City leaders confront police facility funding crisis

During a recent government meeting, officials discussed pressing issues concerning the Minot Police Department and the Fire Department's budget and staffing.

A notable point of contention arose regarding the condition of the police department's facility. One official expressed disbelief that the city had allowed the police department to operate in inadequate conditions, especially in light of the recent relocation of City Hall, which was funded through the National Disaster Resilience (NDR) grant. The official emphasized the need for prioritizing improvements to the police facility, acknowledging that while expansion was necessary, the current state of the building was unsatisfactory for the expectations placed on law enforcement.

In response, another official confirmed the lack of available funding for the police department under the NDR grant, despite dispatch services receiving support. They echoed the sentiment that enhancing the police facility should be a priority and expressed hope for prompt action on the matter.

The meeting also addressed the Fire Department's budget, particularly a significant 83% increase in overtime costs. The Fire Chief explained that this increase was due to changes in the payroll system, which now compensates firefighters based on a complex schedule that includes automatic overtime for hours worked beyond a certain threshold. The Chief assured that the department was compliant with the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and that the new payment structure would be standard moving forward.

Officials noted that hiring additional firefighters would not necessarily alleviate the overtime costs, as the changes were primarily structural and legally mandated. The discussion concluded with no further questions on community development or inspection matters, indicating a focused agenda on the pressing needs of the police and fire services.