Wayne Rowe

Minot

I have just read the article titled: “So Let’s Cut the Budget.” The news video I saw online suggested that every department including the airport will experience cutbacks. I was a city employee at the airport until July of this year.

Sorry, but unless they plan on cutting back with administrative staff – there is literally nowhere to cut expenses at the airport. Well, almost nowhere. My ex-boss Mr. Rick Feltner and the Director of Operations Ms. Deanna Stoddard make a good buck working for the city. Mr. Feltner even suggested to me while he was terminating me that we have a responsibility to the residents of Minot.

Well, with that one line I challenge every position at the city that makes $75,000 or more to not accept their annual pay raise. In fact, let’s see how many of them will allow the city to reduce their pay by $5,000 and agree not to take any more than a 2% pay raise in the following years.

Other than a reduction in the budget is simple for a year. Stop spending money unless it is absolutely needed. This year trees along 36th Ave NE were finally cut down. But, the city workers didn’t do this – the city apparently contracted the work out. I can pretty much guess that the city paid more by contracting the work than they would have if several city workers had done the job.

I am not sure how much of course the construction on the bypass is funded by a grant – but wow. Apparently the city has to build an entire new road and move the bypass over what, 25 feet?

The City Council has maybe found it habit to just spend money …. Maybe Mr. Barry is putting the brakes on and he will become the hero of Minot. That will be something we find out as he becomes more acclimated to Minot and how things usually get done.

Maybe the city needs to adjust the way they purchase items. The airport needed custodial equipment and they got the approval to purchase it. The city accepted bids and the items were purchased. I know the city can’t afford to look prejudiced in anyway – but I looked on line and could have saved the city $1,000. Maybe something to think about.