City Commission Minutes

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

Present:  Lyn James, President, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Chief Headley, Bill Mason, Steve Ness, Peggy Allen, and Aaron Allen.  Absent: Shannon Hewson and Todd Hofland.

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: $35,560.12; Checks #14301 – 14318; Voided Checks: None; Bills: Advanced Business Methods $183.75, Badlands Patriot $965.30, Boss Office Products $356.95, Bowman Auto Parts $201.06, Bowman Park and Rec $4,538.26, Bowman Sales and Service $282.82, Bowman Vet Clinic $185.00, Bronson’s Marketplace $62.46, Brosz Engineering $7,287.50, Dakota Dust-Tex $126.30, Frontier Travel Center $709.37, Hawkins $939.83, Loretta Olind $1,150.00, MDU $10,976.52, ND Dept. of Environmental Quality $525.00, Team Laboratory $751.00, VISA $1,422.82, and Workforce Safety and Insurance $13,024.51.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

Chip Seal:  Hewson was not present but sent a report and asked for approval to advertise for chip seal bids.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to approve advertising for chip seal bids and have James sign the Invitation For Bid.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Water Tank Engineering Cost Share Grant:  Allen presented the contract the Hewson sent for the cost share of the water tank engineering.  The State Water Commission will pay $132,000.00 and the City will be responsible for $88,000.00.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Bullis to approve James signing the cost share reimbursement agreement with the State Water Commission, based on our engineers review of suggested actions addressed by our City Attorney.  RCV= all aye, MC.

MASON & NESS – WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Dept Head Report:  Mason reported a water leak by the Krebsbach/Kulseth Funeral Home in the street.  JK Excavation couldn’t get here until the next day to help dig up the leak, the frost was down 4’ in the ground.  The funeral home and two houses were without water over night.

Water Dept. Pickup:  A rabbit went through the grill of the new water pickup, Mason ordered a new grill.

GARBAGE DEPT- ALLEN:

Garbage Truck Repairs:  Allen stated he had a couple of garbage trucks go down during the cold spell.  One truck gelled up near Baker.  Another truck that had a radiator replaced twice has been leaking, he patched it and it is working for now.  Westlie Truck Center employee said there is a manufacturer problem with the radiators.   Hopefully they will warranty this one also.

The 2017 Freightliner has 165,000 miles on it and 10,000 hours.  It has an oil leak and has an appointment at Westlie Truck Center in Dickinson, because it keeps going into D rate after they regenerate it.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 2/17/25 – 3/2/25:  Incidents-4 (traffic stop, domestic disturbance, theft automobile, narcotics/paraphernalia possession, and leaving the scene of an accident); Calls for Service – 36 (information report-8, extra patrol-7, public relations-3, narcotics intelligence -2, traffic complaint-2, welfare check-2, medical emergency-2, violation of city ordinance, citizen assist, 911 hangup, business courtesy/security check, suspicious person/circumstance, dog or cat running at large, domestic disturbance, theft/automobile, direct traffic, and industrial accident; Traffic Stops – 57 (verbal warning-26, written warning-17, citation-13, and arrest-1); Arrests – 2 (drug possession-2 , traffic violation, drug sale/manufacture, and other criminal offense.)

DARE Graduation: There will be a DARE Graduation on March 31^st at the WE Solberg Gym at 2:00 pm, Chief Headley invited Allen and the Commission to attend.  There will be 39 graduates.  Headley asked James to speak and he is trying to get a BCI person to speak at the event.

Guardian Score Program:  Headley gave a presentation to the Commission on a Police/Community Relations program called Guardian Score.  It would entail handing out business cards with a one-time scan QR code that leads to a questionnaire to rate the officer.  The results go into a database at Guardian Score and then they send a report back to the City with feedback on each officer.  The questionnaire is anonymous.  Headley is hoping that the Commission can see more of the good that they do.  A year’s usage is approximately $2,500 a year for our size of community, which includes the cost of the business cards for each officer.  James likes this program because it gives the public a voice and gives the Commission the tools to act if there is a problem, especially if there is a consistent problem.  The Commission is in favor of this program and gave approval for Headley to contact the company and come back with an exact amount for approval.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

                Tax and Tourism Appointment:  Melissa Lindstrom has been added to the Tax and Tourism board and is replacing Rebecca Cummins.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to appoint Melissa Lindstrom to take Rebeccas Cummins place. RCV= all aye, MC.

Windy’s Liquor License:  The application for the transfer of Windy’s Bar liquor license to Dobson Crew has been withdrawn.

City Attorney Appointment:  Steve Wild has officially retired so the City needs to appoint a new City Attorney.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to appoint Andrew Weiss as our City Attorney.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Allen Schedule and Training:  Allen has to go to Mayo Clinic for six days, then there is a City meeting on the 18^th, and then the NDLC conference is the next two days.  Allen inquired if they wanted her to attend the training and if any of them were going to attend.  Motion by Shaaf, second by Vail to have Allen attend NDLC Conference in Bismarck March 19-20 and to include the grant writing training also.  Due to this meeting the City Commission meeting on the 18^th will be changed to the 25^th.  RCV= all aye, MC.

                NDIRF Insurance:  Allen received correspondence suggesting that the City should place signage outside when its slippery.  Allen will see what kind of signage she can find and bring it back to the Commission Meeting.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting: 3/25/25 at 4:00 PM

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the bills and the 2/18/25 Meeting Minutes.  RCV= all aye, MC.

President James adjourned the meeting at 4:55 pm.

The City Commission Meeting for March 18th has been moved to March 25th.