Commission approves multiple infrastructure and administrative items including sidewalk districts, IT CIP, indigent defense renewal and 2026 calendar
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Summary
The commission approved mill/overlay improvement districts, a 2026 sidewalk program, an IT CIP request to replace obsolete security and camera systems, renewal of the indigent defense contract, and the 2026 commission calendar. City staff also reported snow‑response metrics.
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.