Council ratifies prior conditional approval for Northern Lights tenant license despite objections

The Thief River Falls City Council voted in a special meeting to ratify a prior conditional approval of a tenant license agreement related to the Northern Lights semi‑pro hockey team.

Legal counsel told council members the reviewed records and a letter from the team's owner showed no payments had been received by the council member in question, and counsel said they were not aware of a personal direct conflict of interest. "As I understand it, there's a letter from... the owner of the semi pro hockey team verifying the same. So, from a legal standpoint we are not aware of a personal direct conflict of interest," counsel said during the meeting.

Despite the legal finding, the council took the step to ratify the earlier action cited in a proposed resolution, saying the move was intended to promote transparency and to eliminate any appearance of impropriety. The motion to ratify, moved by Councilman Pream and seconded by Councilman Navrood, passed on a vote in which two members recorded nays.

Some council members objected to prioritizing the ratification and resignation process over other business such as the budget. Councilwoman Voldek said, "I feel like this is a waste of time when we could be using it on the budget." The record shows the council nonetheless completed the ratification and acknowledged the resignation during the special meeting.