throat]
>> Yes, your honor. 8.01 is a resolution
approving task order number 28 with
Advanced Engineering Environmental
Services LLC, AE2S, for the Tri-Valley
Building Demolition Project.
>> Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve
this resolution?
>> So moved, your honor.
>> Don, do I have a second?
>> I'll second that.
>> Second by Clayton. Thank you.
Discussion?
>> Hearing
>> Uh yes, your honor. As we discussed on
the 18th at the Ways and Means meeting,
consensus from council is to move
forward with demolition of the
Tri-Valley building.
Um at that time, I also presented the
council with an estimate of the
demolition cost to include engineering
fees.
Uh this resolution and attached task
order
from AE2S details the scope of their
services to assist with the demolition
uh to include the following phases:
study and report, preliminary design,
final design,
bidding and proposal, construction
phase,
post construction, instrument
instrumental and controls.
Uh anticipated engineering fees total
$113,500.
This project will ultimately be funded
through a bond
uh and we'll repair ourselves uh once
the bond is received.
Uh in the meantime we'll cover this
through our general fund reserves.
>> Thank you. Further discussion?
>> Just to clarify, so this is we're
talking Tri-Valley building.
>> Correct. Yes.
>> As stated in the resolution, yes, sir.
>> Okay.
Pretty certain how this is going to go
down. You You might just
question
um voting on something without actually
first having structural engineers go
through that building to see if there's
a way to make it safe.
If we make decisions based upon that
someone had either got a structural
this horrible thing should never happen,
um but I would imagine that there are
people who have died in other parts of
the city
and we haven't rushed to take down
whatever is there in those areas.
Again, this is people have probably
already decided how they're going to
vote, but I just question not having
structural engineers take a look at that
building first.
» Further discussion?
» I think back in the day that I think,
you know, uh Tri-Valley reason
Tri-Valley decided to move on is cuz uh
they were just throwing good money at
bad money here.
It was uh not cost efficient for them to
continue to operate that building.
So, um
that's kind of where we're at.
But I think uh
it is a safety concern, especially when
we are going to be redoing our corridors
next year.
After building is gone, I know Minded is
willing to maybe purchase a little more
of that corner to make the radius
a little cleaner, a little wider.
So,
further discussion?
>> Public welcome.
>> Uh you can save comments at the end of
the council meeting.
Uh roll call, please.
>> Briggs?
>> Aye.
>> Cavalier?
>> Aye.
>> Rupkin?
>> Aye.
>> Flott?
>> Aye.
>> Alt?
>> Aye.
>> Kidman?
>> Aye.
>> Chastell?
>> Abstain.
» Fisher?
>> Aye.
>> Okay, the motion carries. Moving on.
>> Item 8.02 is a resolution approving a
professional service agreement with AE2S
Communications for Croxton Diocese site
redevelopment support, Your Honor.
>> Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve
this resolution?
>> So moved, Your Honor.
>> Thank you, Clayton. Do I have a second?
>> I'll second it.
>> Thank you, Morgan. Discussion?
>> Yes, Your Honor. On May 18th Ways and
Means meeting,
>> [cough]
>> we discussed [clears throat] the
development of the Diocese property. At
that time, uh it was also consensus of
council to move forward with seeking a
developer's agreement. This resolution
is uh for assistance again from AE2S
with site development to include
following tasks: goal setting,
organization alignment, financial and
funding framework,
uh current RFP review and refinement,
proposal evaluation, selection, and
additional support.
Engineering fees for this project uh
would be provided on hourly basis
however, uh shall not exceed $33,795
without written permission from the
city.
These fees is uh will be paid from the
community development, uh, professional
fees expenditure.
>> Thank you. Further discussion?
Hearing none, can I have a roll call,
please?
>> Briggs.
>> Aye.
>> Cavalier.
>> Aye.
>> Brekken.
>> Aye.
>> Flott.
>> Aye.
>> Alt.
>> Aye. [snorts]
>> Himena.
>> Aye.
>> Chastell.
>> Aye.
>> Fisher.
>> Aye.
>> Okay, motion carries.
>> Item 8.03 is a resolution waving the
10,000 special assessments against
partial 82.04088.00
pursuing [clears throat] to the
Natureview Estates plat five development
developers agreement, Your Honor.
>> Thank you. Do I have a motion to approve
this resolution?
>> So moved.
>> Thank you, Delaine. Is there a second?
>> I'll second.
>> Thank you, Wendy. Discussion.
>> You know, last Friday, in late
afternoon, I was, uh, um,
contacted about the sale of a lot in the
Natureview Estates plat five developer.
Uh, um,
in reference to that agreement. So, a
little history on this developer's
agreement.
>> [clears throat]
>> On February 24th, 2020,
the city entered into agreement with
Natureview Development LLC,
which is owned by Bob Herkenhoff.
>> [clears throat]
>> The agreement [snorts] at that time was
in exchange for the city constructing or
extending Ickauf Boulevard to Fisher
Avenue.
Uh,
>> [clears throat]
>> that Bob Herkenhoff would donate the two
ponds that the city currently owns, uh,
on that parcel, be permanently
dedicated,
>> [clears throat]
>> uh, for the use of the public park, or
parks. Some of the additional
requirements in that developer agreement
were
the city would waive all assessments.
However, the city was allowed to impose
a $10,000 special assessment on each lot
in the Natureview Estates if substantial
construction was not completed in two
years,
and each lot in the Natureview Estates
was not or would not be eligible for any
city tax abatement programs.
Um, since the signing of this agreement,
we've encountered several unique
circumstances.
The agreement was signed during the
height of COVID. At that time, if you
remember, it was nearly impossible to
contract with any builders.
Uh the price of building supplies was an
all-time high.
And most projects were delayed due to
increased costs, uh product
availability, and high interest rates.
Because of these factors, and again, uh
turn over city administrator, the 2-year
construction timeline what was uh
overlooked or were uh
kind of extended.
Um
Currently, there's 10 lots in the Nature
View Estates that are subject to this
$10,000 special assessment. All of those
lots are sold. Uh of the 10, um
most of them are owned by four of them
by Cheetah. One has actually been sold.
Three of the remaining are owned by
Cheetah. The other six are owned by
private party
um entities or persons.
Um
you know, it's in the best interest of
the city to have residential development
to increase the city's tax base.
Uh however, I just want to
inform you obviously what we do for one
we'll likely have to do for the
remaining 10 parcels
in the Nature View Estates. Um so,
again, this resolution
uh
is to ask to waive the $10,000 special
assessment. Again, contingent on the
sale of that parcel to construct a new
home.
I first I personally spoke with uh the
realtor and the private party buyer.
Um the contract is in place uh pending
the outcome of this uh council meeting.
And they are planning to construct a new
home, hopefully to be completed in next
3 or 4 months.
>> So,
you're correct in um
construction during the COVID period it
was staying near impossible to get a
contractor. And like you said, the
So, I'm just wondering if we should just
give everybody an additional couple
years on that agreement. Is that something we
can do or is it
I think because like no nobody was
building during that time at all.
>> Mhm.
You know, we could absolutely
>> I mean, I'm I'm I'm for moving forward
with this one, but I'm just wondering if
we shouldn't
>> come back with another resolution asking
for another 24-month extension.
>> Sure.
>> Yeah.
We could [clears throat] certainly do
that if that's what council would like
to do.
>> I don't want anything to like impede
people trying to go and build out there.
I mean,
$10,000 can be eaten up pretty quickly
in property taxes if somebody builds a
house.
>> And and again, just as a reminder, these
[snorts] parcels are not subject any of
the tax abatement programs that we would
have. So, we would receive, you know,
the taxes on that.
Subsequently, you know, later after
[cough and clears throat] building a
home.
>> Yeah.
Why won't they be for the
um
the 2-year
>> Yeah, maybe the housing incentive.
>> So, the developer's agreement was that's
what it was stated at that time. Council
could certainly, you know, change that
also. We could extend that 24 months,
and we could allow that tax abatement
program to be offered uh uh to the
current owners. If council chooses,
however, that the developer's agreement signed in
2020, part of that agreement was that
they would not be eligible
for any of those tax abatement programs.
However, again,
council has the discretion to change
that however they'd like to see fit.
>> I think it's worth exploring. Maybe
it'll spur more housing development out
there to get the 2-year tax abatement.
>> I I can tell you um you know, Cheetah
currently owns three lots remaining of
the 10 out there. Um Taylor's working
diligently on on programs to look at
enticing for the sale or or uh um
development of those properties. I
should say s- not sale, but development
of those properties. It would be
enticing to have that tax abatement
program available to anybody interested
in purchasing those lots. Currently,
they fall under this developer's
agreement, so um
it it was likely probably a uh um
you know, something we'd have to bring
back to discuss anyway.
>> I'd be I'd be for that.
All right.
Further discussion?
Roll call, please.
>> Breaks?
>> Aye.
>> Cavalier?
>> Aye.
>> Brekken?
>> Aye.
>> Platt?
>> Aye.
>> Alt?
>> Aye.
>> Givens?
>> Aye.
>> Chastell?
>> Aye.
>> Fisher?
>> Aye.
>> Your Honor, just to clarify, your Honor,
sorry.
We'll bring back a resolution for
24-month extension and the waiver or to
allow
the tax incentive incentives on the
remaining properties. Is that correct?
Okay. Thank you.
>> All right, thank you. Okay, motion
carries.
All right,
reports. Is there anything else to add?
>> The only thing to add, your Honor, is
that we're scheduling a diocese property
steering committee in the coming days
and then starting
[cough and clears throat] at our next
Ways and Means meeting or June 15th,
we'll start 2027 budget process through
budget meetings that will continue
through September.
>> All right, thank you.
Clayton, anything tonight?
>> Uh
question on the
Is the
city watering these planters downtown?
>> We are not. Uh
no, sir. We
If you remember in the last year's
budget, we did eliminate the salaries
for any staff to be hired or to be paid
to water those baskets.
However, um
the Crookston Downtown Development Group
did move forward with their program.
We, as we hung flags, hung the the
baskets for them at the same time.
Um and they are watering them on their
own.
» I had a
lady call me this morning
and she said she spends $150 to $200
planting
a downtown one and uh
she said she told me that the city
wasn't
and she was [snorts] uh
saying if it was known ahead of time,
she wouldn't have spent the money.
And I think we're going to find that a
lot of those will not be used because I
know when that flower program first
started my wife and I had one.
And I would haul a 55-gallon barrel down
there to water and then the city took
over. So,
I
guess I'm just a little disappointed in
it that
we probably won't have flowers in the
flower gardens here in town.
>> Well, I know when that program started I
can't remember how many years ago that
with the downtown corners whoever
planted and it was their responsibility
to water them, too.
That's the way it was set up. Now, how
it went from
you know, park and rec taking over
as far as watering not only the flower
baskets but also the corner
>> we I'm pretty sure we all discussed it
and it was
>> [clears throat]
>> pretty much
the consensus. I don't think we voted on
that particular thing but it's pretty
much the consensus tonight.
>> Pay to have staff
>> Pay pay to have staff water them.
>> [clears throat]
>> I remember a pretty good conversation on
>> See, and I know with the baskets this
year we had always hearing that they
don't need water every day.
>> Right, they're self-watering baskets.
So, they're a little less labor
intensive.
>> True.
>> Yeah, they they provided the baskets.
They hauled them with the city staff. It really took no additional time for us
to hang them but
>> Right.
>> Watering is done by the DC.
>> Yes.
>> All right, thanks Wade.
Henry, anything?
>> Nothing for me.
>> Thank you. Joseph?
>> Uh [clears throat] real quick, uh so on
May 28th the Crookston Housing and
Economic Development Authority met and
big items is that we approved financial
report, approved account signatures, uh
discussed approved insurance for Oak
Court, approved the AD ADP payroll,
talked about the Icoff Boulevard lots,
um approval of
uh
a site civil engineering request for
proposal regarding the 3.6 acre parcel
uh
>> [snorts]
>> owned by Cheetah.
And then
most recently we just
sort of indirectly connected to Cheetah,
we found that we are now funded, the
city was funded for
uh once we remove those ash trees, we
already knew that that was that's funded
that $140,000 grant. But the question
was what did we do what do we do with
quote the waste product, which are those
trees, and so we had sent a proposal
over to University of Minnesota
Agricultural Extension and that was
approved and to utilize that as a form
to create biochar and see the
effectiveness of that in growing the new
trees that will be planted.
» Thank you, Joseph.
Morgan?
>> I was at the Cheetah meeting and I think
Joseph covered that, so [clears throat]
he can put a note to me on that one,
too.
>> Thank you.
Wendy, anything?
>> Nothing for me.
>> Thank you. Delane?
>> Um couple [clears throat] things. Um
>> [cough]
>> I briefly talked last year about, you
know, possibility of um
getting a public um grass clipping
dump where residents could
take their clippings on nights and
weekends possibly and
I I I just like you to maybe consider
that, look into it and
find out if there's any
how big the cost is. I know we're still
on looking at cutting different types of
stuff, but I don't know how much that
would cost. It sure would be handy
because
you know, somebody mowing their grass at
say 6:00 on a Friday has to hold on to
it and
till possibly Monday night
if it's open late, so
>> Yeah, I can definitely follow up with
you on that. And I know we had
discussions of that last year. I think
it was a couple of
the [clears throat] locations somewhere
in the city of Crookston for you.
I'll follow up on that and I'll get back
to you.
>> And then the other thing, you know, last meeting we had a very long long um presentation, but none of us had
received the the PowerPoint. I'm just
asking again, I've asked for this
several times that
um we get a copy so we're not having to
squint and move our chairs and go park
in front of the screen up there so we
can see it on our screen.
>> Absolutely.
>> Maybe if they don't get us the
information by Friday at they don't
present, I don't know. I don't know how
to
>> I agree. We've already had discussions
about that on the same pretense that if
all the information isn't provided by
noon by Friday, we push that meeting.
That's on me. I apologize and I'll do
better moving forward. Thank you.
>> It's It's all right. It's just It's like
I said, it's It's hard to
get educated about what's happening when
you can't
>> see the numbers.
>> Yeah.
>> Okay.
Thank you.
>> That's all I have.
>> Thanks, Delane.
>> Yep.
>> Derek?
>> Nothing tonight, Your Honor.
>> I have [clears throat] a couple things
for Ward 4
um that have happened in the last uh few
weeks. Um
the um
>> [clears throat]
» I have a I have uh thank you uh from
Ward 4
uh residents on
the 400 block for filling in the holes
and that uh
needed fixing. And then the holes were really deep and so forth.
And so we contacted uh the city and uh
they were down there and filled those up
for It's really a good uh
really good for the for the ward. and
then I also have uh thanks to the police
department for
driving their job taking doing their job
on East 7th Street and North Central
Avenue by stopping speeding on that
road.
There I've seen a lot of the policeman
stopping people because they are going
40 and 50 miles an hour on that road and
I got many many complaints and the the
police department responds responded in
the last few days they've been stopping
people that are going crazy on that
road. So Thanks to city and thanks to
police department.
It's a wonderful to get that kind of
service.
Thank you.
Thanks Don.
Uh just a couple of things.
First I want to thank uh
once again the uh
baseball association for their generous
donation for Legion and Hebrew softball
ball field maintenance.
Um
It's great up there and it's much
appreciated because we couldn't really
do it without them.
And also today I want to thank
Taylor. She got volunteers together for
the active transportation demonstration
project.
Um don't want to miss anybody but thanks
to the men that who that was here and
um
Scott Park and Rec were up there.
Chuck Street Department, thank you. Also
uh Wendy.
She had to show me how to use a roller
so it was great.
>> [laughter]
>> Um
Got one more I have here. It was brought
up at
the last council meeting regarding
uh
heavy equipment on gravel roads.
Now, this for reference, a typical city
motor grader weighs around 40,000 lbs.
However, the weight is distributed
across multiple ax- axles.
So, for an example, axle would be
distributed would be front axle is
roughly 12,000 lbs, rear tandem axles
combined is about 28,000 lbs.
Or so, basically, your rear axle 14,000
Um the largest concerns with gravel
roads is moisture content, saturation
uh conditions, frost, spring thaw.
Weak subgrade or poor base material,
drainage issues, or shallow or poorly
installed utilities.
So, as mentioned by someone that was
here that uh there's utilities running
down their alley, and there is not. So,
that is all I have tonight.
Uh nothing else come before council.
>> Open comment now?
>> You had your chance at the open forum.
>> Okay, so you are recanting what you
promised at
>> So,
I can change my mind. So, I'm We're just
clarifying. Thank you. Yep.
>> So, we are adjourned. Thank you,
everybody.
>> You may be excused.
» Hey.