With a combination of good weather, planning, design and partnerships with good contractors, major road reconstruction projects in Fargo are complete well before the first snow of the year. Some of the major projects completed this year included 10th Street North, 7th Avenue North, 3rd Avenue North, 11th Street North, 12th Street North, Main Avenue and 17th Street South from 25th to 21st Avenue.
This is Fire Prevention Week and the Fargo Fire Department encourages citizens to participate in this nationwide effort, which is united under the campaign “Serve Up Fire Safety in the Kitchen.”Four members of the Fargo Fire Department who were part of the North Dakota Task Force have returned from an 18-day deployment in Oregon where they stayed at a basecamp and performed structure protection missions.
The value of building permits so far in 2020 is $576 million, already the second highest year ever. The only year with higher permit values was when permits were issued for the new Sanford Hospital.
Indigenous Peoples Day is October 12 and the Native American Commission has been involved in planning a full day of free virtual programming, including an opening ceremony, presentation of this year’s Gladys Ray Award, traditional art projects, storytelling, music and more. The City of Fargo is making funds available for snow removal services to help low- and moderate-income homeowners who are elderly and/or disabled. Applications are due October 23 and will be prioritized on a first-come, first-served basis.
During this year’s Clean-Up Weeks, 1,257 tons of debris was collected from boulevards and residents hauled 55 tons to the landfill. Crews also collected 143 tons of appliances, which required 184 truckloads, 2,489 tires, 276 microwaves and 35 propane tanks. In comparison, crews collected 1,948 tons of debris during Clean-Up Week in 2019.
On October 1, MATBUS operations moved back into the newly renovated Ground Transportation Center. Operations were temporarily moved on April 4 while renovations were under way. Renovations include relocation of the fixed route dispatch for improved visibility by the dispatchers, relocation and expansion of restrooms, replacement of lobby seating, expanded informational displays with live bus tracking and improved access into the building. The completion of exterior repairs and renovations (including roof replacement) will be in the spring.
On September 29, the Fargo Police Department’s Community Engagement Team partnered with Family Fare and NDSU Volleyball to provide food for residents at The Arbors near McCormick Park. The team cooked food, played basketball with the kids and had community conversations with the residents of the neighborhood. All members of the Fargo Police Department enjoy spending time with the residents of the community they serve.
The Red River Valley COVID-19 Task Force, under the leadership of Fargo Cass Public Health Director Desi Fleming unveiled a new masking campaign running in tandem with the state’s MaskUpND efforts. A new website, ForAllofUs.com, has been created for the campaign; it is helpful, easy to understand information and full of tips. The public can also order free window clings to actively participate in this region-wide campaign.