Key takeaways from the Minot City Council meeting’s Human Relations ordinance discussion

Minot, North Dakota – Due in large part to the absence of a few council members from the meeting on Monday night, the Minot City Council is once again delaying a decision on whether to change the city’s human relations policy.

The issue of disagreement seems to be the inclusion of members of the LGBTQ+ community.

Several residents opposed changing this ordinance were heard.

The change was criticized on the grounds that the council wasn’t ethically qualified to make this choice. Others claimed that it would be unnecessary in light of the 1964 civil rights act.

It would be a declaration of acceptance and in compliance with federal law, according to those who argued in support of it.

The vote on the human ordinance relations should be tabled until the entire council is present, according to Mayor Tom Ross.

The committee can have up to 20 members, and Ross added, “We have 40 applications from residents to sit on that committee. I would be in favor of standing on that committee.”

The council voted to hear additional public commentary on this matter but eventually opted to postpone making a decision until each council member was present.

Carrie Evans and Paul Pitner, the two absent aldermen, were contacted by your News Leader to provide an explanation for their absence.