City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on September 16, 2025 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Chief Headley, Steve Ness, Todd Hofland, Shannon Hewson, Aaron Allen, Peggy Allen, Scott Shear, Margie Becker Russ, Prendergast Resident and David Horn.  Absent: None

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

                Direct Deposit: $34,676.73; Checks # 14639 – 14660; Voided Checks: None; Bills: A2Z Printing $150.55, AT & T $788.36, Bill Mason $28.00, Bismarck Hotel $110.00, Bowman County Auditor $480.00, Bowman County Development Corporation $3,775.00, Cenex Fleet Card $4,716.47, Consolidated Telecom $1,188.63, Core and Main, LP $1,669.50, CW Structural Engineers $1,650.00, EIDO Connect $48.00, Fallon County Treasurer $7,702.80, Hawkins $901.33, James Titus $420.00, JK Excavation $3,000.00, John Deere Financial $46.96, KPOK $75.00, ND Information Technology $92.80, Nova Fire Protection $750.00, One Call Concepts $114.85, SW District Health Units $50.00, and West River Vet Clinic $296.75.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                 Sewer Rehab Project: Videoing is done on the sewer pipes; they will get us invoiced soon.  There were 3,000 linear feet of pipe they couldn’t get through out of 15,000 linear feet.  Most of it was 6” pipe.  Janikowski is working with the State on the application for funding this project.

Water Tank Project:  The structural design is nearly complete.

Flex Funding/Walking Path & The Edge Path:   Flex funding is due at the end of this week, its a 10% cost share.  We can apply for the design engineering funds only and then sit the project on the shelf until Transportation Alternative (TA) applications for funding come around again.  That is an 80/20 split with 20% being the city’s portion. TA will only pay for the construction funds, not the engineering.  If we wait for Flex funds to come around again, we will have to wait two years.

Hewson recommends applying for only design engineering with Flex funds.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to apply for flex only grant application for The Edge and walking path project engineering with a 10% cost share.  RCV= all aye, MC.

West Divide Sidewalk: The sidewalk was removed in the front yard of a property on West Divide.  The sidewalk that was removed was fairly new plus some of it was older on the east side.  Brosz Engineering will research to see if this sidewalk was a safe route to school project sidewalk.

The resident wondered why other sidewalks were not being required to be replaced because they are in bad condition.  James said as they come up, we discuss them, we tell everyone they have to be replaced if they take them out.  This sidewalk is different because it was removed, that is why it is being talked about today.  James said we would contact her again to come to the next meeting, she stated her husband will come.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Dept. Head Report: Clean up week starts next week, will be shorthanded, but will get it done.  We had to replace the hydraulic tank on the sweeper.  There is no action as far as the chip being moved to another location as requested by Asphalt Preservation.

NESS -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Dept. Head Report: Sewer videoing started last week.  On Monday they started the water main project on 3^rd Avenue and 3^rd Street intersection and got most of it done today. They are setting up temporary water to the first 10 houses, they talked to most of the homeowners, still need to catch a few more.  They will be boring tomorrow afternoon.  Hopefully JK Excavation and Construction will be done with this project this week.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 9/2/25 – 9/14/25:  Incidents: 4 (traffic stops-3 and theft); Calls for Service:  48 (extra patrol-12, public relations-4, alarm-3, citizen assist-3, animal problem-2, information report-2, suspicious vehicle, circumstance-2, lost animal-2, medical energency-2, agency assistance, narcotics intelligence, found property, sex offense, industrial accident, traffic accident with damage, domestic dispute, dog or cat running at large, business courtesy check, disturbance, direct traffic, suspicious person, circumstance, welfare check, litter/pollution, public health, lost property and criminal mischief); Traffic Stops: 41 (verbal warning-19, written warning-15, citation-4, and arrest-3); Arrests: 4 (other criminal offense, driving while licenses suspended-3 and theft of property)

                Guardian Score Reports:  First month of guardian score reporting were emailed to the Commission.  The police had a 97% approval rate.  Headley will email the Commission the report every month.  He sent a copy of the report to the newspaper.

Axon Contract: Next June we are at the end of our contract with Axon. There is cost savings if we act soon, next year it is a big increase. The new program offers VR training, which gives different scenarios for training.  POST Board credits are available for the training.  The Commission wanted this contract brought back with more information since we just paid on our old contract, need clarification on credit given.

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT:

Dept. Head Report: He did get some new dumpsters in, there is one more load of 6-yard dumpsters to come, everything else is good.

2026 BUDGET PUBLIC HEARING:

No one was present with questions on the budget for the City of Bowman for the 2026 year, so the public hearing was closed.  Motion by Shear, second by Vail to approve the 2026 Budget.  RCV= all aye, MC.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

Extra Mile Day Proclamation: James read the proclamation, proclaiming November 1, 2025 as Extra Mile Day.  Motion by Shear, second by Shaaf to approve the Extra Mile Day Proclamation.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Eligibility State Surplus Application: Allen presented an application so the City of Bowman could obtain items from the State Surplus Store if needed.  Supervisors were the employees listed to obtain access to the Surplus Store.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the State Surplus Eligibility Application.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Replat of Danny S Brosz Living Trust Replat: The plat needed to be redone as when they started digging, they found that the sewer line veered off a little, so they moved one property line two feet.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Bullis to approve signing the replat for Danny S Brosz Living Trust.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Flex Funding Letters of Support: Doerr from Brosz Engineering requested letters of support for two projects.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the letters of support for the Paulson Seed Road and Old Highway 12 Phase II projects that are seeking Flex Funding from the State of ND. The city has no financial obligation for these projects.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Resident Compliance Letters:  There are some sheds that are out of compliance, Allen asked the City Attorney for help with the letters which we thought we would have by meeting time, Allen will bring them back to the next meeting and then the commission will set up a date that they need to be in compliance or they will start paying the daily penalty.

ANIMALS IN ET ZONE:

It was decided to form a committee to discuss how the ordinance should read regarding animals in the ET Zone.  The Committee will consist of: Shear, McGee, Bullis and Allen. The Committee will try to have recommendations for the Commission at the second meeting in October.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting: 10/7/25

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the bills, August 2025 Financials and 9/2/25 Meeting Minutes.

President James adjourned the meeting at 5:02 pm.

Minutes of the Special City Commission Meeting held on September 29, 2025 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Chief Charles Headly, Sergeant Trevor Bergerson, Peggy Allen, and Brad Mosher. Spencer Brachman and Danielle Cocchi from Axon were present via Zoom.   Absent: None

President James called the meeting order at 4:00 pm.  This special meeting was called to discuss the Axon contract for body cameras and tasers.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to approve the agenda. RCV= all aye, MC.

Axon Contract:

Sergeant Bergerson was informed that if we renewed our contract before September 30^th, that there would be a special discount saving the City money.

Bergerson reviewed the options for the tasers and body cameras with the Commission.  The installation fee of $6,000 is for them to come out and go over the VR program and show how the taser 10 works since it is a lot different than what we currently have.

If we kept the old models and didn’t upgrade, our warranty would expire in a year and legal help would be void on the old models.

Axon did a power point for the Commission on Taser 10 and Axon Body 4.  The VR equipment is in the package they are proposing.  VR training saves on the cost of deploying cartridges in training.  The training is POST Board certified.  Axon has a team of attorneys that write up a policy manual regarding their equipment that they will give to the Police Department to use.  (Axon officer safety plan plus software.)  Our computers are equipped to handle the software. The supervisor can connect to the body cameras and livestream what they are seeing and talk to the officer too through the camera.

Our normal contract expires June of 2026, Bergerson found out that there were savings if we locked in now with a cost break Axon had until 9/30/25.  Our dash cameras are under a different policy which expires in 2028 except the license which the cost should be minimal to renew.  They feel we can get 10 years out of the dash cameras.

Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to move forward on the Isle 10+ plan five-year contract in the amount of $64,153.38 in total, paid in 5 yearly installments every October.  The funds will come from the Police Capitol fund #3035 yearly.  A transfer will be made in the amount of $5,607.81 from the general fund #1000 into fund #3035 for the October 2025 payment in the amount of $11,403.30.  RCV= all aye, MC.  Axon said they will send an invoice on October 15, 2025.

President James adjourned the special meeting at 4:50 pm.

BOWMAN CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, October 7, 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 (McGee, A. Allen, Hofland, Ness, Chief Headley, and Brosz Engineering)

4:30 – 5:00 PM                  Dean Pearson – Emergency Training Info

ALLEN                                                                                                   MCGEE:

Midco Franchise Question                                                            Coop Legal Services Agreement

City Hall Roof Discussion – Wentz is coming on 10/9         Selling Prices for Dumpsters

Catholic Daughters Gaming Permit #24-73

Bowman Rotary Club Gaming Permit #24-74                        SHEAR:

Warranty Deed for Sale of City Property                                 Main Street Striping Damage

Transfers

Ordinance Discussion

Shed Compliance

JAMES

Chip Seal a Couple Frontage Roads –  ND DOT

Catholic Daughters Proclamation

Open Forum

Close of Meeting

• Approval of Bills, 9/16/25 Meeting Minutes and 9/29/25 Special Meeting Minutes.
• Next Meeting Date: 10/21/25
• Adjournment of Meeting