Mayor Tasha Connelly reported Positive Happenings around the city saying she received a call recently regarding our local library that was featured in a communication that went out to 5,000 library programs concerning our U.S. Passport acceptance facility. Mayor Connelly was contacted by the communications director of an organization regarding the facility with questions on the pilot model being used to apply and renew passports within the library.
Connelly says it’s a positive that there is a spotlight on the program, making more people aware of its existence. The library staff are fully licensed and trained, plus it’s convenient not having to make a trip to Duluth or the Twin Cities to apply or reapply for a passport, Connelly said.
“I’m proud of our director and the staff who went through that training to support our community members.”
In Council Reports, councilor Molly MacGregor says she went to the State of the Range last week put on by the IRRR. She also met with Minnesota Power on their Integrated Resource Plan regarding how they are going to sunset the use of coal and what energy source they adopt next.
At Monday’s Grand Rapids City Council meeting, the council members authorized the police department to hire Brooks Bachmann and Breven Lesner to the positions of Police Officer with the Grand Rapids Police Department.
GRPD Chief Andy Morgan says his department received four applications and decided to move forward with Bachman and Lesner pending the completion of the pre-hiring process.
Bachmann is from Grand Rapids and received his Bachelor’s degree at Bemidji State University and is strongly committed to the Grand Rapids area, Morgan said.
Lesner currently works as an officer in Hill City, and has prior experience that makes him an asset to the GRPD.
“I’m really proud that we’re in this environment that we’re still getting applicants and people are interested in policing and living in our community. I think we’ve been really blessed in that regard compared to other agencies. We have a good reputation due to leadership and good recruiting. Thank you for your efforts because it does bear fruit,” Connelly said about the GRPD’s reputation.
During Monday’s meeting, the city finance department presented an updated resolution adopting the 2024 proposed levy/collectable 2025. The updates were to grammatical errors, not to any dollar amounts.
The 2025 budget and levy amounts have been worked through by the city over the last few months and the preliminary levies are almost ready to be brought forward to the public.
The city director of finance Barb Baird says cities are no longer required to hold a “Truth in Taxation” meeting, but are required to hold at minimum a budget and levy meeting that the public is allowed to participate in.
Grand Rapids will hold their public budget meetings on Dec. 2, 2024 at 6 p.m. and plan to adopt the final levy Dec. 16. The school district will hold their public budget meeting separately, on Dec. 9.
In other business at Monday’s city council meeting:
Approved the verified claims for the period between Sept. 4, 2024 to September 16, 2024 in the total amount of $11,444,732.37, which includes debt service payments of $10,169,614.58.Approved amendment-1 with the IRRR for AP 2023-4, Hangar Utilities.Adopted a resolution authorizing an operating transfer from the Special Revenue Fund-Civic Center Fund to the Debt Service Fund-Taxable GO Temporary Bonds, Series 2022A.Approved to PERA Membership Plan for Rental Inspector/Firefighter position.Adopted a Resolution Accepting an FAA Grant in the amount of $224,280 for Phase-1 of the Taxiway Reconstruction Project at the Grand Rapids/Itasca County Airport.Approved additional dollars in the amount of $463.50 for the Rain Garden Planting ProjectAppointed election judges.Authorized staff to obtain two quotes to replace the scoreboard in the McDonald Venue at Yanmar Arena.Adopted a resolution accepting a $114,788.00 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for a DWI/traffic safety officer.Adopted a resolution accepting a $43,500.00 grant from the Minnesota Department of Public Safety for a Toward Zero Deaths grant.Entered into an agreement with Northwoods Cleaning Company at Yanmar Arena.Adopted a resolution authorizing designated signers as City Administrator, Finance Director and Assistant Finance Director for the Woodland Bank account.Awarded a contract to Casper Construction for the SE 7th Avenue storm pond revitalization.Approved naming rights and sponsorship agreements with Yanmar, Paul Bunyan, and Grand Itasca.Entered into an agreement for Fourth of July fireworks next year with Premier Pyrotechnics, Inc.
The next regularly scheduled Grand Rapids City Council meeting is Oct. 14, 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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