We lost one of our former Governors, George Sinner, this week. I think many of us had known him through his time; a very interesting man and very much a servant to the State of North Dakota. We will miss him. I think any one of us has gotten some advice from him, whether it was welcomed or unwelcomed at some time in our lives. He is truly an interesting gentleman.
The 2017-2018 school immunization assessment, conducted annually by the North Dakota Department of Health, shows that North Dakota’s kindergarten immunization rates have remained at about 94 percent for all required vaccines. Fargo Cass Public Health has contracts for school nursing with Fargo Public and Cass County schools and partners with them to work toward compliance with school immunization requirements for all grade levels.
Another interesting thing, through the federal State Targeted Response to the Opioid Crisis grant, Fargo Cass Public Health was able to assist 114 people in seeking treatment for opioid use disorder. The purpose of the grant project is to address gaps and build upon existing statewide efforts by increasing access to evidence-based treatment and recovery services. It appears we are having less deaths and making some progress with people getting treatments.
The Library has several fun and interesting programs scheduled over the next couple of weeks, including “Kindergarten Success!” storytime sessions for preschoolers and their parents, sessions on making homemade bath fizzies and loofa soap; “Make Your Own Hypertufa Pot” workshops and Beginner Yoga classes. Also, the “Design-A-Bookmark Contest” runs through March 31st.
Transit implemented TapRide in January, a new on-demand service isolated to the NDSU campus and is a safe ride home for students. The new service has been well received and is completing an average of 13 rides per hour.
The MATBUS iGoEco Challenge begins March 19 and will run for five weeks. The challenge encourages participants to give up driving their car at least one time per week and instead ride MATBUS, walk, bike, roller skate or carpool to work or school. Each week, participants who enter the contest are eligible to win a prize, and those who participate each week are eligible to win the grand prize valued at $1,000. Prizes are sponsored by Radio FM Media and Gate City Bank.
Standard and Poor’s Corporation has upgraded Fargo’s existing bond ratings on various bond issues from AA- to AA, a one-notch increase. Reasons cited in their report included linking to their creditworthiness criteria, fundability of our resources and the ability to manage those resources, which drives their view of our ability and willingness to pay our obligations. This is good news as Fargo continues to market high quality bonds for infrastructure and other projects.
Mayor Tim Mahoney