Latest news with #Olstad
Yahoo
25-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
East Grand Forks Mayor Mark Olstad reflects on year of big projects during his first State of the City
Apr. 24—EAST GRAND FORKS — In his address to residents and businesses, East Grand Forks Mayor Mark Olstad reflected on the city's accomplishments and major projects of the past year. It was a more casual event — billed as "Life Connected: A Civic Social" — than previous iterations of the annual State of the City. It was also the first one Olstad has hosted since becoming mayor at the beginning of the year, taking over for Steve Gander, who is now a representative in the Minnesota House. Among the accomplishments Olstad highlighted from the past year included the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Red River State Recreational Area campground, substantial work on the creation of a railroad quiet zone through the city and improvements to LaFave Park. "I am pleased to represent this wonderful city on the Red Lake River and Red River of the North," Olstad said. "Today is about getting together businesses, donors and citizens of East Grand Forks and Grand Forks in a more relaxed setting." People from across the business community were there, as well as the department heads of the city. The event was held at the River Cinema, which Olstad also highlighted for the key role it plays in the city's small business community. "Last year, they had 220,000 customers, which drove business to our local restaurants, gas stations and other community events," Olstad said. "They provide jobs to young adults and entertainment for the whole family. ... I appreciate them hosting tonight." Olstad also shared that the Red River campground had its busiest year on record with 12,573 camping nights. The previous record was 11,731 in 2018. The recreation area also saw 20,632 vehicles pass through, and estimates show that 117,000 people visited the campground. In the last year, the city completed a renovation of LaFave Park, including a new boat ramp and improved accessibility. The city is also in the process of revamping the playground at the Griggs Park Trailhead, which is near the park and is used by families using the athletic facilities at LaFave. "If you like to kayak, try out the Red River," Olstad said. The rail quiet zone, a longtime priority of the city, will likely be instituted beginning June 20, Olstad shared. "We've been asked by many other people in the community to do a quiet zone," Olstad said. "Last year, we started that process, so hopefully on June 20 there will be no more BNSF horns going through town." Looking ahead, the city is looking to movement on what is known as the "Simplot" lot. The lot, near the intersection of Highway 2 and Central Avenue, has long been a priority for development, and is currently owned by the J.R. Simplot company, but there have been discussions of a potential transaction. "I'm hoping in the next month or so we'll be able to announce (plans for) this vacant lot that's been there forever," Olstad said. "We've been working with them for a while, trying to get them on board to have us take it over and have a developer come in and spur some more community and retail development."
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Forest Lake looks at cryptocurrency ATM registration after series of scams
An elderly Forest Lake man lost almost $1 million after scammers persuaded him to withdraw cash from his bank and deposit it into a cryptocurrency ATM. Another resident told police he lost $600,000 before he realized he was being scammed. 'It's sad. They get in a panic, they just get tunnel vision, and they lose all sense of reasonableness,' said Det. Nathan Olstad of the Forest Lake Police Department. Once the cash is deposited into a cryptocurrency ATM, it is extremely difficult to recover the funds, Olstad said. The Forest Lake City Council is expected to vote on a new ordinance next week that could help others from being scammed. The proposed ordinance would require that all cryptocurrency ATMs located within the city be registered. City officials already register businesses that pose obvious public health or safety concerns, such as liquor stores, cannabis shops and tattoo parlors, said City Attorney Amanda Johnson. Cryptocurrency ATMs are no different because of the amount of fraud running through the machines, the vulnerable population groups targeted and the inability to recover the stolen funds, Johnson said. Cryptocurrency ATMs or kiosks resemble conventional ATMs, but they focus on cryptocurrency-related transactions. People can use them to withdraw funds from their cryptocurrency accounts or purchase more cryptocurrency. People use cryptocurrency for many reasons: quick payments, to avoid transaction fees that traditional banks charge or because it offers some anonymity, according to the Federal Trade Commission. Once you pay with cryptocurrency, you can usually only get your money back if the person you paid sends it back, according to the FTC. In 2023, crypto fraud cost Americans an estimated $5.6 billion, according to a report from the Federal Bureau of Investigations. 'Since cryptocurrencies eliminate the need for financial intermediaries to validate and facilitate transactions, criminals can exploit these characteristics to support illicit activity such as thefts, fraud and money laundering,' the report states. Minnesota man with white nationalist ties convicted of gun charges, feds say 14-year-old arrested in fatal stabbing of 19-year-old in St. Paul St. Paul man gets 22-year prison sentence for fatal North End shooting Former St. Kate's dean pleads guilty to swindling from the St. Paul university Brooklyn Park driver charged in Wisconsin crash that killed restaurant owner David Burley The proposed Forest Lake ordinance would require owners of businesses where cryptocurrency ATMs are located to register each machine with the city; complete an application; pay a $2,000 fee, and provide written confirmation from the Forest Lake Police Department that the cryptocurrency ATM operator 'has had no more than two instances of substantiated fraud, as determined by the FLPD involving any kiosk owned or operated by that kiosk operator within the city in the past six months,' according to the proposed ordinance. 'Basically, if you've been behaving badly, you don't get to play here,' Johnson said. 'As long as you're keeping it clean, fine.' Other proposed requirements for registration: the posting of a city-provided sign warning of the danger for fraud and scams; the installation of a dedicated, closed-circuit camera, positioned as required by police; agreeing to provide video footage to the police department within 48 hours of request, and passing compliance checks. In addition, if a business has had a previous registration denied, suspended or revoked, the owner of the business may not apply for a new registration for two years, Johnson said. The goal of the ordinance is to balance the protection of the community without instituting a ban on the cryptocurrency ATMs, Johnson said. 'If you are not doing something that's harming the people who live or work or play in Forest Lake, then you get to continue,' she said. In 2023 and 2024, residents reported losing $300,000 in scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs, and the majority of the victims were elderly, Olstad said. 'It's tough to swallow when you know that money more than likely is not just not-recoverable — it's out of the country,' he said. Police have investigated a number of reports involving the Bitcoin Depot ATM at the Holiday Station at 1208 Broadway Ave. in Forest Lake. In one case, a Forest Lake Police Department employee spotted a woman about to deposit $16,000 in cash into the Bitcoin Depot ATM. The woman told police she was working on a laptop computer when a pop-up message appeared stating that she had a virus in her system and to call the provided phone number. Scammers convinced the woman that her computer had a virus related to child pornography and persuaded her to download an app onto her cell phone and then log into her U.S. Bank account. They then persuaded her to withdraw all her money from U.S. Bank, go to the Bitcoin Depot ATM and deposit the money into a 'safekeeping account' that they set up for her, the reports state. Stillwater schools making changes, mulling cuts to address $5M shortfall Stillwater skateboard park to be relocated as part of Rec Center project Woodbury launches a new visitors bureau and website Judge dismisses former Washington County deputy's sexual-harassment lawsuit Four Stillwater teachers suspended for cheating on training program 'The woman admitted she didn't know how to use the ATM and didn't know the person she was on the phone with,' the report states. 'She stopped her transaction and went to US Bank to deposit her funds back into her account and then came to the police department to file a report.' Two other cities in Washington County also are working on measures to protect residents from scams involving cryptocurrency ATMs. Like Forest Lake, officials in Woodbury are considering an ordinance that would require the registration of the business that hosts the ATMs. The Stillwater City Council, meanwhile, is moving forward with a plan to ban crypto ATMs within city limits. The Forest Lake City Council will vote on its proposed ordinance on Monday.
