On Dec. 15 the West Fargo City Commission approved several infrastructure and administrative items grouped on the agenda.

Improvement districts: City Engineer Jerry Wallace presented three improvement districts. The commission determined protests insufficient and approved: Improvement District 2297 (South Pond pavement rehabilitation), Improvement District 2296 (Shadowwood neighborhood pavement rehabilitation) and Improvement District 6062 (2026 sidewalk improvements). Wallace said the mill/overlay projects are typically paid 50% from the capital improvement sales tax fund and 50% by special assessments, while sidewalk projects are 100% assessed to benefiting properties. Staff reported receiving one letter in each pavement project packet expressing objection to assessments but not a formal protest.

IT CIP request: Director of IT Peter Howitzer requested funding to replace obsolete camera and door security systems with an integrated Genetec solution. Howitzer estimated the project cost near $450,000–$500,000 and said the 2024 CIP includes funding; City Administrator Dustin Scott referenced a CIP budget figure of about $516,000 and the commission approved proceeding with an RFP and the CIP request.

Indigent defense contract: City Administrator Scott recommended renewing the contract with Steve Modinger for court‑appointed indigent defense through 2027, with Modinger requesting a monthly increase from $5,250 to $5,500. The commission approved the contract renewal; Scott noted the 2026 budget line for the service is $66,200 and alternates are used when Modinger is unavailable.

Calendar and administrative items: The commission approved the 2026 commission meeting calendar (first and third Mondays, with date adjustments for President's Day and Labor Day and a special July 1 swearing‑in meeting). Scott also reported year‑end accounting steps and thanked public works and emergency responders for snow operations.

Snow operations: Scott provided operational metrics for the Dec. 6–13 storm: public works plowed 6,384 miles of streets, logged 797 man‑hours and placed 200 tons of salt.