MINOT — The Minot City Council on Monday approved the appointment of Michael Frye as the city’s next Chief of Police in a 6-0 vote. Frye, a veteran of the Minneapolis Police Department and former Bismarck State College instructor, will begin July 14. City Manager Harold Stewart also announced plans to promote current interim chief Dale Plessas to a new Deputy Chief position.
The council started with a split 3–3 vote on a proposal to send a letter of support to keep the Job Corps program open, with Alderman Mike Blessum opposing any effort to expand government-run solutions. Alderwoman Lisa Olson, a former teacher, supported the program, citing its local benefits and success stories.
Later in the evening, a 3–3 split vote resulted in the city not moving forward with its application for the federal “Safe Streets and Roads for All” grant. The program, offered through the U.S. Department of Transportation, is designed to support the development of comprehensive safety action plans aimed at reducing roadway fatalities and serious injuries.
The council also approved a five-year Renaissance Zone property tax exemption for a commercial rehabilitation project, and approved the annexation, zoning change, and preliminary plat for the Liechty Homes 7th Addition. On the consent agenda, the council approved all 15 items after some conversation over the recycling program and funding for Souris River Pulblic Transit.
The city also approved the construction of a bridge in Velva related to flood control that came in over budget. The meeting concluded with an update on the SAFER grant program Minot Fire Department was going to apply for in order to acquire 6 more firefighters. The grant, after formerly covering all expenses for the first 3 years, now requires a city buy match of 25%. Council was mostly split on the issue with some wanting to at least submit the grant and decide later, but the majority concluded that it wouldn't be tenable long term. Especially after Stewart came out against it saying, "Financially I don't know how feasible it is at this point, and I would rather not take the SAFER grant and add these 6 positions then to start talking about elimination of already funded positions within our department."
