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Bowman County Commission

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.

OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS OF

THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

BOWMAN COUNTY, BOWMAN, NORTH DAKOTA

 

The Board of County Commissioners met in regular session on August 18, 2026, with the following present: Rick Braaten, Josh Buchmann, Jerid Janikowski and Nathan Miller. Absent: Pine Abrahamson. Chairman Braaten called the meeting to order at 9:00 AM. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited.

 

Braaten asked for corrections or additions to the agenda. Miller moved to approve the agenda. Buchmann seconded the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

 

The following August 18, 2026, vouchers were approved by a motion made by Buchmann, with Miller seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

41618 Bowman Auto Parts $871.80
41619 Carrie Kalenze $14.00
41620 City of Bowman $681.07
41621 Consolidated $1,510.15
41622 Dakota Dust Tex $225.70
41623 Dickinson Truck Equipment $692.08
41624 Hans Flatz $66.56
41625 ND ITD $733.25
41626 Jan Werre $14.00
41627 Jodi Freier $526.00
41628 Lane Dingfelder $285.52
41629 Loiseau Construction $226,977.76
41630 Matthew Bender & Co $77.80
41631 Melvin Miller Construction $14,100.00
41632 North Central International $405.23
41633 ProPoint COOP $1,345.85
41634 ProPoint Cooperative $2,268.15
41635 Scranton Equity $6,481.17
41636 Slope Electric $872.62
41637 SWMCCC $6,700.00
41638 The Badlands Patriot $918.60
41639 True North Steel $15,122.00
41640 Underground Vaults & Storage $225.60
41641 Verizon $521.00

 

Janikowski moved to approve the August 4, 2026, minutes with Miller seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

 

BCVSO, Laci Coates, met to give an update on her office. Also present: Brad Mosher, Bruce Jones, and Ken Dobitz.

 

Darren Limesand, Bowman Fire Department gave an update on their new facility.

 

Bowman County Sheriff, Frank Eberle, gave an update on his office.

 

Dean Pearson, Bowman County Emergency Manager, met to discuss a fire emergency burn restriction, which would be a total burn ban. The commission will leave the current burn restriction in place.

 

Bowman County Highway Superintendent, Shane Biggs, and Billy Doerr, Brosz Engineering, met to discuss road projects. Doerr presented pay application #6 from Wilson Construction for $67,017.02 for the Old Hwy 12 Phase 2 Reconstruction Project. Cassandra Tobin and Josh Shein, Northern Improvement and Chris Altman, Mastec met to discuss a road remediation plan for the Sunset Butte Road. Present via phone: Lukas Geisbuhler, APEX, Greg Peterson, Mastec, Greg McCormick and Lynn McChesney, Northern Improvement. Also present: Wayne Wilson.

 

 

At 12:14 PM Miller moved to adjourn the meeting, with Janikowski seconding the motion, and upon a vote, the motion was carried unanimously.

Rick Braaten, Chairman, Board of County Commissioners

ATTEST: Mindy Schumacher, Bowman County Auditor

BOWMAN COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

REGULAR MEETING
Tuesday, Sept 15, 2026
9:00 AM

AGENDA

 

Call to order Chairman Braaten

 

Pledge of Allegiance – Prayer – Pastor Ed Kvaale

 

        

Consideration for Approval

    1. Agenda
    2. Vouchers
    3. September 1, 2026 Minutes
    4. Fire Emergency Burn Restriction
    5. Directional Boring Permit Application #1390

 

Unfinished Business

  1. Reimbursement Agreement, Bowman Wind LLC
  2. New Vision Security Systems Quote for Additional Cameras

 

 

New Business

  1. Cattle guard on 88th Street

 

 

Scheduled Appointments Made in Advance

9:45 AM    Bowman Fire Department, Facility Update

10:00         Frank Eberle, Bowman County Sheriff’s Office

10:15         CUP Hearing, ND Geological Survey

11:00         Shane Biggs, Bowman County Highway Superintendent

                 

 

             Elected Officials Office Updates & Other

 

 

Public Notices

 

 

Important Meeting Dates

 

 

  • Next Regularly Scheduled Commission Meeting –October 6, 2026, 9:00 AM

 

Adjourn

County Commission Meeting

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.

Rick Braaten

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:

  • 1994 – 2002 Board Member Farmers Union Oil of Rhame
  • FSA County Committee
  • County Representative on Economic Development Board
  • County Representative on Social Service Board

Josh Buchmann

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:

  • Bowman County Fair Board
  • Bowman Volunteer Fire Department
  • Owner of RMJ Towing

Nathan Miller

Commissioner
(701) 206-0710
email

 

Nathan was elected to the Bowman County Commission in 2024.

 

Other Offices Held:

  • County Representative on County Weed Board
  • County Representative on Housing Authority

Pine Abrahamson

Commissioner
701-440-8799

 

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 and her husband. Pine is married with 4 children and 4 grandchildren.

 

Other Offices Held:

  • Bowman County Economic Development Board
  • Roosevelt Custer Regional Council Board
  • SW Multi-County Correctional Center Board
  • Bowman County All-Seasons Arena Board
  • Bowman/Slope Multi-County Social Service District
  • Bowman County Information Technology Committee
  • Bowman County Extension Advisory Council

Jerid Janikowski

Commissioner
(701) 440-8445
email

 

Jerid was elected to the Bowman County Commission in 2022.

 

Other Offices Held:

  • Bowman County Zoning Board
  • Bowman County Local Emergency Planning Committee

Contact

CONTACT

EMAIL: auditor@bowmancountynd.gov

PHONE: (701) 523-3130

Bowman County Auditor
104 1st St NW, Suite 1
Bowman ND 58623

OFFICE HOURS

Monday – Thursday:
7:30am – 12:00pm MT
12:30pm – 4:30pm MT

Friday:
7:30am – 12:00pm MT
(Closed on Legal Holidays)