To reduce officer stress from consistent personnel shortages, the Minot Police Department has developed a new plan to bring more staff on board.

The Minot City Council approved a budget amendment Monday, Oct. 6, that will enable the police department to launch a part-time licensed police officer program. The department indicated it would like to hire four part-time, licensed individuals who are Police Officer Standards and Training certified. These officers would augment operation functions of the department, including the patrol division.

In a memo to the council, Police Chief Michael Frye stated the primary goal is to assist in reducing existing stress, burnout and fatigue among full-time department staff. These officers may be from other area law enforcement agencies and will be required to undergo training to demonstrate capability and ability to uphold department standards.

Frye noted the department has consistently operated at 76-88% of optimal staffing over the past several years. Currently, the department is at 76% staffing, he said in the memo. However, due to injuries and officers in training, the department is only 69% operationally staffed.

Funding would come from salary savings due to personnel shortages. Based on 20 hours a week for the remainder of 2025, the projected cost is $33,792.

The council also approved the job description for a program management analyst in the police department. The 2026 budget includes the creation of the new position, as of Jan. 1. The position would entail advanced analytical and administrative work, with co-supervision of the Minot State University internship program and the training division.

The council approved a revised job description for the city grant manager position, which was vacated with the resignation of Chris Plank in August. The revisions remove mention of National Disaster Resilience grant programs that are closing out and generalize the position to assist in other grant programs. The grant manager would report to the finance director rather than the city manager.

In other business, the council:

– approved spending $75,770 to upsize a watermain to serve a micro-hospital at 4600 8th St. NW. The city requested Exceptional Healthcare install a larger line than it needs so the watermain can serve future growth in the area. The council agreed to pay for the additional cost associated with a larger pipe.

– approved a $165,000 budget amendment to complete state permitting of a landfill expansion area approved in 2020.

– extended an agreement through September 2029 with the North Dakota Housing Finance Agency to monitor the city’s Resilient Homebuyer Program. The program to assist residents impacted by the 2011 flood to obtain affordable housing ended in July 2022, but ongoing monitoring is needed to ensure compliance with federal requirements. The program saw 76 applicants purchase homes with the federal grant dollars in the program.

– accepted a grant of $5,000 from the Magic City Lions Club to purchase furniture for a decompression room for first responders needing a safe place to process after a traumatic call.

– accepted a Hess Corp. donation of $27,725 toward thermal imaging cameras to replace older cameras of the Minot Fire Department, which are used to identify hidden fires in walls and in search and rescues.

– accepted an SRT donation of $500 for the purchase of medical equipment by the fire department.