City Council Agendas & Packets

CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 APPROVED MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF EAST GRAND FORKS TUESDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2025 – 6:00 PM CALL TO ORDER: The Council Meeting of the East Grand Forks City Council for Tuesday, December 2, 2025 was called to order by Council President Larson at 6:00 P.M. CALL OF ROLL: On a Call of Roll the following members of the East Grand Forks City Council were present: Mayor Mark Olstad, Council President Brian Larson, Council Vice-President Tim Riopelle, Council members Tami Schumacher, Ben Pokrzywinski, and Karen Peterson. Council Members Absent: Donald Casmey and Dale Helms Staff Present: Karla Anderson, Finance Director; Jeff Boushee, Fire Chief; Maggie Brockling, Economic Development Director; Nancy Ellis, City Planner; Steve Emery, City Engineer; Ron Galstad, City Attorney; Michael Hedlund, Police Chief, Charlotte Helgeson, Library Director; Reid Huttunen, City Administrator; Jeremy King, Parks and Recreation Superintendent; Keith Mykleseth, Water and Light General Manager; and Jason Stordahl, Public Works Director. DETERMINATION OF A QUORUM: The Council President declared a Quorum as being present. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE: RECOGNITION OF THE RETIREMENT OF GEORGE WEBER FROM THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT Public Works Director Jason Stordahl recognized Mr. Geoge Weber on his upcoming retirement after his 41+ years of service to the City of East Grand Forks and presented him with a retirement plaque. Mr. Weber will be retiring on December 12, 2025. Mr. Weber then addressed the City Council, highlighting his work with the City and thanked everyone for a wonderful career. OPEN FORUM: “An opportunity for members of the public to address the City Council on items not on the current Agenda. Items requiring Council action maybe deferred to staff or Boards and Commissions for research and future Council Agendas if appropriate.” No items addressed under open forum. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: For the November 18th Council Meeting and the November 18th Closed Meeting. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 1. Consider approving the minutes of the “Regular Meeting” for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of November 18, 2025. 2. Consider approving the meeting minute summary of the Closed Meeting for the East Grand Forks, Minnesota City Council of November 18, 2025. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO APPROVE ITEMS ONE (1) AND TWO (2). No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey SCHEDULED BID LETTINGS: NONE. SCHEDULED PUBLIC HEARINGS: 3. Truth and Taxation Hearing on preliminary tax levy of 12%. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey Ms. Anderson, Finance Director presented a Truth in Taxation powerpoint, detailing the City’s planned 2026 budget, revenues and expenditures, as well as the impact of the proposed levy on property taxes. Seth Carr, 2121 8th St SE, addressed the City Council stating his taxes are seeing a 27.1% increase this year. He detailed that he provided an appraisal on his home and was ignored. He stated he loved the City services, police, snow removal, trash removal, etc., but he has great concern for how Polk County values homes. He asked where the checks and balances are in this process, and how he can continue to afford the taxes on his home. Mayor Olstad responded that he’d like to look at what he provided to the county and that Polk County has a process that should be followed to review accessed value. Discussion continued about the City’s budget and the County’s process. Mr. Carr then finished by stating a 12% increase was too high and he’d like for the City to reconsider what projects it completes and how much it can afford to do each year. Jacob Torgerson, 1428 Nate Circle. Mr. Torgerson addressed the City Council with concerns for his homes valuation and recognized that the County is responsible for that. He then asked the Council to consider how much it costs to offer recreation programs and other non-essential services. Council Member Peterson then responded to Mr. Torgerson, detailing the Economic Impact of recreation programming and the impact it has on the community as a whole. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 Troy Sermack, 2119 12th Ave NW. Mr. Sermack addressed the City Council on the valuation of his home and of his neighbors. He cited that a couple of homes on his street sold this year and the county set the tax valuation on the higher sale home, rather than the lower or middle of the two sales. Jack Gregoire, 405 Crestwood Ct. Mr. Gregoire stated his tax statement for city taxes had risen about $400 for 2026 or 27%. Finance Director Anderson asked what the home valuation is. Mr. Gregoire stated his home valuation had gone up from $228,000 to $257,000. Ms. Anderson stated she would look at the tax statement with him following the meeting. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey 4. Public Hearing to consider granting property tax abatements for the properties that qualify under the New Construction Housing program. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey No one present and no comments on the Tax Abatement public hearing. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO CLOSE THE PUBLIC HEARING. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey CONSENT AGENDA: None ACKNOWLEDGE RECEIPT OF REPORTS OF OFFICERS, BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS: 5. Regular meeting minutes of the Water, Light, Power, and Building Commission for November 5, 2025. COMMUNICATIONS: NONE OLD BUSINESS: NONE NEW BUSINESS: CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 6. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-12-88 authorizing a tax abatement on the listed properties that qualify under the New Home Construction Program for property taxes paid in 2025 and payable in 2026. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRYZWINSKI, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-12-88 AUTHORIXING A TAX ABATEMENT ON THE LISTED PROPERTIES THAT QUALIFY UNDER THE NEW HOME CONSTRUCTION PROGRAM FOR PROPERTY TAXES PAID IN 2025 AND PAYABLE IN 2026. No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey 7. Consider approving the Agreement for Professional Services between the City of East Grand Forks and Widseth Smith Nolting for engineering services from January 2026 through December 2026 A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO APPROVE THE AGREEMENT FOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES BETWEEN THE CITY AND WIDSETH, SMITH, NOLTING FOR ENGINEERING SERVICES FROM JANAUARY 2026 THROUGH DECEMBER 2026. No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey 8. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-12-89 accepting and awarding Bid Package #1 for Facility Improvements at the Civic Center. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-12-89 ACCEPTING AND AWARDING BID PACKAGE #1 FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS TO THE CIVIC CENTER. No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey 9. Consider adopting Resolution No. 25-12-90 accepting and awarding Bid Package #1 for Facility Improvements at the VFW Memorial Arena. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER SCHUMACHER, TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO. 25-12-90 ACCEPTING AND CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 AWARDING BID PACKAGE #1 FOR FACILITY IMPROVEMENTS AT THE VFW MEMORIAL ARENA. No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey CLAIMS: 10. Consider authorizing the City Administrator to issue payment for accounts payable invoices totaling $183,117.31 and the November 28, 2025 payroll. A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER RIOPELLE, TO AUTHORIZE THE CITY ADMINISTRATOR TO DISTRIBUTE PAYMENT FOR ACCOUNTS PAYABLE INVOICES TOTALING $183,117.31 AND THE NOVEMBER 28, 2025 PAYROLL. No questions or discussion. Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey COUNCIL/STAFF REPORTS: Mayor Olstad: Mayor Olstad read letters to the Mayor from Mrs. Bergs 4th Grade Class. Council Member Schumacher: Thanks to George Weber for his service to the City. Council Member Pokrzywinski: Council Vice-President Riopelle: Thanks to George Weber for his years of his service. Council Member Helms: Council Member Casmey: Council Member Peterson: Thanks to George for his service. Thanks to all our City staff for their work on the budget and service to the City. Council President Larson: Thanks to those that attended the Truth in Taxation meeting and that we take those comments serious and will continue to work hard for our residents. CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES December 2, 2025 Mr. Huttunen: Mr. Galstad: Mr. Emery: Thanked the Council for their trust in him and Widseth as City Engineer. ADJOURN: A MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCIL MEMBER PETERSON, SECONDED BY COUNCIL MEMBER POKRYZWINSKI, TO ADJOURN THE DECEMBER 2, 2025 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING OF THE EAST GRAND FORKS, MINNESOTA CITY COUNCIL AT 7:04 P.M. All in Favor Voting Aye: Peterson, Schumacher, Pokrzywinski, Riopelle, and Larson, Voting Nay: None Absent: Helms and Casmey Respectfully Submitted, ________________________________________ Reid Huttunen, City Administrator