Feb. 1, 2024

The deadline for filing petitions for the 2024 local elections is April 8 at 4 p.m. Candidates are now able to circulate and file petitions for election. 

Morton County. Three, four-year terms are available for County Commission. The seats are currently held by Nathan Boehm, Ron Leingang and Ray Morrell. Candidates must submit petitions to the auditor’s office in the Morton County Courthouse. The Morton County primary date is June 11. Top candidates will advance to the Nov. 5 election. 

City of Mandan. The Mayor, Municipal Court Judge, and two City Commissioners are up for election. All are four-year terms. The seats up for election are currently held by Tim Helbling, DeNae Kautzmann, Joe Camisa and Mike Braun.  

Mandan Park Board. Two, four-year terms are available for the Park Board. The seats are currently held by Wade Meschke and Jennifer Froehlich. 

Mandan School Board. Three, three-year terms are available for the School Board. The seats up for election are currently held by Sheldon Wolf, Rick Horn and Caroline Kozojed. A vacancy, currently being filled by Dr. Tim Rector, will also be up for election. 

Updated election requirement to run for City Office in 2024

The City Commission recently changed ordinances related to the amount of signatures required to be on the ballot for Mayor, Municipal Court Judge and City Commissioner. The requirement used to be 300 valid signatures, however the changed lowered it to 125. The City Administration office encourages candidates to obtain more than 125 signatures to ensure validity.

As of Feb. 1, the requirement to run for Park Board remains at 300 valid signatures.

North Dakota State University (NDSU) Extension is offering a Lead Local training on Friday, Feb. 23 at the Morton Mandan Public Library. This one day training will help participants:

• Feel better prepared to serve as an effective board, council or committee member.
• Recognize the components of an effective meeting.
• Learn basic parliamentary procedure and how to use it.
• Understand different personality styles and how they can work together effectively.
• Use effective tools when dealing with conflict.

The Lead Local training is $75/person and includes lunch, breaks and materials. Training will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Registration is requested in advance.

In January, the City Commission approved submission of two road reconstruction projects for the Urban Roads and Urban Regional programs. The applications are for projects that would take place in 2028.

For the Urban Roads program, the Engineering Department is applying for a project to complete the reconstruction of Eighth Avenue NW from 24th Street to 27th Street and 27th Street to Highway 1806. As for the project being able to wait until 2028, City Engineer Jarek Wigness says, “It won’t be the road’s best days between now and then, but I think this is a really good opportunity for us to get some additional funding.” 

The Urban Regional program application is for a project addressing drainage issues at the Sixth Ave SE underpass, south of Main Street. 

Did you know late winter is a good time to prune most plants? Because plants and their pests are dormant this time of year, pruning cuts can be made without the risk of pests or pathogens entering the tree through the wound.

Mandan Municipal Code Sec. 115-4-7 requires trees or shrubs that overhang sidewalks, streets or other public places in a way that interferes with traffic or travel must be trimmed by the owner of the abutting property or the property on which the tree or shrub grows. This includes trees and shrubs in boulevards and city right-of-way and any that hang within 14 feet of a street or 10 feet of a sidewalk as measured vertically.

Trimming overhanging branches is important to allow staff to perform proper street maintenance, such as snow plowing or sweeping all the way to the curb line, without causing damage to City owned equipment like street sweepers, snow plows, firetrucks, etc. Overhanging branches may also damage garbage trucks, school buses and parcel delivery vehicles.

Learn more at cityofmandan.com/trees or contact Public Works at 701-667-3240 with questions or concerns.

At its Jan. 2 meeting, the City Commission recognized Curvy Flamingo Boutique owner Becky Freidt and her 14-year-old niece Kora McArthur through the Community Beautification Committee's Beautification Recognition Program. Kora painted Christmas scenes in windows of several businesses around Mandan. Becky provided businesses with a great opportunity to work together to add to Mandan's Christmas spirit and was a great encourager to her young niece. Thank you Becky and Kora!

Layn Mudder nominated the duo for the appealing, attention-getting holiday display. Nominations are open year-round for four different categories.

Please note: The Beautification Recognition Program is separate from the Mandan Winter Business Awards.

Residents recently nominated nine Mandan businesses for the 2023-2024 Winter Decorating award. Voting was open for a couple weeks in January to name the best decorated business or commercial property. Owners were encouraged to decorate their building exteriors and interior spaces visible from the outside and keep them decorated through the month of January. Decorating was to be lit or unlit, festive, fun or elegant. Railway Credit Union won with 30% of the 324 votes. They will be recognized at an upcoming City Commission meeting, receiving a traveling award and social media spotlight.

Photographers of all ages and experience levels are invited to enter Mandan’s third annual photo contest by capturing special features in the community and surrounding areas in Morton County. In order to capture everything going on in Mandan in 2024 and all the seasons, the contest will be open through Dec. 31, 2024.

“This contest continues to be a great way to capture the things people love about what makes our community great,” says contest chair Rena Mehlhoff, a member of the Mandan Tomorrow – Leadership, Pride and Image (LPI) Committee.



All category winners will receive $100 in Mandan Bucks gift certificates sponsored by local businesses. Categories include Achievement, Community, Fun, Opportunity, County, People’s Choice, Top Youth Entry and new this year, Best in Show. 

Residents can sign up to receive news and announcements via text message from the City of Mandan!

Messages may include information on garbage and recycling collection schedule changes, volunteer opportunities, office closures, etc.

Users may receive up to three messages per month and have the ability to opt-out at any time.

Welcome to these new Mandan Businesses

Amplified Athletics, 3950 21st Street SE #713

Heat House Infrared Fitness Studio, 3001 Memorial Hwy

Same Day Mattress Bisman, 216 E Main