West Fargo commission approves consultant award, improvement districts and equipment purchases; directs staff to revisit mill-and-overlay plan

The West Fargo City Commission approved a series of motions Monday including a consultant award for a wastewater serviceability study, a police equipment purchase from asset forfeiture funds, land acquisition for an improvement district and the creation of two new improvement districts for planned reconstruction work.

Wastewater serviceability study: The commission awarded the wastewater serviceability and risk‑reduction study (project 9021) to Moore Engineering after a competitive selection process. Dan Hanson, senior director of community and development services, said the study will analyze the city’s existing system, evaluate options to split or bypass flows that rely on lift station SA‑40, and assess serviceability for future growth areas. The project cost estimate is $370,740; staff said roughly 75% (approximately $333,000) would be covered by a grant from the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services and the remaining 25% (about $92,685) would be paid from the city’s capital improvement sales tax. The commission moved and approved the award.

Asset forfeiture funds for police ATV: West Fargo Police Chief Pete Nelson requested use of up to $55,000 from the department’s asset forfeiture account to purchase an all‑terrain vehicle (a Polaris Ranger four‑door crew cab with bed) outfitted with lights and sirens to improve access on river banks, the diversion and at large events. Chief Nelson said the account balance before the purchase stood at $143,857.69; if approved, the remaining balance would be approximately $88,857.69. The commission approved the expenditure.

Improvement District 2265 land purchase: The commission approved a purchase price of $925,000 to acquire property from the Runk family needed for reconstruction of Ninth Street Northeast (Main Avenue to Twelfth Avenue Northeast), including a planned roundabout and a northbound frontage road that limits direct access to the arterial. Dan Hanson said land acquisition costs are included in the project budget and will be treated as project expenses for the improvement district; the typical assessment split discussed for similar projects is 30% assessed to the district and 70% city-funded.

Meadowridge reconstruction (Improvement District 3008): The commission voted to create Improvement District 3008, direct the engineer to prepare an engineer’s report and approve a task order to study reconstruction in the Meadowridge area. Hanson said the core-area study rated this project highly due to sanitary sewer issues; ground‑penetrating radar showed many sections have only 2–4 inches of asphalt, necessitating reconstruction rather than a simple mill-and-overlay. The city also has applied for a Department of Environmental Quality water‑main grant that could fund a portion of the costs if awarded.

First Avenue East reconstruction (Improvement District 3009): The commission approved creation of Improvement District 3009 and directed the engineer to prepare an engineer’s report and task order for reconstructing First Avenue East from Fourth Street to Cheyenne Street (with a base project focused on Fourth to Second Street). Hanson said a small lift station at Fourth and First Avenue East was installed as a temporary measure and has recently been overwhelmed during heavy rains; replacing the lift station and routing sanitary sewer by gravity to Second Street is a key driver for the project. The project would also address undersized and aging water mains in the corridor. Hanson noted potential DEQ grant funding could reimburse portions of the work.

Mill-and-overlay guidance: Dan Hanson brought back a previously proposed mill-and-overlay improvement district for neighborhoods on the city’s south side that had been proposed in 2023 and later dissolved after protests. Hanson reported persistent resident requests for pavement rehabilitation and recommended returning to the item in smaller phases (two to three neighborhoods per year). The commission directed staff to revisit the earlier Improvement District 2261 plan and return with updated proposals.

Ordinance adoption: The commission approved the second reading of Ordinance 12‑56 relating to storage locker habitation; legal counsel told commissioners there were no changes since the first reading and asked for adoption.

Votes at a glance - Asset forfeiture for police ATV: approved (motion moved; second recorded). Funds requested: up to $55,000; account balance before spend $143,857.69. - Wastewater serviceability study (Project 9021): study awarded to Moore Engineering; estimated cost $370,740; ~75% ($333,000) covered by state grant; remaining 25% ($92,685) from city capital improvement sales tax; motion approved. - Improvement District 2265 land purchase (Runk family): purchase price $925,000; motion approved. - Improvement District 3008 (Meadowridge reconstruction): motion to create district and direct engineer to prepare report — approved. - Improvement District 3009 (First Avenue East reconstruction): motion to create district and direct engineer to prepare report — approved. - Ordinance 12‑56 (storage locker habitation): second reading adopted.

Several items approved include follow-up engineering reports, grant applications or administrative steps before construction or final implementation. No item approved in this session immediately commits additional appropriations beyond those identified in engineering reports and project budgets.