DEVILS LAKE – After the May 18 meeting of the Devils Lake City Commission was called to order at City Hall, and the minutes from the previous meeting were approved, Mayor Jim Moe proclaimed May as Building Safety Month, with the theme for this year being “Built to Last,” which Moe said, “encourages us all to get involved and raise awareness about building safety on a personal, local and global scale.”
“Our confidence in the resilience of these buildings that make up our community is achieved through the devotion of vigilant guardians––building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, tradespeople, design professionals, laborers, plumbers and others in the construction industry––who work year-round to ensure the safe construction of buildings,” Moe read aloud from the proclamation. “Each year, in observance of Building Safety Month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience and economic investment at home and in the community, and to acknowledge the essential service provided to all of us by local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal building safety and fire prevention departments, in protecting lives and property.”
Concluding the proclamation, Moe said. “Accordingly, I encourage our citizens to join us as we participate in Building Safety Month activities.”
The first visitor on the agenda to address the Commission was Lake Region Public Library Director Shawna Middleton, who presented to the commission her 2025 Annual Report. She began by thanking the library’s board of directors and staff, as well as the City and County Commissions for their continued support. “The mission for the Lake Region Public Library is to enrich our citizens and communities through expanding access to innovation, information, and inspiration, and I hope that this report really reflects that,” she said.
Middleton mentioned changes over the past year in the library which included staffing. “I really do think that we have one of the best teams so far,” she said, citing the addition of Children’s Librarian Samantha Bischof and Adult Services Librarian Gabby Narum as well as their circulation assistants which include Isabelle Serumgard. “Everyone has been really working together and contributing to all of the different programs that we are trying to have for our community.”
Middleton said that last year the library was open a few more hours per week than in previous years, and they have over 400 more library cardholders. Yearly visitors were also on the rise. She added that the only thing that had decreased was the digital items. “Libby is being utilized so much more,” she said. “That’s our online app for ebooks and audiobooks and so we’re just trying to keep up with the demand.”
“A couple of years ago, there was a change to making our community rooms free for utilization and I think the numbers speak for themselves as far as the continued increase from 2024 to 2025,” she added.
The library also had 30 more programs last year with over 500 more people in attendance, and it saw an increase in community partners. Revenue for 2025 was under the library’s projection of $4,000.
Another visitor at the Commission meeting was Brady Ash and Suzie Kenner of Forward Devils Lake and the Devils Lake Chamber, who gave the Business Pulse of the Community Update. The report highlighted the slowing agriculture economy, which has caused a slowdown in local businesses, as well as less spending among the population. Short-term rentals, such as Airbnbs, were brought up as an area of concern, suggesting a balance on tourism, housing, and long-term housing in Devils Lake.
In new business, the Commission recommended the awarding of bids for various construction projects that included frontage roads on Hwy 2, the South Side Mill and Overlay, asphalt and concrete, as well as curb, gutter and sidewalk rebuilds, all of which were approved unanimously.
Commissioners also unanimously approved several new ordinances that would make unlawful the possession of THC, the main compound in cannabis, as well as possession of THC drug paraphernalia and the definitions of said paraphernalia in accordance with corresponding state laws.
City Attorney Jason Sayler said that the driving force behind the ordinances was the rising use of THC pens. While medical marijuana is allowed under specific conditions, recreational marijuana use is illegal in North Dakota. Sayler said that the Devils Lake Police were often forced in the past to bring charges for THC possession in district court since the city hadn’t, until now, adopted the city ordinances. “It will hopefully relieve some of the burden on the district court,” he said.
Sayler added that these kinds of ordinances don’t come into effect until the penalty clauses are published in the local newspaper, which he assumes will take place within the next several weeks.
Devils Lake Journal intern Isaac Vaagen contributed to this report.
Leave a Reply