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The time has come once again to take stock of the year that was and make intentions for the future. Minot experienced a number of shifts and changes to the landscape in the last year, which Minot Mayor Tom Ross said was brought on by flurries of activity from construction projects and local entrepreneurship.
"Having been born here and spending 50 years of my life here, I can't remember a year of more positive growth ever in this community. If you look at the last 12 months, it's been incredible," Ross said. "I'm so very proud. Some days with what's going on in Minot I tell people I feel less like a mayor and more like a cheerleader. It feels really good. It's been a strong year, and it will be difficult to copy it."
The list of items from Ross in support of this notion is a lengthy one, from the completion of the new Trinity Hospital campus, the new City Hall, a recycling center, the Magic City Discovery Center, as well as the ongoing construction projects at Minot State University and for the new Minot North High School, and beyond. Ross felt that the last year reflected a city that is on a continued path for growth, which he said was evident in the 77 ribbon cuttings for new businesses opened in the last year as reported by the Minot Area Chamber EDC at a recent city council meeting.
"People are investing in Minot. Companies are investing in Minot. Target spent $200,000 plus for a liquor license. You don't do that when you're pessimistic about the future of a community. Or with SCHEELS. You don't do that if you believe the town is going to dry up. You do it because you believe in what's happening," Ross said.
Ross expressed enthusiasm for the degree of civic and community engagement he witnessed in the last year for events and gatherings, which he said kept his social calendar full most evenings, culminating with the recent holiday events held downtown.
"The Minot Council of the Arts has their Thursday nights. I think they had a record-breaking crowd. You can take it to the tree lighting downtown or the Holiday Train, and people are packed in for blocks. The crowds that showed up - it doesn't surprise me, but it's impressive," Ross said. "For people to say that they're bored, they just aren't sticking their nose out of the door. We've got something to do, and people just have to make the attempt to get out."
For some, their motivation to venture out and about has been diminished by shooting incidents at bars and other venues that occurred in the last year, a reality that Ross said is at the forefront of his mind heading into the new year. Though Minot may not be the town he grew up in, Ross believes the community is still safe, but said the community can come together to address rising issues and concerns.
"We've got some things to work on as a city. We have some things to clean up as a city. We've got some things as a community to address when it comes to mental health. None of this happens overnight. We're not just going to flip a switch and say crime is done. We've got steps to take," Ross said. "If that's getting more police officers on the street, then that's what we're going to do. If it's making property owners more responsible for their properties, whether it's a dead beat hotel on North Hill or a four-plex, they have got to be responsible."
In addition to the issue of drug addiction in the community, Ross also acknowledged the recent death of airman Nicholas Van Pelt, a former Ward County Sheriff's deputy who was killed in a shooting on Christmas Eve. Ross said Van Pelt's death reinforced for him how personal the issue has become to him during his term as mayor.
"When I'm saying 'making Minot a safe community,' it's because there is someone I know dearly in every area of town. I want a young family to buy a home to be able to say, 'the kids can go out and play.' Ninety-five percent of that can happen. That 5 percent is sometimes a lot louder than the 95 percent. A swing set is a lot quieter than a gunshot," Ross said. "There's not one simple solution to it. We need to do it as a community. We've got so many good people who bleed deeply for the city of Minot and who have great ideas. My job and my resolution for my four years running for mayor is to bring those people together to help solve those problems."