MINOT—The City Council moved through a crowded agenda Monday night in a meeting tackling everything from childcare tax exemptions being struck down, to a special election date, a long line of public appearances, and an in depth discussion on where the liquor license oridance could go.
Interim Mayor Mark Jantzer opened the meeting with upbeat notes: the missing Police Comfort K9 Freya had been found, and an Arbor Day proclamation said Minot retained its “Tree City USA” designation. He also flagged House Bill 1020, now moving through the Legislature, as one council members will continue to watch closely for its impact on local flood‑protection funding. City Finance Director David Lakefield followed with a preview of a new, “priority‑based” budget model intended to keep the 2026 budget process more open and transparent, as well as to allow for better planning of future budgets.
Council then authorized staff to begin the 2025 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) process, ensuring Minot’s federal entitlement funding stays on track despite uncertain guidelines in Washington. A 17‑item consent docket—covering second readings for eight budget‑adjustment ordinances, approval of two dozen raffle and special‑event permits, and several equipment purchases—passed without dissent after a brief discussion on the police‑impound auction contract.
On the action calendar, the council voted unanimously to fund new streetlights for the long‑troubled Shirley Court neighborhood entirely from city reserves, sidestepping the special assessments that often underwrite such projects. They also finalized the timeline to replace former Mayor Tom Ross, scheduling the special election for Tuesday, August 5, 2025, in hopes of giving candidates more runway and avoiding North Dakota State Fair conflicts.
Public comment stretched over an hour, dominated by residents, including Mayoral candidate Josiah Roise, spoke on a number of issues from the Minot PD to their issues with city officials.
The night’s most heated moment came when a four‑year property‑tax exemption for childcare centers died on a 3‑3 tie after an hour of public testimony that saw pastors plead for affordability and skeptics warn of shifting costs onto other taxpayers. Council finished with an initial but inconclusive debate over dismantling Minot’s liquor‑license cap, weighing everything from no‑compensation removal to buy‑back schemes.
