Bowman County Commissioners are elected at large on a non-partisan basis for staggered four-year terms. The County Commission is the governing body of the County responsible for overseeing County activities and working to ensure that citizen concerns are met, federal and state requirements are fulfilled, and County operations run smoothly.
The State constitution gives the Board of County Commissioners the power to adopt zoning ordinances (local laws), levy taxes, appropriations, authorize bonds, set salaries, approve bills, accept bids, approve the County budget and establish the requirements/policies for the Departments under its control.
The Board governs all unorganized townships of the County directly.
The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on June 7, 2022, with the following present: Pine Abrahamson, Rick Braaten, Lynn Brackel, Josh Buchmann and Jerry Jeffers. Chairman Braaten called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. Pastor Charles Johnson shared a prayer.
Braaten asked for corrections or additions to the agenda. Royce Hammer, Cougar Land Services, called after publication and asked to be added to agenda. He will be coming in at 2 PM. Jeffers moved to approve the agenda. Buchmann seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
The following June 7, 2022, vouchers were approved by a motion made by Brackel, with Buchmann seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
May Payroll | $179,919.33 | |
35490 | First International Bank Visa | $2,251.03 |
35491 | MCI | $76.00 |
35492 | MidCo | $104.41 |
35493 | Slope Electric | $417.90 |
35527 | John Deere Financial | $2,482.70 |
35528 | Advanced Business Methods | $143.09 |
35529 | Baker Metal | $274.80 |
35530 | Bergan KVD | $194.76 |
35531 | Boss Office Products | $134.98 |
35532 | Bowman Auto Parts | $329.07 |
35533 | Bowman County Fair Board | $500.00 |
35534 | Bowman Sales and Service | $31,968.37 |
35535 | Brian Fischer Construction | $195.00 |
35536 | Budd-Falen Law Office | $1,690.00 |
35537 | Clubhouse Hotel & Suites | $345.60 |
35538 | CAN Surety | $50.00 |
35539 | Consolidated Telcom | $1,215.77 |
35540 | Dacotah Paper Co | $58.80 |
35541 | Dakota DustTex | $175.70 |
35542 | Dakota Western Insurance | $132.00 |
35543 | Double EE Service | $254.90 |
35544 | Election Systems and Software | $827.44 |
35545 | Flower Nook | $20.50 |
35546 | Jim’s Repair | $367.40 |
35547 | Karla Germann | $36.52 |
35548 | Lexipol | $344.00 |
35549 | Lomco Inc | $2,563.25 |
35550 | Mindy Schumacher | $70.80 |
35551 | Montana Dakota Utilities | $2,786.63 |
35552 | ND Secretary Of State | $36.00 |
35553 | ND States Attorney Association | $300.00 |
35554 | Newby’s Ace Hardware | $154.35 |
35555 | ND State Treasurer | $183.06 |
35556 | North Dakota State University | $50.00 |
35557 | Northwest Tire | $643.65 |
35558 | Offroad Software | $2,025.00 |
35559 | Randy’s Welding | $841.99 |
35560 | RDO Equipment | $216,198.00 |
35561 | RELX, Inc | $45.00 |
35562 | Seachange Print Innovations | $423.20 |
35563 | SWMCC | $11,600.00 |
35564 | Sydnee Kidd | $53.10 |
35565 | The Badlands Patriot | $100.00 |
35566 | Unlimited Office Products | $436.48 |
35567 | Western Emulsions | $17,206.10 |
Bowman County Recorder/Clerk of Court, Jan Werre, gave an update on her office.
Abrahamson moved to approve the May 17, 2022, minutes with Brackel seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Bowman County Treasurer, Anita McLaughlin, met to present the May 2022 Treasurer’s Daily Cash Settlement/Bank Reconciliation Report. Brackel moved to approve, with Buchmann seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Abrahamson moved to approve the May 2022 Recorder and Sheriff Fee Collection Reports. Jeffers seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Brackel moved to approve the May 2022 Month-End Bureau of Land Management Report, with Jeffers seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Abrahamson moved to approve the two gaming site authorizations from Bowman County Development Corporation for calcuttas to be held at Sweetwater Golf Course on the following dates: June 11, 12, 25, 2022, July 11, 2022, and August 13, 14, 2022. Brackel seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Discussion was held on a request from an individual to hay the grassland that the county owns at the old airport property. Abrahamson moved to put haying the grassland up for bids. Buchmann seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Bowman County Highway Superintendent, Shane Biggs, and Lucas Doerr, Brosz Engineering, met to discuss road projects. Scott Jansen and Charles Kennedy, APEX, met to discuss the Bowman County Haul Route Agreement. They have concerns with the County’s current agreement. Also present: Jodi Freier and Billy Doerr. The commissioners have already approved the haul route agreement that is in place, and do not wish to alter it.
At 1:15 PM Chairman Braaten called the Unorganized Township Equalization meeting to order. Guests present: Anita McLaughlin and Frank Eberle. Tax Director Jodi Freier outlined state mandates and stated that there were not any valuation changes for Unorganized Townships. Jeffers moved to approve the assessment rolls as presented for the Unorganized Townships, with no change on values for agricultural, residential, and commercial properties. Brackel seconded the motion. A roll call vote was requested with all members voting aye. Motion carried. Brackel moved to adjourn the unorganized township equalization meeting at 1:18 PM, with Abrahamson seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
At 1:30 PM Chairman Braaten called the County Equalization meeting to order. Guests present: Anita McLaughlin and Frank Eberle. Jodi Freier outlined state mandates and stated that there were not any valuation concerns presented from the floor during the April Equalization meetings. Abrahamson moved to approve no change in values, county-wide, for commercial and agricultural property, and a three (3) percent increase in the City of Scranton, and a five (5) percent increase in the City of Bowman, and a five (5) percent increase in Bowman Township residential values, based upon the City of Bowman and Scranton and Bowman Township Board’s recommendation. Brackel seconded the motion. A roll call vote was requested with all members voting aye. Motion carried. Buchmann moved to adjourn the county equalization meeting at 1:59 PM, with Jeffers seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Discussion was held on a request from the Bowman Fair Board Association. They have commission approval of $75,000 from BLM funds to go towards constructing a new storage building at the fairgrounds. The Fair Board is inquiring if they could use the approved funds towards possibly purchasing a skidsteer loader. The Commissioners agreed that they could use the funds towards a skidsteer purchase.
Royce Hammer, Cougar Land Services, met on behalf of Denbury to discuss a Geophysical Operations Agreement between the county and Cougar Land Services. The agreement requests permission from the county to conduct geophysical operations on county-owned land. Brackel moved to approve the agreement. Abrahamson seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Bowman County Sheriff, Frank Eberle, gave an update on his office.
Bowman County Auditor, Mindy Schumacher, notified the board that the Scranton Community Center, which was approved to be the Scranton Precinct Polling location, does not currently have water to the building and the street that it is located on, is not easily accessible to voters. The project was supposed to be completed before the June 14th, 2022 Primary Election, but due to rain, the project is behind schedule, and there is no guarantee that the building will be ready in time for the election. Schumacher spoke to the Scranton Public School, and they would allow us to use the school library on June 14th, 2022 for the Primary Election. Buchmann moved to approve changing the Scranton Precinct Polling location from the Scranton Community Center to the Scranton Public School located at 52 Fries St NE, Scranton, ND. Abrahamson seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
With no further business to discuss, Brackel moved to adjourn at 2:57 PM. Jeffers seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.
Rick Braaten, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners
ATTEST: Mindy Schumacher, Bowman County Auditor
July 7, 2022 – 8:00 AM
Call to order Chairman Braaten
Pledge of Allegiance – Prayer – Pastor Terry Bagley
Unfinished Business
New Business
Scheduled Appointments Made in Advance
9:00 -10:55 AM Bowman County Department Heads – 2023 Budget Requests
11:00 Bowman County Highway Superintendent, Shane Biggs
LUNCH
1:15 PM Hay Bid Opening
1:45-3 PM Bowman County Department Heads – 2023 Budget Requests
Elected Officials Office Updates & Other
The County Commission has been invited to attend the following events and/or meetings:
Bowman County Planning and Zoning Public Hearing at the 4 Seasons Pavilion, East Wing, 12 Hwy 12 East, Bowman ND to discuss the Zoning Variance Applications and Application for Conditional Use Permit submitted by Apex Clean Energy, Inc., Bowman Wind L.L.C. Following a decision by the Bowman County Planning and Zoning Committee, the Bowman County Commission will immediately hold a hearing for their consideration of the Zoning Variance and Conditional Use Permit.
NOTE –The meeting will be starting at 8:00 AM rather than 9:00 AM
Adjourn
Regular meetings of the Bowman County Commissioners are generally the first and third Tuesday of each month beginning at 9:00 a.m. in the commissioner room located on the lower level of the courthouse.
Commissioner
(701) 279-5530
email
Rick was first elected as a Bowman County Commissioner in November 2008. He is a 1975 graduate of Bowman High School and graduated from NDSU in 1979 with a BS degree in Agricultural Economics. Rick is married to Laurie Fish and they four sons. Rick engages in farm and ranch work.
Other Offices Held:
Commissioner
(701) 206-0578
email
Josh graduated in 1996 from Bowman High School and attended NDSCS, graduating in 1999. He moved back to Bowman in 2006. He has two children; his daughter lives in Wahpeton and works for NDSCS and his son attends Bowman High School.
Other Offices Held:
Commissioner
(701) 279-5885
email
Jerry was elected to the Bowman County Commission in 2016 and is the third generation on the Jeffers farm in southwestern Bowman County; homesteaded in 1909. Jerry also has operated a cabinet shop in the winter since 1976. He has three sons and is married to Karen who has two sons and a daughter. Between them they have 11 grandchildren.
Other Offices Held:
Commissioner
701-523-3169
email
Pine was first elected as a Bowman County Commissioner in 2004. Pine was born and raised in Bowman County. He has been engaged in agriculture his entire life; he is the third generation to be involved on the family farm where he spends many hours working with his youngest daughter her husband. Pine is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren.
Other Offices Held:
Commissioner
(701) 523-3749
email
Lynn was elected to the County Commission in 2008. He graduated from Dickinson State University in 1966 with a music degree and taught band and chorus for 12 years. Lynn still enjoys music and has directed the Church Choir for 30 years, Bowman County Community Band for 20 years, and Saxy Brass for 20 years. Lynn owned a plumbing business and served the Southwest North Dakota, Montana, and South Dakota areas for over 30 years. He has 3 children and 5 grandchildren.
Other Offices Held:
EMAIL: auditor@bowmancountynd.gov
PHONE: (701) 523-3130
Bowman County Auditor
104 1st St NW, Suite 1
Bowman ND 58623
Monday – Thursday:
7:30am – 12:00pm MT
12:30pm – 4:30pm MT
Friday:
7:30am – 12:00pm MT
(Closed on Legal Holidays)