City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on April 15, 2025 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

Present:  Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Mike Snow, Steve Ness, Todd Hofland, Shannon Hewson, Aaron Allen, Peggy Allen, and Josh Buchmann.  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: $33,723.93; Zoning Board Quarterly Salaries: $886.56; Checks #14361 – 14378; Voided Checks: None;  Bills: Joseph Reeves $771.20, Advanced Business methods $226.01, Badlands Laser Studio $2,675.00, Badlands Patriot, LLLC $480.54, Bowman County Development Corp. $307.02, Bowman Park and rec $625.00, Cenex Fleet Card $4,282.13, Consolidated Telecom $1,174.70, Dept. of Environmental Quality $166.04, EIDO Connect $168.00, Fallon County Treasurer $5,793.20, JK Excavation and Construction $2,800.00, KPOK $25.00, Motorola Solutions $70,663.02, ND Information Technology $83.10, One Call Concepts $96.20, SW District Health Unit $50.00, and ZEP Manufacturing $123.15.

Tax and Tourism Check #14379

Tax and Tourism Bills:  Dakota Territory Car Club $3,000.00.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                 Chip Seal Bids: The City received three bids today for the chip seal project.  Bid results are as follows: Asphalt Preservation Company Base Bid $259,243.76 plus Alternate A $57,681.64 = $316,925.40; Bituminous Paving Base Bid $313,751.80 plus Alternate A $66,483.20 = $380,235.00; and Astech Base Bid $320,836.46 plus Alternate A $66,004.60 = $386,841.06.  Asphalt Preservation was the apparent low bidder.  Allen inquired how much engineering would be on the project and Hewson felt it would be approximately $25,000 – $35,000.  The lowest bid is $40,000 under the engineer’s estimate.  We need to talk to the county because the agreement that was supposed to be written and signed has not come back before the Commission regarding 11^th Avenue North and 6^th Street NW.  Hewson stated that we have 30 days to make a decision, so no decision was made and it will be re-visited at the next meeting after clarification on the city/county agreement.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Dept. Head Report: Spring Clean-up Week will be the 19^th of May and the landfill will open for the season on the 7^th of May.  Lucky Carroll will be the landfill attendant.

NESS -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Dept Head Report:  There was another water main break, this one was on 5^th Avenue NW. JK Excavation and Construction came down and fixed it, the leak started on Sunday night.  The water was off for approximately 12-14 hours.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 3/24/25 – 4/13/25: Incidents – 8 (traffic stop-2, child abuse or neglect-2, DUI alcohol or drugs, theft-personal identifying information, wanted person and criminal mischief), Calls for Service – 68 (extra patrol-20, suspicious person or cirumstance-4, dog or cat running at large-4, public relations-4, information report-3, citizen assist-3, intoxicated person-3, alarm-2, lockout-2, truancy-2, wanted eprson-2, fire-2, lost animal-2, medical emergency-2, unruly child, theft -personal identifying information, utility problem, agency assistance, parking violation, 911 hang-up, officer safety, depriving owner of vehicle, suicidal person, citizen dispute child custody dispute, domestic disturbance, and animal noise), Traffic Stops-41 (written warning-20, citation-12, verbal warning-6, arrest-2, and no action); Arrests-4 (driving while suspended-2, court order violation, resisting arrest, and DUI.)

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT:

                Dept. Head report:  Waiting to get the 2019 Freightliner to Dickinson for repairs, they said check back in a week and maybe they can get it in.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

City Hall Furniture Quote:  Allen presented the quote for the furniture for the foyer and old driver’s license area.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the Baker Furniture quote in the amount of $3,211.72.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Park and Rec Memorandum of Understanding:  Allen presented the memorandum outlining what the City and Park and Rec responsibilities are.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Vail to approve James signing the Memorandum of Understanding between City of Bowman and Bowman Park and Rec.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Park and Rec City Sales Tax Request:  Allen presented a request for city sales tax for core testing by Brosz Engineering for the pool decking.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the Park and Rec city sales tax request in the amount of $625.00.  RCV= all aye, MC.

City Hall and Joint Shop Cleaning Contract:  Allen presented a letter from Loretta Olind which was a letter of resignation for her cleaning contract for City Hall and the City/County Joint Shop.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Bullis to accept Loretta Olind’s Letter of Resignation and send a letter to her, acknowledging her resignation.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Discussion was held regarding an employee doing the cleaning.  Allen will discuss it with the employee and bring it back to the next meeting.

Property Tax Refund: One tax refund was tabled and Allen will ask Freier to attend the next meeting so they can discuss it with her.  In the future the Commission would like her to attend when one is presented to them.

The second refund was discussed.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the tax abatement in the amount of $221.78.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Old Time Pictures:  The Commission would like old time pictures on canvasses for the old DOT area and a large current time picture on the brick wall.  Pictures will be researched for the area.

COMMISSIONER JAMES: 

Blinking Stop Light:  An individual asked for a blinking stop light by DWB, he would contribute money towards it.  No action was taken.

Trees on the Boulevards:   Discussion was held about the trees going in on the boulevards.  Vail wanted Mendoza Plumbing to be present when it happens so the wires and pipes do not get damaged.  There is an agreement between the City and NDDOT that needs to be signed.  It will be brought to the next meeting.  Allen stated that whoever is watering the trees needs to have Commission approval if they are not a city employee and Allen will need a copy of their driver’s license to give the insurance company since City vehicles will be used for watering.

Tax Equalization:  James asked County Commissioner Buchmann if the City can be involved if the County is going to change the median values during tax equalization meetings.  Buchmann invited the City Commission to come to their tax equalization meeting.

COMMISSIONER SHEAR:

Special Event Permit for Car Show:  The Dakota Territory Car Show will be held on July 26, 2025.  Setting up on Man Street will start on the 25^th.  Shear is requesting open container until midnight, the band should be done about 11:00 pm.  Open container would start at 10:00 am to 5:00 pm in the whole area that is blocked off for the show. From 5:00 pm on, it will just be from the Bowman Theater to the Silver Dollar Bar.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Vail to approve the special event permit for Dakota Territory Car Club for July 25 and 26.  RCV= all aye, Shear abstained. MC.

Alcohol Ordinance Revisited:  More discussion was held regarding having an on sale alcohol permit revision to the City Ordinance.  Allen said the City Attorney said we could specify it for just the ET Zone.  Another option was for a permit that has a fee of up to $1,000.00 and they can have two events a year.  No decisions were made and Shear will bring back written verbiage to the next meeting for discussion.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Motion by Vail, second, by Bullis to approve the bills, 4/1/25 Meeting Minutes and the 4/1/25 Tax Equalization Meeting Minutes.  RCV= all aye, MC.

The next City Commission Meeting will be May 6, 2025 at 4:00 pm.

BOWMAN CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, May 6, 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, Troy Nagosek, and Brosz Engineering) Hewson:  Chip Seal Bid Award

 4:30 – 4:40 PM                 BCDC- Brooklyn Englehart – Boulevard Tree Project

4:40 PM                              Josh Buchmann – City Property he would like to purchase

ALLEN:                                                                                                  SHEAR:

11^th Avenue NW and 6^th Street NW                                           Alcohol Ordinance Revised for Special Permits

NDDOT Contract for Trees in the Boulevard

Tax Refund-Tabled from previous meeting

Letter of Support for Dakota Territory Car Show

National Small Business Week 2025 Proclamation

State of Region 8 – Anyone Attending?

Park Shelter Materials Payment Request for Riquelme Construction, LLC

City Hall Lighting Grant Contract

Tiger Electric Lighting Grant Quotes

Approval for BCDC Employees Driving City Vehicles for Watering Flowers

Raffle Permit #24-65 for Bowman Boosters Club

Park and Rec City Sales Tax Request

City Hall Yard:  Concrete around building, trees, grass and sprinkler system repairs

Bank Reconciliation Adjustment

Open Forum

Close of Meeting

• Approval of Bills, March 2025 Financials, and 4/15/25 Meeting Minutes.
• Next Meeting Date: 5/20/25

Adjournment of Meeting