Jill Schramm/MDN The last unsignalized railroad crossing in Minot, located near the Amtrak Depot, is on the City of Minot’s list of potential federal safety projects.

The City of Minot plans to go after a $1.5 million federal grant to start preliminary engineering in 2026 on a replacement for the Third Street Bridge.

City Engineer Lance Meyer told the Minot City Council Monday that replacement is a longer range solution to problems experienced by the aging bridge on downtown’s southeast side. Meyer said the plan is to address issues with the bridge in a step process. The first step is addressing the pier that has been identified as deteriorating and that led to temporary closure of the bridge earlier this year.

“In a couple of weeks, we’ll interview consultants for that project, and our plan is, in ’25, is to put a project together and bid that out and address that pier,” Meyer said.

There are other issues that may be less pressing, he said. The question is how much money the city should put into a bridge that will need to be replaced in three to eight years, he said.

“That’s the balancing act that we’re going to have over the next few years,” Meyer said. “We don’t have a good handle on project cost. A bridge of this size, this length, with the bridge prices that we’re seeing right now, is probably going to be anywhere from $30-$40 million for a full replacement.

“Right of way constraints are going to be a big question with the railroad, and then based on what they say, that’s going to affect our design and potentially right of way impacts that we’re going to have. So, we really need to understand all of that,” he added. Spending time on getting a clearer picture of the project will make it easier to pursue federal grants, he said.

Meyer reiterated the bridge is safe for traffic, based on an inspection this year. The bridge is on the state Department of Transportation’s schedule for a routine inspection again next year.

The Third Street Bridge was one of several projects the city council agreed to advance Monday in hope of gaining federal funding. The approved projects will be reviewed by the Central Dakota Metropolitan Planning Organization’s policy board, which then could submit them to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for inclusion in the program for future federal funds.

The engineering department proposed a 2027 Safe Routes to School project in the Edison Elementary area along 18th Avenue Southwest, between 12th and 16th streets. Staff estimate a total project cost of $1.39 million, with the city’s share at $516,485.

Council member Mike Blessum sought to remove the project from the city’s list. He said building sidewalks where there are none would provide some level of safety. However, he raised concern about cost and about whether it is wise to tie up engineering staff on designing the project. He also called it an unfunded mandate on property owners, who would need to clear snow and maintain those sidewalks in good condition.

“There may be a time in the future – maybe the program is still there – we can come back to it, but I think for now it’s a ‘nice to have’ that we can live without,” Blessum said.

Blessum’s motion to remove the project was supported by council members Rob Fuller and Scott Samuelson but failed 3-4.

The project list approved by the council also includes rail/highway crossing safety improvements in 2026 or later.

The top priority is the Eighth Avenue Southeast and CPKC Rail crossing. According to city information, a number of years ago, CPKC added a siding along its mainline at the Eighth Avenue crossing, creating a rough ride for vehicles. The project would request CPKC adjust the tracks or crossing panels to create a more level, smoother crossing.

A second priority is signalizing the CPKC Rail crossing near the Amtrak Depot. Due to cost, this upgrade wasn’t included in the city’s railroad quiet zone project previously. The crossing is the only unsignalized rail crossing in Minot’s city limits.

Another proposed project would improve lighting around Minot’s elementary schools.

The option recommended by engineering staff is to improve lighting at Washington, Edison, Perkett, Bel Air, Longfellow, Sunnyside, Roosevelt and Lewis & Clark schools. The total estimated cost of $1.45 million would require a $145,191 city investment.

Engineers did offer a scaled back option to improve lighting at schools with only street pickup and drop off zones. These schools included Bel Air, Sunnyside and Roosevelt. Total cost was $434,787, with the city’s share at $43,478.

Cost of police chief

investigation rises

The cost is going up and the scope widening in the investigation of Minot’s police chief.

On Monday, the Minot City Council approved a budget amendment for $50,000, which is in addition to a $50,000 budget amendment approved in retaining investigator Yvette Heintzelman on Sept. 27.

Chief John Klug has been placed on leave pending the outcome of an investigation into allegations of hostile work environment, inconsistent discipline, lack of staff confidence in leadership, poor staff retention and morale and staff concerns about retaliation at the Minot Police Department and Minot Central Dispatch.

During Heintzelman’s on-site interviews, another issue has arisen that city staff believe requires further investigation, according to a memo to the council from the city attorney and city manager. The funds for the investigation are coming from budget savings in personnel costs. The department has had a number of officer positions that have been unfilled.

Klug has been a member of the Minot Police Department for nearly 25 years, serving as patrol commander before his appointment as police chief in January 2020.