Jill Schramm/MDN A construction worker watches Monday as a truck pulls up to a construction site near the Minot Landfill. 

Implementation of curbside recycling is on track to start next July, according to the City of Minot Public Works Department. With that in mind, the Minot City Council began shaping a program Monday that would include a curbside pickup every other week, with the potential to have weekly pickup if interest exists.

The recommendation of the Public Works Department was to offer bi-weekly recycling collection using a 95-gallon cart provided to all participants, although the council felt a 65-gallon cart option should be included. 

Council member Stephan Podrygula said some residents would find a larger container to be a hardship because of the lack of space to store it or because they don’t have the physical capability to handle a cart of that size.

“I really would like to see people have a choice of a slightly smaller container,” he said. “I think you’ll have more acceptance and fewer complaints from people if you give them that choice.”

The city has some 95-gallon and 65-gallon garbage carts on hand that can be used in a recycling program, said Jason Sorenson, assistant director in Public Works.

“We’re just going to have a different lid color for recycling versus trash,” he said.

The Public Works Department also noted If the recycling program is mandatory and uses a 95-gallon cart, the city can apply for a grant of up to $15 per cart. 

Under the program approved by the council, there would be a one-time, opt-out of the program for residents who do not wish to recycle. If a resident moves, recycling would be required at the new location. 

At present, the city collects trash twice a week. One of those days would be replaced with recycling collection every other week. Residents who opt-out would not receive garbage collection on the recycling pickup day.

Glass would not be recyclable under the program because of poor markets, but that would be reviewed if markets change.

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Policing issues knot up budget talks

The Minot City Council will be scheduling special meetings to discuss the 2023 budget after hearing impassioned pleas from the Minot Police Department to preserve staff positions.

Council President Paul Pitner in his budget message proposed eliminating the department’s request for a drug task force officer, which currently is in the preliminary budget. He also proposed eliminating two of the 10 currently vacant officer positions in the department.

“I can’t support adding another officer position when we have 10 we haven’t been able to fill. We continue to tax citizens for those positions we haven’t been able to fill,” he said. “There still will be seven approximate positions within the department to be filled to alleviate some of the overtime.”

He suggested budget savings for those positions be set aside for future use in improving police headquarters, whether that is in city hall or another building.

Police Chief John Klug and local representatives of the police union spoke against the plan. Klug said leaving the positions in the budget allows for the potential to hire.

“You cut my positions, I don’t have that opportunity to even get there,” he said.

Pitner said he would support a budget amendment to add back positions if the chief can find people to hire.

Policing will be among topics discussed at the upcoming special meetings.

The council also voted to not fill the two electrical inspector positions that have been open since June and not to budget for them in 2023. Instead, council members voted to utilize the services of the state electrical board to provide those inspections.