City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Tax Equalization Meeting held on April 2, 2024 at 3:30 pm at Bowman City Hall, 101 1^st Street NE, Bowman, ND.

Attendees:  President Lyn James, Vice President Ryan Shear, Myron Vail, Sara Bullis, Benjamin Schaaf, Chief Headley, Jodi Freier and Peggy Allen.

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the agenda.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Notices of Increase in Value:

Freier reviewed the notices of an increase of 10% and $3,000.00 or more in value.

Residential:

Freier said to expect an abatement forth coming due to a reassessment on a property, which brought the value down $40,000.00.

After using the 36 resident sales, the median value is at 93.69%, so Freier said it’s up to the Commission what they would like to do since we are within tolerance.   Motion by Vail, second by Shear to keep the residential median at 93.69%.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Commercial:

We are at 93.38%, so we are within tolerance.   Freier had to include sales back to 2020 to have enough to get her 30 sales.   Motion by Vail, second by Schaaf to leave commercial at the median value of 93.38%.  RCV= all aye, MC.

There was a question regarding CO2 piplines tax exemption, Freier said they are exempt for 10 years.

Agriculture:

Agricultural land in Bowman County is within tolerance at 96.30% for 2024.  Freier recommends leaving it alone.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Bullis to leave agricultural median values at 96.30%.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Since there is no one in attendance to contest their property values, James closed the discussion on values.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to equalize the assessment roll as presented.  RCV= all aye, MC.

President James adjourned the meeting at 3:50 pm.

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on April 2, 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, Aaron Allen, Shannon Hewson, Eric Pedursa, and Peggy Allen.  Absent:  Todd Hofland.

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

                Direct Deposit: $29,495.11; Check #13749-13774; Voided Checks: None;  Bills: Marsha Beylund $12,500.00, Steve Beylund $12,500.00, Postmaster $480.18, Advanced Business Methods $211.10, AT & T $736.35, Badlands Patriot $619.36, Bierschbach Equipment and Supply $1,691.12, Boss Office Products $54.95, Bowman Auto Parts $51.77, Bowman Park and Rec $3,524.62, Bowman Sales and Service $207.699, BR’s Construction and Flooring $14,325.82, Bronson’s Marketplace $41.67, Cashway Building Center $201.31, Dakota Dust-Tex $115.30, Dakota Pump and Control $1,550.00, Double EE Service $86.70, Hawkins $532.00, MDU $9,644.81, ND Peace Officers Association $40.00, Newby’s Ace Hardware $24.77, Uline $951.03, USA Bluebook $53.11, VISA $1,065.49, Woodley Construction $109.99, Woodley Construction $109.99, and Workforce Safety and Insurance $209.71.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                James, Hewson, and Allen met with the County Commission today to talk about the Water Tank project and grant applications being prepared along with our anticipated costs.  We will need approximately $600,000 to $1.7 million in local funds depending upon the grants received.  Our old tank which is 75 years old is in better condition than the newer tank.  A 500,000 gallon water tank is sufficient for our current needs.  The old tanks will stay there and we will not demolish them.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Dept. Head Report:  Nothing to Report.

MASON -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.: 

                Dept Head Report:  We have a temporary pump at the golf course and need a new one.  Dakota Pump was contacted and a new pump is $27,500.00.  It’s 18 weeks out for delivery when ordered.  Motion by Vail, second by Shear to order the discharge transfer pump to transfer from cell 4 to 5 with funds coming from the sewer building fund to pay for it.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Water Position:  We don’t have any applications in for the water position.  We are going to advertise on the Wide Open Wonder (BCDC) on Facebook, we could try using Indeed, McGee will check to see if BCDC has the ability to use it.  We can also advertise on Job Service.

Landfill Position:  Only had one applicant.  The Commission approved hiring the applicant.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 3/18-3/31/24:  Incidents – 5 (traffic stops-2, simple assault, DUI alcohol or drugs, disobedience of judicial order, Calls for Service – 26 (Information report-4, unruly child-4, medical emergency-2, agency assistance-2, traffic complaint, citizen dispute, lockout, unattended child, welfare check, direct traffic, alarm, citizen assist, suspicious person, parking problem, terrorizing, child custody dispute, domestic disturbance, and sick animal) Traffic Stops – 46 (verbal warning-16, written warning-15, citation-13, and arrests-2), Arrests – 5 (traffic violation -2 DUS and 1 DUI, simple domestic assault, and court order violation.)

Chief Headley also presented a list of recorded arrests by Bowman PD since 2014.  The total number of arrests was 540.  21 persons on the list account for 25% of all arrests since 2014 (a total of 136 to date.)  The 21 persons can be described as habitual offenders.  They would be equivalent to 1.2% of the city’s population, yet they commit 25% of crimes committed in Bowman.  Two persons mentioned on this list are the only ones serving time in a correctional facility as a sentence, when the crime was public and is so shocking to the public conscious.  All others mentioned have received probation or the charges had been dropped by the States Attorney.

MCGEE:

Water Meter Reader:  The water meter representative should have something within the next few weeks on the water reader study they completed.

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT:

Dept. Head Report:  Everything is going okay, right now, the roads and alleys are getting sloppy, but the crews are done before the roads get too soft.

JAMES:

Tourist Hut:  A year ago Frontier Travel Center did a trial run letting us put tourist info in the truckers lounge.  The one year trial is over and are now revisiting what to do with the hut.  It was purchased with Tax and Tourism funds on 9/18/08 for $6,900.00.  The Commission was okay with the Tax and Tourism Committee making the decision on what to do with the tourism hut.

ND IT TECHNOLGY – ERIC PEDERSON

SIRN Radios:  Pederson gave an overview of the SIRN Radio System, they are 4.5 years into a 6 year build cycle.  There are five cities using it now and SIRN radio is going live statewide in 2025.  The big deadline to purchase radios is by March 31, 2025.  Dual band radios and encryption are required for us.  They are not going to encrypt the medical facilities radios, but they will in the future.  There will be a communications pole near the Rhame School, near Marmarth and one near the City of Bowman.

We can apply for a grant from the state to reimburse us for $1,500.00 per radio.  The cost is for one is roughly $6,000.00 to $8,000.00.  Our quote for four portables, four car radios, and a base station was $77,000.00.  Chief said the base station could be cut.  Once the radios are received and paid for, we can apply for reimbursement online, it will take 30 to 45 days to receive reimbursement. We must show a cancelled check or invoice with a zero balance when submitting the required documentation for grant reimbursement.

Law enforcement radios get turned on first, then fire and EMT’s once they know the system is working well.  Bowman will be turned on early next year or end of this year when the tower goes up.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

                Bierschbach Credit Application:  Allen asked for permission to open a charge account with Bierschbach Equipment.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Shear to approve a line of credit with Bierschbach Equipment.  RCV= all aye, MC.

City Hall:  There was mold found on both the men’s and women’s walls.  A local contractor will get us a quote on the men’s urinal removal and to cap it off.  The Commission wanted the milk board replaced behind the urinal once the mold is removed.

Floor Clean Outs:  Allen asked if the Commission would like the floor cleanouts covered with stainless steel caps or left the way they are.  The Commission said to leave them the way they are.

Commission Room Flooring:  Allen asked if they would like the floor tile to stay behind the Commission table and just have the carpeting come to the front of the Commission table.  It was decided to have the tile come to the front edge of the corner of the Commission tabletop.

Annual Transfer:  Allen requested to do the budgeted annual transfer for the City Hall project from General Fund 1000 to City Maintenance Fund 3090 in the amount of $50,000.00.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaff to approve the transfer from the General Fund 1000 to City Maintenance Fund 3090 as presented in the amount of $50,000.00.  RCV= all aye, MC.

VAIL:

City Hall Renovations:  It will cost about $1,500.00 in materials for the metal pieces that are needed on the roof.  The Commission was okay with the cost of the metal pieces that Cal Meschke is making.  R and L Contracting will have to install them.

Water Tank Project Public Hearing at 5:15 pm

Attendees:  President Lyn, James, Vice President Ryan Shear, Myron Vail, Sarah Bullis, Benjamin Schaaf, Peggy Allen, Charles Headley, Rylan Limesand, Jerid Janikowski, Pine Abrahamson, Mike Beylund, Aaron Allen, Bill Mason, Brad Mosher.

James informed the audience that Rylan Limesand is representing Brosz Engineering which has been guiding us along the way so we can apply for grant funding for this project.  This public hearing is a requirement for applying for a grant.  The public will have from today to April 12 to make a written  comment on the project which will be turned into Brosz Engineering.  There are forms attached to the information packets that Brosz Engineering has prepared.  There will also be some left at the front counter in City Hall for anyone that couldn’t attend the meeting.

The total necessary water source needed is 500,000 gallons.  The city recently purchased 2 acres for the new proposed site which allows us better access to the tanks.

The project bidding is anticipated to be in the spring of 2025, final design in winter of 2024, and the applications need to be in April and May 2024.  We could consider having it bid in the fall/winter in hopes of getting a better price, when you bid projects in the spring, they usually cost more.

We are hopeful for 80% in grant funding.  It is anticipated that we could have to increase the user’s fees per month by $12-15 per user per month if we get only 40% in funding and $20 per user per month without any grant funding for approximately 20 years.  The preliminary cost guestimate is $2.9 million.  The City has been saving funds annually for this project.

James mentioned that it was once put on the ballot to abandon city water and change to rural water, it was defeated by quite a bit.

It was questioned what our bulk water user fees are, which is $20.00/1000 gallons which is about 1/10 of the Water Department’s income.

The plan is to bid both a prefab tank and a cast tank in place tank to see which is the best option.

Mason was questioned on the condition of the roof of the existing tanks.  We had them repaired and they are still deteriorating.  The moisture on it causes problems, the circle tank is domed.

It was noted by Mason that the water quality is not affected at this time.

Hearing no more questions, James closed the public hearing at 5:36 pm.

Brosz Engineering will email Allen the presentation and she will forward it to the Bowman County Commissioners.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting:  4/16/24 at 4:00 pm.

Motion by Shear, second by Schaff to approve the 3/19/24 meeting minutes and the bills.  RCV= all aye, MC.

President James adjourned the meeting at 5:36

BOWMAN CITY COMMISSION MEETING AGENDA

Tuesday, April 16, 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)

4:30                                        Miranda Hall      

ALLEN

City Hall Project – Plumbing Estimate for ADA Bathrooms

Fertilizer on Boulevards

City Hall Lawn

JAMES:

National Day of Prayer

Open Forum

Close of Meeting

• Approval of Bills, March 2024 Financials, 4/2/24 Tax Equalization Meeting Minutes and 4/2/24 Meeting Minutes.
• Next Meeting Date: 5/7/24
• Adjournment of Meeting