Senior Staff Writer

Financial hearings resumed Monday at the Williston City Hall as the Budget Committee milled through requests from the police department, fire, ambulance, disaster and emergency services.

Williston City Budget Committee members began to slice some of the line items.

Williston Police Chief Jim Lokken requested two new police cars to rotate through the department fleet to replace vehicles with high mileage at a cost of $46,000. The request was uncontested.

For the third year, the police department is one of three agencies funding a Northwest Narcotics Task Force agent after the Byrne federal grant funding ended. Williams County and McKenzie County/Watford City also contribute to the funds and each fund an agent. However, Lokken did not request any additional officers for 2009.

Williston City Commission President Ward Koeser said the Law Enforcement Center Budget is difficult to estimate as agencies move from the current LEC to the new building. That department’s budget is to remain at $74,000 until commissioners determine what adjustments are needed.

Williston Fire Chief Alan Hanson saw some of his budget requests cut. His request for an additional employee for secretarial and paramedic duties was denied, which resulted in a $30,000 cut. Also cut was $200,000 toward buying a used pumper for back-up purposes.

Hanson’s request for eight more units of bunker gear was reduced to four for a final cost of $7,000. A truck vault at a cost of $4,500 was removed from the budget and a weed control item for $250 was removed. A request to contract for ceiling cleaning at a cost of $11,000 also was removed.

The fire department’s request to upgrade its phone system for $10,000 also was denied. Some $2,000 was left for communications.

City Auditor John Kautzman said an extractor washing machine remained in the fire department budget. This is to be used to help remove carbons from clothes.

Meanwhile, the Williston Ambulance’s request for a $36,000 system that vents exhaust from vehicles to the outside was eliminated. Ambulance personnel were asked to bring the request back next year.

Today, department heads from the airport, building, planning, information technology and the municipal court are scheduled to review their budgets with the committee.