Latest news with #RebeccaOsowski
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
After Grand Forks City Council approvals, Altru Sports Complex proceeds to June groundbreaking
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways May 5—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks City Council formally accepted the first bid package for the Altru Sports Complex. Next, the facility progresses to a June groundbreaking. The council approved the measure during its meeting Monday night, after it had reviewed the bids, agreements and financing packages last week. Council member Rebecca Osowski cast the lone vote against it, citing her continued view that the project costs too much and is over budget. Even with economic uncertainties regarding national tariffs, the city generally has been happy with the competitive bidding so far. "Many, many bidders showed up," City Auditor Maureen Storstad told the council. "I believe the number was 89 bidders. (It was) very competitively bid and numbers came up very well." Similarly, the city received very competitive bids for the interim financing, which also was given final approval by the council. The city received multiple offers for a line of credit, which will act as a bridge between the Alerus Center construction bonds sunsetting and more permanent bonds for the Altru Sports Complex. For the interim financing, the city will draw on a line of credit with a 3.54% fixed interest rate from Wells Fargo. This method will likely save the city interest in the long run as it'll be able to access the funds as it progresses, instead of a lump sum up front. "I appreciate the opportunity coming to see you guys," Derick Duklis, a representative from Wells Fargo, told the council. "All the new developments you guys have going on are absolutely incredible." The indoor turf and aquatics complex has a budget of $110 million, but recent bids have come up much better than expected, allowing the city to pursue add-ons like an elevated walking track. The facility will be located off 42nd Street just south of the Alerus Center. The council also approved the special assessments it's giving itself for the site work. The city has to go through the formal process of establishing special assessments even though it's to itself, so it can take out bonds to pay for the improvements. An agreement with the Grand Forks Park District also moved forward. While the city will own the Altru Sports Complex, the parks district will operate it. The Park Board was expected to consider the agreement at its meeting Tuesday. Two items remain open, including reimbursements and costs for technological and computer expenses and some insurance provisions. In other news, the council: * Gave the first approval to an ordinance regulating camping on public property. Other cities, like Fargo and Bismarck, have similar provisions to address issues with homeless encampments. In her dissent, council member Tricia Berg said this ordinance won't solve the root issues for homelessness in Grand Forks and will unnecessarily fine people. * As the Jobs Development Authority, declared a loan with Steers Restaurant LLC in default and authorized staff to begin the collection process. The business, more commonly known as Chino Latino, is delinquent on its $30,000 start-up loan it received in 2022. Declaring a default is typically a last resort, Economic Development Manager Andy Conlon said, but other avenues have been exhausted. The business is still able to pursue a restructuring proposal even though considered in default.
Yahoo
28-01-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Grand Forks City Council gives first approval to Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa resort plan
Jan. 27—GRAND FORKS — The Grand Forks City Council on Monday recommended approving a letter of intent with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa for a proposed resort, casino and event center. During its Committee of the Whole meeting Monday night, the council recommended, in a 4-3 vote, moving forward with the letter of intent. Council members Rebecca Osowski, Tricia Lunski and Ken Vein voted against. Conversations about the proposed casino, resort and event center have happened in Grand Forks for at least two decades. The letter of intent is designed to be the starting point for the regulatory processes and potential agreements. It lays out that the city has a role in helping serve future projects with infrastructure and that the city will be a partner as the tribe seeks approval from other entities. "We envision a broad economic development initiative that will involve numerous stakeholders from the public and private sectors, including city, county and governmental entities throughout this area," Tribal Chairman Jamie Azure said. "It must be a destination hub with multiple options to bring people from other areas." Azure added that the goal is to capture visitors, especially Canadians, who drive past Grand Forks to visit places like Fargo or Minneapolis. He said Grand Forks in particular is the right location as the tribe has deep historical ties to the area, a key factor and requirement for the tribe to operate gaming operations off reservation land. "The Turtle Mountain tribe is the only tribe that has solid, well-documented historical ties to this area," Azure told the council. "This isn't an overnight process. This will take a lot of time and a lot of effort into moving forward." The Turtle Mountain tribe has the largest enrolled population of any tribe in the state, with over 30,000 members. The tribe is headquartered in Belcourt, North Dakota, 140 miles northwest of Grand Forks along the Canada border. To open a casino in Grand Forks, changes in state regulations will need to be made as well as getting approval by the United States Department of the Interior and Bureau of Indian Affairs for the project. According to Azure, Gov. Kelly Armstrong has been positive about the project and the Department of the Interior could be receptive given that former Gov. Doug Burgum is being considered as the department's next secretary. Some on the council have questions about the potential tax implications and what role the city would play; namely what the city would or would not get in property and sales tax collections as tribal lands follow different rules. Many of the details are still to be decided because what the Turtle Mountain tribe is proposing doesn't have many examples in North Dakota. "I think sometimes people feel like we're starting construction tomorrow. ... And really, in my mind, what we're doing is we're spilling a 100-piece puzzle on our table and we're putting a corner piece down to look forward to moving forward with this project," Council Vice President Danny Weigel said. However, some on the council felt like they need more information before agreeing to the letter of intent, no matter how preliminary the discussions are. "I do worry about the implications to what's here currently," Vein said. "But I feel like what I'm missing is a rollback of what we are trying to do and what are all the features." Under the current proposals, the facility would be located on the west side of Interstate 29 near the future 47th Avenue South interchange. The casino would be built on land already owned by the tribe and employ around 800 people, making it one of the largest employers in the city. In other news, the council: * Received updates from Epitome Energy CEO Dennis Egan. Epitome is expecting to close on the financing in the first half of this year and begin construction on its Grand Forks soybean plant by the end of the year. * Recommended accepting a grant from the Federal Economic Development Administration for the December 2023 ice storm. The $3.2 million in funds, designed for economic resiliency efforts, will go toward road improvements near the Epitome Energy project and 70th Avenue North.
