Board of Health - April 10, 2026 Minutes
Board of Health– April 10, 2026
The Meeting of the Board of Health of the City of Fargo, North Dakota, was held in person at City Hall Commission Chambers at 12:00 p.m. on Friday, April 10, 2026.
The Board members present or absent during roll call were:
Present: Oliver Frenzel, Dr. Grant Syverson, John Seifert, Bernie Dardis, Meg Forde, Valentina Asiedu
Virtual: Dr. Andrew McLean
Absent: John Strand, Jim Kapitan
Others: Jenn Faul, Melissa Perala, Holly Scott, Grant Larson, Hunter Hubrig, Robyn Litke Sall, Sydni May, Jan Eliassen, Suzanne Schaefer, Dr. Lindemann, Lori Sall, Lyn Welk
Approval of Agenda
Dr. Syverson moved the agenda for approval. Mr. Dardis seconded this motion. All members voted aye. This motion was declared carried.
Approval of Meeting minutes of the February 20, 2026, special meeting
Mr. Dardis moved the item for approval. Mr. Frenzel seconded this motion. All members voted aye. This motion was declared carried.
Officer Election
There was a discussion of the nominations for the new Chair of the Board of Health. Dr. McLean nominates Dr. Syverson. Meg Forde seconded this nomination. No other nominations were heard for Chair of the Board of Health. Dr. Syverson is the new Chair of the Board of Health.
Additionally, there was a discussion of the nominations for the new Vice Chair of the Board of Health. Ms. Forde nominates Dr. McLean. No other nominations were heard for Vice Chair. Dr. McLean will continue his role as the Vice Chair of the Board of Health.
NDSU Public Health Masters Student Presentation
Jenn Faul introduces Dr. Strand from NDSU with the master’s in public health students. Nine students from the Public Health Association at NDSU presented a heartfelt tribute to public health in the Fargo/Moorhead area and the role it plays in every person’s life. Dr. McLean comments on how eloquent the presentation was and how gratified and optimistic he is for the future of Public Health.
Harm Reduction Presentation
Sydni May, Harm Reduction Data Specialist, and Robyn Litke Sall, Prevention Coordinator, presented on harm reduction topics.
Sydni spoke about the definition of harm reduction. Harm reduction is a proactive and evidence-based approach to reducing the consequences of risky behavior. The Harm Reduction Division empowers individuals to take control of their future through accessible, low-barrier services that prioritize public health, dignity, autonomy, and respect. This is achieved through reducing the negative impacts of substance abuse, promoting well-being, providing education and resources, and providing support.
Current public health harm reduction services include three physical locations: Downtown Engagement Center (DEC), Gladys Ray Shelter and Withdrawal Management Unit, and the Harm Reduction Center (HRC). The Winter Warming Center was operating out of the DEC this year as well. The Winter Warming Center is a seasonal temporary operation to support individuals in need of a place to stay at night when shelters are at capacity. All Harm Reduction Division locations were further identified with services provided at each location.
Robyn Litke Sall speaks about the syringe services program (SSP) located at the Harm Reduction Center. Syringe services programs (SSPs) are proven and effective community-based prevention and harm reduction programs that provide a range of services to persons who inject drugs. Those services include access to sterile syringes and injection equipment, syringe disposal, vaccination, testing and linkage to infectious disease care and substance use treatment. She shares harm reduction principles from the National Harm Reduction Coalition. In speaking of the efficacy of SSPs, she states that through 30 years of research on comprehensive SSPs, they have concluded that they are safe, effective, cost-saving, decrease sharps litter, do not increase illegal drug use and do not increase crime. SSPs are associated with an approximately 50% reduction in HIV and hepatitis C (HCV) incidence. Also, users of SSPs are five times more likely to enter drug treatment and about three times more likely to stop using drugs than those who do not use an SSP. SSP’s have been around since the HIV epidemic in the early 1990s and are now helping with overdose and opioid epidemics. In 2015, the Moorhead SSP was opened. North Dakota legislation legalized SSPs in 2017. The first SSP opened in Mandan in January of 2018. FCPH’s SSP opened in April of 2018. There are currently eight SSPs in ND. More information is available at nason.org. The decision for the public need for an SSP was made locally and by our state legislature.
The local SSP is funded by a State Opioid Response grant from North Dakota Health and Human Services (NDHHS), Counseling, Testing and Referral (CTR) grant from NDHHS Behavioral Health Division or local opioid settlement funds. The City of Fargo’s general fund does not cover costs associated with the SSP.
All oversight for SSPs is done through state statute “NDCC 23-01-44 syringe or needle exchange program- Authorization.” The authorizing agency for all SSPs is NDHHS. Initial authorization included a public forum, local governing body approval, stakeholder meetings (law enforcement) and a written plan. The annual reauthorization includes a written report containing assessment, data, training, and goals. They have been reauthorized every year.
The services provided are low-barrier, anonymous and free. It is a needs-based model with an upper limit. They can only receive a certain amount on each visit.
Proper syringe disposal education is provided to every participant along with sharps containers. There are legal risks for bringing syringes back to the Harm Reduction Center (HRC). The second possession of drug paraphernalia is a felony in the state of North Dakota. Despite that, 69% of syringes distributed from the HRC were returned onsite in 2025.
Services provided by the HRC include safer injection education, overdose prevention and response training, naloxone training, safer sex education, rapid HIV/HCV/STI testing, 24/7 sharps disposal, and referrals. The referrals include substance use disorder (SUD) treatment, healthcare, behavioral health services, social services, housing, employment, legal services, peer support, and the Rape and Abuse Crisis Center. Statistics and demographics are provided.
The FCPH SSP uses NO general funds from the city, county or state. Robyn then opened it up for questions from the board.
Questions and comments from the board included gratitude, appreciation, and support for harm reduction and the SSP in our community. There were also questions about trends, metrics and whether our standard of care is the same as other programs offered. Per Robyn, the standard of care follows what is accepted nationally. Clarification about trained medical staff being available at the WMU was provided. If someone requires additional detoxification care beyond the WMU’s scope, they will go to the Clay County Receiving Center in Moorhead, where nurses and trained medical staff are on site. There were also questions about the difference between the education of safe use and what can be misinterpreted as teaching someone how to use. Robyn advised that when they arrive at the HRC, they know how to use drugs and have been using for a while. They are not showing how to use drugs, but providing education on a healthier way to use drugs. A final comment referenced positive comments about engagement into treatment, disease prevention and cost savings.
Update regarding Comprehensive Tobacco Ordinance
Jenn Faul provided a recap of the special meeting that was held with the Board of Health on February 20, 2026. The topic was brought to the March 2, 2026, City Commission meeting. The commissioners opted to table the conversation about this ordinance until after the June 2026 elections. The newly elected will be seated in July 2026. It will be brought forward again to the City Commission at a later time. In May, there will be round table conversations with the Chamber of Commerce to include the tobacco industry and public health representation.
The Board asked about obtaining data from other cities that have achieved a tobacco ordinance. Jenn states that she can get the data from the two cities in North Dakota that have similar ordinances as well as from other cities in other states that have also achieved the same.
Public Health Week Recap
Holly Scott, Public Information Officer, provided an update on Public Health Week. Community members were invited to participate in our food and supply drive to support the Emergency Food Pantry. Food insecurity remains a big concern for our community. City departments hosted collection sites at the Fargo Police Department and the main Fargo Cass Public Health building for public donations. Internally, other departments within the City of Fargo also had collection boxes for employee donations. All donations will be delivered on Monday, April 13, 2026, to the Emergency Food Pantry.
On April 8, 2026, Stroll-N-Roll North Dakota was held. It was a statewide initiative. All 28 health units across North Dakota participated in some form. At FCPH, community members were invited to join us on a group walk. The weather that day started a little less than desirable, but the sun came out, and we were able to get some exercise and celebrate National Public Health Week.
To finish the week, FCPH hosted the first of four spring immunization clinics for community members who are aged 65 and over.
Local Disease Update
Dr. Lindemann speaks about respiratory illness cases. We are nearing the end of respiratory illnesses for the season. The previous week’s statistics were provided for Influenza, COVID, and RSV hospitalizations and deaths. A chart is provided showing that seasonal influenza vaccination rates have decreased over the years. That trend has continued. She notes that Influenza A was the first peak and Influenza B was the second peak. She comments that there were more cases this season than last season.
A measles case update was provided. North Dakota has 32 cases so far in 2026. There have been no cases in Cass County in 2026.
The Spring Walk-In immunization clinics for those 65 and older were referenced.
There were comments from the board related to syphilis numbers due to neonatal cases of syphilis in the state. There was also a request for reporting on those numbers going forward.
Jenn Faul adds that we offer referrals, testing and screening for STD/STI. One of our community health initiatives is to look at compliance with treatment.
Director Updates
FCPH was awarded the 2025 Hunger Relief Award for demonstrating exemplary support and partnership during the government shutdown in November and December of 2025. Emergency Preparedness and Response staff assisted Great Plains Food Bank with logistics for deliveries and distributions. They hosted a pop-up distribution site at FCPH that served 400 households.
Doug Murphy, EPR coordinator, has retired after 18 years of service. Hunter Hubrig is the new EPR coordinator with 12 years of experience.
The Downtown Engagement Center (DEC) is anticipated to move in May 2026 to 2001 1st Avenue North, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony to be announced later.
The 2027 FCPH budget conversations will start on May 12. More information will be relayed at the July meeting.
The Rural Health Transformation grants were submitted. We were awarded a grant. It is to be used between April 2026 and October 2026. We plan to use it for equipment for the Mobile Health Unit and for the Fit and Strong classes offered through FCPH.
The Mayor of Fargo enters the meeting.
Questions and comments from the board include how FCPH tracks radon issues, what FCPH’s stance is on levels and what can be done to mitigate. Grant Larson, Environmental Health Director, answers that testing is not done by FCPH. We provide resources to get the test kits. They are then referred to the ND Department of Environmental Quality for more information. If they need action in their homes, they will help facilitate the information for the action. FCPH’s stance is to follow EPA guidelines.
Dr. McLean asks for any additional items or comments for the meeting. He expresses appreciation for being allowed to chair the meeting virtually.
Meeting is adjourned at 1:02 pm. The next meeting will be on July 10, 2026.
Next Meeting: 07.10.2026
Adjourn at: 1:02 pm