Crookston council approves funding for pay study, opens RFP for official paper, names auditor, awards Sports Center painting and backs geothermal planning grant

The Crookston City Council on Feb. 10 approved a series of routine but policy-relevant items, including a $48,000 allocation from reserves for a comprehensive classification and compensation study, an RFP to choose the city's official newspaper, a three-year auditor engagement with Baker Tilly, a lowest-responsible-bid award for exterior painting at the Crookston Sports Center, and a city letter of support for a geothermal planning grant.

The actions bundle several administrative and procurement decisions the council said are intended to improve city operations, preserve competitive bidding for legal notices, secure audit services for a three-year period, maintain city facilities and explore energy-efficiency options for city-owned buildings.

City staff told the council the classification and compensation study would be a comprehensive review of all city positions — including police and fire — and would align job classifications and pay scales across departments. “We—re asking for the council's authorization to move forward for a comprehensive classification and compensation study,” staff member Jeff said during the presentation, adding the work…