by April Scheinoha
Editor

Various avenues are being undertaken to grow the City of Thief River Falls. At its meeting Tuesday, April 1, the Thief River Falls City Council renewed its membership in the Community Venture Network.

Community Venture Network helps connect rural communities in eight Midwestern states with businesses seeking opportunities to expand and grow. Richard Baker, economic/community development director for the city, said the network brings 30 to 40 prospective businesses three times per year to meetings in Lakeville. Once there, community representatives are able to make pitches to the businesses.

The annual membership costs $4,500. Baker referred to network membership as a cheap way to market Thief River Falls.

Mayor Mike Lorenson noted that it was a budgeted item and the city would more than recoup its expenses.

It may take time for visible results of the city’s membership in the network. Baker said it may take 10 years to find a prospective business to locate or relocate to Thief River Falls; however, the city may eventually recoup $45,000 in property taxes once a business moves here.

Council member Julie Bolduc said $4,500 is quite a bit of money to spend annually without seeing a result. She voiced her suggestion to no longer belong to the network if the city doesn’t see a result in a year or two years.

Baker replied that it’s a cheaper way to market Thief River Falls than if city leaders marketed the city on their own. He also referred to several contacts he has made in housing development through the network.

Bolduc questioned whether any other group was already paying to market the city.

Lorenson seemed to refer to one organization that markets the city. He indicated the city’s Budget/Finance Committee could look into network membership for 2026 and determine then whether the cost was justified.

The networking available through Community Venture Network is valuable, said council member Jason Aarestad, who noted that the results may not be measurable.

Baker noted that he had conversations with two or three developers from the St.Cloud/Twin Cities area. He said he is trying to find developers willing to tackle housing in Thief River Falls without all of the subsidization that the current market requires.

City Council approved purchasing 18 new handrails for the east entrance steps at Ralph Engelstad Arena. H & S Manufacturing Inc. will provide the handrails for $20,250. That amount includes delivery.

Public Works Director Travis Giffen anticipated that Fynboh Construction, which has been awarded the stair reconstruction project, would install the handrails. Construction on the steps was anticipated to begin as early as Tuesday, April 15.

At the previous council meeting, the council accepted two low bids, totalling $91,954, from Fynboh Construction for the project. The firm will reconstruct the east entrance steps and reconstruct the adjacent sidewalk, which spans from the entrance to the south parking lot. The projects will be covered by prior city bonding proceeds for REA.

The city’s Building Committee has discussed replacing the steps for at least a year. The steps and sidewalk are both deteriorating. New Americans with Disabilities Act design improvements were also a part of the bid specifications.

The council approved renewing a joint powers agreement with the Minnesota Human Trafficking Investigator’s Task Force. The Thief River Falls Police Department works with the task force and the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension to investigate and prosecute crimes against children and the exploitation of children, including trafficking. The agreement spans five years.

City Council approved two change orders totalling $5,275 for the bathroom project at the Thief River Falls Public Library. Of that amount, $3,907 will cover the purchase, wiring and installation of two automatic electric hand dryers. The remaining amount will cover the removal of existing concrete to relocate the floor drain in the mechanical room.

Schmitz Builders Inc. is relocating the library bathrooms to the south side of the building. Once the bathrooms have been completed, the current bathrooms will be converted into a storage room and/or study room, Giffen said.

Giffen expected that the project would be finished in mid-summer. American Rescue Plan Act funds are covering the $300,000 project.

The council approved an $807 change order for the purchase and installation of new carpet for the former Utilities Billing Office. Aarestad, who owns Kenny’s Floor Service, abstained from voting.

Schmitz Builders has the contract for the City Hall remodeling project with Paint and Glass Interiors providing and installing the carpet.

Giffen explained, when scoping the project, it was mistakenly thought that terrazzo flooring was located in that area. It has since been determined that isn’t the case. Public Works Department administration will move to the former Utilities Billing Office.

American Rescue Plan Act funds are being used to cover the City Hall remodeling project. The cost is not to exceed $400,000 and includes the relocation of the Utilities Billing Office, the installation of some security features, and updates to the City Hall bathrooms. The Utilities Billing Office has already moved to its new area off of the City Hall lobby.

Pending successful completion of all required background pre-employment requirements, City Council approved hiring Anthony Horachek as a firefighter, effective Monday, April 14. Horachek succeeds Mark Bieganek, who is retiring.

Horachek has been a volunteer Thief River Falls firefighter since 2018. He plans to continue his volunteer duties in addition to his work as a full-time firefighter with the combination department.

Lorenson announced that the State of the City address will be held Monday, April 28 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

The next council meeting is scheduled Tuesday, April 15 at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.