GRAND FORKS – Grand Forks residents have approved an amendment to the city’s 0.75% sales tax to allow the city to extend and change the city’s 0.75% sales tax, allowing the process of amending the bylaws and planning for the Altru Sports Complex to begin.
On Tuesday, Nov. 14, voters will extend the tax to allow the city to raise money for a complex to be built between 42nd Street and Interstate 29, just south of Aleras Center. I approved that. There were 2,358 votes in favor and 1,190 votes against. “I’ll vote.
The tax, which has been in place since 1996, has generated $181 million in revenue and is projected to bring in an additional $70 million to $90 million by 2029.
The sports facility, likely to cost about $100 million, will feature an indoor lawn, competition-sized pool, and other amenities available to the public.
The first step is to vet the election results and make them official. The special election results will be examined at City Hall on Monday, November 27th. Once the results are reviewed, the city will be required to expand and amend the sales tax within the ordinance.
Similar to how the constitution and laws passed by the Legislature, the Grand Forks City Council must pass changes to city ordinances to reflect changes to the city charter. The ordinance governing the 0.75% sales tax and possibly the ordinance dealing with sales tax collection and allocation would need to be amended to be in line with the Charter. City Administrator Todd Ferrando said the process will likely begin at the Dec. 11 Committee of the Whole meeting.
While the ordinance changes are being made, a naming rights agreement must be finalized between Altru Health System and the city. Altru put her $10 million into the project.
Additionally, the city has one last piece of land to acquire. The proposal has not yet materialized because it first had to be approved by voters.
In the new year, the city will need to decide how to proceed with the construction and design of new facilities. Recruit architects and designers, approve bids, and determine the construction management model for your project. The final design must also be chosen.
During the first quarter of this year, the city and Grand Forks Park District will likely discuss and enter into an operating agreement for the facility. It would be owned by the city and managed by the park district. What remains to be determined is whether the city will form a management board similar to those that oversee Grand Forks International Airport and the city-owned Aleras Center.
“The Aleras Center is the most comparable and comparable facility that the city has,” Ferrando said. “It requires more nuance than a typical city project. We didn’t want to put the cart before the horse, so we’re finishing up a lot of the little details[now that the vote results are in].”
The city has received preliminary consultation and commitments from the park district to operate the facility, but details such as potential membership, schedule and programming are pending as what will be included in the final facility has not been determined. It is not yet decided. Decided. The goal is to operate the Artur Sports Complex from 2026 to 2027.
Mr. Voigt covers city government in Grand Forks and East Grand Forks.