[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6369387,"mediaKeyId","2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec","parentId",2154728,"title","Votes at a glance: Jan. 27 Grand Forks Committee of the Whole","audioSeconds",1768,"startMs",1453000,"endMs",3221000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec&start=1453&end=3221","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec/thumbnail_1453000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6369387/Grand-Forks/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Jan-27-Grand-Forks-Committee-of-the-Whole","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369387-725d4bc1db411d7324875dd5c3246fab/orig.mp4?Expires=1775141979&Signature=AWjhrE6~z~VY~xWK-emcQzmP0RoeXDEOnZF0WT6vvh2NLTbNFqDzBatbN55noSTpFwKIUbLZ41V1vg~0oaKbB0Gu8W5Vv53HDDYTsfuhTUDDHyn4ZKKBkOaK21TdigW6d23~~BCSX2YfaXXJYgMhEPzm3u1iayJzNkw1A6v3A2aA2lg2jN39F~Ev6f4GNdAJQ8LLv6eRe6~ANhvawTwRxYNfEefw53uWMnETuoH8fwHkSIWIioNbM55DQbxtHcclVQ~3cTty0pj9K3yynPYP-iC~KZsct2uA8-OwwGAmqIxt0bO8TH-UX5pa1iOoxp6VQNUOctWvCQLGZf-w3k6x9w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City Council of Grand Forks, ND","date","2025-01-27T15:10:43Z","article","The Grand Forks City Council (Committee of the Whole) recorded the following formal actions on Jan. 27, 2025. This roundup lists each item, the motion outcome and key details as stated in the meeting record.

- Community Service Grants (Agenda item 3.1): Approved staff recommendations for 2025 human‑needs/community service grants; staff reported 14 applications and recommended funding for five agencies addressing homelessness. Motion carried unanimously.

- Fire Department budget amendment (Agenda item 3.2): Council approved the budget amendment; motion carried unanimously.

- Plans and specifications approvals (multiple agenda items 3.3–3.6 and 3.5): Council approved plans and specifications and authorized bid advertisement for several infrastructure projects serving new development and university stormwater needs, including Opportunity Park Second Addition sanitary sewer/water/street lights (Project numbers referenced by staff), UND Pond Outfall (Project 8916) and Highway 81 associated area sanitary sewer Phase 3 (Project 8921). Motions carried unanimously.

- Inlet protection services contract (Agenda item 3.6): Council approved continuing the inlet bag installation and inspection contract for 2025 (fourth year of program to meet MS4 permit requirements). Motion carried unanimously.

- Accept EDA grant for Seventieth Avenue North (Agenda item 3.7): Council accepted an Economic Development Administration grant to reconstruct Seventieth Avenue North from Highway 81 to roughly a half‑mile west of North 50th Street. Staff reported an 80/20 split on an estimated $4,000,000 project (EDA share ~ $3,200,000; city share ~ $800,000). Motion carried unanimously.

- Letter of intent with Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa (Agenda item 3.8): Council approved a letter of intent to begin negotiating a development/host‑community agreement related to a proposed resort and Class III casino on tribe‑owned land southwest of the city. Motion passed; Council Members Osowski, Lenski and Vien recorded votes against; the motion otherwise carried.

Where the meeting transcript included project numbers, staff references were retained in staff’s original form; where staff gave fiscal splits or dollar figures during discussion, those figures are reported here as stated. The letter of intent is an authorization to negotiate only; the city did not approve any zoning changes, tax incentives or land‑in‑trust actions at this meeting. Several items approved were routine plans and specifications or grant acceptances that will return with bids, agreements and contracts for future council action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Committee of the Whole","oneSentenceSummary","Summary of motions and outcomes recorded at the Grand Forks Committee of the Whole meeting on Jan. 27, 2025, including grant acceptance, budget amendment and approvals of plans and specifications for multiple infrastructure projects.","taxTitle","Grand Forks, Grand Forks County, North Dakota","taxId",3815,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369391,"Council approves 2025 community service grants with homelessness as priority",384,1089000,1473000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec&start=1089&end=1473","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec/thumbnail_1089000.jpg","/articles/6369391/Grand-Forks/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Council-approves-2025-community-service-grants-with-homelessness-as-priority","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369391-6c3eecc8dbf8a1476e58d71b4ee25066/orig.mp4?Expires=1775141979&Signature=TnTB-k6vInlOm794qjDmq0TKffqDMrgBI4arJYDIpn4atV~q4accgNpjjei0XoUn~pQfATPoa-hONpvWea~ziBXrUp-nHRsdgdd1naNRRFwbvFNiY~SgURKc4KzrgcQbCdVcxI-KlZFk9aHijMK~ciK2Q2vaRoN5-aVmIlI-OInLWE~V9-hqEOpKvbvF22Wje9cuzmTX54TFBiMxm9z88OWs2zNbDnkwhfT7i9EsTqTbNRGQ6Tip2stcnMd~APir2FPLZ6fGDO1mj77UyZUuvqusSgXcvlbbqSWW7JvZ-XEs6b2th3P~l~ltQ6Sm46J2NmnHwo0wW1axxgIwuLQvSQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Forks City Council on Jan. 27 approved staff recommendations for the 2025 community service grants (human needs funding), prioritizing homelessness and homelessness prevention.

Planning staff and the community advisory committee opened applications Nov. 18 and received 14 submissions requesting more than $500,000 in total. The council previously increased the application cap from $30,000 to $50,000 for 2025; staff recommended funding five agencies whose proposals address homelessness or homelessness prevention. The community advisory committee met Jan. 16 and provided rankings on Jan. 17.

City staff said the recommendation aligns with the council’s stated priority to address homelessness. Council members discussed coordination among local nonprofits to reduce overlap, and several members described an existing local nonprofit collaboration called CAN (Community Assistance Network) that shares case management software and meets monthly to coordinate services.

A motion to approve the recommended community service grant allocations was moved, seconded and carried unanimously. Staff noted more consolidated plan and Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) updates will come to the council at the Feb. 10 meeting, including the consolidated plan, analysis of impediments to fair housing and the citizen participation plan.

Council members asked staff to encourage collaboration among service providers and to watch for duplication of efforts; staff said the city is a CAN member and participates in monthly coordination meetings.","The council approved recommendations for the 2025 community service grants program, increasing the maximum application cap to $50,000 and recommending funding for five agencies focused on homelessness and homelessness prevention.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369397,"Epitome Energy says permits and offtake contracts secured; city accepts EDA grant to rebuild Seventieth Avenue North",1264,619000,1883000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec&start=619&end=1883","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec/thumbnail_619000.jpg","/articles/6369397/Grand-Forks/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/Epitome-Energy-says-permits-and-offtake-contracts-secured-city-accepts-EDA-grant-to-rebuild-Seventieth-Avenue-North","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369397-0e91587003540d525b6de4d414bb3f00/orig.mp4?Expires=1775141979&Signature=kAYiNMJZ7hhkKe2YvxOSTuoAuiSBO1lVnVFWddEw3ZmdUykhtU~nM5doYFjXJ4kR9I1BlfhbV1NFmfB-BfC8WvX86BenY-3rJUXnaBjhpUCuF9PkYWgCVZSEh3emcfkPMEcmTCz7yQUCq4iKgVTJupz2F8bhbmJzqrSQVhaX6hqti-nag1nGG-0X3ML7Ldd6ZFVAK-RHc0oTQGwKhsTQHZPrXuaOSxkqUVloaRzQINNGcRUQHJb113RYZJPoU5qfYwWMxl3qmu1tU86wUPvy1EJhqcvDw2CJhYp2gMmLiiV-GkocW-g~CPT-BaUPpiMyDA4hci4Hm7UB-ugganAFgQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City and project representatives updated the Grand Forks City Council Jan. 27 on progress for the proposed Epitome Energy soybean crush facility and the city accepted an Economic Development Administration grant to rebuild Seventieth Avenue North.

Dennis Egan of Epitome Energy told the council the project has secured its air permit and off‑take agreements for soybean meal and oil with national buyers, and that the developer has signed six nondisclosure agreements with prospective equity partners now conducting due diligence. Egan said the company’s current priority is securing equity partners and ensuring any investors comply with state and federal regulations; he also said the project team is aware of Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) filing requirements that could apply depending on the type of equity investors engaged.

City staff said the council previously approved a development agreement and a financing inducement as a pass‑through for tax‑exempt bonds tied to a state program. That inducement previously authorized bonding up to $140,000,000; the Epitome team plans to ask the state to increase the bonding to $170,000,000 and city staff said they expect to bring an amendment to the inducement agreement to the council next week to reflect the higher amount. City staff clarified the city’s role is a pass‑through for state bonding and not direct municipal liability.

Separately, the council unanimously approved acceptance of an Economic Development Administration grant to reconstruct Seventieth Avenue North from Highway 81 to roughly a half‑mile west of North 50th Street. Staff reported the EDA award covers 80 percent of an estimated $4,000,000 project (EDA portion approximately $3,200,000) and the city’s estimated local share is about $800,000. Staff said the project has regional value because of rail and interstate access and recommended moving forward “with or without” Epitome Energy given the available grant funding.

Council members asked Epitome about land purchase timing, CFIUS filings and financing. Egan said the company remains under a nondisclosure agreement with the current landowner and is “in the process of raising the money” to close financing; on the timeline question he characterized the schedule as “the $500,000,000 question.” Egan confirmed the team has discussed CFIUS requirements and will follow applicable filing rules depending on investor types.

No formal amendment to the inducement agreement was voted on Jan. 27; council staff said the inducement amendment to move from $140,000,000 to $170,000,000 will likely appear on the council consent agenda next week.","Epitome Energy told the council it has secured air permits and offtake agreements and is negotiating equity; the council accepted an Economic Development Administration grant to reconstruct Seventieth Avenue North and will likely amend a financing inducement next week related to Epitome's bonding request.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":46,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6369403,"City approves letter of intent with Turtle Mountain Band to explore resort and Class III casino",1300,1921000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec&start=1921&end=3221","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2154728-254ac0ee9d122b5fc1a0ed395831f6ec/thumbnail_1921000.jpg","/articles/6369403/Grand-Forks/Grand-Forks-County/North-Dakota/City-approves-letter-of-intent-with-Turtle-Mountain-Band-to-explore-resort-and-Class-III-casino","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6369403-b33641c1efa04bc254d309cb1c68af20/orig.mp4?Expires=1775141979&Signature=nEKnH7t4HZLn83okypfUT0MAXNjAi30J3xL-eD6I5L4vdplqKwLdCsYozV37OEW~XgsYS0SFJSqdUTUBeACv6lrFcBadlbNDFQ-FqJQJgKxlJ2DN2TwDaXWOfIgLR1aTQfy-DgjJJcNmzkaAdNFWc8Ip8Tv3~NP8Ee~B3xr3M-KHqt0x-ofjAFvW-QZ8HKncgyupItyAViSYDxcLJuR9RXhuYb9c2PoUrnDMfdFKMV~cK1umsIlR~ESaymdwTEOpCXNGEm-TGGHqtcU~17ex5tzTPJy8tiYrpOh3xzDpe7FQUxoQYtjFRmAVaCPyOCe0gLiNMT8-kNyIAzvqjBLlzw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Grand Forks City Council on Jan. 27 voted to approve a letter of intent with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa to begin negotiating a development agreement and host‑community terms for a proposed resort and Class III casino on land the tribe owns southwest of the city.

The vote followed a multihour presentation and public questioning. Council Member Weigel moved approval and Council Member Friedolphs seconded; the motion passed with Council Members Osowski, Lenski and Vien recorded as voting no.

The letter of intent lays out a process to negotiate a broad development framework that city staff and tribal leaders said could include a 200‑room, 3.5‑ to 4‑star hotel, a conference/banquet facility, a smaller entertainment center and family entertainment amenities. Consultants and the tribe cited an economic impact study that estimated roughly 400,000 visitors, more than 800 jobs at the facility, about $31 million in annual payroll and an estimated $72 million annual increase in local GDP tied to the development.

Tribal and city speakers stressed the project remains at an early stage and would require multiple state and federal approvals before any gaming could occur. Mr. Phelan, who introduced the item on behalf of the city, told the council the tribe would need state action and federal approvals through the Department of the Interior and the Bureau of Indian Affairs, and that any off‑reservation gaming also requires changes to state law and renegotiated compacts. Chairman Jamie Azure of the Turtle Mountain Band emphasized the tribe’s historical ties to the Red River Valley and said the tribe is vetting experienced national gaming management firms to operate the resort.

Council members pressed officials on taxes, enforcement and potential impacts on local nonprofits that run charitable gaming. Speakers discussed possible payment‑in‑lieu‑of‑tax (PILOT) arrangements, how property placed into federal trust for gaming would be taxed or reimbursed to the city, and what infrastructure and public‑safety costs the city could expect. Council members asked whether the tribe would commit to enforceable payments for services and whether the city could suspend services for nonpayment; city staff said such enforcement clauses and service conditions could be negotiated in the development agreement.

Several council members also requested more public outreach and detailed documentation before the council moves beyond the letter of intent. The council president noted additional public hearings are expected as negotiations proceed.

The letter of intent approved Jan. 27 authorizes city staff to continue formal talks with the Turtle Mountain Band and to begin drafting more detailed development and host agreements; it does not commit the city to any final fiscal incentives, zoning decisions or infrastructure expenditures.

A series of additional public meetings and formal council actions were described as likely next steps in the months ahead.","The Grand Forks City Council voted Jan. 27 to approve a letter of intent to negotiate a development and host‑community agreement with the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa to explore a proposed $250–$300 million resort including a Class III casino on land the tribe owns southwest of the city.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Jan. 27 Grand Forks Committee of the Whole

Council approves 2025 community service grants with homelessness as priority

Epitome Energy says permits and offtake contracts secured; city accepts EDA grant to rebuild Seventieth Avenue North

City approves letter of intent with Turtle Mountain Band to explore resort and Class III casino