City Commission Minutes

Minutes of the Regular City Commission Meeting held on July 1, 2025 at City Hall at 4:00 PM.

Present:  President Lyn James, Vice-Chair Ryan Shear, Benjamin Schaaf, Sara Bullis, Myron Vail, Chief Headley, Steve Ness, Todd Hofland, Shannon Hewson, Aaron Allen, Peggy Allen, Stacy McGee, Brad Mosher, Kady York, Jean Nudell, Kaitlyn Brooks, Lisa and Pine Abrahamson, Janel and Shane Biggs, Barbara and Colt Burley, Josh Buchmann, Sarah Snavely, Mark Buchmann, Brooklyn Englehart, Teran Doerr, Sara Nagel, Kasey Burke, Emily Simpson, Jay Christensen, and Miles Waterbury.  Absent: None

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

                Direct Deposit: $35,775.79 & 417.90; Checks #141509-14530; Payroll Check #103353 = $572.72; Voided Checks: None  Bills: Advanced Business Methods $211.16, AXON Enterprises $9,278.64, Brosz Engineering $22,515.00, Boss Office Products $84.93, Bowman Park and Rec $3,747.05, Bowman Regional Public Library $1,128.23, Bowman Sales and Service $29.73, Coyle Electric $574.37, Dakota Dust-Tex $126.30, Electronic Communications $422.50, Ferguson Waterworks $1,443.93, Morgan Foss $900.00, Frontier Travel Center $550.19, Hawkin’s $1,327.27, Jim’s Repair $1,083.97, MDU $8,552.47, Paxton Jahner $250.00, Riquelme Construction $10, 653.54, SW Ag $600.00, Tiger Electric $7,283.06, VISA $1,686.72, and Western Frontier Insurance Agency $11,040.00.

BROSZ ENGINEERING – HEWSON:

                 Water Tank: The testing firm revised the soil report after Brosz had questions regarding the report.  They are working through the final design of the water tanks.  Camie Janikowski will work with us regarding our grant reimbursement for engineering on the water tank project.

Chip Seal: The contractor is planning on starting after August 1, 2025.  James, Shear and Hofland will attend the preconstruction meeting.

Sewer Slip Lining: Still waiting for formal response of approval.  Quotes will be in soon for videoing sewer lines.

HOFLAND – STREET/VECTOR/LANDFILL DEPTS.:

Motor Grader Extended Warranty Revisited: The Commission inquired what it would cost for a new blade instead of doing the warranty.  The dealer will make the warranty stand if we run out of hours before he gets us a quote for a new loader.

The durapatcher needs repair, it has a hole in the hopper that needs welded.  Hofland thinks Swanston Equipment will absorb the cost of the repair because it should have been fixed last year.  They will either pay for it or give us a reduced rental rate.

NESS -WATER AND SEWER DEPT.:

                Dept Head Report: Got the new Neptune meter reading system installed and they have been trained on it.  The reader only takes an hour now instead of 4 hours and has more features than the other one we had.

CHIEF HEADLEY – POLICE DEPT.:

Activity Report for 6/16/25 – 6/29/25:  Incidents – 6 (Sexual Extortion, City Ordinance-Public Urination, Traffic Stop/DUS Arrest-3, and traffic stop/DUS/DUI arrest), Calls for Service – 37 (nuisance-6, information report-6, agency assistance-3, violation of city ordinanace-2, dog or cat running at large, theft, parking violation, vicious animal, traffic accident with damage, injured animal, narcotics intelligence, suspicious person or circumstance, missing person, lockout, mental health/protective custody, direct traffic, welfare check, citizen dispute, signs and signals, animal noise, extra patrol, sex offense, citizen assist, and business security check), Traffic Stops – 34 (written warning-15, verbal warning-12, arrest-4, and citation-3), Arrests – 5 (other Criminal Offense-3, driving under the influence and traffic violation.)

Headley have second quarter statistics comparing 2024 to 2025 for April to June showing calls for service going up 6.3%, overall incidents stayed the same, traffic stops went down 25.6%, narcotics are up 100%, DUI’s stayed the same, and arrests went up 18.1%.

ALLEN – GARBAGE DEPT:

Dept. Head Report: Everything is going well.

MCGEE:

Budget Cap: McGee informed the Commission that there is a mandatory 3% increase cap allowed for the 2026 budget.  This was passed by the Legislature effective for this budget cycle.

ALLEN – FINANCIAL AUDITOR:

Restricted Gaming Permit for Friends of Craig Reindel Medical Benefit:   Allen presented a restricted gaming permit for a poker run put on by the Friends of Criag Reindel Medical Benefit.  Motion by Schaaf, second by Bullis to approve the restricted gaming permit #24-68 for Friends of Craig Reindel Medical Benefit.  RCV= all aye, Shear Abstained, MC.

On-Sale Special Event Permit for The 8512: The 8512 applied for an On-Sale Special Event Permit for the Dakota Territory Car Club Car Show event on July 26.  Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the On-Sale Special Event Permit for The 8512.  RCV= all aye, MC

Golf Course 2026 Budgeted Funds Request: Brad Pauley took Henderson’s position at the golf course and is requesting $30,000.00 in 2026 budgeted funds, he was unable to attend this meeting.

BARBARA BURLEY-CHICKENS IN ET ZONE:

Complaints:  James explained the ET Zone to Burley’s and that the city has jurisdiction in the first ½ mile outside of city limits.  The city ordinances do not allow chickens and there have been complaints from Burley’s neighbors about their chickens.  The neighbors were also concerned that the Burleys had plans to get more chickens and bees.

Neighbors:  Neighbors’ (Abrahamsons and Biggs) concerns were regarding predators coming in from the country after the chickens, the quantity of chickens and the smell.  James read a letter from Louise Hilton and Caitlyn Hafner regarding their concerns about the chickens as they were not able to be at the meeting.

Barbara stated she has a mobile chicken unit that will house 40 chickens, but she only has 7 chickens of which 3 are 4H projects. They decided not to do the bees after Biggs expressed their concerns about someone getting stung that is allergic.  She said she would move the chickens to the back 4 acres they have, but Shane said then they would be closer to them if they moved them to the back.  She uses wood pallets to help control the smell.  Barbara stated she got a shipping container to keep the chickens warm in the winter.

James told the Burleys not to get any more chickens, they are limited to the current 7 they have.  The Commission will talk things through at a later date and possibly change the ordinance for the ET Zone to allow a certain limited number of chickens and certain animals.

BID OPENING FOR SALE OF CITY LAND

Bid Opening:  The city received one bid from Josh Buchmann in the amount of $3,500.00.  The goal would be to put another building for a storage lot so things are secured.  Motion by Shear, second by Bullis to approve the bid for $3,500.00 from Josh Buchmann and share the closing costs equally. It was agreed the closing costs will be shared 50/50 for the warranty deed and filing. RCV= all aye, MC.
BCDC – DOERR:

2026 Budgeted Funds Request:  Doerr is requesting $56,160.00 in operating funds, $6,480.00 in benefits, SBDC $3,000.00, Downtown Façade $21,000.00 (carry over from 2025), Child Care – can be released, won’t renew for 2026, Childcare-fixed cost $10,000.00 (carry over from 2025), Wayfinding $5,000.00 (Carry over from 2025), Workforce (carryover from 2025), Store Front Grant $1,000.00, Interest Buy Down $10,000.00, Housing Initiative $80,000.00 (carry over from 2025), Housing Development Plan ($8,000.00 carryover from 2025), Essential Startup & Business Grant $20,000.00.

The tree guy is coming in August because a few of the trees look like they are dropping leaves but they are wet.

CHAMBER OF COMMERCE – ENGLEHART:

                Request for 2026 Budgeted Funds: They are asking for $2,000.00 in budgeted funds for 2026.

BOWMAN REGIONAL PUBLIC LIBRARY – SNAVELY

                Request for 2026 Budgeted Funds: Snavely went over her request and reviewed their previous and future plans for the library.  They are requesting $25,000.00 in operating funds, one single plan health insurance $10,094.00 and 4 mills for 2026.

BOWMAN FIRE DEPARTMENT:

Request for 2026 Budgeted Funds: They are requesting $26,775.00 in operating costs and $6,800.00 for insurance for 2026 budgeted funds.

BOWMAN PARK AND REC:

Request for 2026 Budgeted Funds: They are requesting $30,000.00 for operating, $30,000.00 for health insurance, 34% of the city’s state aid in the amount of $51,234.00 and the Edge pledge of $50,000 for their bond payment.

MEOWSERS CAT RESCUE:

Request for Budgeted Funds: She is asking for $3,000.00 for vet bills for budgeted funds in 2026.  They are still doing the TNR on the stray cats.  She explained that she moved out of the city limits and has applied for a Conditional Use Permit to have her cat rescue in an agriculture zone.

PIONEER TRAILS MUSEUM:

Request for 2026 Budgeted Funds: They are asking for the same as last year $35,000.00 for general operations for 2026.  Nudell reviewed the events at the Museum and introduced her staff.

CLOSE OF MEETING:

Next Meeting: 7/15/25

Motion by Shear, second by Schaaf to approve the bills and the June 17, 2025 meeting minutes.  RCV= all aye, MC.

AGENDA FOR

2026 BUDGETING PURPOSES

July 22, 24, and 28, 2025

at 10:00 AM and 8:00 AM

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 other than for budgeting purposes will be discussed.

Tuesday, July 22, 2025

  10:00 am –  4:00 pm     Department Budgets and General Fund

10:00 am –  11:00 am    Steve Ness – Water and Sewer Dept. Budget

11:00 am – 12:00 pm    Todd Hofland – Street, Vector and Landfill Budget

12:00 pm –  1:00 pm    Lunch Break

1:00 pm  –  1:30 pm     Aaron Allen – Garbage Dept Budget

1:30 am  –  2:00 pm     Chief Headley – Police Department Budget

2:00 pm  –  4:00 pm     Reconvene on Remaining Budget Items

Thursday, July 24, 2025

  8:00 am – 4:00 pm         General Fund and Savings Funds

12:00 pm – 1:00 pm         Lunch Break

1:00 pm                             Reconvene

Monday, July 28, 2025 (If Necessary)

8:00 am – 12:00 pm         Review Budget; Correct and/or Change line items

Each day the meeting will recess at the end of reviewing a “section” of the budget and will reconvene at 8:00 am at the next scheduled date.  The preliminary budget will be accepted on August 5, 2025 at 4:30 pm.  And the public hearing to adopt the final budget will be September 16, 2025 at 4:30 pm.