moorhead city council

The Moorhead High School Carolers set the tone for the City of Moorhead’s Holiday Kickoff Nov. 22 in the Center Mall. The teen carolers have been a much-loved local Christmas tradition for 65 years.

Mayor Shelly Carlson presented Moorhead’s top civic honor, the MoorHeart Award, to two retiring members of the District 4 legislative delegation at the City Council’s meeting Nov. 28.

Proclaiming it “Rep. Paul Marquart and Sen. Kent Eken Day” in the city, Carlson cited the benefits the two men have achieved for Moorhead — Eken in his ten years in the House and then the Senate representing the entire district, and Marquart in 11 two-year terms representing District 4B, which includes Dilworth and the rest of the district outside of Moorhead.

Marquart was on hand to receive the award. He noted that though he now lives in Dilworth, he grew up in Moorhead. “Everything that has been accomplished has come through teamwork,” he said of his colleagues. It has been an honor to represent District 4B and work closely with our neighbors in Moorhead.”

Carlson cited passage of the permanent Border City Enterprise Zone funding in 2019 as one of the legislative actions supported by the two men that has had great impact on the city, as well as Dilworth, East Grand Forks, Breckenridge and Ortonville, Minnesota. Among other accomplishments of the legislative delegation (which included Rep. Ben Lien in District 4A for much of their tenure; Lien retired in 2020):

• More than $110 million for the SE Main/20-21st Street and downtown 11th Street underpass projects.

• More than $83 million for permanent flood control.

• $7.5 million for the new solid waste transfer station to serve Moorhead and Clay County.

• Advocating for Local Government Aid, critical support for municipal services that helps keep local property taxes affordable.

• Authorizing the city to pursue the half-cent city sales tax that voters have passed to fund the new downtown community center and regional library.