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Minutes of Grand Forks City Council/Committee of the Whole
Monday, January 28, 2008 - 5:30 p.m.___________________

The City Council met as the Committee of the Whole on Monday, January 28, 2008 at 5:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers in City Hall with Mayor Brown presiding. Present at roll call were Council Members McNamara, Glassheim, Bakken, Kreun - 4; absent: Council Member Gershman - 1; Ward 1 vacant.

Mayor Brown commented on events during the past week and upcoming events:
Warm welcome home to the ND National Guard 188th Air Defense Artillery soldiers and thanked them for their service and families for their sacrifice.
We were saddened with the news of Jean Kiesau's passing and thoughts and prayers are with her family, she was a model to the business community.
Thanks to City Assessor Mel Carsen, Finance Director John Schmisek and County Auditor Deb Nelson who were at the Senior Center for informational session on property tax relief adopted by the State last year, and if anyone has questions can contact the City or the Senior Citizens Center, staff to help with the necessary forms.
Congratulations to Governor Schaefer who was confirmed this afternoon as U.S. Agriculture Secretary; that he and Mayor Walaker of Fargo had opportunity to show support for Governor Schaefer at his hearing last Thursday, that he has achieved one of the highest posts in the country and we are proud of him.
He also noted that in addition to the meeting in Washington had good meetings with our delegation about the community plans for 2008 and to talk to them about keeping the progress moving on issues like the Air Base, research and energy developments.
He congratulated the community on the third time recognition as one of the hundred best communities for young people and distinction that goes to all the individuals and organizations in Grand Forks that work to provide our young people opportunities and keep them safe.

He introduced Ward DeMontigny of the Walsh Griggs Student PR firm from the UND School of Communications. Mr. DeMontigny, student in the Walsh Griggs PR Practicum class at UND and School of Communications instructed by Shelly Michaels, stated their firm is named for Alexander Griggs and George Walsh, founders of UND and the city of Grand Forks. Some of the groups they are working with this semester will be the Democratic Convention, to get college students involved in the convention; Red Cross, to gain volunteers throughout the state; English Coulee Clean-up is another project they will be working with, public awareness campaign to tell people involved of the project; Dru's Dive, to raise awareness about violence against students; and The World, which is to raise campus involvement in the World Curling Tournament. Member of his classmates from UND School of Communications introduced themselves: Shaun Eretson, Courtney Olson, Jared Nelson, Melanie Slominski..

COUNCIL MEMBER CHRISTENSEN REPORTED PRESENT

2.1 Application for abatement for 2006 taxes by Dakota Conference Corporation of Seventh-Day Adventist, 1928 Prairie Rose Court.___________________________
There were no comments.

2.2 Polling sites and polling hours for June 10, 2008 election.
There were no comments.

2.3 Mosquito Control 2008 bid recommendations.
There were no comments.

2.4 City of Grand Forks - FY 2009 North Dakota Statewide FTA Section 5309 Capital Request._______________________________________________________________
There were no comments.

2.5 Arts Re-granting Program.
Greg Hoover, Urban Development director, reported that 14 organizations requested
funding, requests ranked from $700 to $2,500, and each of the organizations that applied received some funding.

ADOURN

It was moved by Council Member Glassheim and seconded by Council Member Kreun that we adjourn. Carried 5 votes affirmative. Meeting adjourned at 5:35 p.m.

Respectfully submitted,



John M. Schmisek
City Auditor