GF County to move forward with ramp repairs

Grand Forks County will proceed with repairs to the downtown parking ramp despite ongoing discussions with the city to transfer ownership.

Rising repair costs have some members of the county commission urging action sooner rather than later.
Commissioner Bob Rost says the county has some $3 million in remaining American Rescue Plan Act…or ARPA dollars…that could pay for the maintenance needs.  “We are the owners…if the city says something later…fine.”

Commissioner Mark Rustad suggested on Tuesday that the county continue negotiations with the city in hopes of saving some ARPA funds for other county projects.  “The  facility standpoint in the county have me awake at night.  This is the only particular facility that there has been any interest in taking it off our hands and keeping it accessible to us.   I don’t want to see it slip away.’

The board voted 3-2 to proceed with the ramp repairs right away.

Members also directed staff to continue to talk to the city about future ownership.