Conflicts of interest are infecting the MAGIC Fund loan process, a concerned resident told the Minot City Council Tuesday.

Leif Snyder asked the council to update its MAGIC Fund guidelines as soon as possible to address situations in which Minot Area Chamber EDC board members are receiving business loans from public funds.

He also asked Mayor Tom Ross to appoint someone to serve in his place on the MACEDC board and to abstain from any voting on city funding for MACEDC because of a personal relationship with the organization’s vice president.

Snyder asked Ross to increase his transparency by providing copies of canceled or endorsed checks on his campaign financial disclosure statement. Ross had written checks to return money to five business donors, due to legal concerns with those types of donations. He has said the donations should have reflected contributions from individuals who happen to be business owners and, in many cases, individuals who had money returned to their businesses later provided personal donations.

Ross said he does not plan to update his campaign statements unless directed to do so by the North Dakota Secretary of State. He also plans to follow the advice of the city attorney regarding voting as a member of the MACEDC board.

“It’s just a non-issue as far as I am concerned,” he said. He said he would abstain in any votes that could be seen as a conflict of interest.

Snyder said Souris Basin Planning Council received money through the MAGIC Fund for a revolving loan fund, with some of that money going to businesses owned by MACEDC board members.

Snyder suggested the council renegotiate the city’s agreement with SBPC to require SBPC to report the loans it denies as well as those it approves. He also recommended oversight by a committee that includes council representation.

The council gave no response before adjourning Tuesday’s meeting.