City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City of Bowman Commission Meeting held on October 20, 2026

at Bowman City Hall located at 101 1^st Street NE, Bowman ND at 4:00 PM.

Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Gene Anne Kulseth, Myron Vail, Cole Benz, Tad Lewton, Chief Headley, Todd Hofland, Shannon Hewson, Steven Ness, Aaron Allen, Peggy Allen, and Brad Mosher.  Absent: None

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

                Direct Deposit: $36,697.08; Checks # 15291 – 15310; Voided Checks: 15202 and 15310; Bills:  A2Z Printing $1,307.00, AT & T $897.74, Axon Enterprises $13,187.52, Bowman County Development Corp. $100.00, Bowman Park and Rec $5,433.01, Cenex Fleetcard $8,599.50, Consolidated Telecom $1,175.55, Double EE $162.85, Fallon County Treasurer $7,762.00, Hawkins $965.06, Little Missouri Ranch Supply $2,875.00, Nadine Julson $9,500.00, Pen Soft $719.00, People Sales and Service $600.00, Post Board $45.00, Pro-Forms $1,429.88, Slope Electric $1,291.00, SW Healthcare Services $125.00, and Southwest District Health $60.00.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                 Sewer Rehab Update: Hewson gave a report on this project. JR Civil is supposed to give us a winter plan and how they are going to restore things and gravel for alleys, etc.  They will remove the street ground plates before winter.  They didn’t have aggregate at the time they were working on those areas so that is why there are plates in some intersections.  Possibly we will have a special meeting to talk about the winterization plan.  No asphalt will be done this year.  They plan to work as long as they can, depending on the weather.

DWR Funding for 5^th Ave Watermain: Allen presented a letter to DWR for James to sign requesting funding for the 5^th Ave Watermain Project.  Hewson stated that they updated the cost so the project cost includes asphalt replacement also.  President James signed the letter.

Water Tank Contracts with Phase Concrete:  Allen presented the contract for the Water Storage Reservoir project with Phaze Concrete, Inc.  Motion by Kulseth, second by Lewton, to sign the agreement with Phase Concrete, Inc. for the Water Storage Reservoir Project in the amount of $2,742,049.79.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Bowman County School Wetland Area: Getz asked Allen if Bowman County School could remove the cat tails in the floodway wetlands area south and east of the high school football field.  Hewson said they should contact the Corp. of Engineers, he felt the School should be able to remove them, they would probably be required to have it hauled out.  Allen will notify the school of what Hewson said.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Dept. Head Report: Nothing to report.

NESS -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Dept Head Report: Nothing to report.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 10/5/26 – 10/18/26:  Incidents: 5 (traffic stop-2, wanted person, theft, and criminal mischief); Calls for Service: 38 (extra patrol-12, information report-3, suspicious person or circumstance-2, lost animal-2, civil standby-2, agency assistance-2, public relations-2, welfare check-2, traffic accident with damage, dog or cat running at large, found property, harassing letter or phone c  all, citizen assist, alarm, unsecured premises, abandoned vehicle, unruly child, medical emergency, and animal noise); Traffic Stops: 26 (written warning-10, citation-8, verbal warning-6, and arrest-2); and Arrests: 4 (other criminal offense, contempt of court, driving while suspended-2, and traffic violation.)

Parking Complaint: A resident came into the Police Department and complained about parking at the Rouzie Rec center during games played in the gym.  People are parking past the edges of the curbs and making it hard to see at the intersections.  Currently the back parking lot is full of supplies for the sewer rehab project so people can’t park there.  It was requested to paint the curbs and or put up signs “No parking from here to curb”.  Motion by Lewton, second by Kulseth to approve placing a sign and painting the curbs at the intersection of 3^rd Avenue SW and 1^st Street SW and 4^th Avenue SW and 1^st Street SW by the Rouzie Rec Center. RCV= all aye, MC.

Police Department Software Program:  Dec. 1, 2026 will be launch date for the new software and there will be a two day, eight-hour training for the software on November 17^th and 18^th.  Still no answer on how the files are going to be stored.

GARBAGE DEPT:

Dept Head Report: Supervisor was not present, but the Auditor reported that he needed to order dumpsters and order another radiator and parts for the trucks.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

Trick or Treat Special Event Permit: Bowman Chamber of Commerce is applying for a Special Event Permit to block off the City’s parking lot on Divide Street for Tricker or Treaters.  Motion by Kulseth, second by Lewton to approve the Special Event Permit for Bowman Chamber of Commerce for trick or treating on Main Street on October 30, 2026.  Hofland will drop off the barricades the day before the event for them to block it off.  RCV = all aye, MC.

Gaming Permit #24-88: Allen presented Bowman Rotary Gaming Permit application #24-88 for a sports pool for the World Series game on 10/31/26.  Motion by Lewton, second by Vail to approve Gaming Permit #24-88 Bowman Rotary.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Pledge of Assets: Allen presented the Pledged Assets list from Dakota Western Bank for approval.  Motion by Kulseth, second by Benz to approve the pledge of assets for Dakota Western Bank.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Park and Rec City Sales Tax: Allen presented a City Sales Tax request from Bowman Park and Rec in the amount of $1,175.00 for grass seed.  Motion by Vail, second by Lewton to approve the City Sales Tax Request in the amount of $1,175.00 for Bowman Park and Rec.  RCV= all aye, MC.

Nov. 27, 2025 Sewer Claims: Two residents were affected by the sewer main backup that occurred on November 27, 2025. The City Attorney prepared a Settlement and Release of Claims for each resident to sign. Under the terms of the settlements, Resident #1 will receive $19,500.00 and Resident #2 will receive $15,000.00. These settlement amounts are based on the coverage guidelines of a new sewer backup insurance policy that became available after the incident occurred. Neither claim was covered under the City’s liability insurance policy.

Motion by Benz, second by Lewton to approve James signing the Settlement and Release of Claims for the two residents that were affected by the sewer backup on 11/27/25.  RCV= all aye, MC.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting: Due to the election, the next Commission meeting date will be Wednesday, 11/4/26 at 4:00 pm.

Motion by Vail, second by Lewton to approve the September 2026 Financials, 10/6/26 City Commission Meeting Minutes and bills.  RCV= all aye, MC.

President James will go to WDEA to Minot to the annual meeting tomorrow.

President James adjourned the meeting at 4:37 pm.

The 11/17/26 Bowman City Commission Meeting has been cancelled.  The next meeting will be December 1 and 29.