There was a round of applause at Monday’s Grand Rapids City Council meeting as Mayor Tasha Connelly administered the oath of office for Grand Rapids Police Officer Michelle Norris, who accepted a promotion, becoming the first female officer in the department to hold the position.
Norris was surrounded by several generations of her family who were there to support her achievement, as was police officer Jeff Madsen who was also greeted with a round of applause and situated amongst his wife, children and family. Madsen was officially sworn-in as a Grand Rapids Police Officer.
Local positive happenings were delivered by Councilor Rick Blake, who said the Great Itasca Giveback was a recent success, raising over $40,000 for area nonprofits. Three area community members - an officer, doctor, and teacher - united to travel by running, biking, and rollerblading to the Canadian border and back in 36 hours.
“It was a great event,” said Blake.
Mayor Connelly received an email from the Director of Licensing and Enforcement for the Minnesota Department of Labor and Industry, expressing his gratitude for city employee John Peterson for his hospitality and willingness to help during a recent time of need.
The city council thanked those involved for putting together the National Night Out, on Tuesday Aug. 6.
Mayor Connelly said it was a collaborative effort by city and local service providers who engaged with the community and provided demonstrations.
“It was a true sense of community.”
She extended her appreciation to public works, the police and fire departments, and “everyone who makes Tall Timber Days go off without a hitch.”
During Council Reports, Councilor Blake said he recently went to an area RAMS luncheon that shared the history of the Iron Range Resources and Rehabilitation (IRRR) and its objectives in the Iron Range. Blake learned that the IRRR is 83 years old after was established in 1941 by then Minnesota Governor Harold Stassen. Stassen created the IRRR in response to concerns that the mining industry wasn’t paying their fair share, so a mining production tax was instituted in lieu of property taxes has been a mechanism for decades to provide grants and funds throughout the Taconite Relief Area.
Human Resources Director Chery Pierzina requested the council consider a policy revision for non-represented employees and the contribution amount to their health care savings plan.
The action taken created a tiered-contribution amount based on years of service and comes at no additional cost to the city.
The city council voted Monday to discontinue human resource services to the Grand Rapids Public Utilities. The two bodies share many of the same employer services through a memorandum of understanding, but the H.R. services will end for GRPU as of Sept. 30, this year for capacity reasons.
The city council approved the purchase requests from the Grand Rapids Fire Department who received a one-time public safety grant. The grant will allow the fire department to purchase additional fire safety equipment, including thermal-imaging cameras, water-rescue suits, turn-out gear, rope and pulley equipment, cordless power tools, and general safety equipment, among other things.
The police department received approval from the council to accept donations from the Blandin Foundation, Pinched Catering, Super One Foods, Sandstorms, Pepsi and Rapids Welding and the Cohasset Fire Hook and Ladder for 2024 National Night Out.
“It was a great success with the community coming together,” said GRPD Chief Andy Morgan, regarding National Night Out, where the department received a number of the donations.
Every two years on an odd-calendar year before the November election, the city council and mayor must revisit the salary for their positions. The Grand Rapids City Council has not voted to give themselves a raise of their monthly income since 2016. Currently, the monthly salary for the mayor is $880, while the councilors are paid $660, respectively.
Councilor Rick Blake said he favored an increase, and Councilor Dale Adams said he supported an increase to support any incoming elected council members after the election.
With the councilors having not gotten a raise since 2016, they make less today in theory than eight years ago when you take into account the Consumer Price Index and current cost of living.
A motion was made to grant a salary increase and was seconded by Blake and Adams, but Councilor Tom Sutherland and Mayor Connelly voted in opposition.
Councilor Molly MacGregor was not present to vote, leaving the tally at 2-2, which failed.
At Monday’s Grand Rapids City Council meeting, Director of Community Development Rob Mattei was present to request the city council consider the establishment of a Tax Increment Financing (TIF) housing district for a new proposed development near the library in northeast Grand Rapids.
Unique Opportunities Grand Rapids LLC, out of Alexandria, MN, requested the TIF relief of approximately $1.3 million to proceed with a 63-unit, four story apartment across from the Grand Rapids Library. The facility would include underground parking, among a number of modern amenities.
Samuel Herzog, the developer for the group, says they chose Grand Rapids for this project because of the “unusually high waiting list and very high demand” for housing in the area. He says they have worked in Grand Rapids in the past and enjoy the area.
Herzog is partnered with the builder as the ownership team of Unique Opportunities, and they a “vertically-integrated” company that saves a lot on construction costs because they do a lot of the work themselves.
The overall project is expected to cost around $10.1 million dollars, and would be funded through a mix of equity and financing outside of the TIF. With the TIF district granted, the project could move forward in providing much needed housing for the city, including a number of senior and income-based units. As a law-requirement to use TIF, at least 20% of the units in the facility must be affordable at or below the 50% median income level.
The property taxes the facility is anticipated to generate in the future would be near $145,000 annually, enhancing the city’s tax base and increasing the vibrancy of the downtown area. The lot across the street from the library is currently vacant and does not generate any tax revenue.
The TIF housing district was approved, clearing the way for Unique Opportunities Grand Rapids LLC to proceed. It has a 26-year max term, or expires when the $1.3 million is satisfied.
“Sam, thank you for coming up here - thank you for choosing us,” Mayor Connelly said to Herzog. She also added that she feels the location for the project is “optimal.”
All considerations for the project aligned with the city’s comprehensive development plan.
The city council also approved a conveyance of the former ISD 318 property to the Grand Rapids Economic Development Authority (GREDA), who may potentially raze the site in an effort to develop more housing in the city.
“We know there is a housing shortage here and anything we can do to close that gap is a wonderful thing,” said Connelly, thanking Mattei for his efforts.
“The need for housing in Grand Rapids is unbelievable,” added Dale Adams.
Rob Mattei remained before the city council and also got approval for a purchase agreement to annex 12.5 acres of industrially-zoned property at the airport, which the facility and FAA do not need. Mattei says the 12.5 acres would be conjoined with other industrially-zoned property near the new L and M site along Airport Road, creating a 35-acre track of industrially zoned property, ready for future development.
In other business at Monday’s city council meeting:
Approved the verified claims for the period July 16 through Aug. 5, 2024 in the total amount of $1,271,435.99.Appointed additional election judges to serve in 2024 elections.Approved a temporary liquor permit for VFW Post 1720, United Way of 1000 Lakes and St. Joseph’s Catholic Church.Entered into an advertising agreement with a business at Yanmar Arena.Approved a lease agreement with ISD 318 for use of the city’s athletic fields.Adopted a resolution accepting a bench donation in memory of Desiree Sulamith Joy Randle.Approved an increase in hourly wage for seasonal golf employees.Approved additions to the Public Works street sweeper purchase.Awarded the bid to Hawkinson Construction for the NW 5th Street overlay project.Entered into a Cleaning Services Agreement with Northwoods Cleaning Company at City Hall, Central School, and the library.Approved a payment of $850 to McKeon Roberts to cover appraisal costs for land purchase by the City.Approved a change order and final payment in the amount of $6,100.00 for stonework in the east lobby for the Civic Center Project.Approved the Lefty’s rental contract utilized at National Night Out.
The next Grand Rapids City Council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 26, at 5 p.m.
To view the meeting in its entirety, the Grand Rapids City Council meeting can be found online at watchictv.org/
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