Unofficial 7/2/2026 Special Meeting Minutes--South Pembina Bridge
Unofficial Special Council Meeting Minutes for July 2, 2026, South Pembina Bridge
Date: July 2, 2026, 3:45pm
Location: Professional Building
Council Members Present: Mayor Helland, Snitker, Flores, T Steyn, Needham, Carattini
Absent: Carpenter
Guests: Koropatnicki, City Super; Stoiber, City Auditor; Fleming, City Attorney (via telephone);
3:45pm Special Council Meeting called to order by Mayor Helland.
· Helland: need to approve for proactive action to set up barricade to allow pedestrian traffic only. $3250 to bring up & install for up to 2 ½ months. Bolton & Menk’s crew has higher cones to keep people away from edge of bridge. Engineer Dean is coming to approve channeling before we can open.
· Snitker: the regulation to meet 90#/sq ft appears to be 70,000# if they’re saying 50 people. It doesn’t make sense. NDDOT has to approve the weight limitations and Bolton & Menk’s recommendations. The city is still liable if anything happens. We need signage that states “No more than 50 people on the bridge at any time.”
· NDDOT has made a contingent agreement to allow opening to pedestrians based on Bolton & Menk’s recommendations.
· T Steyn: why no golf carts, electric bikes, etc? Snitker: Pedestrian only exempts certain statues, once you add motorized vehicles (golf carts, electric bikes, etc.) everything changes. Right now we have to limit weights, and golf carts, etc. exceed that limit.
· Snitker—we need a plan with 6 month inspections, mostly just check list to make sure no further deterioration.
· Motion by Carattini to approve barricade with Bolton & Menk’s crew to install for $3250; 2nd by Snitker. 4 ayes, Needham nay; motion carries.
· Helland: need to discuss re-opening the bridge contingent on Bolton & Menk’s and Koropatnicki’s recommendations, and if NDDOT will agree to said recommendations.
· Fleming: The liability of opening the bridge has to balance with the needs of the City—limiting liability and opening the bridge increase city’s risk of lawsuit. NDDOT will close the bridge permanently if golf carts, electric bikes, etc., start using the bridge. If the engineer okay’s the pedestrian usage, it won’t remove the liability, but it will make it less of a liability providing no one uses motorized vehicles.
· Needham: 50 people seems too many.
· Fleming: it’s a concentrated weight in a certain area—50 people spread out is not the same as concentrated area, and not live load-more random and weight is spreadout, not concentrated like a vehicle.
· Motion by Snitker to open the bridge if NDDOT agrees with Bolton & Menk’s assessment for pedestrian traffic only; 2nd by Carattini; 4 ayes, Needham nay; motion carries.
Motion to adjourn at 4:05pm by Carattini.
By: Mayor Helland
Attested to: Stoiber, City Auditor
The next regular city council meeting will be held on July 20, 2026 6pm in the Professional Building.