West Fargo Focus October 2022

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October 2022 | Volume 1 | Issue 3

EDITOR

Wendy Reuer wreuer@forumcomm.com

701-241-5530

ADVERTISING DIRECTOR

Lisa Tillotson ltillotson@forumcomm.com

701-241-5524

MULTIMEDIA SALES CONSULTANTS

Jessie Andren jandren@forumcomm.com

701-241-5451

Tim Couchman tcouchman@forumcomm.com

701-241-5490

Jamie Dettling jdettling@forumcomm.com

701-241-5493

Keith Harriger kharriger@forumcomm.com

701-241-5435

DESIGNERS

Sara Slaby & Mollie Burlingame

westfargond.gov

ADVERTISING INQUIRIES & STORY IDEAS: advsales@forumcomm.com

701-241-5431

ON THE COVER:

The community turns our for the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo.

Abby Makay/West Fargo Pioneer

Submit your photo for the chance to be featured on the cover of future editions. Submissions can be made online at https://inforum.news/WFPhotocontest or by scanning this code:

The art on this utility box is titled “Beehive” by Hanna Stelter. West Fargo is making an effort to add public art to its property.

of City of West Fargo

Photo courtesy

Calendar of Events

MONTHLY

City Commission

5:30 p.m. First and third Monday of every month @ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Planning and Zoning Commission

5:30 p.m. Second Tuesday of every month

@ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Library Board

5:30 p.m. Second Thursday of every month @ Commission Chambers, West Fargo City Hall

Park Board

5:30 p.m. Second Wednesday of every month @ Rustad Recreation Center

School Board

6 p.m. Second and Fourth Monday of each month @ Leidal Education Center

Monday Night Readers Book Club

6 p.m. Second Monday of every month @ West Fargo Public Library

Novel Afternoons Book Club

1 p.m. Third Wednesday of every month @ West Fargo Public Library

Third Thursday Book Club

6:30 p.m. Third Thursday of every month @ West Fargo Public Library

True Crime Book Club

6 p.m. First Tuesday of every month @ Thunder Coffee

Books & Brews Community Book Club

6 p.m. Fourth Thursday of every month @ Thunder Coffee

Ready to Read Storytime

(for kids 3 to 5 and their adults)

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.-2:30 p.m. Wednesdays @ West Fargo Public Library

Baby Boost Storytime

(for babies & their adults)

10:30 a.m. - 11:30 a.m., Fridays @ West Fargo Public Library

English Conversation Circles

6:30-7:30 p.m. Second Tuesday of each month @ West Fargo Public Library

Job Service ND Walk-in Help

1-3 p.m. Second Wednesday of each month @ West Fargo Public Library

Technology Tutors Available

10 a.m. - noon, Tuesdays

6 - 8 p.m., Thursdays

10 a.m. - noon, Saturdays @ West Fargo Public Library

Family History Research Specialist Available

1-4 p.m. Second Saturday of each month @ West Fargo Public Library

Mahjong and More: Community Game Time

1:30-3:30 p.m., Tuesdays West Fargo Public Library

OCTOBER

Lost in the Valley Corn Maze & Pumpkin Patch Every Friday, Saturday and Sunday, Oct. 1,-30 Red River Valley Fair Grounds

Free Movie: “Wind River” (TV-14)

1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 3 West Fargo Public Library

Senior Breakfast – West Fargo Parks & Recreation Foundation

10:30 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 5 Rustad Recreation Center

10th Annual Sandy’s Donut Run

8 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 8

Sandy’s Donuts West Fargo Location

West Fargo Park District Autumn Pumpkin Party

1-3 p.m., Sunday, Oct. 9

SheyWest Garden Center

Free Movie: “Falls Around Her” (TV-14)

1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 10

West Fargo Public Library

Murd-Arrr!!! Pirates of the Salty Dog Stage West Murder Mystery Dinner Theater

7 p.m., Oct. 13, 14 and 15

@ the Speedway Event Center

Free Movie: “Our Fires Still Burn”

(Not Rated)

1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 17

West Fargo Public Library

West Fargo Public Schools Fall Break No School Thursday, Oct. 20 – Friday, Oct. 21

Discovering Your Roots: Genealogy Online

1:30-2:30 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 22

West Fargo Public Library

Free Movie: “Wild Indian” (Not Rated)

1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 24

West Fargo Public Library

“Let’s Talk about Gardening” Meetup

6:30-7:30 p.m., Tuesday, Oct. 25

West Fargo Public Library

Halloween Treat Street

1-3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 29

The Downtown Yards on Sheyenne

Free Movie: “More Than a Word” (Not Rated)

1:30 p.m., Monday, Oct. 31

West Fargo Public Library

SHEYENNE CROSSINGS

Preserving the future of public safety

By City of West Fargo

When Police Chief Denis Otterness first worked for the West Fargo Police Department in 1994, the department consisted of 20 officers serving about 13,000 residents. When Otterness returned as police chief in 2020, the city’s population had exploded to 38,626. Today’s estimates place the population closer to 42,000. This rapid population increase has led to stretched budgets for both the police and fire departments and struggles to maintain an appropriate minimum level of protection and service.

“The reality is the growth of our community surpasses the property taxes that we are able to collect,” said Mayor Bernie Dardis. “The growth in the residential tax base is not keeping up with the demand on our police and fire departments so we need to do something.”

Both departments have come to a tipping point and are facing decreases in response speed and service limitations. They estimate it will take a $6,450,000 budget increase by 2026 to fund investments to fix these issues.

There is tough competition for a limited supply of outside funding from the state and federal governments and nongovernmental organizations.

After a financial analysis, the city identified an increase in sales tax as the best solution because it diversifies the police and fire departments’ funding sources, alleviates pressure on property taxes and shares the burden with visitors who also use the services.

“The growth in the residential tax base is not keeping up with the demand on our police and fire departments so we need to do something.”

Mayor Bernie Dardis

Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

A high volume of calls for service with minimum staffing levels has limited the police department’s ability to engage in additional proactive patrolling and deterrent activities.

“The community expects to see us in their neighborhoods patrolling. But we haven’t been able to increase our minimum level of patrol staff on the streets in a decade, so we are really stretched thin.”

SAFETY

Page 5

“I’ve been serving on the City Commission since the population growth took off and balancing the taxpayers’ safety needs with their financial needs has been a difficult process,” said West Fargo City Commissioner Mark Simmons, who holds the police and fire portfolios. “Adding this sales tax is a way to protect the ability of our public safety departments to do their jobs in the community.”

To increase the sales tax, West Fargo residents will need to approve a change in the city’s sales and use tax ordinance during the November general election. Ballots will include two city measures

asking for approval to increase the tax 0.5%. Voters will need to vote yes on both measures to approve the increase, which could only be used on police and fire operations, equipment and buildings. Any use of the sales tax funds would go before the West Fargo City Commission during the annual budget approval process.

“Sales tax shares the cost of public safety with the greater public, not just property owners in West Fargo,” Dardis said. “Retail destination points in West Fargo are attracting visitors from across the region who are spending their dollars with us, but also using our

public safety services.”

For example, car crashes can utilize both police and fire services for medical response, traffic control, crash reports and arrests. According to the North Dakota Upper Great Plains Transportation Institute, only 28% of the crashes in West Fargo are caused by drivers with West Fargo ZIP codes. These incidents also tie up the limited staffing that is available and impact other calls for service.

“Our workload is increasing drastically and the data shows us that we are getting into a bad situation for the community unless we make some

significant investments to catch up,” said West Fargo Fire Chief Dan Fuller.

From 2010 to 2020, the West Fargo Fire Department’s calls for service increased 900%. Fire loss increased 8% from 2020 to 2021 when it totaled over $1,100,000. At present, the West Fargo Fire Department’s response times for fire and emergency medical service calls are below the National Fire Protection Association’s standards.

“On major fire scenes, even if we do get there quick enough with the first truck, we still have a major issue because the next truck is too slow,” Fuller said. “The first on-scene firefighters are putting

Chief Otterness

SAFETY From Page 6

their lives in danger because they are on their own until the next truck shows up.”

Last year, there were 239 times full-time crews were engaged with multiple calls and off-duty and on-call staff had to be called in. Sometimes, the calls came in as frequently as four calls in 20 minutes and used up all of the available staffing and equipment resources the department has to offer.

“Up until 2019, we could go on every call that came in,” said Fuller.

“Because of the rise in calls, there were 5 times in 2021 that someone in the community called 911 and the department did not send a West Fargo fire company because all staff were already engaged on emergency calls.”

For the police department, these limitations don’t just happen when 911 is called.

“The community expects to see us in their neighborhoods patrolling,” Otterness said. “But we haven’t been able to increase our minimum

SAFETY: Page 9

Many of the car crashes in West Fargo that tie up police and fire resources involve drivers from outside of West Fargo. A public safety sales tax would be a method for these drivers to contribute to the cost of the services.

The public safety sales tax could only be used on police and fire operations, equipment and buildings. Any use of the sales tax funds would go before the West Fargo City Commission during the annual budget approval process.

Photo courtesy of the City of West Fargo

level of patrol staff on the streets in a decade, so we are really stretched thin. We are struggling to proactively respond to traffic complaints, address frequent crash areas or increase visibility in criminal hot spots to provide deterrence.”

For West Fargo City Commissioner Brad Olson, funding public safety is like funding an insurance policy for the community.

“You hope you never have to use it, but you can rest easy knowing that you have police and fire services at all times,” Olson said. “The alternative is not increasing funding and the response times will continue to get slower and callbacks will continue to increase.”

Recently, the West Fargo Police Department has been looking at its standard operating procedure for servicing non-emergent 911 calls. When an officer cannot arrive on scene right away the Red River Regional Dispatch Center will contact the caller after 15 minutes of waiting to confirm an officer is still coming.

“Due to the volume of calls for service we have, we aren’t able to clear our calls fast enough,” said Otterness. Now, the police department is considering extending it to 45 minutes before the caller is contacted again. “This is a real world example of the service limitations we are facing right now because of our staffing levels.”

Both chiefs say the sales tax will help them address the personnel, equipment and capital needs that have been put off over the years to keep property taxes down. This diversified funding approach also provides a long-term funding strategy for future population spikes as land opens up in the northwest segment of the city.

The impact of a 0.5% sales tax adds $3,675,000 in revenue in the first full year. By 2026, the revenue increases to $4,254,272, helping to further decrease the police and fire departments’ reliance on property taxes as a source of funding. This also offers an alternate source of funding for police and fire

capital improvements to help decrease competition for capital improvement sales tax dollars that are earmarked for infrastructure.

For consumers, the impact will be a half-cent increase on taxable goods. For example, taxes on a retail bill with $150 of taxable items would go from $2.50 to $3.13, an increase of 63 cents.

As Commissioner Roben Anderson did the math to review the proposal, he found the impact of raising property taxes 10 to 15 mills to increase funding is likely larger than what taxpayers would spend through sales tax in the city in a year.

“On a $200,000 property, if you were to raise it by 11 mills that would be about $100. You’d have to spend about $20,000 in taxable goods in West Fargo in one year to equal that,” Anderson said. “So, it’s likely that passing the sales tax will cost our taxpayers less and they have control over it.”

Commissioner Mandy George also

appreciates the savings for property owners.

“If this sales tax gets voted down, people’s property taxes may increase significantly to pay for public safety,” George said. “So, you are going to save money as a resident paying for it through sales tax because people from outside the area are also going to be contributing to that pot of money.”

As Dardis reviewed the options, he relied on two things: his commitment to the community and the data.

“My first oath is to the safety of my citizens and that is something I’m not willing to compromise on,” said Dardis. “We have expertise in our chiefs to gather hard data and analyze what our needs are and what we have to do. Facts are difficult to argue with when you are making decisions about people’s safety.”

To learn more about the public safety sales tax measure, visit westfargond. gov/Safety-Sales-Tax.

EVENT SPOTLIGHT

Better Than Ever

West Fest tradition marches on

By Wendy Reuer | West Fargo Pioneer

WEST FARGO — The week long celebration returned “Better than ever” along Sheyenne Street in September.

The annual celebration kicked off Thursday, Sept. 15 with the final 2022 Cruise Night and concluded Saturday, Sept. 17 with the annual parade a full slate of events across the city of West Fargo.

More than 100 organizations and floats line up for the grand march down Main Avenue West to 10 ½ Avenue West.

This year’s slogan for West Fest was”Better than ever,” a nod to the return of the celebration after a 2020 cancellation due to COVID-19.

Along with a full slate of events along Sheyenne Street, the West Fargo Municipal Airport hosted a fly-in and open house. A craft and vendor show was held at Sheyenne Street and Saturday evening concluded with a street dance at POW/MIA Plaza.

The 188th Army Band marches along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo.

Michael Vosburg / West Fargo Pioneer

The community turns out for the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo.

CELEBRATING 90 YEARS OF QUALITY REPAIR

ALL ARE WELCOME

TO A TASTE OF SCOTLAND

Scottish Ale, Braised Beef, Haggis, Bagpipes, Highland Dancing, Scottish Lore, Tartans, Celtic Music, Shortbread, Scones, Tatties, Bashed Neeps, Cranachan (Scottish dessert)

Saturday, November 5, 2022

Social Hour: 5:00 PM • Dinner Hour: 5:30 PM

Courtyard by Marriott 1080 28th Ave S. Moorhead Tickets available through

November 2, 2022

Adults: $41.00 Children: $25.00 Call 402-981-2333 for more information.

Sponsored by the St. Andrew’s Society of the Fargo Moorhead Area

For everyone’s protection, it is requested that all attendees be fully vaccinated and “boosted” for COVID. Masks are optional.

Abby Makay / West Fargo Pioneer

All three West Fargo high schools were represented in the annual West Fest Parade, Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022. Abby Makay / West Fargo Pioneer

A float for the City of West Fargo moves along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

The community turns out for the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Abby Makay /West Fargo Pioneer

North Dakota Sen. Judy Lee, R-13, waves to the crowd during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo.

Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

West Fargo Mayor Bernie Dardis waves to the crowd along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo.

Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

The West Fargo Exchange Club float moves along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Michael Vosburg / West Fargo Pioneer

The float for Western State Bank moves along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

The Little Red Reading Bus for the West Fargo Library moves along Sheyenne Street during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

The Reign dance group waves to the crowd during the annual West Fest Parade on Saturday, Sept. 17, 2022, in West Fargo. Michael Vosburg/West Fargo Pioneer

NEWS AND FEATURES

Four Signs That It’s A Scam

By City of West Fargo

Scams affect everyone including your family, friends and neighbors. Recognizing these warning signs of a scam could help you avoid failing for one. Here are four signs of the most common scams:

• Scammers pretend to be from an organization you know. Scammers use technology to change the phone number on your caller identification. The name and number you see might not be real.

• Scammers say there’s a problem or a prize. Scammers might say you’re in trouble with the government or someone in your family had an emergency. Others will lie and say you won money in a lottery but have to pay to get it.

• Scammers pressure you to act immediately. Scammers want you to act before you have time to think. If you’re on the phone, they might tell you not to hang up so you can’t check out their story.

• Scammers will tell you to pay in a specific way. Scammers often insist that you pay by sending money through a money order or a gift card by giving them the number on the back.

If you are questioning if something is a scam, please call the West Fargo Police Department at 701-515-5500. More information on common scams can be found at westfargopolice.com

Community Engagement Officer Rhonda Jorgensen and Sergeant Tim Runcorn speak to an organization about scam and fraud prevention. Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

NEWS AND FEATURES

Programs available for home improvements and repairs

By City of West Fargo

Some West Fargo homeowners wishing to improve or repair their homes can now do so with assistance through local and state programs.

Gate City Bank and the City of West Fargo are working together to keep West Fargo’s neighborhoods strong and to help local homeowners reinvest in their homes through the Neighborhood Revitalization Program. This

program offers low interest loans and technical assistance to homeowners for major home improvement projects for existing homes with a property value under $250,000 in West Fargo’s core area, north of Interstate 94.

Homeowners can receive up to $75,000 with interest rates as low as 2.25% to make structural improvements and to ensure older homes meet

current building codes. Examples of qualifying projects are new foundations, additions, energy improvements through updates to HVAC or electrical systems, exterior improvements to siding, roofing or windows and major interior remodeling. Learn more at westfargond.gov by typing “Neighborhood Revitalization Program” into the search bar or call the Planning Department at 701-515-5377 to find out if you qualify.

“Keeping West Fargo’s core neighborhoods vibrant is an important aspect of our city’s growth and development.”

West Fargo Director of Planning & Zoning, Aaron Nelson

Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

The City of West Fargo has set a West Fargo 2.0 Goal to invest in older neighborhoods. These incentive and assistance programs will help residents add new value to core area homes, creating opportunities for families of all sizes and income levels to find the perfect home in their neighborhood of choice.

“Keeping West Fargo’s core neighborhoods vibrant is an important aspect of our City’s growth and development,” says West Fargo Director of Planning & Zoning, Aaron Nelson. “We want to ensure that current and future residents have options to find homes to fit their needs in all areas of West Fargo.”

Owners of core area homes may find further assistance through the North Dakota Homeowners Assistance Fund Home Repair Program (HAFHR). This program helps North Dakota property owners who may need assistance making necessary repairs or upgrades to keep homes insurable and in accordance with building codes.

Homeowners who have an income equal to or less than 80% of Cass County’s median household income may receive up to $30,000 in grant funding for modification to kitchen or bathroom spaces, electrical or plumbing systems, foundations, drainage, roofing, or to make environmental updates to ensure a home meets the occupant’s physical or health needs. This state program is made possible through Covid-19 Relief Funding and is meant to assist those residents who have financial hardships due to the pandemic. More information can be found at applyforhelp.nd.gov.

Before embarking on any home improvement, West Fargo residents should contact the City’s Building Division to obtain all necessary permits. Connecting with the experts before any work takes place is extremely important to ensure following all City codes, and to be sure that you aren’t missing out on incentive or assistance programs you may qualify for.

Building permits are required for:

• Additions

• Decks and porches

• Finishing basements

• Replacing doors and windows

• Interior renovations or repair that include structural modifications

• Demolition work

• Accessory structures

• Swimming pools

• Residing

• All HVAC systems, including all gas appliances and equipment, wood stoves, etc. .

Permits are not required to:

• Paint a house (interior or exterior)

• Hang wallpaper

• Replace cabinets and do similar finish work

• Insulate an existing building where no structural changes are made. Separate plumbing and electrical system permits are required for the installation, alteration, relocation, replacement or addition to any wiring, piping, or equipment or appliances associated with those systems. These permits are issued and inspections are performed by the North Dakota State Electrical Board and the North Dakota State Plumbing Board

Residential building permit application and forms are available at westfargond.gov/201/Residential.

NEWS AND FEATURES

Sheyenne Street comes to life with public art installations

By City of West Fargo

In its first full year of implementing the Public Arts Advisory Committee to focus on increasing public art in West Fargo, the City of West Fargo has introduced five pieces of public art on Sheyenne Street.

Working with The Arts Partnership’s Blank Spaces program the City arranged for four traffic light utility boxes, which hold all of the electronic equipment that make our traffic lights operate, to be wrapped in artwork. These boxes provide large blank canvases in highly visible areas.

The Blank Spaces program is a collection of pieces from local artists that can be used to bring art into empty public spaces throughout the metro area. The City of West Fargo held a public vote to select the four pieces that ended up in locations on Sheyenne Street.

“Beehive” by Hannah Stelter, “Horses at Sunset” by Anna Lassond and “Shane” by Nancy Ness can all be found in The Downtown Yards on Sheyenne district, and “Dilophosaurus with Pizza” by Hope Their can be found near The Lights on Sheyenne. The art was printed on vinyl, and is weather and graffiti proof. The

pieces are estimated to stay in place for five to seven years.

Another exciting artistic addition to The Downtown Yards is “Astral” by local sculptor, Karman Rheault of Snowfire Studio. This sculpture will be in downtown through fall 2022, and utilizes one of the bump-out spaces added during the Sheyenne Street reconstruction project. In the words of the artist, “Astral depicts both feminine and masculine ethereal figures reaching up and joining at the sun, but grounded by the earth. It symbolizes nature, spirit, balance and connection.”

“Public art brings the community together, and adds excitement and interest to our public spaces.”

City Planner Malachi Petersen

“Horses at Sunset” by Anna Lassond

Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

“Dilophosaurus with Pizza” by Hope Their Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

“Public art brings the community together, and adds excitement and interest to our public spaces,” said City Planner Malachi Petersen. “The West Fargo 2.0 Comprehensive Plan emphasized the importance of bringing more public art to West Fargo, and we hope that these Sheyenne Street projects are just the first of many installations throughout our city.”

Residents are encouraged to interact with the art and take photos with the pieces, tagging @CityofWestFargo on Facebook and @downtownwestfargo on Instagram.

The projects were reviewed by the Public Art Advisory Committee, who is tasked with reviewing and recommending public art installations and performances on cityowned public property. The Committee also seeks ways to engage the West Fargo community to improve the quality of life for the City’s residents through the promotion of public art.

Do you have a great idea for a public art installation? Learn more, and contact the Public Art Advisory Committee at https:// www.westfargond.gov/359/BoardsCommissions.

“Astral” by Karman Rheault

Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo

“Shane” by Nancy Ness

Photo courtesy of City of West Fargo