May 21, 2025 • 20 mins
Tom Gerhardt talks to Jim Neubauer about the Mandan city commission meeting on 5-20-25.
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Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:01):
City Current produced by Dakota Media Access in depth discussion
with Bismarck and Mandan City officials. Watch on Government Access
Channel six oh two HD, or tune in to Radio
Access one O two point five FM, always local, always
current parent.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm Tom Gerhart with Dakota Media Access, joined by Mandan
City Administrator Jim Neubauer, and we're talking Mandan City Commission
from May twentieth. Although it feels a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Like feels like early March, early like that snow I
think flew in parts of the state, Little Rany and
Chilio this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Not golf weather no yet and state track me coming up.
Hopefully the rain will stop. That would be getting at
a little gloomy show you what we're going to be
talking about, or a few of the things today. This
is it was neat.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Last night.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Eva Benz had written an essay on if I were made,
and that seemed to be well received. But it was
really cool the way the experience I thought that she
had last night. Saint Joseph's is looking to make an
addition and Obra also asked for a variance in something
that they'd like to do on the strip and talk
(01:17):
a little bit about a boat that the Amanda and
Fire Department looks like they'll be receiving with some grant
money and direct So lot's going on today. Wanted to
show people we've started to brand the meetings, so if
you see a new start and end to the meetings.
We just wanted to make people aware that you can
download our apps so that when the weather does get
a nice or Jim, when you're out at the golf
(01:39):
course or on the beach, on the bar, you're watch
the City Commission meetings yeah, live or or archives. So
as everybody knows, we do over three hundred government meetings.
You're here at the CODA Media Access. So but let's
get into last night's meeting and mentioned Eva benz if
(02:01):
I were mayor, her essay that she was able to
read in front of the commission. But it was really
cool the way I said, the way the whole city
staff and the commissioners treated her. I think she got
an excellent experience last night.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, Eva wrote an awesome essay. This is a North
Coata Leagua City sponsored event. I think across the state,
third grade and seventh graders can write an essay. Eva
was the only applicant and the only essay that was
submitted from Mandam this year. Normally sometimes there's thirty or
forty of them that have been submitted. So we, along
(02:36):
with Mayor Frelich and our communications specialist Carrie Schmidt and
MISSUS Development and Director and Madison Cermak, brought donuts up
to her class a month or so ago and introduced
ourselves and had a good time in her classroom and
then invited her down to kind of spend a commission
meeting with Mayor Frelich, and Eva's super kid parents were there,
(02:59):
teach was there and things like that, and just another
example of how we're trying to engage young folks in
city government and things like that. And I think, yeah, Meyer,
sorry and I were having some discussions last night about
how can we do more in the future to help
out whoever wins this contest in Mandan and maybe that's
(03:20):
a day with the mayor or there's more engagement with
the city commission meetings.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Mean donuts are a good start, yes, she in her
essays she really started just elevating public education in Mandan,
So that was neat to hear her talk about that.
And then a little side story. I guess you said
she got to get out of tennis practice early to
come to the commission.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I know she made a point of telling me that,
and we conversed about her tennis coach, which happens also
to be my daughter. And so I was trying to
dig dig some goods on Eva and cats. So I'm
always interesting when those ties are unexpected, and I was
kind of I didn't let her know that I was
her tennis coach was until after she told me what
(04:02):
she thought of her tennis coach. So all was good.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It turned out to be a good day for Eva
because she said the right things about her tennis coach
and got quite the experience last night. That's see commissioned
meeting on the consent agenda. And I know this is
just standard operating procedure, but a number of gaming renewals
and liquor licenses this time year.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
It is like you say, that is July first through
June thirtieth, or our liquor license renewal periods and also
for the gaming operations that go on with in town.
So we'll see a lot of those. We saw a
lot of them on the agenda last night. We'll see
a lot of them on the first meeting in June
agenda for commission approval. We try and you know, it's
interesting because we work on these licenses starting back in
(04:47):
April and sometimes in March, and there's sometimes some procrastination
that goes on by the license holders and things like that.
But again we will see more of these coming up
on the next agenda too.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And I guess I bring it up up because you know,
this money benefits a number of organizations in communities across
the state, but as we're talking about Mandan, it gives
back to a number of nonprofits.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, Cerebral Gaming is huge, obviously, it's expanded tremendously in
the last four or five years. And look at all
the projects that they have contributed to, and we'll talk
about our boat for the Fire Department. I think there's
been some contributions from some of those gaming organizations. I
know mann in Parks and Rex are a big recipient
of some of the clubs, and some of the facilities
(05:33):
that we have are a direct result of those gaming operations.
So it's always good.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Moving on to the public hearing section of last night's meeting,
Saint Joseph's wants to consider a variance, sort of asked
for a variance on and we can we have a
couple of photos. They have this house which a father
lives in right now, but it sounds like it's also
serving as an office.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Correct, And they had asked they wanted to build a
little larger structure on that piece of property. And I
think there's normally a twenty foot setback variance, and I
think they'll go to ten. Do you remember exactly what
it is? But commission said, yes, that will fit into
the surrounding neighborhood. Saint Chose needs a space, they need
the office work. Part of that agreement too, is that
(06:20):
we did get some concerns over off street parking. And
as long as there is an agreement in place where
they can utilize the parking lot that is just to
the west of this building for their normal day to
day parking and they're not filling up the folks that
work in this facility taking out the residence parking space,
I think we're going to be just fine.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
So there's a rendering of what the future office church
office will look like. We did learn last night that
due to some unexpected funding challenges, that this project will
be moved down the road and maybe it next year,
but it will be in the future, yep.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And so we can look forward to that and very
good project and a nice looking building that they're going
to put up.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Also ober on Memorial Highway as ask for a variance
as well, and have a couple of photos to kind
of give folks a perspective of where that project is.
You see Memorial Highway on southeast labeled there in the
outline of the blue and this again would be a
(07:26):
nice fresh look at Obra on the strip.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Right another really positive addition, and we look at all
the construction, well, structure has kind of come to a
standstill on the strip right now due to the rain
the last week. But a lot of what we're seeing
is a lot of the businesses in this area are
taking advantage of Okay, if there's going to be some
construction going on on the street in front of us,
maybe it's time for us to do some improvements on
(07:52):
the inside or exterior or an addition ontour building. So
pretty please with avags freshen up their look and then
do some expansion and that sort of thing. So again,
it's been very interesting to watch and have the conversations
with those entities on the strip. They're looking at, Hey,
now is the time we're going to upgrade our buildings
(08:12):
along with the upgrade in the infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, and we'll show you another one shortly NAPA Auto.
Before that, though, a new business on the agenda last
night we heard consider of approval of the North Cota
Game and Fish Department boat funding agreement. A Mandan Fire
Department is a lot of words there. I probably could
have simplified it a little bit. The Mandan Fire Department
is going to be able to get a boat to
(08:35):
help with sim water.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah. Response, We've got Lakewood Station number two, which is
down in the Lakewood and Marina Bay area, very close
to the water where if we have to, if we
get called out, the boat that we're looking at is
going to be able to operate in I think eight
inches of water, which is pretty critical as the river
plus shuates. As we've said, anybody at Lenotti River knows
(08:59):
that absolutely. In this I think Fire Chief Bits made
it a point of saying we're not in competition with
Burley County Dive and Rescue or Morton County Dive and Rescue.
This is not intended to be a dive operation. It's
for on top of water operations and things like that.
And I think when the Commission first approved moving forward
(09:19):
with this grand application, it was all right if you
are able to find donations for the rest of it,
so it's not coming out of our tax base and
things like that. If you find enough donors that are
interested in helping support this project, and then along with
this grant and it's not costing you know, the residents
of man and out of pocket, go for it.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Obviously we'll have training in some time from our firefighters
put into this. I know that we've even had some
discussions with police Chief Sigler about if we need to
get some police officers some training in this also that
we'll work on that so that we've got a full
complement of folks that can be out on the water looking.
And again it's not intended to be in competition or
being underwater activities. These are above ground activities and we'll
(10:03):
look forward as we start procuring bids for this boat.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Mayor fayleck I thought asked an interesting question about would
this boat be left in a marina on the water,
and the Chief bit said no, And there are a
couple of reasons for that obviously, and you can go
into it a little bit more. Response was one, you
wouldn't want to have the boat at one marina and
have an issue somewhere else. And then also I think
(10:28):
you mentioned the low eight inches of water that this
boat can be utilized. And also there was some part
of the boat that would be to a lot of weathering.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
It's the ZUV and anyone who has any whether it's
a jet skier, a pontoon, or a boat outside, your
UV rays are really going to deteriorate that fabric and
that boat. And so we will keep it inside storey
at Lakewood Station two. We have a vehicle that will
pull it in and out. And you know, if we
were to you know, dock this in Marina Bay, absolutely
(11:01):
for positive, the first call we get out is going
to be somewhere far away and we're gonna have to
load it up and put it on the trailer and
get it out. So in this manner, it'll be kept inside,
out of the elements and available for use at a
drop of a hat. It's another tool for public safety, right,
so very good. It's something we've been looking at for
(11:23):
several years and now, the timing it was right. The
funding obviously is coming with donations and also with this.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Grand nap Auto on Main Street is doing its refresh
I think after three decades or so, and we can
see a current state of nap Outo parts right, and
then what the proposed signage would look like.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
But a nice refresh. Yeah, good project. And this is
what our downtown storefront improvement or actually we've expanded to
the strip in other parts of town, but right now
for our storefront improvement project. In this case, NAPA is
a corner lot, so they're eligible for not only the
main street facing side of their building, but also the
(12:02):
westerly side they're going to. Part of the project is
removing all signs of blight and things like that. In
order to qualify for the project, they came in with
I think a great plan, a great refresh, updates, things
like that that'll make it look more modern.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
And it.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Was time. And so they're eligible for I think up
to sixty thousand dollars in grant funds as long as
they spend one hundred and twenty, so it's a dollar
for dollar match. We also, as part of what we
call clawbacks, is that we put in a five year
it's really a five year promissory note or a loan
(12:40):
that we provide to the entity, and that is forgiven
in equal portions over five years. So if this building
were to sell or change or rebrand or something within
two years, then we will get a payback of those
funds because we want to make sure that the changes
that are made are substantial and they're long lasting.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Well, hop back to Memorial Highway, and you mentioned the
rain hasn't been a friend of instruction. What has not
And we've talked about this project in the past, but
just the financing resolution and the cash share involved from
the Finance Department. Greg Walch appeared before the commission last
night to provide the update.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, part of that, I think it is thirty one
million dollars and that it includes both above ground and
our below ground portion of this project. And this is
it's important to know what We've got one hundred and
twenty million dollars project going on. Of that one hundred
and twenty the local which are the responsibility the city
and our residence something like that, is thirty one million dollars.
A lot of that is on the below ground water
(13:45):
and sewer and things like that that are not necessarily
eligible for federal funding. We've done, i think a yeoman's
job of obtaining all the grant funding we can to
help reduce that local cost. And in this case we're
able to tap into two percent loan money, which is
a huge savings. If we would need to go out
and borrow on the open market in today's rates, you
(14:08):
might be looking at you know, five or six percent interest.
Two percent over the time period of this loan is
a great benefit. And that's part of what this said
North Dakota provides on projects like this.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So big help in that cooperation right, like you said,
is a big bonus for the taxpayers.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Then again, one hundred and twenty million dollars project, and
there's lots of different grand funding sources that are going
in to make this project possible. Obviously, the rain of
late has put a little damper in that, but they're busy,
and I know even this weekend they were trying to
pump out some of the water from the places and
dry it out. But that is kind of in a
fruitless effort to date with the rain continue.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Oh gosh, well, it looks like in the extended forecast.
We know you get some sunshine and some dry conditions.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Finally, Yeah, but that's always you know, when contractors big projects,
there are rain days built in, so if your project
is supposed to last one hundred days, you may have
twenty rain days built in. So we still are expecting
everything to be done on time, but we will see
how long this continues.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
We've been showing folks this contact form just if they
want to stay up to date with what's happening on
Memorial Highway. So there's a QR code and a URL
and also phone numbers. So I guess if you want
to keep up today with the project and go want
to drive through and take a look at things. It's
a way for people to keep in contact.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Yeah. Interesting call I received Monday, and the business owner
decided to tell me that there's a lot of rain.
I said, yes, there is, Okay, I just wanted to
let you know that, and I said, perfect, thanks for
calling anything else, Nope, nope, just thought I call and
tell you that. Then it was one of those calls
you go, all right, thank you very much, and they
(15:50):
fully understood what's going on and going You know, there
can be a lot of work going on when there's
so much rain at the same time. So, like I said,
one of those calls that you go, thanks for calling.
We appreciate anything else you need to tell. Nope, I
just want to let you know that, I said, perfect.
He said, all right, all good.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, hopefully for your public Works open house tomorrow act
the weather lets up a little bit, although won't be
outside I guess, but this is a pretty neat event
and gives people an opportunity to really see what city
crews are doing and city.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Workers are up to. Yeah, I think our Public Works
director Shane m'keeffe kind of gave some highlights. And last night,
so April April May, it's April because April showered, right.
So May eighteenth through twenty fourth is National Public Works Week.
Our open houses. There is May twenty second from four
to six pm down at our Public Workshop and normally
(16:46):
we're inside there anyway, and there will be you know,
hamburgs and hot dogs and some snacks, and folks will
have the ability to if you want to get in
and you know, hop in a snowplow, see what it
looks like hopping. A street sweeper will take you for
a ride, and a lot of kids them down and
like this and love our different partners that we work with.
We'll have a booth set up at that point in time,
(17:07):
So again, huge shout out our public works folks, men
and women are having busy cleaning the equipment and getting
things ready for this, and they are you know, they're
out there right now making sure storm drains are open
and doing their best to make sure any other issues
that are going on with the city. I know we've
had I think one or two water line breaks, so
(17:27):
they're out there busy doing out of work that they
normally do and also getting ready for this. So big
shout out to our bubble work works Cruse.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We already answered my follow up question, but I thought
it was a fun moment in the meeting last night.
Or Shane, will you'll there be food And the answer
is yes.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
We normally know we normally in order to get people
to come to an event, you'll you'll need food and beverages. Yes,
so there will be I think water for folks to drink,
and a dog and hamburger, and I think we're going
to have cookies too. Going Okay, well, all right, I'll
expect to see you there tomorrow and forth's that seals it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
If they're cookies, then yeah, I can't can't miss that, right,
I guess the good news of all this rain are
one of the good pieces of all this rain is
more than Counties lifted its burn ban.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Yeah, and we'll say that it's lifted for not now.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Ollie.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Again, it's really important that folks are always diligent in
when those burn bands are in place. We know that,
you know, not far away. The fourth of July is
coming up and we're certainly hoping that we're not into
the same situation we were a week ago where the
burn ban is in place. And like I said, so
no matter what, people just need to be diligent and careful.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
And it's camping season, yes, I mean it's Memorial Day weekend.
It is never seems to have great weather, at least
looking back, it always feels that way. But everybody's going
to be out and about and enjoying summer, and so
good advice always to be cautious. Well, we mentioned before
we love folks to download our apps at to CODA
Media Access. The d m A app will give you
(19:01):
access to our government access station and also our community
access station. So you can stay on top of all
the happenings in Bismarck and Mandan and brilliant Morton County.
And our Radio Access app has a lot of really
great DJ produced local produced radio programming and also podcasts
(19:21):
that are produced locally, so great great apps to have
handy if you want to list some music while you're
out and about this summer, and you can find us
wherever you are whenever you can. Jim, thanks for the visit.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Uh, we'll see you in a couple of weeks. Yeah,
thank you're rich and ide will dry out by then, a.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Little bit dry out by then, and we'll see what's
in the future. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
For more information on what was discussed in this episode
of City Current, visit Cityofmandan dot com or call seven
oh one sixty six seven three two one five. If
you have any suggestions, comments, or issues you would like
addressed in future City Current episodes, contact us at info
at FreeTV dot org. This program airs on Government Access
(20:07):
Channel two and six O two in h D or
on Radio Access one O two point five f M.
It's also available as a podcast on Radioaccess dot org
and as a video viewing link at FreeTV dot org.
Thanks for tuning in to this edition of City Current.
City Current produced by Dakota Media Access in depth discussion
with Bismarck and Mandan City officials. Watch on Government Access
Channel six oh two HD, or tune in to Radio
Access one O two point five FM, always local, always
current parent.
Speaker 2 (00:23):
I'm Tom Gerhart with Dakota Media Access, joined by Mandan
City Administrator Jim Neubauer, and we're talking Mandan City Commission
from May twentieth. Although it feels a little bit more.
Speaker 3 (00:35):
Like feels like early March, early like that snow I
think flew in parts of the state, Little Rany and
Chilio this morning.
Speaker 2 (00:42):
Not golf weather no yet and state track me coming up.
Hopefully the rain will stop. That would be getting at
a little gloomy show you what we're going to be
talking about, or a few of the things today. This
is it was neat.
Speaker 3 (00:55):
Last night.
Speaker 2 (00:55):
Eva Benz had written an essay on if I were made,
and that seemed to be well received. But it was
really cool the way the experience I thought that she
had last night. Saint Joseph's is looking to make an
addition and Obra also asked for a variance in something
that they'd like to do on the strip and talk
(01:17):
a little bit about a boat that the Amanda and
Fire Department looks like they'll be receiving with some grant
money and direct So lot's going on today. Wanted to
show people we've started to brand the meetings, so if
you see a new start and end to the meetings.
We just wanted to make people aware that you can
download our apps so that when the weather does get
a nice or Jim, when you're out at the golf
(01:39):
course or on the beach, on the bar, you're watch
the City Commission meetings yeah, live or or archives. So
as everybody knows, we do over three hundred government meetings.
You're here at the CODA Media Access. So but let's
get into last night's meeting and mentioned Eva benz if
(02:01):
I were mayor, her essay that she was able to
read in front of the commission. But it was really
cool the way I said, the way the whole city
staff and the commissioners treated her. I think she got
an excellent experience last night.
Speaker 3 (02:14):
Yeah, Eva wrote an awesome essay. This is a North
Coata Leagua City sponsored event. I think across the state,
third grade and seventh graders can write an essay. Eva
was the only applicant and the only essay that was
submitted from Mandam this year. Normally sometimes there's thirty or
forty of them that have been submitted. So we, along
(02:36):
with Mayor Frelich and our communications specialist Carrie Schmidt and
MISSUS Development and Director and Madison Cermak, brought donuts up
to her class a month or so ago and introduced
ourselves and had a good time in her classroom and
then invited her down to kind of spend a commission
meeting with Mayor Frelich, and Eva's super kid parents were there,
(02:59):
teach was there and things like that, and just another
example of how we're trying to engage young folks in
city government and things like that. And I think, yeah, Meyer,
sorry and I were having some discussions last night about
how can we do more in the future to help
out whoever wins this contest in Mandan and maybe that's
(03:20):
a day with the mayor or there's more engagement with
the city commission meetings.
Speaker 2 (03:24):
Mean donuts are a good start, yes, she in her
essays she really started just elevating public education in Mandan,
So that was neat to hear her talk about that.
And then a little side story. I guess you said
she got to get out of tennis practice early to
come to the commission.
Speaker 3 (03:39):
I know she made a point of telling me that,
and we conversed about her tennis coach, which happens also
to be my daughter. And so I was trying to
dig dig some goods on Eva and cats. So I'm
always interesting when those ties are unexpected, and I was
kind of I didn't let her know that I was
her tennis coach was until after she told me what
(04:02):
she thought of her tennis coach. So all was good.
Speaker 2 (04:05):
It turned out to be a good day for Eva
because she said the right things about her tennis coach
and got quite the experience last night. That's see commissioned
meeting on the consent agenda. And I know this is
just standard operating procedure, but a number of gaming renewals
and liquor licenses this time year.
Speaker 3 (04:22):
It is like you say, that is July first through
June thirtieth, or our liquor license renewal periods and also
for the gaming operations that go on with in town.
So we'll see a lot of those. We saw a
lot of them on the agenda last night. We'll see
a lot of them on the first meeting in June
agenda for commission approval. We try and you know, it's
interesting because we work on these licenses starting back in
(04:47):
April and sometimes in March, and there's sometimes some procrastination
that goes on by the license holders and things like that.
But again we will see more of these coming up
on the next agenda too.
Speaker 2 (04:58):
And I guess I bring it up up because you know,
this money benefits a number of organizations in communities across
the state, but as we're talking about Mandan, it gives
back to a number of nonprofits.
Speaker 3 (05:12):
Yeah, Cerebral Gaming is huge, obviously, it's expanded tremendously in
the last four or five years. And look at all
the projects that they have contributed to, and we'll talk
about our boat for the Fire Department. I think there's
been some contributions from some of those gaming organizations. I
know mann in Parks and Rex are a big recipient
of some of the clubs, and some of the facilities
(05:33):
that we have are a direct result of those gaming operations.
So it's always good.
Speaker 2 (05:40):
Moving on to the public hearing section of last night's meeting,
Saint Joseph's wants to consider a variance, sort of asked
for a variance on and we can we have a
couple of photos. They have this house which a father
lives in right now, but it sounds like it's also
serving as an office.
Speaker 3 (05:57):
Correct, And they had asked they wanted to build a
little larger structure on that piece of property. And I
think there's normally a twenty foot setback variance, and I
think they'll go to ten. Do you remember exactly what
it is? But commission said, yes, that will fit into
the surrounding neighborhood. Saint Chose needs a space, they need
the office work. Part of that agreement too, is that
(06:20):
we did get some concerns over off street parking. And
as long as there is an agreement in place where
they can utilize the parking lot that is just to
the west of this building for their normal day to
day parking and they're not filling up the folks that
work in this facility taking out the residence parking space,
I think we're going to be just fine.
Speaker 2 (06:40):
So there's a rendering of what the future office church
office will look like. We did learn last night that
due to some unexpected funding challenges, that this project will
be moved down the road and maybe it next year,
but it will be in the future, yep.
Speaker 3 (07:00):
And so we can look forward to that and very
good project and a nice looking building that they're going
to put up.
Speaker 2 (07:05):
Also ober on Memorial Highway as ask for a variance
as well, and have a couple of photos to kind
of give folks a perspective of where that project is.
You see Memorial Highway on southeast labeled there in the
outline of the blue and this again would be a
(07:26):
nice fresh look at Obra on the strip.
Speaker 3 (07:29):
Right another really positive addition, and we look at all
the construction, well, structure has kind of come to a
standstill on the strip right now due to the rain
the last week. But a lot of what we're seeing
is a lot of the businesses in this area are
taking advantage of Okay, if there's going to be some
construction going on on the street in front of us,
maybe it's time for us to do some improvements on
(07:52):
the inside or exterior or an addition ontour building. So
pretty please with avags freshen up their look and then
do some expansion and that sort of thing. So again,
it's been very interesting to watch and have the conversations
with those entities on the strip. They're looking at, Hey,
now is the time we're going to upgrade our buildings
(08:12):
along with the upgrade in the infrastructure.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
Yeah, and we'll show you another one shortly NAPA Auto.
Before that, though, a new business on the agenda last
night we heard consider of approval of the North Cota
Game and Fish Department boat funding agreement. A Mandan Fire
Department is a lot of words there. I probably could
have simplified it a little bit. The Mandan Fire Department
is going to be able to get a boat to
(08:35):
help with sim water.
Speaker 3 (08:37):
Yeah. Response, We've got Lakewood Station number two, which is
down in the Lakewood and Marina Bay area, very close
to the water where if we have to, if we
get called out, the boat that we're looking at is
going to be able to operate in I think eight
inches of water, which is pretty critical as the river
plus shuates. As we've said, anybody at Lenotti River knows
(08:59):
that absolutely. In this I think Fire Chief Bits made
it a point of saying we're not in competition with
Burley County Dive and Rescue or Morton County Dive and Rescue.
This is not intended to be a dive operation. It's
for on top of water operations and things like that.
And I think when the Commission first approved moving forward
(09:19):
with this grand application, it was all right if you
are able to find donations for the rest of it,
so it's not coming out of our tax base and
things like that. If you find enough donors that are
interested in helping support this project, and then along with
this grant and it's not costing you know, the residents
of man and out of pocket, go for it.
Speaker 2 (09:39):
Yeah.
Speaker 3 (09:39):
Obviously we'll have training in some time from our firefighters
put into this. I know that we've even had some
discussions with police Chief Sigler about if we need to
get some police officers some training in this also that
we'll work on that so that we've got a full
complement of folks that can be out on the water looking.
And again it's not intended to be in competition or
being underwater activities. These are above ground activities and we'll
(10:03):
look forward as we start procuring bids for this boat.
Speaker 2 (10:07):
Mayor fayleck I thought asked an interesting question about would
this boat be left in a marina on the water,
and the Chief bit said no, And there are a
couple of reasons for that obviously, and you can go
into it a little bit more. Response was one, you
wouldn't want to have the boat at one marina and
have an issue somewhere else. And then also I think
(10:28):
you mentioned the low eight inches of water that this
boat can be utilized. And also there was some part
of the boat that would be to a lot of weathering.
Speaker 3 (10:39):
It's the ZUV and anyone who has any whether it's
a jet skier, a pontoon, or a boat outside, your
UV rays are really going to deteriorate that fabric and
that boat. And so we will keep it inside storey
at Lakewood Station two. We have a vehicle that will
pull it in and out. And you know, if we
were to you know, dock this in Marina Bay, absolutely
(11:01):
for positive, the first call we get out is going
to be somewhere far away and we're gonna have to
load it up and put it on the trailer and
get it out. So in this manner, it'll be kept inside,
out of the elements and available for use at a
drop of a hat. It's another tool for public safety, right,
so very good. It's something we've been looking at for
(11:23):
several years and now, the timing it was right. The
funding obviously is coming with donations and also with this.
Speaker 2 (11:29):
Grand nap Auto on Main Street is doing its refresh
I think after three decades or so, and we can
see a current state of nap Outo parts right, and
then what the proposed signage would look like.
Speaker 3 (11:42):
But a nice refresh. Yeah, good project. And this is
what our downtown storefront improvement or actually we've expanded to
the strip in other parts of town, but right now
for our storefront improvement project. In this case, NAPA is
a corner lot, so they're eligible for not only the
main street facing side of their building, but also the
(12:02):
westerly side they're going to. Part of the project is
removing all signs of blight and things like that. In
order to qualify for the project, they came in with
I think a great plan, a great refresh, updates, things
like that that'll make it look more modern.
Speaker 1 (12:17):
And it.
Speaker 3 (12:19):
Was time. And so they're eligible for I think up
to sixty thousand dollars in grant funds as long as
they spend one hundred and twenty, so it's a dollar
for dollar match. We also, as part of what we
call clawbacks, is that we put in a five year
it's really a five year promissory note or a loan
(12:40):
that we provide to the entity, and that is forgiven
in equal portions over five years. So if this building
were to sell or change or rebrand or something within
two years, then we will get a payback of those
funds because we want to make sure that the changes
that are made are substantial and they're long lasting.
Speaker 2 (13:03):
Well, hop back to Memorial Highway, and you mentioned the
rain hasn't been a friend of instruction. What has not
And we've talked about this project in the past, but
just the financing resolution and the cash share involved from
the Finance Department. Greg Walch appeared before the commission last
night to provide the update.
Speaker 3 (13:22):
Yeah, part of that, I think it is thirty one
million dollars and that it includes both above ground and
our below ground portion of this project. And this is
it's important to know what We've got one hundred and
twenty million dollars project going on. Of that one hundred
and twenty the local which are the responsibility the city
and our residence something like that, is thirty one million dollars.
A lot of that is on the below ground water
(13:45):
and sewer and things like that that are not necessarily
eligible for federal funding. We've done, i think a yeoman's
job of obtaining all the grant funding we can to
help reduce that local cost. And in this case we're
able to tap into two percent loan money, which is
a huge savings. If we would need to go out
and borrow on the open market in today's rates, you
(14:08):
might be looking at you know, five or six percent interest.
Two percent over the time period of this loan is
a great benefit. And that's part of what this said
North Dakota provides on projects like this.
Speaker 2 (14:19):
So big help in that cooperation right, like you said,
is a big bonus for the taxpayers.
Speaker 3 (14:25):
Then again, one hundred and twenty million dollars project, and
there's lots of different grand funding sources that are going
in to make this project possible. Obviously, the rain of
late has put a little damper in that, but they're busy,
and I know even this weekend they were trying to
pump out some of the water from the places and
dry it out. But that is kind of in a
fruitless effort to date with the rain continue.
Speaker 2 (14:47):
Oh gosh, well, it looks like in the extended forecast.
We know you get some sunshine and some dry conditions.
Speaker 3 (14:52):
Finally, Yeah, but that's always you know, when contractors big projects,
there are rain days built in, so if your project
is supposed to last one hundred days, you may have
twenty rain days built in. So we still are expecting
everything to be done on time, but we will see
how long this continues.
Speaker 2 (15:09):
We've been showing folks this contact form just if they
want to stay up to date with what's happening on
Memorial Highway. So there's a QR code and a URL
and also phone numbers. So I guess if you want
to keep up today with the project and go want
to drive through and take a look at things. It's
a way for people to keep in contact.
Speaker 3 (15:28):
Yeah. Interesting call I received Monday, and the business owner
decided to tell me that there's a lot of rain.
I said, yes, there is, Okay, I just wanted to
let you know that, and I said, perfect, thanks for
calling anything else, Nope, nope, just thought I call and
tell you that. Then it was one of those calls
you go, all right, thank you very much, and they
(15:50):
fully understood what's going on and going You know, there
can be a lot of work going on when there's
so much rain at the same time. So, like I said,
one of those calls that you go, thanks for calling.
We appreciate anything else you need to tell. Nope, I
just want to let you know that, I said, perfect.
He said, all right, all good.
Speaker 2 (16:07):
Well, hopefully for your public Works open house tomorrow act
the weather lets up a little bit, although won't be
outside I guess, but this is a pretty neat event
and gives people an opportunity to really see what city
crews are doing and city.
Speaker 3 (16:25):
Workers are up to. Yeah, I think our Public Works
director Shane m'keeffe kind of gave some highlights. And last night,
so April April May, it's April because April showered, right.
So May eighteenth through twenty fourth is National Public Works Week.
Our open houses. There is May twenty second from four
to six pm down at our Public Workshop and normally
(16:46):
we're inside there anyway, and there will be you know,
hamburgs and hot dogs and some snacks, and folks will
have the ability to if you want to get in
and you know, hop in a snowplow, see what it
looks like hopping. A street sweeper will take you for
a ride, and a lot of kids them down and
like this and love our different partners that we work with.
We'll have a booth set up at that point in time,
(17:07):
So again, huge shout out our public works folks, men
and women are having busy cleaning the equipment and getting
things ready for this, and they are you know, they're
out there right now making sure storm drains are open
and doing their best to make sure any other issues
that are going on with the city. I know we've
had I think one or two water line breaks, so
(17:27):
they're out there busy doing out of work that they
normally do and also getting ready for this. So big
shout out to our bubble work works Cruse.
Speaker 2 (17:35):
We already answered my follow up question, but I thought
it was a fun moment in the meeting last night.
Or Shane, will you'll there be food And the answer
is yes.
Speaker 3 (17:44):
We normally know we normally in order to get people
to come to an event, you'll you'll need food and beverages. Yes,
so there will be I think water for folks to drink,
and a dog and hamburger, and I think we're going
to have cookies too. Going Okay, well, all right, I'll
expect to see you there tomorrow and forth's that seals it.
Speaker 2 (18:03):
If they're cookies, then yeah, I can't can't miss that, right,
I guess the good news of all this rain are
one of the good pieces of all this rain is
more than Counties lifted its burn ban.
Speaker 3 (18:14):
Yeah, and we'll say that it's lifted for not now.
Speaker 2 (18:17):
Ollie.
Speaker 3 (18:18):
Again, it's really important that folks are always diligent in
when those burn bands are in place. We know that,
you know, not far away. The fourth of July is
coming up and we're certainly hoping that we're not into
the same situation we were a week ago where the
burn ban is in place. And like I said, so
no matter what, people just need to be diligent and careful.
Speaker 2 (18:39):
And it's camping season, yes, I mean it's Memorial Day weekend.
It is never seems to have great weather, at least
looking back, it always feels that way. But everybody's going
to be out and about and enjoying summer, and so
good advice always to be cautious. Well, we mentioned before
we love folks to download our apps at to CODA
Media Access. The d m A app will give you
(19:01):
access to our government access station and also our community
access station. So you can stay on top of all
the happenings in Bismarck and Mandan and brilliant Morton County.
And our Radio Access app has a lot of really
great DJ produced local produced radio programming and also podcasts
(19:21):
that are produced locally, so great great apps to have
handy if you want to list some music while you're
out and about this summer, and you can find us
wherever you are whenever you can. Jim, thanks for the visit.
Speaker 3 (19:36):
Uh, we'll see you in a couple of weeks. Yeah,
thank you're rich and ide will dry out by then, a.
Speaker 2 (19:40):
Little bit dry out by then, and we'll see what's
in the future. Thanks for joining us today.
Speaker 1 (19:45):
For more information on what was discussed in this episode
of City Current, visit Cityofmandan dot com or call seven
oh one sixty six seven three two one five. If
you have any suggestions, comments, or issues you would like
addressed in future City Current episodes, contact us at info
at FreeTV dot org. This program airs on Government Access
(20:07):
Channel two and six O two in h D or
on Radio Access one O two point five f M.
It's also available as a podcast on Radioaccess dot org
and as a video viewing link at FreeTV dot org.
Thanks for tuning in to this edition of City Current.
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