Delivery of water from the Northwest Area Water Supply project will be delayed until possibly mid-2026.

Minot Utilities Director Jason Sorenson said his prediction in July that water would be flowing by the end of 2025 turned out to be overly optimistic. While events were moving smoothly in the right direction at that time, since then, there have been project delays, he told the Minot City Council Monday, Dec. 1.

The biggest delay is related to filters at the biotreatment plant at Max, he said. There were filters the engineer deemed to be defective in their installation. Differences of opinion among the engineer, the contractor and the State Water Commission over the situation led the water commission to hire an independent engineer to conduct an evaluation.

Sorenson said the results of the evaluation finally are in, and it has been determined there is a defective item the supplier must remove and replace.

The supplier was listing a lead time of 38 weeks to make the replacement, but the state pushed back on that timeline, Sorenson said.

“We’re pushing them to have everything done so that we can pump water by July, mid next year,” he said. “With that, Snake Creek Pump Station should be substantially complete, ready to pump water, probably the early part of next year.”

In other business, the council discussed whether Minot Housing Authority (MHA), as a quasi-government agency, is eligible for funds through the Facade Improvement Program. The agency requested a forgivable loan of $105,000 toward $140,000 in improvements to its building at 108 E. Burdick Expressway.

Brian Billingsley, community and economic development director for the city, said the program excludes facade funding for projects in areas zoned Public, such as the Central Middle School, but it does not prohibit funding for buildings in areas zoned Central Business District. The county buildings and school administration building are in that district, as would be churches and Trinity properties.

Council member Rob Fuller noted the government already funds MHA and now taxpayers are being asked to pay additionally through the facade program. He suggested MHA request money through state or federal channels to fix up its building.

Council member Scott Samuelson added the program’s language indicates it was meant to encourage private investment.

“There’s no private investment here. This is a government agency. I don’t see how this is proper at all,” he said.

Tom Alexander, MHA executive director, explained MHA is not a government agency but is independently run, operating with a board appointed by the city council. Federal funds are used for housing assistance. MHA receives some federal funds for administration as well as rents from public housing and fees on managed affordable housing. The federal government also provides funds to MHA’s Capital Fund, based on a formula, to go toward the 27 buildings it maintains, he said. However, he added, public housing agencies typically are underfunded in meeting their maintenance needs.

Alexander said the private match required for the facade funds would come from the Capital Fund.

“Businesses are in control of the income that they have, and if their income is not where it needs to be, they might raise prices on the goods or services that they’re selling,” council member Lisa Olson said. “Minot Housing Authority doesn’t have that option. So, in my mind, this is almost a better place to allow these funds to be spent. Again, it’s different than what we’ve done in the past, but I can wrap my head around how we could do this, because I think it is a benefit to our community.”

A motion to approve MHA’s application failed on a 3-3 tie vote. Council members Fuller, Samuelson and Mike Blessum voted against, and council members Olson, Paul Pitner and Mayor Mark Jantzer voted in support. Council member Mike Hayes was absent.

The council voted to accept the proposal from Souris Valley Animal Shelter to continue providing city animal pound services. The next step is to negotiate specifics of a contract that will come back to the council.

Fuller asked that the contract include additional reporting requirements to establish more measurables.

“Because if we’re spending $14,000 to $16,000 every month of the taxpayers’ money, I think they would want to know where it’s going, specifically, and what they’re getting for it,” he said.

Olson added cost increases are included in the shelter’s three-year proposal, but there isn’t an explanation for the increases. She requested staff obtain more details as part of the contract negotiations. Additionally, she asked that the city negotiate to seat a representative on the shelter board.