City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on November 6, 2024 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Chief Headley, Bill Mason, Todd Hofland, Aaron Allen, Shannon Hewson, Stacy McGee, Jason Bullis, Trevor Bergerson, Mike Snow, Garret Roemmich, Colin Dunn, Brad Mosher, Jodi Freier, Dan Brosz, Teran Doerr, and Peggy Allen.  Absent:  None

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

Direct Deposit: $33095.87; Check #14102-14137; Voided Checks: 14103 and 14059; Bills:  AT & T $810.87, Postmaster $365.00, Advanced Business Methods $186.24, Badlands Patriot $464.60, Boss Office Products $558.87, Bowman Auto Parts $108.46, Bowman Park and Rec $4,290.25, Bowman Sales and Service $111.81, Bronson’s Marketplace $40.86, Brosz Engineering $2,000.00, Cashway Building Center $248.30, Core and Main $167.51, Coyle Electric $280.92, Dacotah Paper $59.50, Dakota Dust-Tex $115.30, Eido Connect $64.00, Fallon County Treasurer/Coral Creek Landfill $6,426.00 Frontier Travel Center $589.56, Hawkins $1,962.52, Jason Hosek $2,502.50, KPOK $65.00, Loretta Olind $725.00, MDU $8,511.98, ND Information Technology $125.40, ND League of Cities $150.00, Newby’s Ace Hardware $195.57, Pomp’s Tire Service A$2,634.00, ProPoint Cooperative $54.90, SW District Health Unit $50.00, USA Blue Book $1,329.97, VISA $1,418.78, Western Frontier Insurance Agency $33.00, Westlie Truck Center $42.83, and Woodley Construction $69.97.

Tax and Tourism Check: #14109

Tax and Tourism Bills:  Bowman County Development Corporation $250.00.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                Water Tank Project:  Hewson stated that we need to have a letter that states we understand that the cost share is a 60%/40% split between the Department of Water Resources and the City for the water tank project along with a copy of the minutes from this meeting. The City acknowledges that we are applying for a cost share with DWR and the total cost of the project is estimated at $2,916,128.00 with a DWR share of $1,749,677.00.  The DWR share requested is 60% of the project cost which will be split between a pre-construction request of $132,000.00 and a construction request of $1,617,677.00.

Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to approve signing the letter to ND Dept. of Water Resources stating that we understand the cost share referenced above. RCV= all aye, MC.

Frontier Travel Center LOMR:   Hewson showed the Commission the mapped area for the Frontier Travel Center LOMR, there are very little changes, and there are no changes up or downstream.  He wants to make sure the City doesn’t have any concerns before he submits it to FEMA and the State Flood Coordinator.  There are no concerns from the Commission and no one from the audience had questions.

Slip Lining Project: Hewson sent in the application as we have I the past for a sewer slip lining project for grant consideration through CWSRF.

TAP Grant:  Hewson was wondering if we had any TAP Grant style projects in mind for 2027.  No one could think of anything.  If they have any ideas the Commission was requested to reach out to Hewson.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Dept. Head Report:  Nothing to Report.

MASON -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.: 

                Dept Head Report:  Nothing to Report.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report: 10/14/24 – 11/3/24: Incidents – 9 (animal noise-2, disorderly conduct, DUI alcohol or drugs, false information to police, wanted person, harassing phone call/letter, assault, aggravated, and unattended death), Calls for Service – 76 (extra patrol-15, information report-8, animal noise-6, medical emergency-4, unruly child-4, public relations4, suspicious vehicle, circumstance-3, welfare check-2, traffic control for fire-2, intoxicated person-2, injured animal-2, found property-2, citizen assist, traffic complaint, animal problem, miscellaneous record, truancy/absenteeism from school, traffic hazard, suicidal person, disorderly conduct, dog or cat running at large, illegal burning, criminal trespass, parking problem, lost property, scam, swindle, confidence game, notice against trespass, and vicious animal), Traffic Stops – 68 (verbal warnings-35, written warning-21, citation-11, and arrest-1), Arrests – 2 (court order violation and driving under the influence)

Police K9 Donation:  On 10/25/24 Chief Headley was approached by Josh Pike from Ragnar Defense to see if the City would be interested in a K9, they would like to donate it to a small town Police Department.  The dog would come to us at no cost (valued at $25,000), our officer would be trained by Ragnar Defense at no cost to us, and they are willing to pay the City up to $2,000.00 a year for expenses for 10 years as an incentive to keep the dog.  It’s a dual trained K-9 used for tracking and narcotics; the dog doesn’t have the temperament to be a bite dog. Officer Snow would be the one in charge of the K-9 and he understands the responsibility he would have for the dog.  Ragnar Defense will board the dog free of charge if Officer Snow went on vacation, but our officers said they would take care of it.  The dog has an 8–10-year lifespan and it’s 3 years old.  There is a company that will send dog food free of charge to the City for the K-9.

Bergerson sent videos of this K-9 to other dog handlers, and they said they felt it would be a great dog for us.

The cost to us would be insurance on the dog for health and liability, and the officers gas, food and lodging while he is going through training.  There would be a cost for equipping the vehicle for the dog, Headley got an estimate for $8,855.00 which could be taken out of the Alcohol Awareness Fund.

Bergerson felt that it would be a benefit to have two dogs so the County Sheriffs K9 works during the day, the City’s dog would be used at night, it would benefit both of us.

Three of Bowman County Sherriff’s officers voiced their concerns about having two dogs.

The Commission would like to think about it and will give Headley the decision to relay to Ragnar Defense on the 19^th.

Headley stated that if they choose to get the K-9, he would be giving a report on the K-9 at the meetings.

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT:

Dept. Head Report: Allen is back to work.  Nothing else to report.

PEGGY ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

City Hall Building Tuckpointing:   Allen presented a quote from Trowel and Hammer to do the tuck pointing on City Hall where the sprinkler system damaged the mortar.  Motion by Vail, second by Schaaf to accept the proposal from Trowel and Hammer in the amount of $7,712.00 to grind and tuckpoint the mortar joints on City Hall.  RCV= all aye, MC.  He is requesting a 10% deposit when he starts in May 2025. The Commission was okay with paying that in May 2025.

Festival of Lights Special Event Permit: Allen presented a Special Event Permit for the Bowman County Development Corporation to host the Festival of Lights in the City Park and requested to block off Divide Street from 2^nd Avenue to Cenex.  They would also like barricades from the City by 3:00 pm to set up for the safety of the attendees.  Motion by Schaff, second by Shear to approve the Festival of Lights Special Event Request for December 4, 2024 from 6:00 – 8:00 pm.  RCV= all aye, MC

Gaming Permit #24-62: Allen presented a 50/50 raffle gaming permit for Friends of Losing/McConnell Baby Medical Benefit which was held on 10/26/24 at the Silver Dollar Bar.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaff to approve raffle permit #24-62 for the friends of Losing-McConnell Baby Medical Benefit.  RCV= all aye, MC.

State of the Region 8: Allen inquired if anyone else wanted to go to this meeting on 11/20/24 in Medora and no one other than James wanted to attend.

Lead Local Training: Allen asked if anyone wanted to go to this training and no one wanted to attend.

Commission Room: The Commission Room has been painted and the floor will be next to get finished.  Allen asked if they still wanted to paint the wood trim around the pipes in the Commission Room and they decided to wait.

SHEAR:

                Shears Residence Driveway: Shear’s driveway sank due to the ground not being packed correctly around the City water shut off when repaired after a water leak.  Mason put a riser on the water shut off after Shear tore the driveway out.  Shear then had his driveway concrete poured.  Shear presented pictures and invoices.  Shear did all the tear out work himself so that is not included in his expenses.  The whole driveway is 32’ x 28’, the Commission agreed to pay for 8’ x 32’ = 224 SF x $8.90/SF for concrete.  The decision on the size of the area was due to the area needed to get a backhoe in to do the repair.  Motion by Vail, second by Schaaf to reimburse Ryan Shear for 224 SF of his driveway repairs to fix the sunken area around our water shut off in the amount of $1,993.60.   RCV= all aye, Shear abstained, MC.

PARK VIEW POINT – DAN BROSZ:

TIF District: Brosz gave an overview of his project since two of the Commissioners were not at the last meeting.  He is here today to request a TIF District for infrastructure (water, sewer, and shared driveway) on this project.

Steve Wild said the steps to a TIF District are to prepare a development plan, like Brosz did, then have a public meeting showing the plan at the hearing and then the Commission decides if they are going to approve it and go forth with bonds or have the City fund the TIF.  The plan has to be sent to the Department of Commerce by July 1, 2025 if it is over 5 years which this project is.  Since it’s over 5 years we are required to notice the school, Park and Rec, and Bowman County.  These entities have to respond to us if they are ok with the TIF, Brosz will go to the three entities to explain it.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Vail to go forward with a public hearing on December 3 for the Park View Point Development TIF District.  Allen will publish the meeting date for two weeks.   RCV= all aye, MC.

BOWMAN COUNTY DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION – TERAN DOERR:

BCDC Building Sewer: AJ Thompson scoped their sewer line that they have been having troubles with.  They said that it could be slip lined to fix it.  Doerr is asking for a 1/3 of the cost of the repairs since the City owns 1/3 of the building.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve 1/3 of the cost which is $19,597.33 for slip lining the sewer at the BCDC office with funds taken out of the Sewer Building Fund.  The City will pay when their portion when presented with the final bill.  RCV= all aye, MC.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting: 11/19/24 at 4:00 pm.

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the 11/15/24 Meeting Minutes and September 2024 Financials. RCV= all aye, MC.

James was reappointed to the Post Board until September 2026, she will be the longest serving member on this board.

President James adjourned the meeting at 6:10 pm

TIF DISTRICT PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

There will be a public hearing at Bowman City Hall,101 1^st Street NE, Bowman, ND during the Bowman City Commission meeting held on December 3, 2024 at 5:00 pm for the request of a TIF District estimated at $90,000.00 for the Park View Point Duplex project located at the South 46’ of Lot 7, Block 75 of the County Auditors Plat #3 and Lots 1, 2, 3, 4 of Block 76 of the County Auditors Plat #3, also known as “The Old East Bagley Trailer Court located on 3^rd Ave SE”.  If you cannot attend the public hearing and would like to give written comment to be read at the meeting, please contact Peggy Allen, City Financial Auditor at 701-523-3309 or pallen@cityofbowman.com.

BOWMAN CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, November 19, 2024 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 – 4:30PM                  Dept. Head Reports/Engineering (A. Allen, Hofland, Mason, Chief Headley, and Brosz Engineering)   Headley – K-9

ALLEN

Review Proposed Memorandum of Understanding with Park and Rec District

Move last meeting of the year to December 23, 2024

Gaming Permit #24-63 Friends of Peggy Allen Medical Benefit

Park and Rec City Sales Tax Request

Grants received for SIRN Radios

ARPA Funds Designation

Floor Cleaner Machines for City Hall

Open Forum

Close of Meeting

• Approval of Bills, October 2024 Financials, and 11/6/24 Meeting Minutes.
• Next Meeting Date: 12/3/24
• Adjournment of Meeting