New Moorhead City Manager Christina Volkers is on a “listening binge.” The city council committee of the whole Monday night heard three reports that helped introduce her to the city.

Glad to be home in Minnesota, the “Minnesota girl” learned about the Mayor’s Blue Ribbon Commission on Addiction, Moorhead Community Access Media and snow removal.

John Vastag, leader of the commission and director of legislative affairs for Sanford Health, said addiction in our communities is a crisis. We need community involvement – business, faith, law enforcement, everybody needs to be in on this fight, he said. Early intervention and recovery services are vital.

“Addiction does not have any barriers,” he said. When council member Chuck Hendrickson said he was looking for hope, Vastag said there is hope. “We have workable numbers of people, our communities collaborate and there is a major cultural shift about addiction. It’s a challenge but we don’t get a second chance,” Vastag said.

Mayor Pro Tem Brenda Elmer thanked him for his report calling it “a community issue, a community crisis.” Elmer chaired the meeting while Mayor DelRae Williams recovers from kidney issues and sepsis.

Among the statistics he shared are that 13.1 percent of high school students in our region have taken prescription drugs without a doctor’s prescription. Among the sources for the drugs are realtor open houses, stealing prescription drugs from family and friends, and trading at school and other events.

In Clay County, 5 percent and 6 percent of 11th grade males and females respectively have used prescription pain relievers that were not prescribed or that were taken to get high.

To help people move out of addiction, more medical detox facilities are needed. Moorhead has a 16-bed facility that is heavily used. Fargo does not have a facility. It is a challenge for North Dakota residents to find placement in the Moorhead facility.

This year will see the rollout of panel recommendations. Among recommendations are that the current 211 and FirstLink systems build a more user-friendly information hub for behavioral health services; more guidance for families and people seeking help; school-based programs; better funding allocation; prescription drug monitoring programs; expand Medicaid to cover early intervention, treatment and recovery; nurse home visit programs and continuing to develop a community model for our area.

The commission, formed in September 2016, will soon have a website for the community.

“Moorhead Talks” is a new monthly, half-hour talk show coming to Moorhead Community Access Media. Jan. 31 is the first broadcast. The non-profit is Moorhead’s community access station and media production provider.

MCAM provides public service announcements for any local or regional non-profits ranging from church dinners to Hjemkomst events. It also edits and enhances video evidence for the police departments in both Moorhead and Fargo.

MCAM and The Extra collaborate with a published weekly calendar of events and broadcast schedule. The two can collaborate on stories.

Moorhead Spuds home football games are replayed and sponsors are lined up to begin broadcasting hockey.

MCAM is applying for grants to move the system to high definition broadcasts.

Snow removal was the topic for Public Works Director Steve Moore. Council member Mari Dailey cheered his enthusiasm for public works in Moorhead. “You have a good vision,” she said. While Moorhead was called a superstar, he wants to publicly “thank my guys.”

“There is nothing more important than keeping our streets safe,” Moore said.

While he is working on a new snow removal plan, he said the current goal for his14 operators is to accomplish a one-time pass within 12 hours. Further work is always needed and is completed as quickly as possible.

There are 210 cul de sacs and 11,000 driveways in Moorhead to be cleared as well as selected trails and bike paths. Some of that is labor intensive. The old troll bridge has to be cleared by a snow blower.

He also works with the Metropolitan Area Transit system to know new bus routes. Clearing around schools is also a priority.

Most complaints come from residential areas. Those issues are handled as quickly as possible, he said.