Grand Forks City Council approves multiple permits, contracts and project memos; narrow votes on gambling site, parking contract and fluoride

The Grand Forks City Council on Monday, Jan. 6, 2025 approved a package of routine agenda items and a series of separate motions that included a conditional approval for a charitable gaming site at Albatross Indoor Golf Club, a one-year-start amendment to the city’s downtown parking contract and the annual chemical purchasing resolution for water and wastewater treatment. Two votes drew council dissent: the Horse Race North Dakota site authorization passed 6–1, and the parking contract amendment passed 6–1 after the council shortened the renewal/termination notice; a proposal to remove fluoride from the city water supply was defeated 4–3 earlier in the meeting.

The actions matter because they affect local fundraising and charitable gaming in downtown establishments, how downtown parking will be enforced and measured, property purchases for solid-waste operations, and the city’s water-chemicals purchasing and public-health policy. Council debate focused most sharply on whether charitable-gaming proceeds stay in Grand Forks, how a private contractor would supplement police parking enforcement, and whether the city should reexamine fluoridation policy.

Council approved a consent block of routine items, moved several contract and procurement items, and voted on distinct agenda items as follows:

- Consent agenda: Council approved a grouped set of administrative and procurement items (listed in staff paperwork as 5.1, 5.4, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8, 5.9, 5.12, 5.13, 5.15, 5.16, 5.17, 5.19, 5.21) by motion of Councilmember Sosowski, second by Councilmember Berg; the motion carried unanimously.

- Vacation of right-of-way and easements (Item 3.1): Vice President Weigel moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Friedelst; the public hearing had no speakers and the council approved the request with one dissent (Osowski). The motion carried with one dissent.

- Mid-Continent franchise agreement amendment (Item 3.2): Councilmember Berg moved approval, seconded by Councilmember Lunsky; no public comments were offered and the amendment passed unanimously.

- Horse Race North Dakota site authorization at Albatross Indoor Golf Club (Item 5.2): After public questions from council about the applicant’s structure and where funds raised would flow, Peter Bushey, representing…