Fergus Falls council approves transit partnership and childcare contract, rejects liquor-store solar RFP; chamber audio upgrade cleared with conditions

Fergus Falls City Council on March 3 voted to join a proposed joint powers board for regional public transportation, awarded a contract for a childcare project manager funded by West Central Initiative, declined to move forward with a request-for-proposals (RFP) to install solar panels on the municipal liquor store, and approved an upgrade to the council chamber sound system conditional on vendor references and coordination with PEG Access.

The council approved participation in a regional joint powers board for public transit after a staff presentation by Kayla explaining city ridership and potential benefits. "You can help create policies, our different routes, our fleet size, staffing wages," Kayla said, urging council involvement because "we do the majority of the rides right here in Fergus." The resolution passed on roll call with affirmative votes recorded by council members present.

Councilors also approved a contract to hire a childcare project manager, Katie Gano, to be funded by a $20,000 grant from West Central Initiative; community development director Clara Beck told…