Cindy Sessions, Minot

The Good: Adidas making football cleats out of recycled plastic bottles, Trinity embracing the National Maternal Health Campaign, the Safe Kids Coalition and the Weigh 2 Change program. And how about their progress on that fantastic looking new hospital?

Also, Tide opening up Green Earth Dry Cleaners nationwide and the KX news team donning New Year’s Eve attire on their evening broadcast.

The Bad: Our City Council once again shirking their duty to the citizens of Minot and their individual responsibility to recycle and reduce our devastating and selfish ruin of our city, our state and our Earth. Delaying (for 6 months!) a decision to implement recycling after an outstanding presentation by Jason Sorenson, summarizing a cost of approximately $4 a month (a morning latte or evening drink!) and numerous testimonials for recycling.

Let’s hope in 2020 they get themselves and our city in line with the forward thinking of the rest of our state and the world, instead of being light years behind.

The Ugly: Our council’s decision to change zoning for a commercial building (previously L&S Drywall, Inc.) from commercial to residential in order to house rehabilitating addicts. While this purpose is commendable and appreciated by all, myself included, this location and possible negative ramifications on the surrounding neighborhood, and the stealth and secrecy behind the whole ordeal; the building still retaining the L&S Drywall sign, it makes you wonder why the council approved a living facility for recovering addicts right off of 4th Ave. NW, a hop, skip and a jump from Dairy Queen and down the block from Oak Park.

Not to mention the surrounding family houses, day cares and schools.

Some clients could be convicted felons and it’s possible for them to be kicked out of the facility and program for non-compliance. To where? Who maintains responsibility after that?

How does the council justify the location of this facility and its clients above the well being of the people and children of the surrounding businesses and neighborhoods?