Sept. 3, 2024

During “Free Fall Landfill Week” the City Landfill will be open on Monday, Sept.16 through Saturday, Sept. 21 from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Here's how it works:  

• Items will NOT be collected curbside with residential garbage. The landfill will accept items from Mandan residents, including furniture and appliances, free of charge. 
• Residents dumping at the landfill will be required to show identification with proof of their city address. 
• Appliances must be cleaned of all food and other debris before they will be accepted at the Mandan Landfill. 
• There is a $4 charge per car or pickup tire. Larger tires such as tractor, semi-trailer or heavy equipment tires are charged at regularly listed prices. 
• No building/construction materials (sheetrock, shingles, other roofing materials, and siding but not limited to these items). Please call Public Works at 701-667-3240 for clarification or questions on other items. 
• No hazardous waste such as pesticides, insecticides or harsh cleaning supplies. 
• All paint must be in solid form. This can be done by adding sand, kitty litter, wood chips or sawdust, and must be fully dry to dispose of at the landfill. 

The City Commission preliminarily approved a 2025 budget proposal during its Aug. 6 meeting. The proposed budget maintains the current city mill rate. However, expenses for all funds combined are $2.4 million higher than the 2024 budget. Key factors driving this increase include rising costs for basic city services; employee salaries and benefits; a 10% increase in health insurance premiums; and a new allocation of 40% of the half-cent sales tax (approved by voters in June) going to public transportation.

“The 2025 budget sets forth a responsible plan not only to deal with our needs in the next year but setting the table for the future,” says Mayor James Froelich. “Needs in the public safety and planning areas are critical to the continued success of our community that past leadership has provided. All this is done by utilizing existing resources and without raising the number of mills levied.”  

Mandan’s average residential property valuation increase was 5% in 2024. This coupled with the mill rate, equates to a $43 increase per $300,000 of true and full value for a residential property for the year. This excludes any special assessments.

The Mandan City Commission approved a street improvement project for 2025 during its Aug. 6 meeting. The project area extends between Sixth Ave NW and 10^th Ave NW and between Main Street and Third Street NW.

Over the last three months existing street and utility conditions have been evaluated in the area. The project will address streets and nearly 60 year-old cast iron water lines in the area that need replacing. The scope of work includes asphalt resurfacing by reconstruction and mill and overlay, chip seal, spot repair of curb and gutter, replacing several blocks of water main piping, addressing sanitary sewer issues, and more.

Project costs. Total project cost is estimated at $16.9M. The City will seek partial funding for the project though the North Dakota Department of Water Resources for all eligible water items. The City Commission’s action included a 20% buydown of roadway reconstruction portions of the project with Municipal Infrastructure Funds (aka Prairie Dog Funds). The remaining amount is to be special assessed to residents within the special assessment district. 

The Park Board recently awarded bids for the Mandan Boat Ramp and all necessary permits are secured. The bids awarded came in below the engineer’s estimate. The project was also awarded an $800,000 Sovereigns Land Grant, a grant administered through North Dakota State Parks and Recreation.

This project is a partnership between the Park District, Morton County and City of Mandan. The public boat ramp will be located along the Missouri River Natural Area also known as “Car Bodies”.

Construction started at the end of August with stump removal and excavation of the site. The site will be closed to the public while construction is taking place. The project is anticipated to be complete by early November, weather permitting.  

For more information about the Mandan Boat Ramp at Carbodies or for donation inquiries visit mandanparks.com or call the Mandan Park District office at 701-751-6161.

This spring, K-9 teams from around the state attended the Great Basin Dog Competition, hosted by the North Dakota Law Enforcement Canine Association (NDLECA) and Mondak Animal Rescue in Williston. 

After demonstrations from K-9 teams around the state, five dogs were selected to compete in the “Hard Dog” competition. This competition is a 40-yard sprint to a fully suited decoy. There is very limited stimulation given to the K-9, it is up to the handler to get the K-9 locked on and worked up. The K-9 is then given the proper commands for the competition, and the decoy provides feedback. This type of static environment gives the decoy plenty of opportunity to gauge how hard the K-9 hits and bites. After the first round, three dogs were chosen to compete again. Mandan Police Officer Black and K-9 Medve won the “Hard Dog” competition! 

The Williston decoy, taking his fair share of bites throughout the competition, stated K-9 Medve was the hardest biting, hardest hitting K-9 he has ever decoyed for. Congratulations to Officer Black and K-9 Medve.

Mandan's Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative offers reduced interest loans to homeowners for improving properties in specific neighborhoods. The program, in partnership with Gate City Bank, aims to enhance housing and revitalize core areas.

Eligible homeowners can apply for loans from $10,000 to $100,000 at a 4.99% interest rate, with applications due by Oct. 31. The criteria include property location, zoning, floodplain status and assessed value.

For a list of eligible improvement types and the application, visit cityofmandan.com/neighborhoodrevitalization. Please contact City Planner Andrew Stromme by e-mail or call 701-667-3225 with questions. 

Public Safety Cadets 7th annual awards ceremony

Mandan Police Public Safety Cadets #2853 (formerly the Mandan Police Explorer Post #2853) recently had their annual award ceremony recognizing cadets training, service and achievements. Check out all these cadets and their achievements:

• Cadet Gavin Soule 3-year tenure, Color Guard, 60 training hours, Law Enforcement Conference, Emergency Preparedness
• Cadet Craig Baltrusch 2-year tenure, Color Guard, 60 training hours, Corporal Promotion, Emergency Preparedness
• Cadet Adi Oza 1-year tenure, 100 training hours, Perfect Attendance, Color Guard, Law Enforcement Conference, Merit Award
• Cadet Erick Ritchotte Sergeant Promotion, 2-year tenure, 60 training hours, Color Guard, Emergency Preparedness
• Cadet Jace Engelstad Oath of Membership (swearing in), 1-year tenure, Law Enforcement Conference
• Cadet Kaylee Hughes 3-year tenure, 60 training hours, Law Enforcement Conference, Lieutenant Promotion
• Cadet Austin Klein Cadet of the Year, 2-year tenure, 60 training hours, Law Enforcement Conference, Captain Promotion, Emergency Preparedness
• Cadet Hunter Baier 1-year tenure, 60 training hours, Emergency Preparedness
• Cadet Jacob Johnson Oath of Membership (swearing in)
• Cadet Abby Bigelow Oath of Membership (swearing in)
• Cadet Quinn Boschee Oath of Membership (swearing in)
• Advisor Detective Halima Khalifa Advisor appreciation award
• Trooper Tarek Chase Instructor of the Year

Congratulations to the cadets and advisors on another great year! The Public Safety Cadets thank the community for their support of the organization.  

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New

• B’s Wax and Lash, 104 Third Ave NW

• Big Stick Cigar Lounge,104 Second Ave NW

• Ink’d Chaos Tattoo, 500 W Main St

• Ten32Ink, 120 W Main St

• Therapy Retreat, 2610 Old Red Trail, Ste D

• The Ridge Café, 2630 Old Red Trail

• The Wise Barber, 106 Third Ave NW

• Vonpaulk Ink LLC, 2041 40th Ave SE

New Location

• The Studio: Wellness Community of Mandan classes being held in the Heat House, 3001

Memorial Hwy