Minot council approves temporary multi-vendor pound plan, rejects immediate rebid

Chief Fry reported that the temporary pound operation has received large volumes of animals since March, saying the city’s partners “have taken in 101 dogs in three months.” The chief detailed staffing and facility costs and described a proposed Trinity facility option priced at about $3,400 per month (roughly $41,800 per year).

Council members spent more than an hour debating whether to rebid pound services, expand emergency-only options, or bring operations in-house. Alderman Paul Pittner moved to rebid and to request staff estimates for an in-house option; that motion failed 3–4 after members said rebidding would not necessarily yield better proposals.

Alderman Mike Fuller, who helped draft a voluntary licensing revenue model, said a modest licensing program could materially offset operating costs. “We’re going to make on average yearly between 136 and $185,000 for this program,” Fuller said, outlining estimates based on assumed participation rates and fee levels.

After additional debate, the council accepted staff’s recommendation to contract with two community partners — Animal Empowerment League and Hairball Haven — and to move forward with a Trinity facility agreement for dogs, but explicitly limited any plan that would create a permanent city-owned pound building. That motion passed 5–2 (dissent from Olsen and Pitner).

Finally, the council unanimously directed staff to develop a licensing and fee structure to improve the program’s solvency and return to council with recommendations. City staff and council members emphasized the interim nature of the approved contracts and said they expect costs to change as the program stabilizes and licensing revenue is implemented.

What’s next: staff will prepare a licensing/fee proposal and return with cost estimates and any ordinance changes needed for council consideration.