West Fargo commission approves ozone system, two improvement districts and awards $23.97 million grade-separation contract

The West Fargo City Commission approved a package of infrastructure actions on April 20 that officials said will reduce operating costs, advance development in The Wilds and along 9th Street, and unlock sewage capacity for future growth.

City Engineer Jerry Wallace asked the commission to approve change orders to install an ozone-treatment system at sanitary lift station SA 27 and the related electrical work. Wallace said the ozone system test reduced hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and that switching from continuous chemical treatment would save “approximately $154,700 a year,” with a payback period of about 27 months. The commission approved change order number twos for ICS Incorporated (installation/modification) and JDP Electric (electrical work). (Motion to approve by Commissioner Sundahl; second by Commissioner Olsen.)

Why it matters: city staff said the ozone approach avoids recurring chemical costs, reduces H2S corrosion and odor issues, and carries a relatively short payback compared with ongoing chemical purchases.

The commission also accepted a petition and approved creation of Improvement District No. 1358 to serve a remaining greenfield in The Wilds. Wallace said the owner group is seeking to reconfigure a parcel originally prepared for multifamily housing into larger single-family lots, with streets, water, sewer and storm infrastructure paid by special assessment to the petitioning property. The motion to create District 1358 and direct the engineer to prepare an engineer’s report passed on a recorded 4–1 vote.

In a related petition, the commission approved Improvement District No. 2301 to build turn lanes and utility connections to serve the Hope Lutheran site. Wallace said the work would be paid 100% by the petitioning property and is intended to minimize impacts to the surrounding neighborhood. The motion creating District 2301 also passed 4–1.

On transportation, the commission accepted the low bid from Industrial Builders of $23,969,611.83 for the 9th Street Northeast grade separation near the BNSF railroad tracks and awarded the contract. Wallace said grant funding of more than $20 million, approximately $5.8 million in prairie dog funds and a $600,000 contribution from BNSF will cover most of the estimated $31.9 million project; the remaining roughly $5 million would come from capital improvement sales tax funds or a bond.

Also approved was a direction to modify the sewer memorandum of understanding with the city of Mapleton to include an option to increase a planned 14-inch force main to a 24-inch section where it crosses West Fargo property. Dan Hansen, senior director of community and development, said his office estimates the city’s portion of the upsize could be about $1.25 million in construction-cost difference (conservative estimate) and that a full engineer’s report with refined costs and funding options will follow.

Votes at a glance: change orders for SA 27 — approved (motion: Commissioner Sundahl; second: Commissioner Olsen); Improvement District No. 1358 — approved, 4–1; Improvement District No. 2301 — approved, 4–1; 9th Street NE grade separation contract award to Industrial Builders ($23,969,611.83) — approved; modification of Mapleton sewer agreement to pursue upsizing — approved.

What’s next: engineer reports and project-level documents will return to the commission for formal budget and funding approvals, and staff said bid alternates and precise cost estimates will be developed before construction begins.

Sources: presentations and motions in the April 20, 2026 West Fargo City Commission meeting; statements by City Engineer Jerry Wallace and Senior Director Dan Hansen.