Grand Forks Committee of the Whole moves to drop age restaurant workers can serve alcohol - Grand Forks Herald | News, weather, sports from Grand Forks and East Grand Forks SUBSCRIBE NOW AND SAVE 3 months just 99¢/month Show Search ClearSearch Query Submit Search News UND Hockey Business Crime & Courts News Local Minnesota North Dakota South Dakota National World The Vault Agweek Weather Sports Prep College UND Hockey Pro Northland Outdoors Obituaries Health Business Opinion Editorials Columns Letters Lifestyle Arts and Entertainment Astro Bob Community Milestones WDAY Live Podcasts Listings Classifieds Legal Notices JobsHQ HomesHQ Motors Local Interest Prairie Business Account FCC Network Profile Newsletters Help Sections Show Search ClearSearch Query Submit Search News UND Hockey Business Crime & Courts SUBSCRIBE NOW AND SAVE 3 months just 99¢/month ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT News | Local Grand Forks Committee of the Whole moves to drop age restaurant workers can serve alcohol The change, if approved by the full City Council, would put the city in line with other policies in the region. Grand Forks City Hall, 255 N. 4th St. Sam Easter / Grand Forks Herald By Sydney Mook October 11, 2021 06:01 PM Share Facebook Twitter Email The Grand Forks City Council's Committee of the Whole on Monday, Oct. 11, moved to drop the alcoholic beverage serving age by a year for restaurant employees. The committee moved to change the age from 19 to 18 for employees who serve alcohol and collect money for those beverages in local restaurants. City Administrator Todd Feland noted the council has made several changes regarding alcohol licenses since the pandemic and said the Grand Forks business community is grateful for the changes. A letter from the Grand Forks/East Grand Forks Chamber of Commerce noted that Grand Forks seems to be the only city in North Dakota that does not allow 18-year-olds to serve and accept payments for alcoholic beverages. Minnesota also has a statewide policy allowing 18-year-olds to serve alcohol. The motion carried with one dissension, from Katie Dachtler. It still needs approval from the full City Council before the ordinance is finalized. ADVERTISEMENT Following the meeting, an Indigenous People’s Day celebration was held at City Hall. In other business: Prior to the committee of the whole meeting, council members listened to a public hearing on a property development agreement from the downtown Block V project. On Feb. 1, the Grand Forks City Council approved for Block V a property tax incentive in the form of a PILOT (Payment in Lieu of Tax) and a Grand Forks Growth Fund loan of $900,000. Block V, located at 2 N. Third St., and formerly known as St. John’s Block, is being remodeled into apartments, retail space and a plaza by Grand Forks-based Icon Architectural Group. The committee of the whole also approved a budget amendment relating to the renovation of City Hall. City staff have been evaluating the layout of City Hall to make it more accessible to the public for business development and to create sufficient space for departments, to meet their current and future needs. These changes also seek to help with workforce recruitment and retention efforts in providing updated, properly sized and equipped work areas for staff. Phase 1 of the project was completed in 2021, addressing needs on the first and third floor of City Hall. The cost for the second floor renovation is estimated to be $545,000, and $100,000 can be absorbed within the 2021 Public Building Fund budget due to other cost savings in the fund, according to city documents. There is cash carryover available to cover the remainder of the estimated cost, according to city documents. A budget amendment in the amount of $445,000 was needed to bring the cash balance into the 2021 budget. The work for Phase 2 renovations will be bid and will come back to the City Council for approval. The amendment still needs to approved at a full City Council meeting. Related Topics: GOVERNMENT AND POLITICSGRAND FORKS CITY COUNCIL What to read next Local Two taken to hospital after Grand Forks fire Authorities have not released the cause of the fire January 15, 2022 08:10 AM ·  By  Herald staff Local UND School of Medicine and Health Sciences researcher receives $4.5 million grant for COVID research Abraam Yakoub is a professor in the department of biomedical sciences. January 14, 2022 02:27 PM ·  By  Adam Kurtz Local After 2020 arrest, former treatment director sues East Grand Forks, police Amber Hardtke, who now works at a different treatment center in Minnesota, alleges her constitutional rights were violated. January 14, 2022 01:19 PM ·  By  Joe Bowen Local Woman injured in apartment fire in Fosston, Minnesota The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Polk County Sheriff’s Office and state fire marshal. January 14, 2022 08:42 AM ·  By  Ingrid Harbo ADVERTISEMENT Latest Headlines News, sports, opinion, and more 17m Weather WeatherTalk: The full moon is approaching 5h Sports Saturday's local scoreboard 6h Pro Josh Allen throws for 5 TDs as Bills maul Patriots 6h Prep Prep boys hockey: Blomdahl’s OT goal lifts Hermantown past Warroad 8h College Women’s hockey: Mankato snaps 53-game losing streak to Gophers ADVERTISEMENT Account Manage My Account Privacy Policy Terms and Conditions News Subscription Options Email Newsletters E-Paper Our News Network Contact Get Help News Advertising Work with Us More JobsHQ Motors HomeHQ Twitter Instagram Facebook © 2022 Grand Forks Herald and Forum Communications Company | 375 2nd Ave N, Grand Forks, ND 58203 | (701) 780-1100