Long Prairie approves contract to pursue Small Cities Development Program funding; two council members abstain

The Long Prairie City Council on Sept. 10 approved a contract for services with Central Minnesota Housing Partnership to prepare and submit an application to the Minnesota Department of Employment & Economic Development for the Small Cities Development Program.

Council Member Lilah Gripne moved to approve the contract for preparation and submission of a preliminary proposal and full application; Council Member JoAnn Schroeder seconded. The roll call recorded Schroeder, Gripne and Mayor Jim Kreemer as voting yes; Council Members Gabrier Perez and Clint Krueger abstained. The motion carried.

City materials presented at the meeting describe the program as a state-administered grant that would fund exterior rehabilitation and beautification projects for owner-occupied, rental and commercial properties. The contract would have Central Minnesota Housing Partnership administer program requirements and, if a grant were awarded, the city would route payments to contractors after confirmation of completed work. The program includes income limits and other eligibility criteria administered by the state partner; examples of similar arrangements were noted in New Munich, Staples, Bertha and Wadena.

Council discussion in the meeting record did not state reasons for the two abstentions. The council approved the preliminary step of contracting for application preparation; any subsequent acceptance of grant funds or program implementation would require separate council action and likely an appropriation for the city payment required to start the program.