Minot-Monday April 7, led to a marathon city council meeting lasting over 3.5 hours that featured a plethora of topics ranging from debate over a new police software, to childcare costs, and even the likelihood of a special mayoral election. The meeting, led by acting mayor Mark Jantzer, began with 3 proclamations including one deeming April 17 Leif Snyder Appreciation day. Then before fully kicking off the meeting, Jantzer addressed city staff and the public at large by saying, "When faced with a challenge or a crisis, the Minot community comes together and succeeds. I'm grateful for seeing that again in these circumstances."
The meeting touched on summer community meetings happening, before moving on to the lone public hearing item followed by a total of 34 consent items. The council would pull a total of 4 items with the first to pertaining to flood control, the third being PSAP restructuring following the PD investigation, and the final relating to a water main replacement bid. Alderman Rob Fuller pulled the item to discuss the need to try to prioritize local contractors for jobs when possible saying, "If we don't start to prioritize our local contractors, in 5-10 years we will have no local contractors around here."
Pushback came on the grounds of needing to spend the taxpayers money most effectively and efficiently by continuing to select the lowest bid. Arguments went back and forth but city staff was instructed to "draft language for a local bidder preference for procurement and bidding". This would likely allow local bids to be given a second opportunity to potentially lower their initial bid.
With 9 agenda items next up on the list, council was just getting started. The first major discussion point focused on hiring Flock Group inc to assist the MPD with vehicle recognition software. Advocates claim it could drastically help police respond and find wanted vehicles with detractors arguing it will be harmful to individuals civil liberties. Council decided to table the item and instructed staff to first come up with an acceptable policy that would allow Minot police to safely and effectively use the service.
Of the remaining agenda items, conversation went everywhere from childcare costs, the budget schedule, alcohol licenses, and costs for recent investigations. Expect some follow up write ups from us this week on some of these, but there were also a number of public appearances as well. Numerous residents took the dais to speak on the recent mayoral and potential special election. One resident, Josiah Royce, also claimed to submit the requisite number of signatures to the city for a special election, as well as his intention to run for the open seat.
Finally, Lisa Hermosillo also spoke to thank city staff for their efforts to bring Leif Snyder Appreciation day to fruition saying, "He [Leif] made a commitment more than most of us do to be here at these meetings and one of the biggest things he really pushed was for all of us to stay involved and to have a voice in what how we feel and how we think things are going, and this proclamation mirrored him perfectly and I hope we all take things from that going forward and how we are active in our community."
