Homeowner frustration over the inability to find sidewalk contractors and the high costs charged by the city to contract the work for them led the Minot City Council to make a change Tuesday, Sept. 2.

It was the first meeting for the council’s newest member, Mike Hayes, whose vote on the sidewalk issue avoided a 3-3 tie, a situation that has been plaguing the council since a vacancy occurred last April.

Council member Scott Samuelson said he has received many calls from constituents frustrated because they can’t get contractors for their small sidewalk repair projects. The city orders repairs when complaints are received about sidewalk conditions that could pose safety hazards.

Samuelson said constituents also have other complaints, such as wait times for city staff to inspect completed sidewalk work when contractors are found to do the work.

“The biggest complaint I got was we are adding a 25 percent administration cost onto the cost of what it’s going to cost to fix those, and I think that’s wrong,” Samuelson said.

Council member Mike Blessum noted the administration fee goes into the city’s coffers and not to staff who do the extra work.

“I don’t like to feel we are making a profit,” he said.

Hayes joined Samuelson, Blessum and Rob Fuller in voting to eliminate administration fees for residents who rely on the city to contract their sidewalk repairs. Opposed were Mayor Mark Jantzer and council members Paul Pitner and Lisa Olson.

The council voted unanimously to approve the 2025 sidewalk, curb and gutter special assessments.