00:00:11,970	By 15. It’s May 14th. We’re in the tom Baker room of the City County building. This is the Board of city commissioners meeting. Um we’ll have invocation but first, uh, today is a 152nd anniversary as a city of Bismarck on the day so Since. It’s actually the day it was worth announcing, doesn’t happen very often.

00:00:42,500	Um we’ll have invocation first by Chaplain Chafee, please. Well. Congratulations. Thank you commissioners for your service and let’s stand and we’ll pray here. Heavenly father. We are grateful for this anniversary. We celebrate. Um, we are thankful for our community. We want to pray like you taught us that your kingdom would come on Earth as it is in heaven.

00:01:09,300	Right here in Bismarck and our surrounding areas. We also pray as you taught us that you would protect us from the evil one and evil ways. God, would you I give a strength and courage to, um, implement your righteous wisdom and we asked to send your name. God, Our creator. Jesus. Amen. And.

00:01:33,730	We’re gonna have a pledge of allegiance. Uh, troop I’m sorry. I gotta look up the number And 80 if you could come forward and lead us, please. Everyone, please rise. Scout salute.

00:02:15,870	I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God in the individuals with lily injustice for And I understand there was someone who wished to make a couple of comments. Mayor Schmidt’s com Comm.. Uh, my name is steve best. I’m the, UH, committee chair and adult leader at, uh, Troop 1089 in Bismarck, North Dakota. We’re chartered at, um Holy Cross Lutheran Church in north Bismarck.

00:02:40,170	Um, And tonight we’re here. Um, this we got a group of scouts that are working on a communications merit badge. Um, the actual requirement they’re working on is to attend a public meeting and take notes, um, on different points of view and then report out after the after the meeting to fulfill that requirement.

00:02:54,930	Um, we’d like to thank you guys for having us here tonight. Thank you. All, right? We will call our meeting to order OK? Mr Mart here, Mr. Here Comm. Cleary mayors here. We have three proclamations. I think it’s proclamation season. So. The. First one is for bike month.

00:03:28,200	Whereas the bicycle is an economical, healthy, convenient and environmentally sound form of transportation. And an excellent tool for recreation and enjoyment. Of, the city of Bismarck scenic beauty and therefore be it resolved that I Mike Schmitz, mayor of the city of Bismarck, on behalf of the commission, do hereby proclaim May 2024 is bike mud.

00:03:47,770	In the city of Bismarck and I urge all citizens to join me in this special observance. Maternal mental health. Awareness month. Whereas an average of 1305 babies are born in burly county each year and the mental maternal health and, more specifically, the mental health of women before, during and after pregnancy. Is an issue of concern to women and their families.

00:04:17,830	And is therefore an interest to the city of Bismarck. Therefore be it resolved that I mike Schmidt’s mayor of the city, Bismarck on behalf of this commission, do hereby proclaim May 2024 as maternal mental Health Awareness Month in Bismarck and encourage collaboration with local state.

00:04:45,100	And or national organizations that are devoted to this field of Ma maternal mental health to facilitate increased awareness and education about postpartum depression in related perinatal mood disorders throughout the city of Bismarck to improve awareness and access to effective treatment prevention and support of services for the promotion of maternal and infant mental health in the city of Bismarck. And lastly, National public works week.

00:05:16,970	Whereas public works professionals focus on infrastructure facilities and services that are vital to the importance and sustainability and resilience of communities into the public health, high quality of life and well being of the city of Bismarck. Therefore be it resolved that I Mike Schmidt, mayor of the city of Bismarck.

00:05:35,330	On behalf of this commission do hereby designate the week of May 19th through 25th. 2024 as National Public works week urge all citizens to join with the representatives of the American Public Works Association and governmental agencies. In activities, events and ceremonies designed to pay tribute to our public works professionals, engineers, managers and employees.

00:06:01,700	And to recognize the substantial contribution they make to protecting our national Health safety and advancing quality of life for all all three of these are signed today may 14 2024 Thank you, everyone. Now we move to the point of our meeting of public comment. Public comment is restricted to the items on the consent agenda or regular agenda, excluding a public hearing items, anyone who wished to speak to a topic please come forward.

00:06:28,430	A second call for public comment. Third and final call for public comment. Here in NSE non public comment period is now closed commissioners where your wishes with regard to the consent agenda move to approve as presented. S. Any discussion. Mayor and Comm.. I just want to confirm that.

00:06:56,370	Um, an item has been Stricken from that consent Agenda under, um J two Correct OK, I just wasn’t announced. I just want to. There’s some additional work that needs to be done in the policy. OK Fantastic. We just didn’t address that. So. Thank you Comm. Thank you. Any other discussion comments. Hearing no will call roll. Mister Zinker. Yes Comm. Connolly? Yes Comm.

00:07:18,730	clear. Yes. Mr Marco? Yes, yes. We’ll move to the regular agenda. Um And. The First agenda item is A vision fund committees. Uh, request I have a conflict of interest. I AM stepping away from the table. Comm. Mark, I ask that you chair this particular topic Sounds good, Thank you mayor.

00:07:42,170	So as the mayor had mentioned considered recommendation from Vision Fund Committee to support the Flex pace program interest by down for Great Plains restorative services LLC. Nathan. How are you doing good? How are you? Good. Um, Mr Chair members of the commission you have in front of you A Vision fund request, um, from Great Plains restorative services.

00:08:00,970	Um, as was mentioned. This is for the local match of the, uh, Flex space program. The BND is interest by on a flex peace program. Uh, the amount of the request is, uh, as was stated in the in the right up versus the application, the the amount being requested is $86,567.45.

00:08:24,370	So a little bit of the reasoning behind why the request has changed so that the vision fund Committee meeting, um they actually reduced. Um the amount approved from, uh the the project had requested the maximum amount, um, under the Flex space program, um, which is 107 and some change. Um, down to, um what amounted to a 24 month. By down.

00:08:47,700	Um, so that total was reduced down to what you see in front of you, The $86,567.45 That is for a 24 month. Um, buy down, um through the through the Bank of North Dakota. Um the, uh, Vision Fund Committee did approve that unanimously at its April 26th meeting.

00:09:13,370	Um, the the, uh buy down will be used as part of the financing packages to purchase the business and we do have a representative from both the bank and the business here to talk about, Um, the project specifically And then if there’s any questions on the request, as always, I’ll be happy to answer that. Sounds great. Thanks. Nathan commissioners.

00:09:29,100	Any questions for nathan at this particular time. No, thanks. Good evening, everyone. I’m, Tina! Elijah. Um, apologies greg Lord usually comes in. He’s the CEO of Great Plains. I’m the implementation manager, and he asked me to step in tonight. Um, so I’m not really entirely sure what you’re looking for tonight. But if you have any questions, I’d be happy to answer them.

00:09:58,300	Any questions? Any questions for Tina? OK? No. Thank you very much. Thank you. Yeah. Good afternoon. Um I was the um, representing the bank. So with. Were there any questions for, uh, for me on the financial side? Any questions? Seen no Guess, not thank you. Thank you. May commissioners.

00:10:26,500	What are your thoughts move to approve his presented second move second in discussion with the Comm.. One thing about this. I learned a little bit of history about this this summer. Is that this, um Great Plains has been a staple in this community for a long time.

00:10:50,700	And, um, in The most recent, uh, year and a half it was faced with a consideration and to where it would be forced into a larger corporate entity and the partner Greg went out, got partners and was able to, um Find the backing and the resources in order to keep it local. So.

00:11:11,470	It’s a local company serving local citizens, so it can remain the staple that it has been for so long. And, um It’s just something that I like to share. Sounds. Good. Thank You Comm. Connolly Any other comments Move improved in any other discussion, singing, Hear none. Please Call the roll. Comm. Connelly. Yes Comm. cleary? Yes. Comm. Marquardt? Yes. Comm. anchor. Yes. Motion passes.

00:11:37,670	Thank you all? Thank you, Nathan. Turn it back over to the mayor. Thank you Comm. for handling that? Yes, sir. Next item is a public hearing on ordinance 65. 76 And I have to pull that up. In the the request was from the police department. Making some changes to clean up or make some clear text in the ordinance.

00:12:14,600	So if there’s There’s no so this is a public hearing Anyone who wished to speak to this particular ordinance, please come forward State your name and sign in Second call for public comment. Third and final call for public comment. Here, an unseen no public comment.

00:12:45,970	Public comment period is not closed Commissioners Move to approve his presented Second Is there any discussion? Hearing on will call roll. Mr Cleary? Yes, Comm. Marco. Yes. Comm.? Yes Comm. Connelly. Yes, yes. Next item is to receive a presentation about the city of Bismarck’s Refaced website. Hen. You have a presentation for us. Oh, Well. Uh, Mayor and Commissioners.

00:13:42,270	Uh, last week Wednesday we went through and Finished the Refacing project for the city of Bismarck website. Um City website was, uh, the last iteration of it was created in 2016 pretty much the analogy that was used with it was that it was a car that we purchased. We did not change the oil. We did not change the tires.

00:13:58,430	We drove it and we drove it and we drove it. Uh, technology age is kind of like dogs so you can about imagine that an eight year old website has, uh, lower back pain, high cholesterol.

00:14:27,030	All sorts of, uh, afflictions as it gets older, Uh, with that in mind, Um, the city website was scheduled to be refaced in 2023, and we bridged that into 2024. With the project. One of the things that we took A look at with the project was making sure that, um we talked with our stakeholders. We talked with our departments.

00:14:51,930	We Talked with different groups to to get a sense of what they want out of the website and Uh, just as a for instance, Um When we were Tooling on this nav bar at the top. Um, Previously departments were just listed as just departments and that was it. For Example. If. You didn’t know that emergency management fell under the fire department. You probably couldn’t find it unless you did a search.

00:15:13,200	You probably couldn’t find it if you hunted and packed through the site to get there, and so we wanted to call out some of those divisions. Some of those different services and and just make that information a little bit more readily available. So. Um, this was one of the changes that we made with that. Um Services community.

00:15:36,770	The Community section is actually a compiled section of business residents and visitors that were headers on the site previously. Um We still take kind of a similar approach with the, um Carousel masthead. And use that for different promotional things. Um It was like promoting Bismarck insights. These are your neighbors podcasts? The sidewalk suggestion tool things like that nature.

00:16:06,370	Some of that stuff might be a little bit more timely. Um, as we go through different seasons and things like that. Um One of the other things that we did is take a look at a lot of the site’s analytics and and make some of those decisions.

00:16:23,770	Um, based on what we wanted to call out on the home page, and so Things like our agenda Center, which houses all the agendas, minutes. Information from all the meetings that we do not just, for instance, the city commission meetings, but some of those boards and advisory committees Um I also got Information about the commission property information, uh, links to the library. Landfill impounded animals.

00:16:51,170	Interestingly Enough Impounded animals is one of the, uh, top 10 pages that is visited on the website. Um, certainly a good resource and a good link. Four people. Um So. We did continue working with civic. Plus. They were the providers that we had used for that 2016 version of the website.

00:17:18,130	Um, with that, Um, one of the items that agenda center that was referenced we are going to be upgrading that a bit, um, at the risk of Sounding really clumsy as I talk about it. Um, what was done previously is Microsoft Word documents were sent to admin.

00:17:43,230	Those documents were formatted on the fly, and the agenda was made from that this, um change will make it so The website is actually the mechanism that creates the agendas And. Subsequently the minutes and so it’s just building more value into the website and making that website more. A part of our daily work. Oh, Um Probably the other big thing to note is that once we get, um The website there.

00:18:11,170	Um, there are a few items that that need to be. Week following the the Refa. Um the PD page, um, converted strangely, And so, uh, we’ve got we’re working with civic plus to get that Text and so I want. Some of those changes are finished up.

00:18:33,370	We’ll start taking a look at how the admins, uh, back end Web admin structure is handled right now. It’s a little clunky and we’ll go to more of a general. Um General Access versus page by page administration rights, Um and then we’ll also start meeting with departments and divisions, at least on a yearly basis.

00:18:56,000	Just to reach out is your content is updated as you would like it to be. Are there any things that from admin that we can help provide in that conversation, Um And. If. There’s anything any questions that they might have that we can try and help with So certainly, uh Uh, very quick overview. I’ll stand for any questions if you have them or Comm. Marco.

00:19:18,230	Mayor and commissioners Ken so as far as you know, you talked about, you know, visiting with staff to, you know, updated every year Is there, um, with with some of the things but otherwise is it easier for to change content on a particular page versus what it was in the past or even on

00:19:33,800	the On the home page. Uh, so mayor Commissioners Comm. Mark Clark by changing information Do. You mean, um, the actual Physical act of doing so, or the process by which we’re Having departments do that. Both. Um, so I would say that the the biggest change that we’re making is instead of me spending my time.

00:20:03,100	Doing things for departments and getting bogged down by 1500 pages of requests. We’re working with the departments to get some of their staff trained. And so I’m spending more of my time teaching and walking through different scenarios and Showing them how to do things. To, try and maximize my time. And.

00:20:32,500	So with that, Um I would say it’s easier for the site as a whole to be administered versus a request to come to me and it being fit into a schedule that maybe I have four meetings in a day, and it just isn’t possible.

00:20:46,830	Well, and that was one of the things I know that we’ve you know, discussed in the past as far as on this roll out what it would look like as far as just to help with the, um your position and your role, what you do, and, um, you know, even though that you’re, uh, you know, teaching other departments or someone within that department to be able to do some of that things.

00:21:02,070	Um, it does free up your time to be able to to do the things that you know the the Comm. the mayor request for us to do, Um, you know, either on a last minute notice or or or something that we wanna make sure that we get out there.

00:21:15,770	Um, you know, so I know that you know one of the things that I’ve always kind of pushed with my portfolios, which police fire and send come, must be able to get some of the things that they’re doing.

00:21:32,300	Um More frequently on some of those different pages to be pull some of that thing, some of those up, uh, to make sure that we are visiting with the citizens as far as any upcoming events that we are promoting, and then, um, just promoting safety in general, So I. Appreciate it, sir. Thank you very much. Any other questions. Thanks. Thank you. Thanks, Callum. Next item is to receive a presentation about current recruitment and intent and retention issues for the police department.

00:22:04,970	Uh and chief Mar. Well, Chief is getting ready to come up here. Police Department has brought this forward a few different times. We’ve discussed it during different budget.

00:22:28,400	Um Committee processes and and have talked about different things, uh, in front of this table and and have some of these different discussions on this table as far as, um You know, recruitment and retention and what we can do to help the police department, but not only, um, that there’s other things as well. But this was particularly with the police department and how do we recruit and retain a lot of our employees that, um, are either going elsewhere and and we’ll we’ll see the presentation.

00:22:47,830	But chief Go ahead. Thanks. Comm. mayor commissioners. Um, I think it’s kind of fitting that we, you know I’ve been visiting for like Comm. marquardt said for months about things that are going on and Since. We’re in full on budget mode right now felt we felt you should, uh, hear what we’re facing at the the challenges we’re facing.

00:23:06,770	But. It also seems appropriate because This is National Law Enforcement Memorial Police Week and tomorrow’s National Law Enforcement Memorial Police Day so Seems like it’s a fitting time to have this presentation. Um We just kind of show you what This current status is of the department. We’re currently authorized 137 officers.

00:23:31,830	Which is pretty standard for our size community. Uh, we study each year. You know what kind of calls for service or responding to and how busy the people are and that sort of thing and then, um, to prove that we do need these officers.

00:23:52,170	Um The reason we need Uh, this many officers as we want to be proactive in the community, Um we are very often times now reactive. And Part of the reason is is, you know, lower down on a slide, you can see where you currently have 12 positions open, but we also have five people that are being trained right now.

00:24:13,030	Uh, just hard one this morning or yesterday that’s waiting in the classroom. We got two people on light duty and one person on, uh, military leaves. We’re actually running 20 people short right now. Which that hurts. You know if we’re hiding people. I shouldn’t say hiding people, but we’re You know, putting people in all kinds of different places just trying to make things work.

00:24:34,300	Um So as Comm. Marco was talking about. The average turnover rate last, um 10 years or six years has been 10 officers per year per year. Um But during the last six years, seven officers returned. So, You know I think that they know that, uh, they kind of got us over a little bit of a ball because If.

00:24:55,200	They’re a good officer, and they want to go leave and try something they know we’ll take a back. We have to we We need to have good people working at our department.

00:25:13,100	Um Last year, 16 officers left and three returned so Um, the other part of that is OK when they return because they know what they were doing, and it’s easier to get them out and go in on the street. But. We have open positions like we do in the general. We’re starting with brand new people.

00:25:27,170	They haven’t been to the academy yet, and, uh, we need to teach them how the Bismarck Police department operates, and then they need to teach the State Academy teaches them how to basically be a police officer. That takes nine months to a year to to get them going where they’re actually out, performing their duties on the street, so it’s a considerable amount of time. So right now.

00:25:49,370	We really don’t have no end in sight of what’s going on. People just Are willing to try new things. Um If nobody left today. It take at least two years to get us where we need to be to get Hopefully up to that, uh, fully staffed area. The. Other thing that our department is facing right now is Uh, there’s going to be several retirements included. Hopefully soon.

00:26:14,130	And Surprisingly it’s almost six years ago. So. It’s I haven’t been having a lot of fun, though. It’s been a lot of fun working in this spot. As. They all have been, but you know, uh, Deputy chief Ziegler. He’s old enough to retire. We have three lieutenants old enough. Retired one sergeant. And.

00:26:31,230	We have people to replace us. I’m not worried about that. We have good people. Um What I’m worried about is the is the officers getting to making sure that we can get them here and and to supplement these spots when we do go So. This is probably the most important slide here. And here’s why. If.

00:26:55,870	You wanna have a good police department? You have to have a good patrol section. It doesn’t matter how good anybody else is. If. We don’t have good patrol officers. We don’t have a good police department. In order to have good patrol officers.

00:27:13,700	You want a good mixture of new people, you know, salty veterans and then those in between. We don’t have that when I started I know it was a long time ago. But. There is a good mixture. You know I was new, but I had a little bit of experience.

00:27:29,070	But there is a a good group of people between that 8 to 15 year range that people could go to and they really knew what was going on, and they were relied upon to To do a lot of things. To help mentor and train younger people. We don’t have that anymore, so If we were fully staffed on patrol with officers. There should be 60. Um Where. We don’t have 60 0. Obviously. Otherwise.

00:27:49,230	I’d be talking about this, but Those officers that are currently on patrol with less than two years experience or there are 15 of them. With two years, But less than five There’s 13 officers. Now officers with over five years experience. We have 27 of those. But 23 are less than 10 years. So. That means per officer. There’s 5.

00:28:15,070	34 years officer average of experience. That’s not as far as I’m concerned, That’s not a good position to be in and here are some things that we’ve learned. As. We’ve been going through this struggle. Is the deputy chiefs now. Learn of something that’s going on in the department. And we’re wondering, OK. Why. Are.

00:28:34,530	They doing this because I’ve never been taught to do it this way or not to do this, and we found out that some institutional knowledge has been lost. And the the FT OS didn’t know that. Trying to the recruits about certain things. And so we’d have to go back as a department and get things back to square one.

00:28:51,730	Well that that could cause a whole bunch of liability issues. Um, later on, if we make a a serious mistake, which could happen in our job, so So with the recruitment challenges. You know this is a This isn’t just Bismarck. This is a nationwide thing. Um Our last two hiring processes for police officer.

00:29:15,270	Well, I’ll tell you the last one. Well. Here’s what I should back up. Here’s what we’re doing. Our Administrative services Lieutenant is continually hoping, uh, holding the process open and take an applications as it gets them. As soon as he gets a handful of what looked to be quality applicants, Uh, they’ll hold a hiring board.

00:29:35,430	The last time he got five people that look good on paper, they interviewed them. Three actually look like they they might be OK and give them a shot. But once they got into the background, two were Had to be released. And So we only had one person and I think that’s the person that we just hired yesterday. So No.

00:29:54,100	Conversely, to that when we have non sworn positions, whether it be a record tech or a community service officer or No. Well. Those are two, probably the two main ones. We get tons of applicants. There are people That they have to.

00:30:12,770	I mean They’re really weeding people down just to get imaginable number of people to interview Um, so I just can’t for I can’t understand that. I don’t understand why why that’s going on. The only thing I can think of is it’s It’s that N national You know narrative about law enforcement today. Uh, we’ve tried many things to include radio ads. They didn’t help at all jobs fairs. They.

00:30:31,370	Don’t help. Um, someone with one of our officers is a at a job for a mine at here recently, and nobody even come and talk to him so And. I graduated from there, and I got a pretty good criminal justice program. So here’s another problem. We as the Bismarck Police department and I know the city of Bismarck.

00:30:49,270	We’ll, never lower our standards cities that have done that are suffering now. Because people are out there making mistakes. They’re not doing the right thing. They. Uh and they it’s hard to get once you start going down that rabbit hole.

00:31:05,070	It’s hard to get back out of it, so we will never take somebody that will not meet our standards. Um Some of our new some newer officers. They, don’t you know they don’t know what they’re getting into. And. You know some of them don’t make it. Um Our washout rate is 19% over the last nine years.

00:31:25,370	And that that’s within closer to national average a little bit lower, actually, so which is 20 to 25%. So Please Consider this I started in March of 1989. My number is 123. 1515 years later, we were at number 210, which was hired. We hired 87 officers during that that 1st 15 years of my career. The last 15 years we’ve hired of my career have hired 206 officers. That’s 100 and 36.

00:31:53,830	78% increase. And I realize some of those growth Bismarck when I started here is about 50,000 people. Now. We’re about 75, but To me when I look. Bismarck was growing the 1st 15 of our years. My years too, not just the last 15 so To me That’s a very kind of explains what’s going on and what we’re facing.

00:32:18,770	So. The retention challenges that, uh, we that we see competition that we have never experienced with other agencies in the area. To include state and federal agencies. It was back in the day it was rare to lose somebody to a state or a federal agency. When.

00:32:36,500	You work for the state or you work for the feds. You Go where the they tell you and you gotta do what they say. And you really don’t have a choice and it took a takes a long time. But. Uh, they’re struggling, just like we are. And, so they’re snatching our best people offering to put them in.

00:32:51,430	Let them stay in Bismarck 22 of our people have been Um, hired by, uh one by the D, Uh, Homeland security. And one by the High patrol, the they let them stay here and that never happened in the past. But both of them Uh, they didn’t like the positions and they came back to us. So.

00:33:09,470	We have good things going on here. We just got to figure out a way to Keep them from going out and taking that chance and want to keep them here. The North Dakota Bureau of criminal investigation Last session, They increased their salary and their pension benefits just to Lonnie is gonna be mad at me the way I say this.

00:33:27,630	He’s the director of BC, but to steal our people and Yeah, well, yeah, it is true. So, um And You know most extra exit interviews, it comes down to the salary in most cases.

00:33:50,200	And we talked about the national narrative earlier, um There is just an assault on cops as if you watch the news you get At least I see it? Maybe. I see it more because that’s what I do for a living. But here in Bismarck. We know that we are very supported. Greatly supported and, uh we appreciate that. I try and tell my people to watch the news, but they got they gotta learn what’s going on in our country.

00:34:10,870	And they hear that over and over again and it wears on them. And. There’s you know, some of them had wondering if they they really have a sense of purpose. Are. They making a difference. We are for a while there and it still is. It doesn’t seem like people are being held accountable for what they do.

00:34:27,900	There’s a A lot of times They’re running into people over and over and over again. And some of these people are really dangerous. Um, you know the the third bullet point there is, you know someone have firearms. Well, it’s OK to we we’re willing to take the risk and we can handle those things.

00:34:43,570	But when it’s the same people that are carrying guns over and over and over again, it just makes it more dangerous for people and it starts after a while, they start to wonder why am I doing this? So.

00:35:02,170	We talked about this a little, either earlier who left and why Detective 110 years experience went to BC detective 28 years experience went to BC. They’re a little bit younger, so that pension that they change their pension to a, uh the 1st 20 years is a three multiplier. And what? The extra money they were getting. I think it was like 7 8000 bucks a year more.

00:35:22,430	Then, uh, their 2023 or 2024 raise would have been Um so they strictly went for money. And. We had two officers. You know the DEA recruited him hard. Let one go to his hometown of West Fargo and let the other one go to rapid city because they need people everywhere. That’s So. They will do that now. Like. I said.

00:35:40,700	That never happened in the past. So. These are possible consequences. I don’t believe these are going on right now. Except for the overtime at the bottom. But less experienced and less not as well trained Police Force Higher city liability. Possibility of negative press, less public confidence.

00:36:06,700	There could be increased civilian complaints if our response time slows too much people expect the police to be there when they call them people are understanding of emergencies, but, um, they would like us to get there in a reasonable ball at a time. Um some of our officers could suffer burnout if they’re not able to take their compte so on patrol.

00:36:23,270	Uh, they work 12 hour shifts. And out of the month. There’s technically a be 14 days, but because of their briefing time An extra time they spend they would get a cop day. Well. Apparently right now. It’s very rare for a patrol officer to get AC Day because they need to have the people there. To.

00:36:41,430	Make sure they’re at minimum manpower at the very least. We have not been able to staff the power shift the way we want to for a couple of years now. Um Possibility that that is true, Uh, could possible consequence would be training denied, uh, due to lack of personnel.

00:37:02,870	Um, could have to may have to reduce specialized team functions. And. All. Those Things lead to decreased officer safety if they’re running at minimum manpower all the time. They get tired. They’re not Able to do things that they normally would have the people at certain calls that they normally would and it just makes it more dangerous for them.

00:37:20,900	So This is was eye opening to me. That’s what we spent in overtime last year. Uh, For total our whole department not just patrol. But. That’s roughly, uh six officers salary benefits right there. Which we budget nowhere near that number.

00:37:44,500	I think it’s like $60,000 or something that we generally budget So the only reason we’re able to do that is open positions, but we’d rather have the positions than pay the overtime. So. We also looked at you know which services Would the city be willing to cut and what are the consequences of doing that? Of something that you know as society has. Social issues.

00:38:09,570	The police are usually the ones left to to try and take care of those issues because we’re out 24 73 65. And officers really do want to help people, but I know of departments. That have just decided. You. Know what? We’re not going to send anybody to mental health calls.

00:38:30,070	Whether those whatever crisis those people are in Uh, they don’t go social services gets to them Good. If not, you know, that’s it’s not the police’s problem, and I don’t want to operate like that.

00:38:46,030	I want our police to be out there to help people and get them to the resources that need to be at We definitely don’t want to give give, you know, do away with her crime prevention and community engagement officers. It’s. It’s two officers, but the work they do is incredible and it helps us build. That Um Goodwill with our citizens, right? That’s why we are supported as they’re out in the community, and they get other officers out into the community and Um, you know, build that strong bond. Now.

00:39:07,100	We have nine school resource officers. You know the school pays for half of them. I. I think it’s down to eight now, but Um, the schools pay for half so we could get four officers back that that doesn’t That’s not the right thing to do either. Because, uh, having those resource officers in the schools has In. My opinion saved lives.

00:39:26,370	There’s things that they’ve caught that had they not been there. Uh, we could have had some disasters. Real serious incidents in our schools. And. The Airport were responsible for and I know Greg is here and he hasn’t heard Heard me talk about this, but I would love to get rid of the airport and have them have

00:39:45,100	their own airport, Police State Police department and here When. I started here. They had their own police department. And. I found I was doing some research and I found a big old file saying when we the police department was taken over. Back in the nineties and that we didn’t really take over. But.

00:40:02,900	Uh, they disbanded the police department. And we were supposed to go out there more on things, and I kind of remember that happening. But here in 2016 17 somewhere in there. No, the FAA or whoever’s in charge of the airport said You have to have police officers out here. And any time.

00:40:20,430	There’s a problem with getting people if they call in sick or they need to take vacation, we’re pulling resources from our from the street from our citizens of Bismarck to cover that, and I would. I would just assume that they have their own police department in the future.

00:40:37,370	I’m not saying we got to stop and do this right now, But, then they they have to sustain that themselves and then Um Something else I wanted to say about that. Oh, here’s the Here’s the thing. And this is not disparaging to the airport officers, but there’s things that they don’t ne may not necessarily have to do if they were only responsible for the airport.

00:40:57,270	But the fact that we may need them to do work in the city. They have to be as good as any police officer that we have, and they have to have the same skills and, uh, I think there’s ways that you could, um lesser, the qualifications to be an airport officer instead and work with that some way and

00:41:14,870	we could always like If I. Remember correctly back When I started there was a serious incident going on at the airport. We went out there, so I think they were on their own. It was just they were doing the security things at the airport.

00:41:31,930	So what I always hate when people bring me Po problems and don’t bring any solutions, so I wanted to let you know what we’ve been doing, Um Were being as accommodating as we can be. By adjusting shifts and schedules, letting people work straight days, letting people work straight nights letting people if they can work.

00:41:51,630	The power shift do the power shift that can rotate as long as the lieutenant the patrol lieutenant can make it work. They’re doing that for him, but we have to have a minimum amount of people with 24 73 65. They have to be able to respond to whatever is going on in town.

00:42:08,100	Deputy chief Ziegler has done an outstanding job in making wellness a priority for our people. Um He is doing. He got a grant for so some di, different mental health things. Um, we’re getting some special training. He. He’s got his training for peer support officers.

00:42:28,630	And, Uh, you know for fitness and and the whole well being of of of our people, not just their mental health, not just their physical health, but the we’re trying to look at it. The whole whole officer and and get the best that we can for him. And we spent a lot of time meeting with prosecutors and judges about offender accountability.

00:42:45,570	Um, like I said earlier when people that run into the same people over and over again or somebody came into a pretty serious a very serious crime and a bond is 2000 bucks. It’s like, what are we doing here? We can’t control the judges. Um, they’re their own elected official, but we can bring them our concerns, and they they listen, and, uh Hopefully.

00:43:02,800	We can work together on on the safety of that in that regard. Something. These are things that we kind of are bringing to your attention that you we don’t have the ability to do but with your assistance and guidance we can And as potentially add more non sworn community service officers. To, relieve pressure off patrol. Um Like. I said earlier.

00:43:25,500	They’re easier to hire for whatever reason. A non sworn staff are are Where we get all kinds of applications for that? Now. We have, uh, we’d have to research the duties and what could they actually do? Um, you know, in between right now, what they mostly do is our parking enforcement and our animal control, But they and they pick

00:43:43,870	up phone property and And different things to try and help out with the officers, But they Um they’re not a they’re available 24 7 and nor would we need them to be what they could be working different hours and and doing some different duties. That’s definitely something to look at. And we are studying.

00:44:01,370	Um Maybe. We could develop a career path for people right now. Uh, we have a master police officer position, but it’s not considered a promotion at all when you earn when the officer earns that it’s just a change in our grade.

00:44:19,730	I would like to see that become a promotion when they earn that they get that 5% bump, so they’re actually working towards something, and they they they just they start to move through. We’ve also are administrative services. Lieutenant I think has been working with HR. If he hasn’t We can work with HR to develop other possible steps like if someone’s a field training officer.

00:44:42,830	They, get a differential pay or investigators. It’s A. It’s a promotion. Some departments do that, Um, crass construction as they take an awful lot of training to be able to have those skills. So are those things that we can Um, are there things that we can do to to Um Reward people that are willing to take that on. And.

00:45:04,400	Then. The another thing is, we are researching technology that can assist with the drug. Uh, addressing staffing issues, you know, A. Lot of places are looking at drones as first responders.

00:45:23,200	And, uh, I thought that’s kind of crazy in a in a town like Bismarck, but the lieutenant doing the research on this is it’s pretty pretty neat that what they can do And. How much coverage. Um, in a theory being is we had to call. It sounds serious. You. Send that drone first and gather our intelligence and find out Is it what’s being reported. And, then it helps us direct resources in more efficiently. And.

00:45:42,400	They’re Here’s another thing that we’ve been researching is real time crime centers and what those are is tapping in to the the cameras that the city already has on their in their intersections that help with traffic. Being able to, uh, get into them live or get into the recordings. And as crimes happen, you can track people and you can track cars.

00:46:01,100	But if you have an event going on, like the downtown or street fair or something. We can send requests to community members to get in. Let them have access to their cameras. And If something happens like, uh, the Boston marathon bombing. That’s what they did. They got all the video. And, the A.

00:46:18,570	I behind the real time Crime center can help them track people or track vehicles or whatever it is that they’re looking for so and believe it or not, Uh, Bismarck’s, uh, would be able to use this technology.

00:46:41,570	And, then solutions compensation, something that again that We need your help with if you find some kind of solution Uh, we we need to be more competitive with our competition. Regarding salary and I’m not talking starting salary with competitive there. But. It’s getting our people through the grades that they’re in. Um, I, Haven’t I’m a little Uncomfortable talking about this because it’s probably my age I. I feel I’ve been fairly compensated.

00:47:04,500	I never looked to see what other cities are doing. I just never paid attention to that kind of thing, but people are doing that now, and they’re learning that it’s taking our officers. Well. We got our senior officer on our department.

00:47:19,500	It’s been here 30 years and she’s not topped out in her grade, and she’s a good officer. Um, when they that’s um Officers in Fargo. They’re getting through their grade in eight years, so The goal would be in their grade is a little bit less their police officer grade so ours tops out a little higher.

00:47:40,830	But our goal would be to get, uh, a performing officer to achieve the top pay scale in 12 years, so Dmitry helped us figure this out. And. It would be a what could do this would be a 3.3% increase yearly. Assuming a 2% cola for a total of 5.3% raise for your average officer to get to the top of the scale.

00:48:04,300	And some, You know some other things are considered. I see other Well, um Does. Consider, a 5% raise After successful six months of service to avoid compression issues that was actually the city’s practice. When. I started here. I have no idea when that went away or when it went away, or why But. That would be something that our our new people look at.

00:48:23,630	They They know that? Uh um They’re sick that they’re getting that separation from the bottom. Other places have done done signing bonuses for a new employee or a recruitment bonus. But. I don’t know if those have been really all that successful and others. You know something to think about, though. And I think that’s my last slide. So.

00:48:44,870	I know I’m throwing a lot at you. But Were to the point Now that, uh Um, we felt you needed to know what word. What challenges we have. Um And. This is all I know is working in law enforcement. That’s all I’ve done.

00:49:04,270	Besides, since I’ve been an adult, I should say, um I don’t know what it’s like out in the business world and what you folks do you might you maybe you have some ideas of things that could work for our department and help us along so With that I just stand for any questions you might have. Do. You have questions Comm., Mark mayor and commissioners. Chief.

00:49:22,730	Thanks for the presentation and you know it’s one of the things I wanted to make sure that you guys got out in front of it before the budget committee was meeting just ahead, have those different conversations but also to let us uh, the rest of the commissioners and the citizens know as well.

00:49:37,100	Um, I again Update as far as every day as far as how many calls we go out the night before, so we average anywhere from about 233 to 270 some, uh, kind of depending on the day and what the weather’s like on the weekends. Um like this last three day weekend. Saturday Sunday.

00:49:56,930	I think we had 733 calls? Um, our officers are very busy and they do a great job. Um of protecting us, Um, you know, with the staff and stuff they have, but I think there’s things that we need to take a look at as the city moving forward and, um, try and help. You know.

00:50:13,530	Make sure that you know, we don’t have some that burn out so we don’t have some of those officers leaving. And. You know, I think it’s gonna come? Um, you know, before this commission to to make some of those hard decisions and how we move forward with that Um, you know one of the things that you know

00:50:27,370	we’ve done in the past is as far as Lot of things that the Police Department has has wanted we’ve tried to get him. Uh, as far as the training and stuff that they that they need. We. Um, the request for, um and I.

00:50:48,230	Remember this conversation well, it either more police officers or or body cameras and you know, we went with the body camera. Uh, scenario just because it’s hard to get a lot of, or officers, um, you know, trained and or In those positions as the chief had mentioned.

00:51:08,430	So, You know there’s some tools and stuff that that we provided and resources we provided as a city, uh, to help our officers, but, um, as a chief kind of explained, and I get a couple of questions for city attorney combs as well, Um as far as what the, uh, chief had brought up Um But like you had mentioned, you know? Our community is very supportive of our police department. We.

00:51:28,770	Thank you guys very much for going out and and doing those jobs that a lot of people don’t want to do. But. We’re trying to recruit some of those individuals to to help. Um, with some of that stuff that you guys need help with. And. I. Think you’re you’re moving in the right direction.

00:51:45,830	Um, but there’s going to be have to be some hard discussions with the city Commission, uh, in the future, so appreciate you guys’ hard work. And. I concur with Comm. marquardt I. I mean I’m Gonna just say from my standpoint as a business person and I think I can probably speak for a few other departments in the city.

00:52:05,700	We’re all feeling some of the Same stressors and we are about public safety as a city. Across our organization. But. I think law enforcement is certainly one of those areas where the national narrative hasn’t helped any and the better we can do about making the national the narrative locally.

00:52:24,600	More positive will also help some of the narrative issues, but we we do need to take some serious looks at how we can find some help. I believe. And that it’s gonna be a tough It’s gonna be tough. There’s no question about it. So, chief. I really appreciate your presentation. I think it’s great information for our citizens to hear too Connelly. On.

00:52:44,030	The power shifts and A couple of years ago, maybe three. You I requested to do ride alongs and I did a for the thought It was a little uncanny, but I did full shift ride alongs on all four shifts. Um, there was some talk that the power shift was going to switch to where it was more uniform.

00:53:00,830	At that time it was, I believe one was 1 to 1 and the other was 3 to 3. Is that still consistent or because there were some pros and cons that were shared, where, like the bar time and those type of things, one created a little more difficulty over another. Yeah, so they did switch to 30.

00:53:19,330	Sorry. Be Comm. Comm. Connolly. They did switch to the, uh, 3 to 3 to make that the standard time to start. And it. That’s the best time as far as I’m concerned, you know. Thank you. Mayor and commissioners in chief he had mentioned as far as the resource officers. You know, I. Remember at one time.

00:53:36,000	That was a, uh Grant program. I think at one time when I was first on the UM school board, and at one time it was talking about not having school resource officers and one of the things at the time is that we wanted to make sure that I don’t think that people realize enough how, um Important, Those

00:53:57,170	positions are to make sure that we have our officers on the ground level. As far as a lot of those different conversations, and especially the way that our, um The way that our world is going now and and just a lot of those different discussions and making sure that we have officers that, you know, engage

00:54:13,700	with our student community and and just the amount of information that we’re able to to glean from some of that, and to help prevent some of the the things that may or may not come down in, you know, in in the future, so I think you know the school resource officers, even

00:54:27,570	though at one time you know it was a talk of of You know, uh, not having them. I think we’ve in our community anyway have showed them to be very, very beneficial.

00:54:48,430	Um, throughout our community, and and even with the school districts themselves, so I don’t I don’t foresee us or I would really hate to see those go away. But. Um you know, I. I think they are a valued service to our, uh and for different resources throughout our community as well. So mayor commissioners Comm. Marcour. Regardless If we had school reason if we didn’t have school resource officers, if we’d still be at the schools for whatever they need.

00:55:06,670	I mean I, Remember, I was here before we had school resource officers and spent plenty of time at the various schools. And as I built, You know, Obviously. I’m biased, But Bismarck does things right? And we’ve done that S Resource Officer program with the schools. We’ve done that correctly.

00:55:24,200	The officers do not get involved in school discipline. And. You know we only take care of the things that need to be done criminally, And then they’re there to teach in the you know, to become someone that they get to know and can rely upon so Very much, So. Thank you, sir Comm. Cy chief.

00:55:42,430	I really appreciate all your information to to hear your point with them to permission. Mart’s point with the, uh, resource officers. I think you’ve you’ve spoken about, you know? The desire to be proactive instead of reactive, and I think you know, removing positions like that kind of forces your officers.

00:55:59,000	It’s not like they’re not gonna go to the schools, but then it forces them into the position of being reactive because they’re not there all the time or familiar with, you know their placements and that sort of thing versus I think the school resource officers have more of an opportunity to be proactive at the schools instead of reactive, so I can certainly appreciate that, Um I

00:56:16,530	think to Both of your points. Um, it’s the police force, though I think put in some unique positions because of how tasking the job can be in the national narrative that you’re seeing, Um, it’s not the only Um, section of the city that’s experiencing some of this and so I think it’s just gonna be a

00:56:37,370	much bigger conversation. Um, when it comes to some of that, I know that we talk a lot about it at at public works as well. Um, how do you get good staff? How? Do? You keep good staff, you know, and I and I can appreciate it from the police force as well.

00:56:51,200	I think that when you’re talking a generational shift to when your younger generation is really looking for the value that they get out of their job, getting to live where they want to live that sort of thing, I think just making sure That.

00:57:07,330	We’re doing our best as far as compensation goes, but also as far as like, You know the desire to be in the in that area workforce and that sort of thing. Just, making sure everything lines up, I think plays a big role with police force, but, uh, with some of our other departments as well, so Anything else? Thank you, chief. A question for, um Um, city attorney Col.

00:57:29,030	So Janelle as far as you know, the, uh the chief had mentioned as far as um, you know, visiting with the the judges and, you know different attorneys and stuff like that. Um, as far as some of those, uh individuals. Um Being let out or or a small bond and and stuff like that sometimes.

00:57:47,430	So, you know what is it that that we need to do as a as a city for To push against some of that, or or to have some of those higher bonds to keep some of those individuals incarcerated versus letting him out. Mayor commissioners Comm. marquardt, It comes down to a lot of elected officials. It’s not just the judges.

00:58:07,200	It’s also, I think in the executive Department. Um so the governor and his staff, uh there’s been a lot of really good things with recovery reinvented that the first lady is champion. Um, because I think the cheat will tell you we can’t arrest our way out of addiction.

00:58:28,370	Drugs are are that’s not going to solve that problem, but, um, I know there’s frustration with the pen, releasing people and even the judges are frustrated when the penitentiary releases defendants who are sentenced to full sentences because they have parole options and other things. That’s why A lot of the things are are getting charged at other locations. There are times.

00:58:49,700	Um, I know we’ve worked with League of cities with the Chiefs Association. Um, I’ve helped with trying to provide some Supreme Court wants us to have a bail schedule. That is even less than what we have now, so people who are charged with a crime could be let out even easier, but they want it to be uniform across the state.

00:59:07,770	Um, we’ve worked with that, and I think I’ve also worked with the Municipal Judges Association. I think we’ve determined that they can try to enforce it on your city ordinances, but we have home rule Charter authority, and I think the league is ready to fight back against that If we have to. But.

00:59:27,600	There are times where Our Law enforcement will charge someone with a class B misdemeanor so they can get them arrested on city charges because they’ll be bonded out and and not even have a bond on higher class a misdemeanor felony charges with District Court because Judge Severin understands those requirements when someone is continually in this Criminal activity situation.

00:59:50,330	Sometimes they just need to be removed for a while from society to get out of that, um thing, whether it’s to get them off the drugs or alcohol or whatever is going on if they’re having mental health issues, something that’s happening sometimes, some folks, not all folks, not most folks, but some folks just kind of

01:00:06,870	need to be put away for a while to calm down until they can go before a judge, So. The best way is with making sure you ask those questions of anyone who’s being elected all the way. To the governor. As to what their policies are judges, all of them. And asking those questions and getting answers.

01:00:26,330	You can’t ask about a specific case, but you can definitely ask about sentencing philosophy and how they stand for those issues. Thank you the other question that I had was.

01:00:48,700	You know the chief had mentioned as far as the cameras that we have on our, um, traffic signal lights for You know as currently now we we’re not able to, um Utilize those to fully But what is it with the state? Isn’t that legislative issue that would have to go through as far as, um, you know, being able to use those cameras as video cameras instead, Mayor commissioners Comm.

01:01:08,670	Marquardt, So it’s the identity of the driver that we have the issue with with the red light laws, so the way that the statues are written. Now we have to have be able to prove that those individuals are the one who’s driving. We don’t have that presumptive liability If.

01:01:23,070	You’re the owner of the vehicle that you are the Who committed the crime. So. It would take state law change in order for that to happen. Other states do it, But and I. I can’t remember. I think we’ve tried, but I don’t think we’ve been very successful at the state Legislature to getting much movement on those at this point. Um and I know G.

01:01:43,800	I believe tell us that those are not video cameras. So please don’t call and ask if you want a video copy of your accident that occurred or what happened at a specific place because we get those questions in my department and his department on a regular basis, so they’re not video.

01:02:01,370	They’re like a motion sensor type thing since it how many vehicles are in that lane before changing lights as you believe, or changing colors, so we don’t really have that video capability with what we have up there anyway, yet, um, because it we wouldn’t be Use it, But.

01:02:18,430	My office would absolutely be willing because those red light violations kill people and I just want clarification on that in the public. Thank you. OK, I think it’s a great presentation. And a lot. A lot of food for us to think about. All. Right. Next item. Um He is, uh Elkridge Third Edition MOU in Are you gonna make a presentation? Will be, I could get the share link up.

01:02:57,370	Mayor and commissioners as part of the Sewer master planning in northwest Bismarck is probably 56 years ago. Now. We we identified A potential solution that would allow us to remove the Elk Ridge or Excuse me the Eagle Crest lift station from operation so currently, uh, A. Couple of words of subdivisions.

01:03:18,900	I’m Not sure if it’s you know, 100 to 200, or so residents drain their sewage into the Eagle Crest lift station, which is then pumped. Um to a another gravity location, and then it falls in line throughout our sewer network.

01:03:38,670	What was identified about 56 years ago is that we would have an opportunity at some future point to Grab a gravity sewer line and decommission the Elk ridge. Excuse me. I. Keep Elk Ridge, the Eagle Crest lift station, Um at such time that development occurs in this sewer shed so as Elk Ridge first edition second Edition and now third edition have occurred or are occurring. We identified a particular trunk line.

01:03:54,500	That would be a little bit larger that would take the excess gravity sewer fed, Um, properties both here as well as other places in the sewer shed. Um and now we’re to the point that the developer of Elkridge third edition is new wing earthwork.

01:04:13,570	Rating for that particular subdivision with intent to put municipal infrastructure in this summer, so the opportunities before us to to move forward with a portion of this Decommissioning concept, but the first portion is moving just some dirt. So really the the concept that we have here today it would be placing embankment material within portions of Elkridge third edition and an Eagle Crest edition that would allow us to in the future.

01:04:31,930	Decommission the Eagle Crest lift station by bringing that gravity sewer line, um down the hill, as shown by the green. That’s like maybe do a little edit here. So the flow direction down the hill across What? What is currently a valley to gain access to where Marsh Hawk drive will be constructed.

01:04:52,430	Uh and within the sewer network that will be there. So in order to do that. We have to put some dirt in between Marsha Drive and Eagle Crest loop that will then keep that sewer covered. Um, so the developer has offered to place that dirt.

01:05:10,870	Uh, but our current processes with our utility capital charges that we have, uh, allow us to give credit to additional infrastructure that’s requested by the city. But. We have typically an historically capped that at the comp. That they’re upgrading. So if they’re upgrading a sewer line, we let them off the hook on or apply the credit to the component of the utility capital charge related to sewer conveyance.

01:05:28,670	But then if that is exceeded, then there’s no additional funds available, so there’s still a utility capital charge for the sewer treatment, the water treatment and the water distribution component, uh, in a particular development, So this request that we have before you today is to allow the placement or the the cost associated with placing this embankment to be count.

01:05:48,900	Against the what will amount to the water Utilities capital charge that won’t cost the city anything, but we will just receive less in capital charges as part of this proposal.

01:06:04,930	Why it’s an MOU is we also have our parks and rec partners that we are not the owner of lot 20 in Eagle Crest Edition that is owned by Bmore parks and rec, So. I will have the same item, uh, on their board agenda for Thursday’s consideration, And so if their board approves and if this board approves and if the developer approves we’d be able to enter.

01:06:21,300	This agreement by which the city would recognize the work that the developer is doing parks and rec would grant easements to the city and then the developer would do the work Initially here once again, this would be at this point in time placing embankment in a storm sewer pipe. But in the future. This will allow us to then decommission this as part of a capital improvement plan, uh, to decommission Eagle Crest at some point in the future.

01:06:36,870	Without it take any questions that you may have Some questions. What are you, Comm. Connolly? Um, just since we had a group of, um scouts here and things.

01:07:05,100	Um, can you explain the pros and cons of say, this process versus pros and cons of if we go through the normal RFP process, there’s multiple different ways so we can address similar issues, and each of them have a benefit. Sure mayor Comm. Comm.

01:07:22,830	Conley, uh, the opportunity that presents itself now is that there’s a contractor working in the area, moving dirt and available dirt to to do that, so this will be at the the lowest cost for the city to to place this embankment material would be now in the future when, uh, Elk Ridge edition is is developed and there’s the The houses are already in place.

01:07:40,000	Uh, any material brought in to build this embank would have to be hauled in and would increase the price substantially to put that material on AAA dump truck and then dump it out here. As opposed to loading it from the other side of the site on your scraper and and hauling it to this location, so it is a cost effectiveness efficiency component that we’re trying to achieve now, but the same thing could could be, uh, programmed in the future at some other

01:07:55,100	date, but it would come at much higher of a cost, So that’s what we’re trying to balance and the, uh, topography in these areas and things where there was never water on top of these hills like there are now because all the developments were drawn up a lot of water, and then it’s going On the

01:08:11,900	coolie. I. Remember hearing you speak about how the you look at the natural mitigation of, um how grasses and trees and things and if it they’re standing straight up in the air, there doesn’t seem to be a problem. But.

01:08:28,500	If, you start seeing the blades of grass are laying down or trees are washing away. Those are some of the things that you look at from a city aspect is am I remembering that right Mayor Comm. Comm. Conley. I’m drawing a blank on talking about trees and laying sideways But that sounds like a bad problem if we have trees And sideways.

01:08:42,300	That means that they’re not growing like they should. Maybe. It was Doug that said that? No, it’s Gabe. I could go back and reference the video for But thank you. Any other questions move to improve is presented. Second Is there any discussion? Hearing. None will call Ra Comm. Connolly. Yes Comm. cleary. Yes Mr marquardt. Yes Comm. Zinker. Yes, yes.

01:09:13,230	Next item is to consider request for approval and to negotiate a joint powers agreement with Western, North Dakota water systems and seek funding and construction for a regional P stabilizer storage facility in Michel. Closures. Yes Good Evening mayor and commissioners.

01:09:36,770	Um, we have a unique opportunity here that we’re pursuing with multiple other water systems in the western part of the United, Um, North, Dakota. We’ve also been working with Matt gardner with laga cities to try and pull together all of the water systems actually are in need of storage for a PH stabilizer that’s used in our drinking water process. And without this supply, we’re actually not able to produce Clean drinking water.

01:09:58,370	Um, it’s been a piece that we’ve been trying to work through. Legislature, um, the last couple of years of trying to find a solution and what we’ve been doing is meeting with water systems and finding that what we can do is put together one storage facility. Um, that would provide 400 tons of storage of this PH stabilizer.

01:10:17,630	Um, where Bismarck would be able to use about 25% of the storage the rest of the storage could be used by Jamestown. Um Mandan may not Um, the Nars drinking water system. The Southwest Pipeline system, the W system, And so it’s like all the drinking water systems in the western part of the state.

01:10:35,500	We would have to go through a process to actually put together. A joint powers. Agreement is what our our thoughts are at this point in time, all of us would be a part of building this infrastructure and then putting it to use and then we would have our own contractors helping us deliver.

01:10:53,630	Um, the supplies from this joint system into those individual. Um, water systems. Um, we are working as a team to present our request for preconstruction dollars to the State Water Commission, and we’re making that request. This Thursday, So we’ll be meeting with the State Water Commission on their pre commission meeting, so it’s kind of their first of their two party meetings.

01:11:13,370	I wanted to bring this forward to the um, City commission to give you information of what we’re seeking, and then allow, um, see if we can have approval for us to enter into negotiations on a joint powers agreement to make it a little bit more formal or formalized an agreement or arrangement with the Western, Um, cities.

01:11:33,270	I do have a slide that shows the water treatment plant and kind of the locations that we’re looking at, Um, at that site. If. I can pull that up. Right? All, right. So when we’re looking at the facility, um we have the river. You have the river, um, on the one side River road most of our treatment process.

01:12:40,500	There’s basically two alternatives to look at. One in this first hatched area and then the second one is the hatched area for, um to the south of the location, so this would be a storage container that would be located on the Bismarck Public Works water treatment plant site but would be able to be used by different multiple

01:13:04,070	water systems when there’s times of shortage, and I should let you know, um, when the reason we have shortages, um, we’re able to get this source, um, from Dakota gasification, So it’s actually part of a basin project where Produced, um in the state.

01:13:24,700	Um, and there’s times that they have to take down the gasification plant for maintenance. And so there may not be this product being produced for multiple weeks at a time and so all the water systems have a difficulty obtaining this, um, this product to be used in our treatment. There are other places across the United states. But.

01:13:42,930	It’s actually very, um small areas that are able to produce this that’s needed for our treatment. So if we can do a bulk storage in this area It’s actually able to help us for those times when there is less supply available within our state, and then each of them these water systems will be able to continue operations and I can answer any questions if there’s any questions.

01:14:01,030	Question I. I think it’s a great opportunity for us to work with other communities and probably be efficient and cost savings. Long term. Yeah. So thank you, Michelle for bringing this forward. You’re looking for an approval If. I can prove to the negotiation motion to approve is presented. Any discussion. Do you have comment. Comm..

01:14:25,400	OK, uh we’ll call all Comm. Cleary. Yes. Comm. Marquardt Comm.. Yes, Mr connelly. Yes, yes. OK, next. Michelle’s not off the hook. And. She has a request. For approval of adoption of local limits Specific to, uh, Bismarck Wa wastewater treatment plant. If she’s We don’t have with this one. More to have an answer any questions so we’ll start. Previous Yeah.

01:15:15,170	So, Um Mayor and Comm. We Last City Commission meeting we had presented the local limits and we had let you know that we were having a stakeholder public meetings. Um, on April 30th. What we have done is we presented the local limits to the commission. The last meeting.

01:15:31,400	Um we also had our public meeting and we did have different, um, businesses in our community attend, um, that the presentation we were able to share the information. There was not a lot of questions asked, Um they just want wanted copies. The information being shown. Um, So.

01:15:50,500	What we’re doing is we’re making a request for the City Commission to now officially adopt these local limits. Um and then I did wanna provide you an update that after these are adopted, we would be working on a a course of action to then update our ordinance to reflect these new local limits and one of the pieces with that adoption of local limits is that um, city access to commercial businesses

01:16:12,330	will be required when we’re moving. For those commercial discharges are for those commercial entities to discharge wastewater to our treatment plant, so I just wanted to give you a heads up that that will be part of the conversation in the local ordinance.

01:16:28,470	Um, but at this point in time, all we’re seeking is the approval for these local limits. So the numbers Comm. commissioners in Michelle. These. Local limits are not something that we just quote unquote dreamt up. This is driven from the EPA. It’s driven from the EPA, and it’s It’s driven by the capacity of our treatment plant. So yes, definitely. When when you’re ready.

01:16:56,400	Let me just share with you The slide. Just so the public can see this. So again. These were the local limits presented at last meeting and presented at the public meeting. And request approval of the local limits. Move to approve is presented. Second Missouri discussion. Do.

01:17:32,770	You have any questions You can get Paul olson, our pretreat, um, person on the spot If You wanna kind of quiz them at all. It’s a great opportunity. Um, jason suggests you ask him how to pronounce moly moly Diem. So, yes. All, right? I. Don’t see any discussion or hear any so we can call all Mr Marquardt. Yes Comm. anchor? Yes Comm. connelly. Yes, Comm. cleary.

01:18:01,170	Yes, Marm? Yes. Next. Next item is projects for the North, Dakota Water Resources Water Development plan to receive requests for on proposed projects. Go ahead, Michelle. So.

01:18:30,630	There is a process within, um, the legislative process for the Department of water resources where they reach out to all communities and water systems and asks us to submit projects for their water development plan, and this is just high level at this point in time, but we needed to submit it by the end of April when it’s in their water development plan. That is what’s being shared with legislators for this next legislative session.

01:18:51,430	For funding to support this, um Department of water resources budget, So. These projects are not a specific cost share request today, but they’re trying to be put into the programming for that department’s budget, um, to try and seek grant funding for our projects within our area. There are four projects that we had put in for, and so we’re wanting to share that information with you.

01:19:10,830	Um and then, um, basically just provide you that update, and we’re seeking, um, support for these projects if there’s any questions with them, please let me know. The first One is just that western North Dakota peach stabilizer storage project that we had earlier mentioned, and I do have to reinforce that This is not full city so city City

01:19:28,900	of Bismarck is about a quarter of this and then we would also be looking for an SRF. Want to be able to repay the cost over like a 1015 year period. So for Bismarck, the cost would be closer to a million dollars.

01:19:46,500	Um, the Lockport Reservoir we put in the Lockport pump station a few years ago that actually helped us provide water to the northwest part of our community so that we were able to take that water tower down on, um What is that black port 43rd Ash Cooley Ashley drive up by the school.

01:20:07,770	Um, that’s when we repainted it, so we were not able to take that down because we didn’t have any water service in the area. But with that Lockport pump station, we were able to get water service in the area.

01:20:24,300	It’s always been planned to also put a reservoir in that site, so this would tie the reservoir in and then be able to provide, um the piping and the pumping to be able to push water further to the east from that location, So we’re That on the radar for the State Water Commission to be seeking 5.5 million in a grant for that project.

01:20:42,500	The next project is the cast iron water, main replacements, and what we found is we’ve been able to request um, cost share funding from the state water Comm. on those projects. And so every year we do a project that’s around $5 million and we’ve been able to get State Water commission support for 60% of those costs, which is really helping out the utility as we’re moving forward, So.

01:21:01,630	This request is basically two years worth of projects, um, making that request because that’s the biennium that this water commission is dealing with. The. Last project is the South Bismarck Flood control Project or flood protection project. So. This is the project where we’re looking at the the construction dollars on the project Gabe’s working on so we were able to get F MA funding.

01:21:21,900	We’ve also been able to get, um Preconstruction money or design money from the State Water Commission. This is putting the request in for the construction funding for the remaining of the project that’s like 100 and $22 Million. We did get 50 million in FEMA Grant. This is trying to get 60% of the cost share for the remaining cost to help.

01:21:38,730	Reduce what, Um Bismarck will be responsible for costs. So. Each of these projects are the ones that we had put together in the water development plan and just checking if there’s um so support from the commission. Some shall.

01:21:59,370	What’s the grant? Sure that we’re requesting is it is 60% of the 54 million or yes, And. So. The. Um, the 54 million is basically remaining cost after the State Water Commission’s funding. You’re looking at the numbers here. Yes, because my mouth is not computing, So. That’s where I was at. I’m Sorry. So this is only two years of funding. That project was likely to go.

01:22:22,300	I think into the third year as well. So. This is only taking basically the two years of funding, um, to request at this point, and then there would be a future request as well. The other OK. Then that explains it. I just was my mouth. The 27. Yeah. OK, thank you for explaining that. To people have questions. Commissioners wishes Move to approve is presented.

01:22:52,770	Second And any discussion. K unwell call roll. Comm. anchor. Yes Comm. Connelly. Yes, Comm. cleary. Yes. Comm. marquardt? Yes. Yes. Thank you. Thank you. Uh or two other business. I know Comm. Connolly you mentioned that you had something.

01:23:43,230	It’s been a fairly late meeting on Topics that mean a lot to the community, and I wish that could comm can could continue, But, um, I knew this would be hard, um Since October last year. I’ve taken a lot of phone calls and people have reached out to me. About different concerns and Six days ago. We got the BC I report back and Um, I’m just gonna read from there. I.

01:24:24,700	Just articulate my thoughts. I can’t wing this one. Um On may 8th 2024 Bismarck learned as a city The answer to the question that has been on the minds of many since October 25th of 2023. October, 25th. Was the day that most learned that the director of the event center was terminated.

01:24:49,700	And, part of the reasoning behind it was that some of the directors actions may have been Felonious in nature, and thus the information turned over to the Bureau of criminal investigations. BC I The conclusion from the state’s attorney Julie lawyer confirmed that there would be no charges filed against the former director. Numerous Media Publications shared that disposition report from BC.

01:25:16,830	I found no evidence that he violated any criminal law. On September 22nd 2023, the city administrator is placed in the event center director on paid administrative leave after receiving a letter from A Farmer Event Center employee with allegations of improper conduct. Sit in the city attorney as part of the process with justification.

01:25:47,970	Um, being two legal references proclaimed herself. Chief ethics officer. Giving herself some oversight responsibilities as to how the investigation would be conducted. Outside of knowing that investigation was happening at the time. It seemed that most of the commission was not aware of the details. Within the last month I learned that Comm.

01:26:12,900	Zinker was aware of the termination on October 20th 2023 as part of a very short conversation in parentheses. I have that I was able to confirm the context or review of information that would he shared during the November November 14th 2023 meeting.

01:26:43,500	And was told on he was told on 1024 that the letter for termination was delivered to the director just before the regularly scheduled city commission meeting. During the meeting. The topic was not brought up or addressed at any level. I barely arrived home after the 1024 23 meeting. City. And.

01:27:09,570	Uh, the City commission meeting only to get a call from the now retired administrative city administrator and was informed that he had made the decision to terminate the event center director whom would most likely appeal to the Civil Service Commission, part of the information shared is that there was a possibility of criminal behavior in the evidence was turned over to BC. Soon after. The short phone call ended. My first question was, Why. Was it not brought up during the City Commission meeting.

01:27:33,070	We just concluded, especially knowing it would be two weeks before we would have another meeting. The following morning, every news media report elaborated. The that they criminal aspect would most could most likely be Felonious in nature, KRKFYR reported on October, 27th 2023 and a quoted statement from the city attorney. The following Quote it is possible.

01:28:05,630	It is a prima fascia. Evidence of bribery, which is a class C felony. The Media knew this information before the full city commission was aware or even had a discussion with this amount of reported depth. What followed is a way too long, very public and difficult history for an entire community of Bismarck.

01:28:35,970	We were told in the meeting by the mayor, we could not talk about the BC a information thus we could only focus on essentially failed job performance questions. Information was presented with the conclusion that even the appearance of was enough justification for termination.

01:29:03,400	And because Any lawsuit would not have enough to win due to the provisions under government immunity and a handful of other factors. February 27th 2024 was the city commission meeting. Um Where the subcomittee shared. It’s facts and recommendations. What we knew is what we Learned and that the final BC I report was on the desk of the state’s attorney, but had not been reviewed without the BC I report.

01:29:33,130	And more questions than there were answers the discussion of paid Um, immediate retirement followed. And a page in the awful chapter chapter could be turned. In my mind a lot of what turned the process into being such a long drawn out, uh, had to do long and drawn out had to do with the fact that our chief ethics officer was quoted specifically

01:29:56,570	sharing that information what’s turned over to the Bureau of criminal investigation and very definitively explained a potential charge as a class C felony many times where public announcements are made by the police. We hear that Are in process, but we don’t hear any definitive details until the investigations are further along or complete. So.

01:30:21,770	I question. Why was a similar process not handled here. And. Why was there not at least a full discussion at the City Commission table before going to the media with such detail. I do not believe that many people That. Many of the people I spoke with. Um Mhm.

01:30:46,430	I do not believe that many of the people I spoke with I do believe that many of the people I spoke with, um Believe that we could lose a lawsuit would have thought OK. I was reading it right. I apologize. I do not believe that many of the people I spoke with believe that we could lose a lawsuit.

01:31:13,030	Um, would have thought so if going to the media on the part of the chief financial officer in this manner. The City attorney, uh, would could have If the city attorney could have handled it differently on a few occasions over the years, including two that I know of since last September, the city attorney has said at any point, members

01:31:39,100	of the city commission could remove her if they lost confidence on how she represents them in the city of Bismarck, I took an oath to represent the citizens of Bismarck and finding out that there was no evidence that the event center director violated criminal law.

01:31:59,970	I believe it’s on Five of discussion out of respect to said oath. Maring commissioners. What’s your thoughts on this matter. So First and foremost. What, the BC R report says. We probably don’t have full disclosure on that We have what State’s attorney lawyer made a decision on she decided not to charge which is fine that is buying of itself doesn’t just give say

01:32:26,100	whether or not there’s justification for concerns. The The information that You are referring to, um, first off, you threw me Under the bus, which I don’t appreciate, because, frankly, it had nothing to do with the BC report. When.

01:32:54,000	We received another report regarding the activity at the event center, which by the way you are a part of and as I recall, you made a unanimous recommendation on so I have a hard time when you’re now speaking, double talk. Um The, chief ethics officer is I. If I’m not correct. I need to be corrected, but I think it’s by either ordinance or policy.

01:33:15,230	I’m not sure which it is, but it’s not a self appointed by opinion position. It is the city attorney, and it has probably been that way for Well, I don’t know how long I guess I don’t know. So To make the statement that she or someone self apoint herself is not fair.

01:33:37,170	Um And that is her job or his job if they’re the chief ethics office, and they are then if they find something that needs to be looked at. That’s why we have a Bureau of criminal investigation they review it. They provide a report back to the state’s attorney. The state’s attorney then makes a decision. Had nothing to do with anybody else. Mi Ms Combs.

01:34:00,770	I Think you deserve a right to Respond. Mayor commissioners. So. My duties are in city ordinance as well as state law, which includes furnishing any written opinions, including an ethics, I believe the assistant attorney general Hicks came and explained how that works in city government.

01:34:26,770	So, um, that is under a century code is where those opinions come from. I did not go to any media. I did not. And. You are misquoting that the next sentence for the part, you quoted indicates I do not believe there was any intent. To violate the law. Intent is an element of the criminal violation. An intent.

01:34:49,870	Would have to be found in order for criminal charges to be filed. I had an obligation once there is reasonable suspicion to turn it over. Otherwise it looks like we are hiding something in government having an independent party.

01:35:10,570	Look at it at that point is what is an ethical obligation under my law license? In addition, proof beyond a reasonable doubt in criminal elements. Even if you have a prima facie case if you have rebuttable presumption that there is no intent. Then there is that possibility that the prosecutor will look at it and say I don’t want to charge this. Perhaps.

01:35:31,830	I shouldn’t have been so kind in that That was also what was quoted when someone else said that I went to the media. I have never gone to the media about this. The Media requested that letter that was sent it was an open record. We cannot withhold open records in North Dakota law, whether it’s the media or another individual that requests it, it has to be turned over. Um For that. And.

01:35:57,070	Uh, I would not feel comfortable violating open records Law and withholding a document when it’s being requested lawfully, whether it’s by a citizen or the media. So. That information is, uh, just two of the items that are different.

01:36:17,230	I also would have appreciated if you had a question asking me in advance or even giving me a heads up that you were going to do something like that, Um I am a professional. And. I will act professionally. I have acted ethically and I have done my job. Unfortunately. For some people, it seems easier to be able to blame the individual.

01:36:36,770	Than the person who is doing the job. I’ve been appointed and hired to do Ethically I will continue to do that. If, um For, not cause you would like to terminate me. As. I’ve said. I have no problem with that it would take four of you to vote. For.

01:36:57,470	No, cause nothing you’ve presented indicates cause And, you would be setting yourself up for severe litigation, unlike what was represented to your by your attorneys through outside counsel, both of them that the other case of employment was not something that was something that they felt was a viable claim. Are there any questions? Not for me. Comm. Mark mayor and commissioners.

01:37:30,830	You know one of the things you know when I That I had asked for, you know, repeatedly in in the mayor had had mentioned as far as you know, some of the other things that had come about us, Uh, a different report. Uh, we did have Comm. Connolly and Comm. Cleary.

01:37:50,230	You know work with, uh You know, outside individual to take a look at the different, uh, situations that were were going on down at the event center. One of the things that I wanted.

01:38:07,830	Make sure that I had and I had announced it publicly here and in other meetings as well as I wanted to see what the BC I report, um Was before I wanted to make a decision and It’s accordingly how I voted as as well, Um at that time when this came out the first thing I thought was W. Now what? You know, you know, one of the only things that we can do is is is look forward because we can’t really go back.

01:38:26,130	Take a look and change what what has gone, but we can use some of that information as far as our decisions moving forward, You know us as city commissioners are only good as a model of the information that we receive. I’ve told my directors that before I’ve told other staff as well.

01:38:44,100	Is that We have to be able to make sure that we get the correct information and I. I don’t know for sure if we’ve necessarily had that. Um uh, with this particular issue, I would have liked to have seen a lot. Uh more early on. I. Think.

01:39:06,300	There is a, um Uh, You know if you continued failure at time, um Formed a signed, um Work, But. Um I think that you know, we need to take a look in and and see what maybe some of that other, um Issues as well if there’s other issues that that may or may not have come up in in the past, as well, Um It.

01:39:31,670	It’s frustrating to me and it it It’s it’s It’s painful as well, because I mean, we We. We try and do the best job that we can do with the information that’s provided, and unfortunately, I don’t feel for sure that our that we had all the correct information moving forward. Um from this and and I.

01:39:49,770	Don’t know for sure how we gain some of that, um, necessarily respect back to a certain extent as far as some of the information that that we get, you know, we’re all human.

01:40:05,700	We all make errors at times as as well, Um, but I think with any of the the topics or something that we need to discuss here, Uh, we need to make sure that we have that correct information because, you know We We were hired by the citizens to do a job.

01:40:23,300	And we need to make sure that we do that job to the best of our ability with the information and stuff that we have provided, and I don’t feel that in this particular instance with this BC I report that came out in in. You’re correct. Mayor. We haven’t received the full, um the redacted version of of that at at at all. So. I mean, are we a little bit premature with some of this as as well, it’s probably possible but also again.

01:40:43,100	The threshold for concerns over issues employment wise are much different. Than they are for criminal. And. That should be the case. By the way it should be a very high threshold. You have to meet to be charged with a criminal offense.

01:41:02,530	I think the BC and the and the state’s attorney Probably took all that into weight and made What I believe is probably a proper decision. To not charge. Mr jeske that was an appropriate decision that has nothing to do with where we were with the position. But.

01:41:19,970	That’s What some of the stuff that present came came before us, though, and the reasons why it came before us, but go back to the report that was done by an independent person who does did this work repetitively for 40 years in his report was very clear. Of lack of performance could there have been better performance evaluations done prior years? Certainly but performance in 112 Month period is sufficient. I’ve had to terminate people on less time. It is not fun.

01:41:41,930	It’s never easy. Sometimes. We have to make a tough decision. Very true. I totally agree with you. So I’m I’m just The BC I report has In my opinion in my mind, nothing to do with where we got And We need to heal and we continue to talk about this, which is actually opposite of

01:42:02,230	what I know. Other parties wish to have going on. Probably every citizen in the city of Bismarck would just assume this was had gone away by now. And. I’m pretty certain Mr jeske would like to have gone away as well.

01:42:21,300	At this point in time, So the Contin, the continued bring it up is not helping us. It is not helping us. So I also Back to a concern and consideration, which was brought forth during all of this. I was not informed of this. That is my portfolio. Probably should have been made aware this was coming. Tonight. You made that very clear before.

01:42:46,400	So I’m done. I’m done with my pomp and circumstance. No, thank you. Go ahead. I’ve spent Ever since the eighth. A lot of time weighing things back and forth. Should we talk? Would it be office do What’s the proper way to go about it. It was not easy to share.

01:43:17,970	There are a lot of citizens that wanted this discussion to be had. It’s I mean, There’s so many things that make this difficult and If. I was here trying to Save face or Make things easy as we try to turn that page. Saying. Nothing is the easiest choice.

01:43:55,870	But then all of those people go unrepresented in what they share. So I brought it to the table. I’ve been told. Ever since this appointment. These discussions occur amongst the five of us. You can talk to one other person, but that’s not always Encouraged. Because of how the open meeting discussions go. And It wasn’t meant. To Throw under the bus.

01:44:32,230	There’s no agenda in game there, it’s Let’s have honest discussions as they unfold, and it’s a discussion that deserves to be had Before June because it’s the five of us that have been handling it. I said it many times during many meetings. And Because of that. That’s why I wrote it down the way I did. And.

01:44:55,900	Even this morning I thought about calling And Letting somebody know about it, but It’s a hard call. I respect you, but Just saying that Is my portfolio and is everybody else respects and I try to do the best I can respecting all those portfolios? Comm. C. You had a comment.

01:45:26,630	Yeah, I guess, um, also a little unprepared for this conversation, but, um To. Um, our credit. We sat on a committee and had a full discussion not just of the ethical issues or what What, the BC report might say in it, but we also spoke with numerous staff and went through tons of discussion on leadership and what is needed down there and

01:45:48,500	all sorts of other things. Capa like full capacity of that job, and what is needed, Um I still stand by the information that I came about at that committee.

01:46:07,900	Um I wasn’t willing to wait around for this BC report because I think that the threshold of being employed in that type of position where you’re expected to be a leader and a lot of things fall on your shoulders and there the of certain expectations, which all fall down to taxpayer dollars in certain regards That threshold of employment is much different than CRI criminal. And I just I I, I.

01:46:30,730	Guess as well would prefer to get to move forward and work on some of these things that were brought up in all of these reports and try to do better. Um But I also just I to the point of whether we think city attorney Was not handling her job appropriately or is not meeting her job capacity. I. Guess.

01:46:53,770	I don’t know how we get there That is it’s not how I feel. Um, but I also don’t know how you would would justify it, Um, in the scenario that happened, so I guess that’s where I’m at obviously everybody’s opinion on the matter is different.

01:47:12,400	Um But I still stand by all of the research and work and hours that were put in by myself by Comm. Connolly and specifically because he probably doubled the amount of hours that I spent on. It was our our third person, Gorey smith. I also value the experience that he brought to it. But.

01:47:31,700	I also think that The stuff that was discussed in that report and the stuff that brought me to the conclusion that our committee made was not all just based off of ethical things that could put you in prison types of Of things cause a lot of that stuff in those letters it hard to prove speculation or just the nuance or suggest tivity of so that something was going on.

01:47:52,530	Not like actual, blatant law breaking. It was just The The appearance of unethical behavior, not Proven eth unethical behavior, and I think that there’s a huge difference there. But Again. There’s a huge difference between Whether. Somebody should hold that position of employment versus whether that person should go to jail for something that they did.

01:48:18,570	The thresholds for that are are different. And, So I think that I guess that’s that’s where I’m at. Um, I would prefer to get to move forward from this at some point. Comm. Connolly. I do appreciate, even though it was hard to wear all of the people that we’re talking to me about it.

01:48:54,000	I think it answers the questions that they had And talking with me. I don’t know why they reached out to me versus I don’t know how many calls the rest of you got, but Um I think they had a valid Concern and they deserve to have this discussion. Comm. Marco, the mayor and commissioners Comm..

01:49:21,970	Conley, are you Talking about an avenue to further discuss this more in an executive Session or we No done. Yep. OK? Unless you have anything to add? No, I think you You kind of brought up everything that you know, I think that there might I, just like I said. It’s frustrating is what it is.

01:49:49,300	You know we do all the work and then as far as the information and like, I may I know you’ve got your opinion on that. Um, but I just feel that you know that that portion of it and that One of the things that was brought up, you know.

01:50:13,500	Said Not to, um Criminally, and I think that’s you know, and I Um City attorney, combs said, You know kind of walk through some of that little bit of a timeline as far as, um you know what was said. What may be said.

01:50:34,330	And what Um, but I I don’t know for sure if there’s things that We need to take a look at, um you know, further back or like I said, or or not, as far as you know, what is, you know being presented for for us as a commission? They said.

01:50:50,170	We’re only good as as the amount of information and stuff that we receive, and I would hope that, uh, with any of our directors is that we get all the information good or bad. Ah, with some of the different issues, one of the reasons why, you know the police department come up and you know, just different discussions and stuff that we’ve had.

01:51:02,970	We need to our citizens need to know where We’re at as far as the city and how we’re gonna grow and we need to make sure that we have confidence within Our staff and our administration, uh, to be able to make some of those hard decisions and I don’t know for sure. Um Some of that We move Forward.

01:51:22,530	From! What Just! What has happened in you know their most recent past with the discussions that we even had tonight. Um Is it? Just go away. We quit talking about it. Or, or, you know, or do we have to wait until something else happens? For. We have that discussion again. I mean? I don’t know. Like. I said These in 18 years of of being elected official.

01:51:48,900	I have not been put in a position like this, that that we’ve had to Um, have some of the discussions as as we have, uh, with this particular instance we’ve had some very tough decisions in 18 years that I’ve had prior to being on the City Commission and here And I.

01:52:07,700	Don’t know for sure if I’ve had anything way more than than what this was and waiting for something, and I understand we we may not have have wanted to wait as far as for the BC I report, I was holding more hope on that versus the, uh then on the ethics side, there was things that I figured that we could have done and should have done prior to that. But.

01:52:24,100	We can’t change what has happened. We can only change what it is moving forward and I. We need to make sure we’re The people that are sitting at this table need to make sure moving forward that we have to have confidence within Our staff that we as a commission hire, and we have to make sure that

01:52:41,430	the citizens who vote us in have that confidence as far as that we are making the right decisions on the staff that we hired to make sure that they’re doing the best job that they can With their with their tax money. And how that moves forward. That’s. That’s.

01:53:03,030	That’s Where that’s where I’m, I’m hinging it that and I don’t know. Like I said. I, you know, We had to hire Janelle and a very Great candidate and that’s the reason why she got the job. But where does where do we Where? Do? We draw that that line And. What. Does that look like I like I said.

01:53:22,500	I’m I’m torn. I really don’t know for sure What To do or what to do next. Granted. Yes, I would love to quit talking about it. But when this comes out You know it had to Comm. Connolly brought it forward, So I. Like. I said. I don’t know.

01:53:44,430	In this growth of public involvement that I’ve had. A. Lot of people are afraid to come forward and talk. And. It eats away at them. And There’s been some contentious meetings in our community and things and After you when people share and not naming names and things I put it out there for discussion. So.

01:54:09,400	We can have those honest and real. I can call Janelle tomorrow and talk about Different issue. This one people can yell at me. They can and things. Um If. It leads to us being better to where we can turn that page and get those answers that we need to go forward. Then it’s it’s worth. That hardship so to speak.

01:54:34,000	Um, in this case, I. I think we’ve already said it is, is that Taking some time with the event center. We’re learning. We know there are some things there’s some cost that’s gonna go in. To probably having to do it right. And if we can do it internally. Great. There’s benefit and challenge with that.

01:54:56,330	If. It gets to a point where it’s too high, Then we consider a management company and do things differently. Like a lot of other communities. And. I foresee that going forward. With, the release of the information on May 8th.

01:55:19,770	There’s just been a lot of questions, and if it doesn’t get talked about, there’s a lot of people that continue talking and On some level I believe the community digresses if we don’t have that discussion So And. I’m good with it. Being here, but it had to be discussed. Anything further.

01:56:20,230	Is there any other business? Actually I just really very, very quickly and in a very opposite note, Um I just wanted to thank, um our solid waste staff help helped out with the key. Bismarck beautiful a couple weekends ago, and it was a really great event. And, So I just wanted to thank everybody who came out. I know I mentioned it at the last meeting, trying to get people to show up for it, So.

01:56:34,570	It went really well and I appreciate the extra assistance that the staff puts into a day like that. So. Thank you. Anything else?