The council emphasized the importance of advancing the city’s fiber development infrastructure, with two significant contracts on the table. One contract involved Cogent, providing essential bandwidth and internet service addresses, while the other was with Lumen, responsible for service transport. These contracts are important for the city’s transition to Williston Fiber, designed to improve internet service quality and connectivity for residents. The urgency of the contracts was highlighted, as delays could postpone customer connections by up to five months. Financial concerns were assuaged by clarifying that billing would not begin until services were operational, allowing a window for reconsideration before financial commitments were finalized. The council approved both contracts unanimously.

Amidst these discussions, the council also tackled the issue of employee compensation, focusing on disparities between different roles within the city. Concerns were raised over the recent pay increases, where Communications officers received a slightly higher raise than general employees. This discrepancy led to potential grievances from the union representing these employees, with possible financial implications for the city if not addressed. The council debated the issue, recognizing the need to rectify the pay disparity to avoid conflicts, acknowledging an estimated budget impact of $99,100 to address the discrepancies.

The council also explored potential changes to the city’s employee pension structure, with discussions centering on the current policy requiring employees to be 62 years old to draw their pension. Some council members advocated for modifications that would allow employees to retire with their pension after 30 years of service, regardless of age, to alleviate hardships.

Further complicating the compensation discussions were ongoing negotiations with the union, particularly concerning wage disparities and anticipated raises for the upcoming year. The council recognized the need to engage with the union to address these issues, noting that recent discussions highlighted wage disparities between city dispatchers and other employees. The necessity of union involvement in discussions surrounding benefits was emphasized, with council members acknowledging the potential for the union to advocate for better conditions.

On a separate note, the council engaged in infrastructure discussions, approving Resolution 2024-25 for the final subdivision plat of the Towns of Williston. This approval involved a quasi-judicial proceeding, with emphasis on adherence to subdivision regulations and consideration of public and private easements. Additionally, the council approved Resolution 2024-E to address ongoing issues at the Fugate lift station, highlighting the need for immediate repairs and the installation of a bypass pump to ensure operational reliability.

The meeting also touched on a proposal to close unimproved road rights-of-way on parts of Rard Street, Columbia Street, and Michigan Avenue. This ordinance aimed to vacate roads that were no longer needed for development, streamlining processes for new developments. The council acknowledged the historical context of these roads and the need to adapt to modern development needs by eliminating outdated infrastructure.

As the meeting concluded, the council addressed routine matters, including board reappointments and upcoming community events.