Build
Tomorrow
Together
I'm Morgan Hibma, and I'm running for Mayor because I believe Crookston's best days are still ahead.
Our community is built on hardworking people, strong families, local businesses, and neighbors who care deeply about one another.
As your Mayor, I'll focus on listening, bringing people together, and making thoughtful, fiscally responsible decisions that move our community forward. Whether it's supporting families, strengthening our downtown, expanding housing opportunities, or investing in our parks department and local businesses, I believe the best solutions come from working together.
I invite you to explore my website, learn more about my vision for Crookston, and share your ideas.
Learn More
Since moving to Crookston in 2016, this community has become home. It's where I've built my career, served on City Council, raised my family, and developed a deep appreciation for the people who make Crookston such a special place. I believe our community's greatest strength has always been its people, and that's what inspired me to become more involved in helping shape its future.
Family
Family is at the center of everything I do. My husband Tom and I are proud parents to our son, Mason, who keeps us busy and reminds us every day why it's so important to invest in the future of our community.
Community Involvement
Serving our community has always been important to me. In addition to serving on the Crookston City Council, I'm actively involved with several organizations that focus on strengthening our community and supporting local families, including:
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Crookston Park Board (City Council Representative)
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Early Childhood Initiative (ECI) Board
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Crookston Housing & Economic Development Authority (CHEDA) Board
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Childcare Task Force
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Additional community committees and partnerships through my work on City Council
These opportunities have allowed me to work alongside residents, local businesses, nonprofits, schools, and community leaders to better understand the challenges we face and the opportunities ahead.
Professional Background
Professionally, I serve as the Marketing Director for Rydell , where I oversee marketing and advertising. My role has given me experience in budgeting, strategic planning, leadership, project management, communications, and working collaboratively with diverse teams to solve problems and achieve long-term goals.
A Little More About Me
I grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota, before moving to Minnesota to attend St. Cloud State University. I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in International Business with a minor in Marketing.
After graduation, I spent several years working in the Twin Cities before making the move to Crookston in 2016. Looking back, it turned out to be one of the best decisions I've ever made.
When I'm not working or serving the community, you'll usually find me spending time with my family, enjoying the outdoors and camping, supporting local events, or cheering on Mason at his activities.
Looking Ahead
I believe the best ideas come from listening, collaboration, and bringing people together. As Mayor, my goal is to build on Crookston's strengths while thoughtfully addressing the challenges ahead by supporting families, encouraging responsible growth, strengthening our local economy, and making sure Crookston continues to be a place people are proud to call home.
I'd love to hear your thoughts, ideas, and vision for our community. Build Tomorrow Together
The Plan for Progress
Community Collaboration
As Mayor, one of my first of my priorities will be reaching out to the School Board to establish a working relationship between the School Board and City Council so we can better understand each other's goals, discuss the challenges we're facing, and identify opportunities to work together.
I'd also like to meet regularly with local nonprofits, community organizations, businesses, and civic groups to learn more about the work they're doing and explore how the City can better support their efforts. I believe we need to break down silos, encourage open communication, and build stronger partnerships across our community.
I would also like City Council to hold an annual strategic planning session with opportunities for public input so we can establish clear priorities, set measurable goals, and ensure we're working toward a shared vision for Crookston. When everyone understands where we're headed and has a voice in the process, we can make better decisions and accomplish more together. That's the collaborative leadership I will bring as Mayor.
Downtown Development
A strong downtown is an important part of a strong community. Our downtown is home to local businesses, community events, and the unique character that makes Crookston special.
As Mayor, I'd like to explore opportunities such as creating a downtown Tax Increment Financing (TIF) district and pursuing grants and other funding sources that encourage redevelopment and investment. I also believe one of the most important first steps is listening. I want to meet with downtown business owners, property owners, and community organizations to better understand their successes, challenges, and ideas for the future.
As we prepare for future construction projects, we must also remain focused on supporting the businesses that are already invested in our community by maintaining access to storefronts, communicating openly, and finding creative ways to encourage people to continue shopping and dining downtown.
My goal is to build strong partnerships, support our existing businesses, attract new investment, and create a vibrant downtown that serves our community for generations to come.
Supporting Families
Supporting the families who call Crookston home and creating opportunities that encourage new families to put down roots here is one of my highest priorities. Building a family friendly community means investing in the things that matter most including quality childcare, attainable housing, strong schools, safe neighborhoods, excellent parks and recreation, and opportunities for children and families to thrive. I want to continue working with childcare providers, local organizations, businesses, and community partners to help address childcare challenges while also encouraging housing development that meets the needs of families, young professionals, and seniors.
I believe our Parks & Recreation Department plays a vital role in our community, and I will continue to support the programs, facilities, and outdoor spaces that bring families together and enhance our quality of life. I also believe the City and School District should work more closely together because we share the same goal of creating the best possible future for our children.
As we invest in Crookston's future, I will remain mindful of the impact every decision has on our taxpayers and will always strive to make fiscally responsible choices. My goal is to make Crookston a community where families choose to live, grow, and build their future.
Economic Development
A strong local economy creates jobs, supports local businesses, and provides opportunities for future growth. I believe we should take a proactive approach to promoting development in Crookston by highlighting the advantages our community has to offer, including the new railroad spur and the available land within our Industrial Park. We should actively market these opportunities to businesses and developers while making it easy for interested companies to work with the City by providing clear communication, timely responses, and a straightforward development process. I also believe continued collaboration between the City, CHEDA, local businesses, and regional partners is essential to attracting new investment and supporting the businesses that already call Crookston home. By encouraging responsible growth and remaining mindful of the impact on taxpayers, we can strengthen our local economy and create opportunities for generations to come.
Expanding Housing Opportunities
One of the concerns I hear most often is that people want to move to Crookston but simply can't find a home, that meets their needs, to buy or an apartment to rent. In many cases, families, professionals, and workers choose to live in another community because housing isn't available here. This is something my own family experienced when we moved to Crookston. We were fortunate to find a home and put down roots here, but I know many others haven't had that same opportunity.
If we want our community to grow, we need to expand our housing options. I'd like to explore ways to encourage new housing development by utilizing tools such as Tax Increment Financing (TIF) districts where appropriate, pursuing grants and partnerships, and creating an environment where developers see Crookston as a community that is ready to grow.
I also want to meet with local realtors, developers, contractors, landlords, and community partners to better understand the barriers they face and identify how the City can make the development process more efficient and encourage additional housing investment.
Another opportunity is taking a fresh look at vacant lots already owned by the City and CHEDA. Where appropriate, I'd like to explore creative ways to make those properties available for new housing development so they can return value to our community. I've been a strong advocate for finding a successful path forward for the CHEDA-owned lots on Eickhof Boulevard, and I believe projects like this can help expand our housing inventory while encouraging responsible growth.
Expanding housing isn't just about building more homes. It's about creating opportunities for families to stay, attracting new residents, supporting local businesses, and ensuring Crookston continues to grow for generations to come.
Informed Tax Decisions
Every decision we make as a city has the potential to impact our taxpayers, and I believe we have a responsibility to be thoughtful stewards of every tax dollar. As Mayor, I will carefully consider the financial impact of every decision while balancing the needs of our community with the responsibility to remain fiscally responsible. That means planning for the future, evaluating priorities, and making informed decisions that provide the greatest long term value for our residents. We must continue investing in the services, infrastructure, and opportunities that make Crookston a great place to live while always being mindful of the effect those investments have on property taxes. My commitment is to make decisions that are transparent, responsible, and in the best interest of our entire community.
Transparency & Open Government
I believe transparency is one of the most important responsibilities of local government. The City exists to serve its residents, and every community member deserves to understand how decisions are being made and how those decisions impact our community.
I welcome residents to attend City Council, board, and commission meetings, ask questions, and stay engaged in the issues that matter to them. I also believe we should make it easier for those who cannot attend in person to stay informed by posting meeting agendas, minutes, and other important information online for all City boards and commissions, not just the City Council and Ways & Means Committee.
Open communication builds trust, encourages community involvement, and leads to better decisions. My commitment as Mayor is to lead with honesty, transparency, and accountability while ensuring every resident has access to the information they need to stay informed and engaged. A stronger community begins with an open and accessible government.