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Council debates whether East Grand Forks should revert to earlier Minnesota flag or keep current design
Summary
Council members and residents debated whether East Grand Forks should revert to the 1983 Minnesota flag, fly no state flag, or continue to display the current official design. Councilmember Ripel urged reverting and criticized the process that changed the flag; resident Alan Sonnenberg and several council members urged keeping the current flag, citing inclusivity and design standards.
East Grand Forks councilmembers spent a large portion of the work session debating whether the city should revert to the 1983 Minnesota flag, remove the state flag from city properties, or continue flying the current official state design.
Councilmember Ripel said he had been approached by "50 to 100" residents who favor returning to the 1983 flag and argued the governor bypassed the legislative process when the flag was changed. "Let them vote on it, see which way they wanted to go," Ripel said, asserting that the procedure should have involved the legislature or a public vote.
During public comment, resident Alan Sonnenberg identified himself and urged the council to keep the current flag, arguing the symbols and poem associated with the older flag are racially problematic and could hurt the city’s economic and community standing. "I don't think we want to promote our community as a racist community," Sonnenberg said, and said the newer design better represents inclusivity.
Other council members expressed a range of views. Karen (first name used in the record) described flag-design principles such as simplicity and said the new flag represents Minnesota’s waterways and the North Star while intentionally incorporating elements representing Indigenous and African cultures. Mayor Olstead said most of the emails and calls she received were opposed to reverting and advised councilmembers to consider constituent preferences.
Some councilmembers suggested alternative options including flying both flags or choosing to fly no state flag rather than returning to the older design. No formal motion or vote on a policy change occurred at the work session; staff emphasized this is a council decision and said they had no staff recommendation. Councilmembers indicated they will revisit the topic at the regular council meeting next week.
Next steps: The flag issue will be placed on the council meeting agenda for further consideration and any possible formal action.
