Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 09.30.2024
In case you missed the September 30, 2024, Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.
City Commission Approves 2025 Budget
City Commissioners held a discussion on the 2025 Budget during Monday’s meeting and received input from residents.
Ultimately, the City Commission voted 3-2 to approve the 2025 Budget, which includes a 4.5% cost-of-living increase (COLA) for City employees and no increase in City of Fargo property taxes.
North Dakota law set October 7, 2024, as the deadline for each municipality in the state, including The City of Fargo, to approve its final budget.
You can find detailed information on The City of Fargo’s 2025 Budget here.
Fargo Cass Public Health Awarded Grant for HIV, Hepatitis C Testing
Fargo Cass Public Health has received a $44,000 federal grant to help fund testing for HIV and Hepatitis C, along with patient counseling and referrals to medical care.
The grant, which FCPH has been awarded in past years, will help the local public health agency continue to provide rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing, as well as community education on both diseases and access to HIV prevention supplies.
On Monday, the City Commission voted unanimously to accept the grant funds, which are administered by the North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services.
The Fargo Cass Public Health Clinic currently offers rapid HIV and Hepatitis C testing with results available in 20 minutes. Visit FargoCassPublicHealth.com/Clinic for more information.
City Commission Approves Funds for Water Tower Rehabilitation
The City of Fargo operates nine water towers in Fargo that provide storage for peak demand periods and fire protection. Water Utility staff also operate six water towers for regional customers.
Water Tower No. 6, near 32nd Avenue South and 33rd Street South in Fargo, is one of the older water towers in the system. It needs piping improvements and reconditioning, which includes replacement of the interior and exterior coating.
The rehabilitation of Water Tower No. 6 has been planned for in the Water Utility Capital Improvement Plan and financial model. The rehabilitation is also in the 2025 Budget.
On Monday, the City Commission voted unanimously to allocate $179,130 for design and construction services for Water Tower No. 6, using funds from the Infrastructure Sales Tax. The work is scheduled to occur in 2025.
Fire Station 8 Ribbon Cutting Scheduled for October 23
Deputy Mayor Denise Kolpack, the City Commission’s liaison to the Fargo Fire Department, shared several updates from the department during Monday’s meeting:
- Construction work on Fire Station 8, a new station at 6617 33rd St. S., will be completed this week, and items to operate the station will arrive over the upcoming weeks. A ribbon cutting is scheduled for October 23, and firefighters will begin operating the station on October 28.
- The planned closure of Fire Station 5 has begun, and contractors are working to reconstruct and renovate the station. The station, located at 930 40th St. S., is expected to remain closed through August 2025.
- Eleven fire recruits are in their last month of the Joint Fire Training Academy.
- October is Fire Prevention Month, and residents are reminded to make sure their smoke alarms are in good working order. Fire Department personnel will be visiting schools to present fire safety messages, and crews will be hosting station tours throughout the month.
Fargo Police Department Awarded Grants for Traffic Law Enforcement and Education
The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) every year offers grants to The Fargo Police Department (FPD) and other law enforcement agencies around the state.
This year, NDDOT has awarded $49,000 in grants to the FPD for conducting enforcement and education activities regarding seatbelt usage, impaired driving, distracted driving, speeding and underage drinking.
The funding, made available through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, is intended to reimburse the FPD for overtime expenses associated with having officers work extra hours to conduct the enforcement and education activities.
On Monday, the City Commission voted unanimously to accept the grant funds.