The Devils Lake City Commission met Monday, Dec. 15, beginning at 5:30 p.m. in the Commission Chambers at City Hall. The meeting began with the Call to Order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance, and approval of the minutes from the meeting on Dec. 1.
The commission’s first order of business had each commissioner ask the representatives of their respective portfolios for a report.
Fire Chief Nate Bennett informed the commission that the Devils Lake Volunteer Fire Department was contacted by the North Dakota State College of Science in Wahpeton and they are exploring the possibility of having some of their firefighters participate in an internship for their fire science program there.
“We are looking into that, seeing what requirements we have to follow and what all we need to do, but I think that seems like a pretty exciting opportunity for us,” he said, adding that he hopes to move forward with the internship by summer of 2026.
Commissioner Jason Pierce inquired of City Engineer and Public Works Director Mike Grafsgaard about having signs on College Drive to indicate that the center lanes of the road are meant as turning lanes only, concerned that motorists driving in the snow are treating the center lanes as regular paths of traffic. Pierce expressed apprehension that, with the current icy roads, the situation could be “an accident waiting to happen.”
Grafsgaard confirmed that signs were already in place that conform to the traffic manual and installed when the striping on the roads were changed to indicate that the center lanes are meant only for turning left. “I can review that and see if any were damaged,” he said.
City Assessor Rob Johnson said that, as it’s nearing the end of the year, property taxes are becoming a big topic again. “I will be sending all letters for the homestead property tax credit applicants at the end of this month, so they can watch for those but they’ll have to apply again for next year.”
Johnson said that the application period for the Primary Residence Property Tax Credit will start on Jan. 1, 2026. “We’ll be encouraging our residents to apply for that and I’ll bring it up again at the next meeting,” he said, adding that those who own and live in their own home can apply online.
According to Johnson, as well as the official website tax.nd.gov, homeowners who qualify through an approved application may receive up to $1,600 against their property tax obligation.
To be eligible for the credit, residents must own a house, mobile home, town home, duplex, or condo in North Dakota and reside in it as their primary residence. Homes held in trusts also qualify. There are no age restrictions or income limitations for this credit. Only one Primary Residence Credit is available per household.
Johnson also confirmed that to qualify for the Homestead Property Tax Credit, one must be age 65 or older, or permanently and totally disabled, plus meet certain income thresholds. “If your net income for the year is between $40,000 and $70,000, you’d be eligible for a 50% property tax credit,” he said. “If you’re under $40,000, it’s 100% property tax credit. You can deduct out-of-pocket medical expenses you would have incurred during the year. … We want to make sure that our residents are taking advantage of those programs.”
Johnson added that applicants don’t have to bring in their tax forms for the Homestead Property Tax Credit, it’s much easier to complete the online application if they have a completed 1040 tax form. “Sometimes on first-time applicants, we find that they may have been eligible the year before, so we can go back a year and potentially get them a refund of taxes they paid as well,” he said.
Johnson then noted that recently his department has sent out a few letters to individuals who have temporary greenhouses that need to come down. “The permit only allows for them to have (the greenhouses) up for 180 days during the calendar year,” he said, adding that they will also contact a few other individuals who are non-compliant with other issues to address them in a timely manner.
Grafsgaard provided a quick update on utilities, informing the Commission that city workers were repairing a minor water main break by Tractor Supply Company on Fourth St. SW as well as another small leak and termination of an old abandoned water service along Highway 2 near Duke’s Car Wash.
“It was the rigid pipe they used,” said Mayor Jim Moe. “They’re shifting and they’re breaking.”
“That’s always a challenge in the wintertime,” responded Grafsgaard, “and it’s frustrating for the people that live over there because it’s very difficult to get the water turned off.”
Police Chief Jason Toso reported that he and some of his DLPD officers did some defensive tactics training over the past two weeks, although he is considering offering to include Ramsey County Sheriff’s deputies in future training sessions. “Other than that, we still have an opening in our agency,” he said. “We haven’t had a bunch of luck getting applicants in.”
Toso added that he planned to do a presentation later that week in hopes of drawing a new recruit. “It’s always good to maybe get some take from a community member who may be looking for a career change.’’
With no old business to discuss and nothing for the consent agenda, the Commission revisited the five ordinances 1028 – 1032 for the NDTC franchise agreement that were given first readings at the last City Commission meeting on Dec. 1. After second readings, they approved each ordinance.
The next item on the agenda was the fourth and final pay estimate for curb, gutter and sidewalk projects. Grafsgaard estimated that the final amount for work completed totaled $1565.41, which was approved.
Next was a recommendation from Halvorson to deny a Homestead Tax Credit application for 2023 and 2024, located on Sixth St. NE. While the applicant had initially qualified for the tax credits and was approved byJohnson, the state later alerted Ramsey County, who in turn alerted the City that the applications had been denied because the property is actually owned by an irrevocable trust and not the resident, of which Johnson had not been aware. The current amount owed is just under $4,500 from the owner/residence/trust to the respective political subdivisions, leading to back-and-forth discussions with Ramsey County over the last few months. “Ramsey County’s position is that because the city approved the applications, that we should give the county that $4,500 … and then they’re going to disburse it to everybody, and then we have to come to terms with that resident/owner,” City Manager Spencer Halvorson said. “I’ve suggested that the correct place for resolving this matter is the county’s delinquent taxes process. I’ve been alerted by the County Treasurer that, should the City not give the funding to the County, that they would withhold it from our next distribution of property taxes in January.”
Halvorson explained homes owned by a trust are eligible for a Primary Residence Property Tax Credit but not a Homestead Tax Credit. Wanting to have the matter resolved, Halvorson asked for the Commission’s support in addressing the matter.
“I do not think it’s the City’s place to pay for someone else’s property taxes,” said City Attorney Jason Sayler. “I think there’s too much emphasis place on the fact that a city assessor signed off on the Homestead Credit application, because from there, it goes to the state tax commission, and it was at the state level that they denied it.”
While realizing that the resident had been unwittingly placed in an untenable situation, the Mayor and Commission followed the recommendation of Sayler, denied the application and rejected paying $4,500 to Ramsey County.
One item under New Business that dominated the meeting was a review of the Police Department Facility Cost Estimate Report. Halvorson addressed the Commission about the report’s findings from the podium, informing them of locations under consideration for the new facility, which include the Western Equipment Finance Building on College Drive South, the Trainer Building on Fifth Street NE, or a new building that would be erected on what is currently the parking lot on Fifth Street NE, across from the Old National Bank.
The cost estimate for the acquisition and remodel of the Western Finance Building, using the northeast corner, was $3.9 – $4.5 million. However, Halvorson said that, given the immense square footage of the building, the general consensus is unless there are public safety partners on board prior to purchasing the building, it probably wouldn’t be acceptable for the City to move forward with that location, adding that Ramsey County, specifically the Sheriff’s Office and the Lake Region Correctional Facility have expressed no desire to move to the new location.
The cost estimate for the acquisition and remodel of the Trainer Building, was $2.6 – $3.6 million. If the renovation includes both floors and installation of an elevator with a 30-year life cycle, that would push it over the $3 million mark. However, Halvorson said that if the renovation focused solely on the main floor and garage, it would be closer to $2.5 – $3 million.
Given the amount of time and money invested in renovation, there was also consideration of erecting a new building, estimating the cost to be $3.5 – $5 million. “If you’re going to put that much money into (renovating an existing building), you’re only going to get a 30-year life cycle out of it,” Halvorson said. “If you build new, you’re going to have a 50-year life cycle.”
Remarking on the current Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, Halvorson said, “There’s a perception that the sheriff’s office must be with the correctional facility, and I just reject that it has to be like that because it isn’t like that everywhere.”
While there was a long back-and-forth discussion over the benefits of renovation versus new build, with some expressing concerns over expense and others wanting a longer-lasting investment, the Commission agreed to table the discussion and revisit it later.
After the meeting concluded, Halvorson said that he would continue to explore extending the current public safety model of the Lake Region Law Enforcement Center, but he added, “If there’s no appetite for it, you know, explore those separate options.”
