[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-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",[32,75,87,99],{"_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",6511491,"mediaKeyId","5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3","parentId",5327104,"title","Commission carries routine agenda items, approves bonds and infrastructure projects; task order for citywide fiber inspection approved","audioSeconds",2031,"startMs",49000,"endMs",2080710,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3&start=49&end=2080","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3/thumbnail_49000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6511491/West-Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Commission-carries-routine-agenda-items-approves-bonds-and-infrastructure-projects-task-order-for-citywide-fiber-inspection-approved","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511491-45d59481e3ce3caa4e964fdc7990b2fd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194458&Signature=PFf4VsqHLUGW8kyBCk-UuOoS3Vcmpd0Fd0OCxCjMx45mgXXE9YnRAhHJ150nn~swTeOspfGMSnUdnD1Dn3XShHQ54oF3auIyYpLe1ZzeBkBra2U1ILD0LnZAkh6ZMiffxp8fFGqJfqfqi-I6JOvQrKQ8rVeFZegEvzaYCNyks9iSZsOw5fZDz0oVmgVddNw1i0mogDqgp-ZXX88iFHNNHGrs2oV-yVhummHt2MKGMAeu601bAscN1tOQ2FW9pq~KJIy~Aidn5NNfkzn-AoSsIfSVIONKooRkRxY8olNEz6Aku4IKINhkRfAnEQ7g~p5cExA~vlv~0B4AUoZk~uJ7Jw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of West Fargo, ND","date","2025-07-07T20:32:49Z","article","The West Fargo City Commission moved through several routine and project items in a single voice‑vote pattern at its recent meeting. Most motions were carried by voice vote; roll‑call tallies were not recorded in the meeting transcript.

Key approvals and motions:

- Approve agenda as distributed — Motion: Commissioner Anderson; Second: Commissioner Jorgensen; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve minutes of 06/16/2025 — Motion: Commissioner O’Brien; Second: Commissioner Zundell; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve building permits as distributed — Motion: Commissioner Jorgensen; Second: Commissioner Bridal; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote).

- Approve consent agenda (items a–g) — Motion: Commissioner Bridal; Second: Commissioner Anderson; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote).

- First reading of Ordinance 12‑59 (food establishments; mirror changes to Fargo ordinance) — Motion: Commissioner Zundell; Second: Commissioner Olson; Outcome: First reading approved (voice vote). Staff attorney Katie Schmidt confirmed she had reviewed the ordinance language.

- Resolution authorizing issuance and sale of $750,000 Water Treatment Improvement Warrant, Series 2025 (for Improvement District 3006, Westwood Addition): Motion: Commissioner Zundell; Second: Commissioner Anderson; Outcome: Resolution approved (voice vote). City attorney Katie Schmidt said the bonds have a 31‑year maturity and an effective interest rate of about 2.0% (1.5% interest plus 0.5% admin fee).

- Determine protests insufficient for Improvement District 2294 (Sixth Street and 20 Third Avenue East intersection improvements): Staff reported two written protests not exceeding 50% of property within the district; Motion to find protests insufficient and approve associated resolution: Commissioner Olsen; Second: Commissioner Zundell; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote).

- Create Project No. 1352 (sanitary sewer spot repairs) and direct engineer to prepare an engineer’s report: Motion: Commissioner O’Malley; Second: Commissioner Zundell; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote). Staff said no property assessments are intended and funds will come from capital improvement sales tax funds.

- Approve Task Order with Bolton & Menk for inspection and assistance on citywide private utility fiber installation (Project No. 9054): Motion: Commissioner Olsen; Second: Commissioner Jorgensen; Outcome: Motion carried (voice vote). City engineer Jerry Wallace said the current estimate for inspection services is $246,600; per agreements with the utility companies, those inspection costs are pass‑through and will be reimbursed to the city.

Staff reports and administrative items included a city administrator update on roughly 45 fireworks‑related calls for service over July 3–5 (three were dumpster fires and no serious injuries reported) and a timetable for the budget process leading up to a July 21 public meeting.

The meeting adjourned by voice vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City of West Fargo City Commission Meeting - Monday, July 19, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The West Fargo City Commission approved routine agenda items and several project and financing measures by voice vote, including a first reading of an updated food‑establishment ordinance and a $750,000 water‑treatment warrant sale.","taxTitle","West Fargo, Cass County, North Dakota","taxId",50876,"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},6511508,"Residents urge city to plan for river access impacts; priest asks to restore local cable worship broadcasts",129,191000,320000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3&start=191&end=320","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3/thumbnail_191000.jpg","/articles/6511508/West-Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Residents-urge-city-to-plan-for-river-access-impacts-priest-asks-to-restore-local-cable-worship-broadcasts","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511508-e7acabf410f0e385aee0891ef6a03cf8/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194458&Signature=CCsESu1Vo8oCH-GBkjbon~xPwLRg0JO3dgVR0r0CK4jeFg137nuCbk1FWZNPJ19ouIevDj8Rjdzz5msfwgN5KV3H3bOarDNCBKV-H0tdc5YW-kBknKY5KWUR~gH1oslDLWaT99kOpaAt9b5HfuXun5Jxs9WO1dqVrYqBh9X-UBB9Sadr674eGSfB~pdc2T6QtEB3j8AyM0RiTy5RYrQWiQagaTw-VhblvbZkRR8u5rv8GeCVqn24-5e1yzpu8PN0rnl572uFolLezsZ5GD9J6baSZNgxRrdq2~MecDVIAivv7K2r48xgEEW00Qgse7g-vQ5Zb~AP28UfGm-Tojwf~Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Dave Withy, a West Fargo resident, asked the commission how officials will respond when a planned multi‑use path that improves access to the river makes the riverbank easier for nonresidents to reach.

\"When non residents decide to move in with their tents and their shopping carts and their other possessions, what happens? Who do we call?\" Withy asked during the public-comment period. He said neighbors have already attempted to discourage people from staying near the river and asked the city to clarify who residents should contact once the path is finished.

Father Gary Luton of Blessed Sacrament Church urged the city to reinstate local‑access cable broadcasts of his parish’s Sunday services and those of Faith Journey Lutheran. He said parishioners — particularly older residents — had called the churches to complain since the broadcasts stopped.

\"We have had approximately 20 calls from people explaining their desire to see those services on local access once again,\" Luton said, and asked the commission to reconsider restoring the broadcasts. He said the churches had been told the city’s broadcast capabilities need updating but that the city had no plans to do so.

Mayor (Commission President) Dardis and the commission took no formal action during public comment; the remarks were recorded as citizen input and were not placed on the consent or regular agenda for a vote.

The public-comment period immediately preceded the evening’s business items, including several ordinance and project approvals. The commission next moved into public hearings and first‑reading business on the agenda.","Dave Withy, a West Fargo resident, asked the commission how officials will respond when a planned multi‑use path that improves access to the river makes the riverbank easier for nonresidents to reach.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511497,"Commission approves five‑year conditional use permit for enclosed composting operation",481,791000,1272000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3&start=791&end=1272","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3/thumbnail_791000.jpg","/articles/6511497/West-Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/Commission-approves-fiveyear-conditional-use-permit-for-enclosed-composting-operation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511497-707a6a1a861343c9a9b08e449b163e27/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194458&Signature=fualftbZMta~zBbvJOx5ffLSPLG-gARR-PZGUya9SF3nPBtHda7u04Szzylc15VD7GRNHYUkrRT7f6txc4hIxFGgbvk3UwWa7~UsYQfnGdfJt35ZpfTQjTvGAavZWGe7RgkkcdHTq-i7CH4lwm1S3jPi5jQJD6xKMc0Nu8RfwkJRE-5KnSX4QKVhUMgUosr~O0m~NeTDkpOi6JZ7O-VlD75CyrL0QebnK21aB1NHS6~czMcdelITYXuemOEQrIs1mTS4iA-Jx6ewwELSDY-4HFzk7bEgWCmnWGKkh0wBu4h5-Qj3Qc5wRrgG1j~l-uU3DnTrrVCly~wH1efNBqDVeQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Fargo City Commission approved a conditional use permit (CUP) to allow a small, private, enclosed food‑waste composting operation to operate in the A (Agricultural) zoning district for a temporary period.

Aaron Nelson, the city’s director of planning and zoning, told the commission the proposal is for a roughly 4‑acre farmstead about a mile northwest of the city’s sewage lagoons and would use two fully enclosed rotary composting drums to process food waste collected from local restaurants, homes and businesses.

Nelson said the Planning and Zoning Commission held a public hearing on June 10, 2025, received opposition from an area resident (and a written comment from a property owner), and recommended approval of the CUP by a 6–1 vote with 10 conditions. The approval the city commission granted includes the conditions recommended by planning staff, including a requirement that the CUP automatically expire five years from the date of final approval or upon annexation of the property into the city, whichever occurs first.

Co‑owner Hayden Thompson said the in‑vessel process produces heat naturally through microbial activity and can reach roughly 140–150 degrees Fahrenheit; no external fuel such as propane is added. The applicants said they are pursuing the required North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality (NDDEQ) permit and have received a private grant to fund the two drums as a pilot project.

Commissioner Olson moved to approve the CUP as presented; Commissioner Jorgensen seconded. The motion carried by voice vote. Staff emphasized that the CUP limits the operation to the two enclosed drums and does not authorize future expansion without additional approvals.

Nelson said the NDDEQ permitting process will follow and that the CUP approval does not replace state permitting requirements. Planning staff noted that if the operation expanded or changed materially, nuisances to adjacent properties could increase and that future land‑use compatibility issues may arise as the area urbanizes.","The West Fargo City Commission approved a conditional use permit allowing a temporary, small‑scale enclosed food‑waste composting operation on an approximately 4‑acre farmstead in the city's extraterritorial zoning jurisdiction, subject to conditions and a five‑year sunset or annexation.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6511502,"West Fargo commission adopts formal public‑comment policy requiring topic to be on agenda or previous agenda",250,517000,767000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3&start=517&end=767","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/5327104-e4d09d1f4d069ce82fe16f752950ecc3/thumbnail_517000.jpg","/articles/6511502/West-Fargo/Cass-County/North-Dakota/West-Fargo-commission-adopts-formal-publiccomment-policy-requiring-topic-to-be-on-agenda-or-previous-agenda","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6511502-162e2548c899b7ce6d16e9e02a0bc63c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771194458&Signature=nL7jLXE7sUpBmMg1-RUEfGPPLbyVHs7j35c7bfD5p7TNlNaKyD3J7wtYyP2-hpj3P~BlVtHp~bjNde2qfkjiCWK0~WUUedEbexKzAlF1Bn3rJ9WEaDWRDC-edJMogjxkTnIrdZ2cjxFO8LNvhXEQrJ6L9BeYRr9b0ACdeIUVn8565pT0XGXxag0Ma6nGnJ4zK6wqKNLO9J4824LQTBhx7WVkBJFfhyh7p3g47yTXxOgtymxqIMM3FVQQfOsoZE5r4gLQgnJNU7D7U0EOBmLTSG9MGudHrYaJPNAet4E3Q9DAsL-Wky9Yxubufhi~HX6RssR7uF-CvkT~XGY7dsjwDQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The West Fargo City Commission voted to adopt a formal public‑comment policy that implements changes required by recent state legislation and codifies the city’s existing procedures.

\"What you have is, essentially our procedures that we've had in place, with only a couple minor changes,\" Rachel Lorteman, the city’s manager of public affairs, told the commission. She said the new policy adds a requirement that speakers address a topic on that meeting’s agenda or the previous meeting’s agenda and that non‑West Fargo residents note if they speak for a business, organization or other property‑taxpaying entity.

Commissioner Jorgensen moved to approve the policy; Commissioner Anderson seconded the motion. The commission approved the policy by voice vote. Staff said the legislation requires adoption by Aug. 1; Lorteman said the city could make the policy effective immediately or on the next meeting and that the city’s existing procedure already set a speaker‑registration deadline of noon the day of the meeting.

The adopted policy otherwise maintains the city’s existing limits on speakers’ time and the number of speakers allowed per meeting, city staff said. The change to require topics to be on the current or previous agenda reflects legislative direction that the public should know what will be discussed at a governing‑board meeting.

The commission recorded no roll‑call tallies in the meeting minutes; the action passed by voice vote.","The West Fargo City Commission adopted a formal public‑comment policy that requires speakers at regular meetings to address items on that meeting’s agenda or the prior meeting’s agenda and requires nonresidents to disclose if speaking for a business or other property‑taxpaying entity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Commission carries routine agenda items, approves bonds and infrastructure projects; task order for citywide fiber inspection approved

Residents urge city to plan for river access impacts; priest asks to restore local cable worship broadcasts

Commission approves five‑year conditional use permit for enclosed composting operation

West Fargo commission adopts formal public‑comment policy requiring topic to be on agenda or previous agenda