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Commission Minutes—July 28, 2023 5766 <br />Planning Department <br />Mr. Benson reviewed the 2024 Planning Department budget. The request is for $190,719. Mr. <br />Benson said there are no projects or additional funding requested in 2024 besides the Planner 1 <br />position. <br />Mr. Peterson said he does not support the additional planner position. He said he supports looking <br />at other planner options and sending the Planner position to Gallagher to be reviewed. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mrs. Scherling moved and Mr. Grindberg seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the Planning Department with the removal of the Planner <br />1 position and to look at alternative planning position options. On roll call vote, <br />the motion carried unanimously. <br />10. VECTOR CONTROL <br />Ben Prather, County Vector Control Director was present to review the 2024 budget. Mr. Prather <br />said the 2024 request includes a 0.85 mill levy. He said the 2024 budget is similar to previous years, <br />however, has increases due to inflation. He said the request includes the purchase of two new <br />vehicles and two full aerial applications of adult mosquitos for the City of Fargo, West Fargo, and <br />sect acreage outside of the cities. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Breitling moved and Mr. Kapitan seconded to approve the 2024 preliminary <br />budget for Vector Control as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried <br />unanimously. <br />11. BREAK <br />The Commission took a break at 12:30 PM and reconvened at 12:50 PM. <br />12. COMMISSION BUDGET <br />The 2024 budget includes a $150,000 request from the FMWF Chamber and a $800,000 request <br />from the GFMEDC. Both budgets were discussed during budget hearings on July 27, 2023. <br />MOTION, passed <br />Mr. Grindberg moved and Mr. Peterson seconded to approve the 2024 <br />preliminary budget for the Greater Fargo Moorhead Economic Development <br />Corporation as presented. On roll call vote, the motion carried unanimously. <br />Mrs. Scherling said she cannot support $150,000 to the FMWF Chamber. She said she would like a <br />comprehensive plan with goals and outcomes to address economic issues. Mr. Kapitan said he <br />agreed with Mrs. Scherling. Mr. Peterson said the FMWF Chamber provided a breakdown of the <br />request as he requested yesterday. Mr. Grindberg asked if the Commission would like to fund any of <br />the FMWF Chamber request. Mr. Kapitan said he supports funding $100,000, not the additional <br />50,000 that was added to the request this year. Mrs. Scherling said the County did not provide <br />funding to the Chamber prior to 2020 and funds were allocated by the County for one project, not as <br />ongoing funding. She said there needs to be an end and a plan with a goal. <br />Mr. Peterson said he struggles with the request as he believes the County should be a good partner. <br />He said he likes the concierge program and believes there is value to this program. Mr. Grindberg <br />said the discussion of workforce is an ever changing topic and the region needs a cohesive plan. Mr. <br />Breitling asked if the Commission does not act on the Chamber budget, does that exclude the <br />request from the 2024 preliminary budget. Mr. Peterson said that is correct, no action taken will <br />exclude the $150,000 request from the budget. <br />Mr. Grindberg said if the community can come together and make a comprehensive plan that is <br />vetted by the FMWF Chamber and GFMEDC, he would support additional workforce funding. He <br />said if all the interested parties can come together with a united front, the community can understand <br />what the group is trying to achieve versus every six months one entity coming up with another