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Votes at a glance: Devils Lake Commission approves RFQ for police facility, USDA loan resolutions, insurance reallocation and other routine business
Summary
At its March 16 meeting the Devils Lake City Commission approved a set of routine and capital actions including an RFQ for a new police facility, USDA loan resolutions for automated sanitation trucks, a budget amendment reallocating insurance expenses, extension of HIF homes offer dates, and authorization to pursue FEMA SCBA grants.
The Devils Lake City Commission used its March 16 meeting to approve several routine and capital items: release of a request for qualifications for design of a new police facility, multiple USDA loan resolutions related to automated sanitation trucks, a budget amendment reallocating insurance expenses among funds, an extension of offer dates for HIF Homes, and authorization for the fire department to pursue FEMA SCBA grant funding.
Key outcomes:
- Police facility RFQ: The commission approved release of a statement-of-qualifications process, with submittals due June 5 and an anticipated contract negotiation in July so the incoming commission can confirm priorities.
- USDA loan and sanitation trucks: Commissioners approved two resolutions required by USDA for the low-interest loan program to finance automated sanitation trucks and later approved a related indebtedness resolution; votes were taken by roll call.
- Insurance budget amendment: City administration proposed charging equipment insurance to the owning departments and splitting liability insurance between the general fund and enterprise funds (50% to general fund, remainder split among water, sewer and sanitation at ~16.7% each); commissioners approved the budget amendment by roll call. City administrator Spencer Alverson explained the change as a move toward placing costs where rates and fees control them and to reduce general-fund pressure.
- HIF Homes: The commission approved extending the offer date for four houses marketed under the Housing Incentive Fund from April 6 to May 4, 2026, to allow prospective buyers to view more finished units; staff was authorized to amend listing agreements.
- Fire department grants: The commission authorized staff to pursue FEMA grant funding for SCBA equipment with an expected local cost share of about 5%–10%.
- Street improvement projects and bids: The commission approved resolutions finding insufficient written protests for two street-improvement projects and approved plans and specifications (and advertisement for bids) for a Highway 2 frontage road project.
- Intercreditor agreement and bills: After an executive session on pending legal matters, the commission approved a modification to an intercreditor agreement with Western State Bank and North Central Planning Council and approved payment of city bills; the meeting then adjourned.
Most items passed on voice vote or roll call with no recorded dissents in the transcript. Several items included roll-call tallies and named commissioners during the roll calls recorded in the transcript; the clerk will record final documents in the official minutes and post procurement solicitations per the approved timelines.
