Fargo City Commission Meeting Wrap-Up - 06.09.2025
In case you missed the June 9, 2025, Fargo City Commission meeting, here are a few highlights we would like you to know about.
City Commission Approves Offer to Gary Lorenz for Fire Chief Position
The City of Fargo launched a national search for a new Fire Chief in anticipation of Chief Steven Dirksen’s retirement on May 16, 2025. The City received 15 applications for the position, and the Fire Chief Selection Committee conducted virtual interviews with six applicants. Three candidates were designated as finalists: Division Chief Tim Binfet of the Fargo Fire Department, Chief Gary Lorenz of the Grand Forks Fire Department and Division Chief Craig Nelson of the Fargo Fire Department.
After interviewing the three finalists in person, the Selection Committee recommended Lorenz as the candidate to be considered for appointment to the position. City Administrator Michael Redlinger, the hiring manager for the Fire Chief position, concurred with the Committee’s recommendation and presented Lorenz as the recommended candidate to the City Commission at Monday’s meeting. The City Commission voted 5-0 to approve the recommendation. Upon successful completion of the conditional offer phase of the process, Lorenz will be appointed and sworn into the position in July.
Gary Lorenz is currently the Fire Chief for the City of Grand Forks, North Dakota, a position he has held since 2018. Lorenz previously served the Fargo Fire Department for 28 years, rising to the rank of Assistant Chief.
MATBUS Ending Bus Route for Special Events
LinkFM is a MATBUS route that has provided episodic bus service to community events since 2020. These events have mainly been held in the Downtown Fargo-Moorhead area but also include the Trollwood Mainstage Musical and Pride in the Park events at the Bluestem Amphitheater in Moorhead.
LinkFM was initially intended as a solution to the limited availability of parking in downtown Fargo, with the former Moorhead Center Mall parking lot being used as a park-and-ride location. Over the past few years, multiple parking ramps have been constructed in Downtown Fargo, eliminating much of the demand for LinkFM service. The demolition of the Moorhead Center Mall has greatly reduced the site's parking capacity. Also, LinkFM would no longer be able to serve the Trollwood Mainstage Musical this year due to MATBUS operating hours ending at 10:15 p.m.
These changes led MATBUS staff to recommend ending LinkFM service, and City Commissioners voted 5-0 on Monday to do so.
Commissioners Approve Request for Proposals for Convention Center Project
In November, Fargo voters passed an additional 3% tax on hotel and motel stays, with the proceeds financing the construction of a convention center. The City Commission then formed a Convention Center Project Committee to create and manage a Request for Proposals (RFP) process for the selection of a convention center project.
The Convention Center Project Committee, which includes all five City Commission members and nine other members, has been meeting since February to develop a process for the selection of the convention center site and developer of the facility.
The Committee prepared an RFP, and the City Commission voted 5-0 on Monday to approve the RFP, which can be found here. The RFP will be distributed to parties interested in entering a partnership with The City of Fargo to build a convention center. The Committee will review the proposals and present a recommendation to the City Commission.
Public Health Official Provides Measles Update
During Monday’s meeting, a public health official presented an update on measles cases recently detected in Cass County and North Dakota.
Field Epidemiologist Brenton Nesemeier, director of field services for the North Dakota Health & Human Services Department, reported that, as of Friday, there were 34 cases in North Dakota that have impacted Burke, Cass, Grand Forks and Williams counties. Of those cases, seven were in Cass County. Nationwide, there were 1,168 cases.
Nesemeier said community spread has not been detected in Cass County. If community spread does occur, Health & Human Services will work with Fargo Cass Public Health on communication regarding updated MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine recommendations.
Fargo Cass Public Health hosted two walk-in MMR vaccine clinics for community members in May, and the agency continues to provide vaccination by appointment. Anyone interested in making an appointment at the clinic can call 701.241.1383.
City Commission Reappoints Four Members to Three Boards
The City Commission voted unanimously on Monday night to reappoint Randy Engelstad to the Special Assessment Commission and Amy Ouren to the Library Board, as well as Tracy Walvatne and Deb Williams to the Arts & Culture Commission.
Engelstad was reappointed for a three-year term ending July 1, 2028. Ouren was reappointed for a three-year term ending June 30, 2028.
Williams and Walvatne were each reappointed for a three-year term ending June 1, 2028. Additionally, Tracy Jordre resigned from the Arts & Culture Commission and at this time The City is not planning to fill the vacant position.
Residents are encouraged to research and apply for appointment to any of The City of Fargo’s boards, commissions and committees for consideration in the event of future vacancies. For more information on the responsibilities of each board, commission and committee, please visit FargoND.gov/GettingInvolved.