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Grafton council authorizes up to $7 million in bonds for athletic center and approves multiple infrastructure and property measures
Summary
At its April 14 meeting, the Grafton City Council unanimously authorized issuing bonds up to $7 million for a Centennial Center Athletic Training Center addition and approved a series of transfers, contracts and first readings on rate and fee ordinances, including water-system planning and lift-station pump purchases.
The Grafton City Council on April 14 unanimously approved issuing bonds of up to $7 million to fund an Athletic Training Center addition at the Centennial Center and cleared a package of infrastructure purchases, property transfers and ordinance first readings.
Mikey Olson of the Grafton Blueline Club told the council the club is seeking city-backed bonds — up to $7 million, according to the club’s business plan and financing materials — to construct the east-side addition. The council voted in favor on a motion moved by Brad Burianek and seconded by Kylen Kostrzewski. Mayor Chris West said the school district will gift the land once the expansion is confirmed and the Blueline Club will pay to transfer the deed; the Joint Powers Agreement with the Park District may need updating.
Council members also approved transferring four ambulances and the building and land on Tract 1 of Parcel No. 10453-010 to Valley Ambulance & Rescue Service (VARS), with City Attorney Rob Fleming noting VARS cannot sell the property without City permission and that the property would revert to the City if VARS ceases to exist. A separate transfer of Tract 2 from the same parcel to Unity Hospital was approved pending the City Attorney’s completion of the proper legal process for such a transfer.
On the utilities front, the council approved replacing a pump at the Master Lift Station for $93,142.63, to be financed via a line of credit with the Bank of North Dakota, and authorized the use of Prairie Dog funds to pay for purchase, freight and installation of a Hill Avenue Lift Station pump estimated at $45,000. Administrator Nick Ziegelmann requested the funding amendment and the council adopted it on a unanimous vote.
The council approved a $15,400 preliminary and design engineering agreement with KLJ for chip seal and crack seal on 86 blocks (paid from Prairie Dog funds) and a 2025 mosquito-application contract with Vector Disease Control International, LLC at $2.80 per acre covering 2,050 acres. The council also cleared a Summerfest parade street-closure request for June 28, approved extending Last Chance Bar & Grill’s alcohol license to the Centennial Center for a May 3 bingo event, and adopted a painting-incentive program for residential and commercial properties.
Council members authorized Moore Engineering to submit a pre-construction cost-share application to the North Dakota Department of Water Resources for Phase 1 of the ACP Water Main Replacement project; the preliminary engineer’s estimate for that 2026 project was $5,575,000. The meeting also included first readings of two ordinances: one to amend water rates (a $2.00 increase in 2025 and a $2.40 increase in 2026) and one to reduce pest-control fees by $2.00. Both passed first reading; further readings are required before final enactment.
Votes at a glance: the motions noted above were approved on roll call with the seven council members present voting in favor (Brad Burianek, Kylen Kostrzewski, Loree Osowski, Phil Ray, Brian Sieben, Darrin Wollitz and Greg Young); Donavon McMillian was absent.
What’s next: the bond authorization clears a major financing step for the Blueline Club project but will require any necessary updates to agreements and subsequent implementation steps; the water-rate and pest-fee measures remain at first reading and will return to the council for additional readings before they can take effect.
