The Devils Lake City Commission met first as the Jobs Development Authority on Monday, Feb. 2 at 5:30 p.m.in City Hall. There were five items on their agenda: Call to Order, Approval of Minutes from Jan. 20, 2026, Release of Sponsorship Funds ($25,000) to the Ramsey County Event Center, 20 x 20 Program 2025 Review and Projection and the IDA and Growth Fund 2025 Financial Performance Review.
Paul Becker was present representing the Ramsey County Event Center and thanked the Authority for their support. He gave a brief report on the many activities that have taken place at the new Center and was pleased to report that although they had anticipated an operational loss for this first few months of operation, he stated there would not be a loss because they had many scheduled activities that were very successful in 2025. He informed them of the project in conjunction with the National Guard as they would be improving the roads and parking areas around the Center, including cutting down the slope remaining from when that parcel was a borrow pit. That should help with the runoff when it rains and provide some areas for campers when events are scheduled for more than one day. All it will cost the County will be the fuel and gravel costs.
Following the remaining reports on the 20 x 20 Program 2025 and the JDA and Growth Fund, also for 2025, Mayor Jim Moe closed the meeting of the JDA and opened the regular meeting of the City Commission.
Lisa Crosby was invited to the podium at the outset of the city meeting to address the release of funds, $10,832.75 for the Lake Region Heritage Center. She gave a brief overview of what’s been happening at the Center and what’s coming up.
A Memo of Understanding (MOU) with Devils Lake Chamber of Commerce and the 250 Commission was approved. They expect the first meeting of this commission to be held sometime this month .
Next they discussed Purchase Orders for the Shade Tree Commmittee and the trees that will be planted in the city. It was explained that the city did not receive a grant they’d hoped for, so there will be fewer trees available for replacing those that are cut down this year.
Necessity of Improvment for two projects were approved; District No. 86-26 Highway 2 Frontage Roads and District No. 87 – 26 3rd Street SE, 4th Street SE, 6th St. SE, and 7th St. SE plus Miscellaneous other projects.
One Information Item on the agenda was the 2026 Election Handbook from the North Dakota League of Cities for review of the commissioners.
Then the Devils Lake City Commission convened in Executive Session to discuss pending legal matters related to the mortgage between the City of Devils Lake Building Authority and CoJack Snack and Pack, LLC at the property with legal description of outlot 39-0014 of 1, Pasta Acres Subdivisions, Block 2, Replat of Devils Lake Industrial Park, Devils Lake, Ramsey County, North Dakota. Those who were allowed to attend the Executive Session retired to a different venue to discuss the legal matters in privacy. Commissioner Uhlenkamp recused herself from the Executive Session and left the building.
When they returned to the Commission Chambers, Mayor Moe requested a motion regarding the outcome of the Executive Session discussion. Commissioner Pierce made that motion, to “continue with foreclosure proceedings through the attorneys and any settlement terms they could work out.” A roll call vote was unanimous in favor of this motion.
Then another motion was made to pay all bills from the list of bills needing paying, this also received a roll call vote and a unanimous “yes.”
Then the meeting was adjorned.
