City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on September 9, 2025 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

                Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Myron Vail, Chief Headley, Steve Ness, Todd Hofland, Josh Stuchal, Aaron Allen, Peggy Allen, Kady York, Chris Buchholz, Brad Mosher, Brianna Fleck, Kaitlyn Brooks, and Stacy McGee.  Absent: Sara Bullis

President James called the meeting order at 4:00 pm.  Motion by Shear, second by Vail to approve the amended agenda. RCV= all aye, MC.

                Direct Deposit: $34,488.058; Salary Check $616.60 (8/5/25), Checks #14614 – 14638; Voided Checks: None; Bills: Advanced Business Methods $226.86, Asphalt Preservation Company $214,014.53, Badlands Patriot $1,033.52, Boss Office Products $120.97, Bowman Auto Parts $471.34, Bowman Park and Rec $44,718.10, Bowman Sales and Service $144.12, Bronson’s Marketplace $76.96, Brosz Engineering $44,295.00, Core and Main, LP $2,083.32, Coyle Electric $6,762.62, Dakota Dust-Tex $192.45, Dakota Western Bank $69.40, Morgan Foss $900.00, Frontier Travel Center $557.34, MDU $8,114.54, Newby’s Ace Hardware $85.91, Steven Nes $348.00, SW Abstract $1,195.00, SW District Health Unit $50.00, Swanston Equipment Corporation $2,400.00Tiger Electric $619.88, VISA $1,582.47, Western Dakota Energy Association $125.00, and Wild and Weiss Law Firm $200.00.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                 Pay Application #1 for Chip Seal: The striping on Main Street is to be done next week, so there will be a separate pay application it.  There will be approximately 200 ton of left over chip that Asphalt Preservation is giving to the city for payment of storage of the chips for their other projects ($70/ton value includes labor, so not sure of actual value).  Motion by Shear, second by Vail to approve Pay Application #1 for chip seal in the amount of $214,014.53 payable to Asphalt Preservation.  RCV= all aye, MC.  A business requested larger parking spaces when they do the striping.  The Commission decided to keep the same spacing for the striping for vehicles on Main Street because they didn’t want to lose parking space, and didn’t want to change it for one business owner.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Department Head Report: Terry Sarsland said he would work at the landfill during fall wood cleanup week thru Thursday (9/22/25 – 2/25/25) and Brady Matheson will be there Friday and Saturday (9/26/25 – 9/27/25).  McGee said Sarsland’s wage will be what he was last paid at the City, the Commission was okay with that.

Street Loader:  Shear spoke about the loader replacement quote, with our trade in the cost would be $50,000.00.  There will be enough money in the fund with this year’s transfer.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the purchase of the 2025 John Deere 624P loader and paying a balance of $50,000.00 when it comes in.  RCV= all aye, MC.

NESS -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Department Head Report:  Ness had training in Bismarck, took two tests and passed both.  He still has some more tests to do, he can take two at a time and should get done with them by the end of the year to become certified.

3^rd Street and 3^rd Avenue SW Intersection: Justin Kruger gave us a quote to do the water main replacement at the intersection of 3^rd Street SW and 3^rd Avenue SW, and the quote is good as long as he is still in town and doesn’t have to do another mobilization.  Motion by Vail, second by Schaaf to approve JK Excavation and Construction fixing the water main at the intersection of 3^rd Avenue SW and 3^rd Street SW in the amount of $148,000 plus any necessary engineering.  RCV= all aye, MC.  Ness will check with the engineers if they need to be involved in this project.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 8/18/25 – 9/1/25:  Incidents – 6 (Search warrant, animal cruelty, animal neglect, harassment-emergency personnel, criminal trespass, and burglary), Calls for Service – 51 (extra patrol-14, public relations-5, information report-4, lost animal-3, lockout-2, suspicious person, circumstance—2, unruly child-2, traffic control for fire-2, found property-2, accident property damage, leaving the scene of an accident, traffic complaint, domestic dispute, welfare check, lost property, criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, abuse or neglect of vulnerable adult, reckless driver, agency assistance, animal problem, citizen assist, dog or cat running at large, and suspicious circumstance), Traffic Stop – 15 (written warning-9, citation-3, verbal warning-2 and no action), and Arrests – 1 (harassment).

                Police Cruiser:  The water pump needs replaced in the police cruiser, it is going to cost about $3,500.00 to fix.  The Commission approved Headley getting it fixed.

Abandoned Dog:  They have a dog in their kennel that they have had for approximately 3 weeks and no one is claiming her.  They have advertised on Facebook that they are adopting it out but have no interest.  Headley inquired what he should do with the dog.  It was suggested that Headley put an ad on KPOK to see if anyone is interested in the dog since not everyone is on social media.  If there is no interest by the next meeting then the Commission will address it.

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT: 

                Department Head Report:  Nothing to report

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

Park and Rec City Sales Tax Request: Allen presented a City Sales Tax Request for Bowman Park and Rec for a capitol project for concrete in front of The Edge in the amount of $40,066.42.  Motion by Vail, second by Shear to approve the city sales tax request for Bowman Park and Rec in the amount of $40,066.42.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Trees Grant:  Allen explained there is a 80/20 cost share grant for putting more trees in the community.  The City’s 20% share can also be in kind labor, equipment use, etc, doesn’t need to be funds.  Allen will bring back the grant information when she figures out the costs associated with it.  Vail said he would be the caretaker and water the trees as the grant requires. Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to approve applying for Community Forestry Tree Grant.  RCV= all aye, MC.

                Back the Blue Grant:  Allen stated that the City would be receiving Back the Blue grant funds in October in the amount of $2,819.55 per officer.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to accept the Back the Blue funds to use as a retention bonus to be paid out over two years with half being paid on 1/2/26 and the other on 1/2/27 less payroll taxes.  RCV= all aye, MC.

TRE Meeting:  Allen inquired if anyone want to attend this meeting, it is in Texas.  No one wants to attend.

NDLC and MFOA Meeting:  Allen inquired about attending the NDLC Annual Conference Training and MFOA Training in Bismarck.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to allow Allen to attend the MFOA and NDLC annual training in Bismarck.  RCV= all aye, MC.

JAMES:

James stated that a resident informed her that a sidewalk was ripped out at a residence near the old hospital and kids are riding bike in the street now on their way to school.  Allen will work with Shannon and bring a letter back to send to the resident stating that it needs replaced. Allen will investigate to see if it was a City sidewalk from a prior Safe Routes to School project.

CHRIS BUCHHOLZ-TNR:

                Buchholz stated that he doesn’t feel that TNR is effective.  James spoke how she feels there is a drastic improvement in diseased and feral cats running around.  Commissioners explained how it gets rid of diseased cats so it doesn’t spread to other cats.  Buchholz wondered how you could tell if the cats running around town have been treated.  York stated that the TNR cats have their ears notched and they have a book with photos that they can compare the cats if necessary.  Buchholz said just fixing the females is not effective and York stated both females and males are fixed.

Headley stated that the PD has live traps for the public to use, all he asks is if it appears to be a pet, please release it, if its feral, give it go to a farmer or rancher.  Headley stated that the service of borrowing out live traps had bottomed out when Meowser’s Cat Rescue took over.  The PD does not have the means to board cats, they only have a kennel for dogs.

Allen gave Buchholz a letter from the city attorney answering a couple of his questions he had prior to this meeting.

CASE LDC#25-005 YORK KENNEL CUP APPEAL:

The City has not received any other appeals other than Chris Buchholz.  James said she would check in quarterly for the first year to make sure things are being followed correctly at Meowser’s Cat Rescue if the Commission approved York’s CUP for a kennel.  Motion by Vail, second by Schaaf, to deny the appeal and approve York’s CUP for a kennel with up to 15 cats and no dogs.  RCV= all aye, MC.  Allen told York she would give her the application for the Pet Rescue with her CUP for the kennel tomorrow.

MILES WATERBURY PARK AND REC:

Waterbury showed the Commission Park and Rec’s plans to add exercise stations around the walking path.  The cost for all equipment and installation is approximately $14,000 at the high end .  He is looking at a couple grants to help pay for this project and is requesting the Commissions blessing to put these at James Field since the City will have to insure them.  He is not requesting any funds from the City.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve placing the fitness equipment around the walking path at James field.  RCV= all aye, MC.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

                 Next Meeting: 9/16/25

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the bills and the 8/19/25 Meeting Minutes.  RCV= all aye, MC.

President James adjourned the meeting at 5:15 pm.

BOWMAN CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, September 16, 2025 at 4:00 pm

Bowman City Hall, 101 1st St. NE

*Agenda Policy*:  The City follows a strict agenda policy in order to insure transparency to the citizens of Bowman.  NO topics will be discussed that are not on the agenda unless said topic constitutes an emergency action.  This agenda has a rolling schedule so scheduled appointments may take place sooner than the scheduled time unless it is a public hearing.

 4:00  –  4:05 PM               Call Meeting to Order, Approval of Agenda and Pledge of Allegiance

Commissioners Review of Bills

4:05 – 4:30 PM                 Dept. Head Reports/Engineering (A. Allen, Hofland, Mason, Chief Headley, and Brosz Engineering)

4:30 PM                              Public Hearing for 2026 Budget Adoption

ALLEN

Extra Mile Day Proclamation

State Surplus Property Application

Danny S. Brosz Living Trust Map Replat Signatures

Letter of Support for Paulson Seed Road Project (Bowman and Talbot Township)

Letter of Support for Old Highway 12 Phase III Project (Bowman County)

Resident Compliance Letters

JAMES

Animals in the ET Zone

Open Forum

Close of Meeting

• Approval of Bills, August 2025 Financials and 9/2/25 Meeting Minutes.
• Next Meeting Date: 10/7/25
• Adjournment of Meeting