Jill Schramm/MDN Police Chief Michael Frye speaks to the Minot City Council meeting regarding police station renovations.

A revised budget to remodel Minot’s police station still was outside the comfort level of some city council members during the council’s review of an estimated $13.9 million proposal Tuesday, Sept. 2.

Council member Mike Blessum called it a “pretty rough starting point.”

He stressed the need to get a handle on actual costs because that budget number will impact residents’ property taxes.

“How do we prioritize from here and figure out what we can get done?” he asked.

City Engineer Lance Meyer said it is difficult to seek architectural/engineering proposals to move toward construction without solidifying a scope of work, which means determining the essentials of the project and any additional items that could be added if funds are available.

The latest proposal takes a five-phased approach to construction that comes with a two-year timeframe for completion.

Of the $13.9 million total cost, $12.28 million is estimated as construction cost. Among remaining associated costs are estimates of $777,530 for architect/engineering and $613,950 for contingencies, which are based on construction cost and can go down if the scope of the project changes.

Council member Rob Fuller questioned including a garage for patrol vehicles, which would be new construction. Police Chief Michael Frye responded that the investment of $2 million into a garage would extend the life of vehicles and bring other benefits.

“If we don’t get it, I understand, but it’s something that’s needed,” Frye said.

The council indicated a garage could be considered as an alternative in the project.

The proposed budget includes updating the building’s heating and cooling system. A roofing project is expected to be covered separately under a warranty so is not included in the total.

A possible remodel of the legacy city hall has been discussed since city offices moved out of the building in April 2023. The council and police department have been actively studying ways to make the building more suitable for law enforcement for the past year. An original architect’s proposal earlier this year estimated $46 million for renovation or $75 million to construct a new building. The renovation cost had been trimmed back to a $15 million remodeling project, but council members have yet to make any final decisions.

“It’s to the point where something has to move this process forward,” Frye told the council. “We want to move this project forward as opposed to delaying, delaying, delaying.”

The council took no action on the informational agenda item.

The council did act to concur with the recommendation for the Souris River Joint Board to award replacement of the Mouse River Park Bridge to Industrial Builders for $5.97 million. The bridge replacement project is part of the Mouse River Enhanced Flood Protection Project. It was bid and rebid four times in 2023 and 2024 with no bidders. The latest round of bidding in June drew two bids, according to information provided to the council. Total project cost with design and engineering is listed at $7.67 million.

Fuller questioned using city sales tax to pay the $2.68 million local share for the bridge, noting each resident of that area in Renville County would need to make $365,000 in taxable purchases in a year to generate enough sales tax to cover the bridge’s cost.

“I get we have to be a good community partner. I get that we have to take care of these communities around us,” he said, “but we have been sold a bill of goods that says we are going to get paid back, and we’re not.”

Fuller, who also had objected to using sales tax to cover the cost of a bridge in Velva, said the City of Minot has its own needs for those sales tax dollars.

Council member Mike Blessum said he shares the concerns but also realizes the partnership with the region is the basis for a 65% cost-share from the state on the flood control project. The council voted 5-2 to recommend the bid award, with Fuller and Scott Samuelson voting against.

In other business, the council:

– voted to fill a city vacancy on the Northwest Area Water Supply Authority by naming the mayor to the seat. The city has four seats on the NAWS Authority filled by mayor appointment with council concurrence. The recommendation is to fill the seats by city position title rather than by name to create a more seamless transition when new appointments are due.

– approved purchase of a bomb team quick response unit truck for the police department from Nelson Auto for $58,488. The cost will be covered by a State Homeland Security Grant.

– revised storm sewer fees for properties on the edges of the city that might not benefit from the storm sewer maintenance and development fund. The fee would be eliminated for a dozen existing parcels until the rural section roadway a parcel abuts is paved or urbanized. The change reduces the city’s collection of fees by $2,700 this year.

– approved participation in new national opioid settlements with Purdue and certain affiliates, the Sackler Family and eight opioid manufacturers. The city’s settlement dollars are transferred to First District Health Unit in a collaborative program to remediate and abate the opioid crisis.

– supported a formal assessment of the HVAC system at the General Aviation terminal to obtain recommendations to address the declining performance of the existing system.

– approved acceptance of a $553,990 Military Installation Readiness Grant from the Office of Local Defense Community Cooperation in connection with the Sentinel missile replacement project. The planning grant from the Office of the Secretary of Defense will focus on conducting a Compatible Land Use Study and as well as coordinating with other communities to promote installation readiness. The city will enter an agreement with Minot Area Chamber EDC to hire a community installation coordinator. There is a 10% cost share of $64,726 to come from the City of Minot and Ward County in the form of in-kind services.