[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6530827,"mediaKeyId","3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf","parentId",3638556,"title","Council approves $300,000 stopgap for Service Basin transit after discussion on federal funding loss and longer-term options","audioSeconds",2512,"startMs",3344000,"endMs",5856000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf&start=3344&end=5856","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf/thumbnail_3344000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6530827/Minot/Ward-County/North-Dakota/Council-approves-300000-stopgap-for-Service-Basin-transit-after-discussion-on-federal-funding-loss-and-longer-term-options","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530827-fa36ac807f44152bb0853eb2d08de857/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173333&Signature=mS~G0lNPFsrYlq89Hme6iPXKviyeiMPghASgGqzfr6ed1fkovLDVg8vgqkJe0do5ExS1koV2kaBu~6W7TjO97BvsJJB4RtMQQSfFzolyXlGVGwy3BqwbRcwwO6ldyo5kEzFVLwJbnjO6BV20A3UChL5PhLyubuKEztv21MUvcmQUd90K~IUSvrBdSnNe6rK0jBqLqgD6zZtc2nHAkCBmPoTYf5asIvXlL1O2s5wktB7fo6lYKY0uJVvFsABRY68lhzwtPcGzL1K0WWz5PpDRAJ6vCT3Wkewk34N2BGZku1m8XkQxRtbkIXpH03X2UxkJehgUy-dRBtNyCVPirheeBQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Minot, ND","date","2025-06-03T14:25:39Z","article","The Minot City Council voted unanimously on June 2 to appropriate up to $300,000 to Service Basin Transportation to cover demand-response transit service inside the city for the remainder of 2025.

Council members and staff described the funding as a stopgap measure. Service Basin and city staff told the council that a change to an \"urban\" designation for federal transit funding made the nonprofit ineligible for the federal operating dollars it previously used to run demand-response services inside Minot. Without alternative support, Service Basin warned that service could be disrupted. Service Basin manager Daryl Francis said the organization delivers tens of thousands of rides a year and that a portion of those riders—many elderly or mobility-limited—would lose access without a local funding solution.

Service Basin supplied an estimate for the remainder of 2025 that the council discussed: the meeting materials cited a $300,000 estimate while a Service Basin memo provided a $261,000 figure. City staff explained that the appropriation would be a \"not to exceed\" authorization drawn from reserves and that any unused portion would revert to reserves at year-end. The council and staff said they expect a more detailed contract or funding agreement to be developed and returned to council for approval; staff also said 2026 funding would be addressed in the 2026 budget process.

Council members pressed for more data and a clearer reimbursement mechanism. Several asked whether the city would reimburse per ride or via a monthly/flat amount; Service Basin said its detailed accounting would take several months of new operational data to finalize and that the nonprofit was pursuing additional state and federal funding streams. Multiple council members said they supported the appropriation to avoid a service interruption while urging staff and Service Basin to produce more precise estimates for the 2026 budget.

Vote and details

Motion: Approve appropriation of up to $300,000 to Service Basin Transportation for demand-response service inside Minot for the remainder of 2025.
Mover: Alderman Olsen.
Second: Alderman Fuller.
Outcome: Passed unanimously.

Context and next steps

City staff repeated that the appropriation was a stopgap; the City and Service Basin will draft a contract or reimbursement agreement that spells out reporting and invoicing, and the city will evaluate sustainable funding options during the 2026 budget process. Staff and Service Basin also noted a larger transit development plan will study long-term governance and funding for urban transit in the region.

Quotes

\"This is a Band-Aid for the next 6 months of this year,\" a city official said, describing the funding as temporary while longer-term funding is developed.

\"We do over 90,000 rides a year in the counties to inner city ... we're asking is not a contribution, but your share,\" Service Basin manager Daryl Francis told the council, describing the mix of revenue sources his organization uses.

Ending

Council appropriated the funds to avoid a service gap; staff and Service Basin will return with more detailed accounting and a proposed contract to define reimbursement and reporting for the funding going forward.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Minot City Council Meeting 6/2/2025 at 5:30 p.m.","oneSentenceSummary","Minot City Council unanimously approved up to $300,000 on June 2 to help Service Basin Transportation cover demand-response services inside the city for the remainder of 2025 after federal funding changes left the nonprofit ineligible for prior operating grants.","taxTitle","Minot, Ward County, North Dakota","taxId",55035,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530831,"Minot council deadlocks on revised fund-balance policy after hours of debate",2170,876000,3046000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf&start=876&end=3046","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf/thumbnail_876000.jpg","/articles/6530831/Minot/Ward-County/North-Dakota/Minot-council-deadlocks-on-revised-fund-balance-policy-after-hours-of-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530831-34b191d02e7bfcad3c0b9a8d10063ef1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173333&Signature=Z0hybjUAhsA98EwII2MRxeX3RS5tlLlKZWOHSrKu~j95yqkgtYLDPMwYVLP8rB4RUYpFaMV0tqyQ85OX6UIU8oQC-e5C4zFaWTPGt~r0tpwGgsrcvq619jBqpHk1SgGtmWtlg4TAh1D7dBGMD5bgLOrLVqSRzNYDNVJU4TUswakHff6PJm7uDxY9JFLKrDK1fISYKlCK294JJinnPaur6OzZWPCGL9Irhx457CKgY6U-5iPwxEf1aaNjVejGiGlzsDXvv4EdZ16CB23iCwF7r8CAZI4V3W9x2SriQoJbkjz3P~T7lWQlqNUgrxOSRX0hJR4S183Bhe6mZzTBcBIKbQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minot City Council failed to adopt a revised fund-balance policy at its June 2 meeting after divided votes on an amendment and the main motion.

The council debated a proposed policy that would set a target range for the general fund's unrestricted fund balance and instruct staff to incorporate that range into multi-year budgeting. Finance staff described the proposal as replacing the current practice (described in the meeting as a 1/12 ordinance minimum and a previously adopted practice of 3/12) with a minimum and maximum percentage range for the general fund and guidance for other funds.

The proposal drew extended discussion on how reserves should be sized, how the policy would apply across different funds, and the effect on future budgets. Dave, the city's finance director, said the draft was intended to give the city leeway to plan for large capital projects and to align with professional guidance. He gave the police department remodel as an example of a known large future expenditure and said that reserve levels would rise while money was being saved for that project and then fall when the project spent the funds. He said the ordinance currently on the books requires a one-twelfth reserve but that the city's practice had been higher.

Aldermen split along familiar lines over whether to cap the policy's upper band. Alderman Mike Blessum proposed an amendment to set the general-fund band between 30% and 50% of the general fund, arguing that the city was holding more taxpayer money than necessary and that a lower upper bound would keep the council's decisions closer to current-year priorities. Other aldermen, including Olsen and Pitner, expressed concern that a lower cap would leave the city exposed to major unanticipated costs and weaken budgeting flexibility, citing a more than $17 million estimate for a police remodel discussed earlier in the meeting. Finance staff and other council members urged keeping a higher maximum to allow planning for large capital needs and to avoid frequent borrowing.

The amendment to cap the upper bound at 50% failed on a 3-3 vote. After continued discussion, the main motion to adopt the revised fund-balance policy as drafted failed on a 3-3 vote, so no new policy was adopted the night of June 2.

Council members said the discussion would continue in the budget process and that staff should present clearer, fund-by-fund impacts and longer-term projections before a new policy is adopted. Several council members also urged that excess year-end collections be returned to taxpayers or directed to prioritized needs during the annual budget process.

What happened: The council considered and voted on (1) an amendment to the proposed fund-balance policy and (2) the main adoption motion. The amendment failed 3-3; the main motion failed 3-3. No revised policy was adopted.

Why it matters: The fund-balance policy sets the city's target reserves and affects how much the city holds in unrestricted balances versus what is available to spend on services, capital projects, or tax relief. Council members cited differing priorities—conserving cash for large projects and emergencies versus returning funds to taxpayers or using them for near-term needs.

What's next: Staff will include more detailed, fund-level projections and options in the upcoming budget cycle; council members said they expect further discussion in the budget process.

Quotes

\"That is the concept's purpose: to give us some latitude to save up for a large expenditure,\" the finance director said as he described the policy draft. \"We have to be looking 3 or 4 or 5 or 10 years out in some cases to plan for that because we can't wait until the year before at budget time and have a huge project and not have the funding available for it.\"

\"We should start drawing this back so that it makes our decisions tougher,\" Alderman Blessum said, urging a lower upper limit on reserves so tax money is not held unnecessarily.

Ending

Because council did not adopt a new policy, the city remains governed by the existing reserve ordinance and past practices. Council members asked staff to provide clearer fund-level analyses and long-range projections in the budget process so the council can revisit the policy with more detailed information.

","On June 2 the Minot City Council failed to adopt a proposed update to the city's fund-balance policy after two tied 3-3 votes, leaving the existing reserve requirements in place and prompting requests for more analysis during the budget process.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":46,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530817,"Votes at a glance: key actions from Minot City Council, June 2",5319,537000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf&start=537&end=5856","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf/thumbnail_537000.jpg","/articles/6530817/Minot/Ward-County/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-key-actions-from-Minot-City-Council-June-2","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530817-f284f661c05e4163a741bc300bde0f4a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173333&Signature=AcfGgnPfhGv1BMFINiKbGTZa6d8mOKNh6kvhb~Hf5mh-bbAzodbQn5~~2SWheAh9OWExAdmgZvi2AS14MD1IAgyuT5YI-XYoKhuihNDU3fYCidUuKSg5AGZN30VEVl-B-aF7XjDSJzf75rYgbO3KoKDdC~R7oiah~tyCGR9fxBMsH5t6yf1I~5wzjxzY8pUwgJlwE0V5OgjBUucuPiUXzdQwSEmZmKxqZkmKH-BW9yyEAYlmJ3vdNYOVjss~GQDLljQ9ekBWA2WVnkX5s6OT1oFJdhqhyhDYg3H6bmTMM5HRqz6NrAUkLXCOsYFkhJqXv0DKtMwgOXfB854TldPpJA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Minot City Council took several formal actions on June 2. This summary lists the motions, movers, vote tallies, and immediate outcomes recorded at the meeting.

- Consent items: Remaining consent items were approved as moved on the consent agenda (motion passed unanimously). (agenda section 5)

- Zoning Map Amendment: Zoning map amendment for Our Lady of Grace Church approved on second reading (agenda item 5.10). Vote recorded in the meeting as unanimous.

- Fund-balance policy (agenda item 6.1): Council considered a proposed revision to the fund-balance policy. An amendment to cap the general-fund band at 30%–50% failed on a 3-3 vote. The main motion to adopt the revised policy then failed on a 3-3 vote; no new policy was adopted.

- Grant Management & Oversight Policy (agenda item 6.2): Council adopted the revised grant management and oversight policy. Motion moved by Alderman Fuller, seconded by Alderman Pittner; the motion passed unanimously.

- City canvassing board appointments and dates (agenda item 6.3): Council approved the recommended canvassing board meeting dates and appointed council members to canvass the special elections. Motion passed unanimously.

- Service Basin funding (agenda item 6.4): Council approved a funding request to appropriate up to $300,000 to Service Basin Transportation for demand-response service inside the city for the remainder of 2025. Motion moved by Alderman Olsen, seconded by Alderman Fuller; vote passed unanimously.

- Adjournment: The council moved and seconded to adjourn; the motion carried.

For each action that involved a formal vote, the meeting minutes or the transcript recorded the motion maker, second, and the outcome; several items were discussed in detail earlier in the meeting (see separate articles on the fund-balance debate and the Service Basin funding).","A roundup of formal actions taken at the June 2 Minot City Council meeting, including approvals of grant-management policy, canvassing board appointments and Service Basin funding, and a failed fund-balance policy motion.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6530823,"Council approves Our Lady of Grace Church rezoning on second reading; nearby resident says notice was insufficient",259,613000,872000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf&start=613&end=872","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3638556-b3689b28c701fea6da6e47fec88cd6bf/thumbnail_613000.jpg","/articles/6530823/Minot/Ward-County/North-Dakota/Council-approves-Our-Lady-of-Grace-Church-rezoning-on-second-reading-nearby-resident-says-notice-was-insufficient","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6530823-3ada43af2856ccc57b129d880db32c29/orig.mp4?Expires=1771173333&Signature=IRWE-Cu8zqBMLpuRU8hcq5oXHFcb8qi~PUCLqmjKeFqlXhsOk-T695~oHSNqUktjf9fYTIKgz-jWHKWNM0ucV1XFy6WSfyi2zN1pO2~6Be7AexyFOjF1tv4LE-vy0RjyBwWWlD4yhTzjGpKItu-MYAVkrT7FFzdpOEYEVQJuNsf~WLgdUJ8lg-hmb~V9XQnA4vCLlw-c7zadI129SIIkX5fjuL3YYQ6cPi5TDxZro84O3sMxk6HUqtPVrCzRK5zV~~y~x4Wslq-oAqzH1PiXRhXgTfKxDlwDiFDzveWmg1DyVv4QMdip3D-4InjrmHzpU6ki5PaAP9NUE2sqov2APQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On June 2 the Minot City Council completed second-reading action and approved a zoning map amendment for property owned by Our Lady of Grace Church.

City staff and the city attorney explained the procedural steps and legal requirements for zoning map amendments, citing the Land Development Ordinance provision identified in the meeting as section 9.1-7. The attorney told the council that the application had passed through the planning commission with notice provided to the designated notice area and that, as of the second-reading deadline, the planning division had not received a written protest petition that would trigger a supermajority requirement.

A resident, Marjorie Taylor, spoke during public appearances to say neighbors had not been adequately informed about the scope of the change. Taylor said she discovered the notice and that other neighbors, including the Edison School principal, had not been made aware and that the proposed expansion (described by her as a large food bank/pantry building) would significantly change traffic and use near Edison School. She urged staff and the planning commission to engage the neighborhood directly. The city attorney responded in the meeting by describing the ordinance notice procedure and the legal path for protest petitions.

Council members said the item had been noticed and had proceeded through the required steps; with no valid written protest petition received the second-reading vote required only a simple majority when a quorum was present. The council voted to approve the ordinance on second reading.

What happened: Zoning map amendment for Our Lady of Grace Church approved on second reading; council vote recorded as unanimous during the meeting.

Why it matters: Zoning changes in residential neighborhoods can alter traffic patterns, building types, and neighborhood character; public notice and neighbor participation are central to such land-use decisions.

Next steps: The council finalized second reading, which completes the ordinance adoption unless other post-adoption procedural steps are required. City planning staff and the planning commission advised that written protest petitions meeting the ordinance's specifications would have had to be submitted prior to second reading.

Quotes

\"Under 9.1-7, the zoning map amendments ... the council action was to approve the application for a rezone on a first reading that has happened but a second reading is required to finalize the decision,\" the city attorney said while explaining the process and the protest petition criteria.

\"We have got a very busy street there already. Edison School ... if you read that letter that we were sent, it makes it seem like there's nothing to worry about,\" resident Marjorie Taylor said, urging more neighborhood outreach.

Ending

The ordinance passed on second reading at the June 2 council meeting. Neighbors expressed concern about notice and the scale of the church's proposed facility; the attorney and staff said the notice procedure followed the ordinance and described the petition process for opponents.

","The Minot City Council approved a zoning map amendment for Our Lady of Grace Church on second reading. A nearby resident told the council she and neighbors were not adequately informed of the change and urged better notice procedures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves $300,000 stopgap for Service Basin transit after discussion on federal funding loss and longer-term options

Minot council deadlocks on revised fund-balance policy after hours of debate

Votes at a glance: key actions from Minot City Council, June 2

Council approves Our Lady of Grace Church rezoning on second reading; nearby resident says notice was insufficient