Minot is a fine community that, like all cities, has a few flaws. This may not be a popular statement but Minot is way to dependant upon the base. Before you go and start posting how this is wrong think about this question; What would Minot fall back upon if/when the base closes? Telemarketing jobs will not cover it and there is really not another major employer in the city (besides the city) that could be depended to carry the city forward.

Minot needs to start weening itself off of trying to land telemarketers and related businesses and diversify. I completely agree that Minot should not compare itself to the other major cities in ND but they should learn from them. Bismarck for example has the state government, that isn't going anywhere but they also have MDU, Basin Electric, two universities and MDU Resources all head quartered within the city. What does Minot have? Think about it and try and match up business for business with the ones I mentioned.

Minot does have one disadvantage that the other big cities in ND don't have, a ready supply of workers living in mid-sized suburbs on a permament basis. Fargo - W. Fargo/Mhead, Grand Forks - E.G.F, etc. Minot has the base which is not permament.

I think minot needs to update their apartments, inside and out!  Who wants to pay $525 a month for an apartment that has old shag carpet and a 1970's refrigerator?  And they need to do something about the outsides of these buildings.  I mean you go to fargo or even bismarck and the outside of their apartment buildings look somewhat new to brand new.  The apartment buildings here from the outside look like the projects.

I also think they should do something about north hill.  I mean come on, there is nothing up there except the bowling alley, quiznos, hardees, the international inn, and the airport.  There is hardly any food places up there, there is no shopping up there whatsoever, and there is nothing besides bowling up there to do.

In reality,it doesn't matter what Minot does to improve itself.We are going to have whinners complain about Minot than too(oh my they are spending to much money)(why did they build that)(etc,etc).........I have seen it already!

They were born complainers and will continue to be big babies! Minot is cleaning up,we can see it starting from last spring............Looks nice too.

Minot does have a landscaping ordinance, its just not as strict as other cities. A tougher one was voted down. There is also a junk car ordinance stating that cars must be licensed and in good condition, otherwise they have to be screened from view. The city is understaffed right now, so they can't go around looking for junk to clean up. However, if they get complaints, they work on them right away. As for the steel buildings, there is a proposal for an overlay district along north broadway to prevent exactly that. It would create standards for new buildings to try to make a sort of "MSU Neighborhood." If your at all interested in the landscape ordinance or the overlay district, come to the Planning Commission meeting on Monday, July 23rd at 7:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Make your opinion known, otherwise nothing will happen with it.

We have decent shopping and places to each.  Kids can play outside and not have to worry to much about them.  You still should watch them but the chances of them being snatched are unlikely.  The people are friendly.  The jobs are out there if you want to look for them.  Higher paying jobs are not in the newspaper.  I like Minot.