Taxes, services, a strategic plan and Columbia Mall: Grand Forks City Council hopefuls outline priorities

May 11—GRAND FORKS — One of the candidates for Grand Forks City Council has very specific ideas about improving a retail center in the community, while the others say their top priorities include watching tax rates, ensuring adequate services are provided and establishing a strategic plan for the city.

Four candidates are vying for two positions, including Tricia Berg and Marie Stewart in Ward 3 and Jodi Carlson and Mike Fridolfs in Ward 5.

Bret Weber is not seeking reelection in Ward 3, and Kyle Kvamme has decided to leave his Ward 5 seat and instead seek election to the Grand Forks County Commission. Ward 3 is generally inner-Grand Forks, roughly following University Avenue and DeMers Avenue to South 20th Street and ending near the Grand Cities Mall. Ward 5 is on the city's south side.

The election will be June 11.

The candidates recently responded to questions sent to them by the Herald.

In Ward 3, Berg said her chief concern is to be a voice for the ward's constituents — and all Grand Forks residents, for that matter. She also said she wants to focus on the balance of taxes and vital services.

"There has been much talk of the recent tax increases," said Berg, who listed her occupation as social work. "I would ensure that Grand Forks funds necessary services, such as law enforcement, while incorporating available funding options outside taxes, including grants and matches. I would be mindful of the impact and burden of high taxes on our community members and the cost versus impact and need."

Berg's opponent, Stewart, said her "foremost commitment will be to serve as the advocate for the residents" of the ward, while making decisions that are informed by constituent input. Also, a strategic plan that stretches five years is essential, she said.

"This will foster a unified vision and ensure that all members are working towards common objectives," said Stewart, a direct care provider.

Another priority, Stewart said, is "efficient delivery of basic and essential city services. The primary responsibility of the city government is to maintain high-quality roads and streets, guarantee clean and drinkable tap water, provide access to essential utilities, sanitation, waste services, and support fire and law enforcement agencies. It is imperative to underscore that these priorities should take precedence over other initiatives."

In the Ward 5 race, Carlson said "the top priority of any city government is to ensure that basic services are properly in place for health, safety, fire, law enforcement, sanitation, water, streets, transportation, etc."

She said there are "concerns in some of these areas, and I believe we can do better."

After that, she would seek to "address the issues with careless overspending of taxpayer dollars and the continuous and excessive tax incentives offered to outside businesses, which cause an increased burden on the taxpayers leading to citizen dissatisfaction.

"Our property tax situation, without some type of reform or tax relief, is not sustainable for the citizens of the community," said Carlson, a retired registered nurse executive.

Carlson's opponent, Fridolfs, answered the Herald's question about top priorities by focusing on economic development. He said his answer is twofold — business development strategies that are closely tied together.

One part of that approach would be attracting new businesses, of small and medium sizes, throughout Grand Forks. Doing so will create jobs and boost the economy, he said.

And then there's Columbia Mall, which has seen a number of businesses leave in recent years.

"Working closely with the mayor's office, I want to put pressure on the company that owns the Columbia Mall and work out a win-win to revitalize it into something that has substance for the citizens of Grand Forks," said Fridolfs, Northrop Grumman site director at Grand Sky. "Not turning it back into a shopping mall, but a place where families and younger people can go to 'hang out' and have fun. We are currently looking at some projects in other cities that have been very successful. This can be done successfully; it just needs a team of leaders that can focus some energy on it."