00:00:16,700	It’s 515 on April 14th. We’re in the Tom Baker room of the City County building. This will be the Board of City commissioners meeting. But before we start, if Chaplain Carr would be willing to come forward with invocation and to lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Guiding wheels. Is now joining..

00:00:37,500	And whoever is now joining, we thank you. Please join me in prayer. Heavenly father, first of all, we want to pray and thank you for our telecommunications. Uh, the first responders to every scene. Father, our 911 dispatchers here at Centcom and state radio. Father, thank you for them. Pray your blessing upon them.

00:00:58,830	Now we turn our attention elsewhere. Father, we turn our attention to the world and ask that you’ll be with our leaders and our military as they protect and serve this nation. And now, father, we turn our attention locally. And I ask that your wisdom will be with our commissioners and our mayors as they govern the city.

00:01:18,030	Continue to bless them and watch over them and to protect them. Continue to bless this fine city. Father, be with all of our first responders and our city workers. Protect them and watch over them and bless their families as well. Be with us in this meeting tonight.

00:01:33,830	May your will be done and we pray this in the name of your son. Amen. Amen. Please join me with by standing, if you may. If you can. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Commissioners.

00:01:59,670	All right. If we can call the meeting to order by calling roll, please. Commissioner Risch. Here. Commissioner Zenker. Here. Commissioner Connolly here. Commissioner Cleary here. Mayor Schmitz here. It’s. We have three proclamations today, so I’ll start with the first one, which is for public safety. Telecommunications week.

00:02:35,630	Whereas when an emergency occurs, the prompt response of law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical personnel is critical to the protection of life and preservation of property. And whereas public safety communication specialists are the first first responders delivering essential pre-arrival instructions and providing the most critical length that our citizens have with emergency services.

00:03:02,300	And whereas public safety communication specialists are the single vital link for our law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency personnel. By monitoring their activities, providing them information and ensuring their safety and therefore be it resolved that the Board of City Commissioners for the City of Bismarck joins the Central Dakota Communications Center Board of Directors and declares April 12th through 18, 2026, as National Public Safety Telecommunications Week in the

00:03:26,500	city of Bismarck, signed today, the 14th day of April, 2026. Next day of prayer. Whereas throughout the history of America, prayers have been uplifted as every generation has sought direction, protection, provision and glorification of Bless America, resulting in our nation being filled with grace and goodness through answered prayers for

00:03:54,970	over 250 years. Therefore, be it resolved that I, Michael Schmitz, mayor of the City of Bismarck, on behalf of this Commission, do hereby proclaim. May 7th, 2026 as a day of prayer in Bismarck.

00:04:14,830	I urge all citizens to celebrate this day by setting aside a few minutes for reflection, and ask for prayers to be lifted throughout our community. And last, for fair housing. Whereas one of the greatest freedoms enjoyed by Americans is the freedom to live in a home of one’s choice.

00:04:40,430	And whereas the promise made to us the Fair Housing Act of 1968, which requires that all people be treated equally in connection with the sale or rental of housing, regardless of race, color, national origin, sex, disability, familial status or relation. And in North Dakota, receipt of public assistance, marital status and age. Therefore, be it resolved that I.

00:05:01,330	Michael Schmitz, mayor of the City of Bismarck, on the behalf of this Commission, do hereby proclaim the month of April 2026 as Fair Housing Month in the city of Bismarck, and urge all citizens to honor and abide by this letter, by the letter and the spirit of the Fair Housing Law, signed the 14th day of April, 2026.

00:05:18,030	So I don’t know if there are some recipients of these letters in the audience that would like to receive them, and if they want a photo, we can take photos. Um, we’ll do that. Multiple ones here. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. All right. Our next item before we get to public comment is going to be recognition of the Bismarck Citizen Academy participants. And Doug is going to lead us through that.

00:07:00,270	Good evening, mayor and commissioners. As you know, this is the fifth year, fifth season that we’ve had Citizen Academy. For those in the audience or that are listening, that are not aware of what Bismarck says Academy is, it’s an opportunity for the citizens of Bismarck to apply for a

00:07:15,770	program that gives you an in-depth view of what all of our departments do. So there’s 17 departments in the city of Bismarck, and we take 12 weeks. And each week it’s a three hour session, and it goes from 6 to 9:00 at night.

00:07:31,870	So it takes quite a bit of dedication from the citizens of Bismarck or the participants of the program to be engaged and involved in that process. Um, I think it’s very beneficial for, for the citizens.

00:07:49,470	But as a city, it’s an opportunity for us to be transparent, um, to those that are that are interested in all that we do and hopefully produce individuals that want to maybe lead in some capacity, serve the city on a on a board or a committee or as commissioner has done, uh, join the city commission. So this this year has been great. It’s my second year to be a part of it. And, um, I’m with this group, particularly.

00:08:07,630	I was super encouraged every week with, um, the type of questions that they asked. Not that other other seasons didn’t ask great questions because they have, but I was just really impressed with this group of the type of questions, the thought that went into it, and really diving into the details about the

00:08:23,870	operations for the various departments that they got to experience. So we finished up, uh, the end of March and we got to do our bonus week, which was during the wastewater plant last week. And this is the, uh, the final recognition. So with that, I’m going to read the names of those who participate.

00:08:41,000	And then we have a few individuals that would like to share their experience. Uh, before I read names, I just wanted to thank our staff. Um, it’s it’s quite a bit of time, and we just get better and better every single year.

00:08:55,630	Um, our directors and and those that participate in the presentations every week, they take feedback that are given to them from administration, from the participating participants, and they just dial it in even more every year. So we get we get better.

00:09:11,770	And it’s an opportunity for some of our staff that don’t typically get to speak and have that sort of experience in the public to to get some new experience that has been beneficial for them in the long run as well. So I really appreciate all the work that our staff has done to to make this program happen.

00:09:29,870	Uh, this year’s participants, we have Jamie James Easton, Arlene Erdal, Joshua Fern, Jason Granik, Cindy Hogue, Erika Rani, Ben Connelly. Did I say that right? Okay. I was so nervous about saying your last name for some Beth coaches. Taylor, coach Koster, Molly. Maru. Mark. Mom. Randy Madsen, Richard Miller, Matthew Shaw, Melissa. Shaw, Kelsey. Stotts, David. Tamika, Rosalind. Weber, Zachary. Wieland, Caleb. Weisberg, Garber and Josh Fern.

00:09:59,270	So this year and last year, we were able to include a couple, um, employees from the city of Bismarck. So this year is Kelsey Stotts and Joshua Furner Procurement Officer so that’s a great opportunity for us as well because they were new employees this year, and that’s a little bit of a change that

00:10:13,230	we’ve made. So, um, with that, I’ve got a few individuals. Arlene, would you like to go first? Sure. Okay. I want to thank you for the opportunity to be involved in this great program.

00:10:42,500	A special thanks to Doug Wiles, who did an excellent job facilitating it to the city employees who graciously gave their time to Jason, Kaylyn John for being at the meetings, as well as to the City Council for making this up program possible. This was a great opportunity for me to learn about the city.

00:11:04,530	I have a background in city finance, in auditing cities in South Dakota, and including the city of Rapid City. So I could kind of understand how that part of the city works. But this made an opportunity to see the city internally. The inner workings of it, and all the departments. So it it was very valuable to me.

00:11:28,770	I was impressed with the smooth operations of the city over all of the departments, and noticed the pride that the employees had in sharing about their departments and their high morale was obvious. And then I was enriched from the fellow members, from many different walks of life. And I can see that we will have some continued friendships and networking.

00:11:51,900	I’m starting a new chapter in my life, and my goal is to be more connected in the community. And so this has been a good step toward that. And so just overall, again, thank you for the amazing experience. Thank you. Good evening. I’m Beth Coaches and I’m a local teacher here in town. I teach fourth grade at Elkridge Elementary.

00:12:23,470	And this has been just a wonderful experience overall. Um, I could parrot all the things that she said before me. Um, just a wonderful experience. But participating in the Bismarck Citizen’s Academy has been such a meaningful experience to me.

00:12:41,630	Over the past 12 weeks, I’ve had the opportunity to go behind the scenes and see how our city really works for meeting department leaders and city officials to visiting facilities and learning how essential services are delivered every day. It opened my eyes to just how much coordination, expertise and care going into go into keeping our city running smoothly.

00:13:03,500	I now have a much deeper understanding of where our tax dollars go, and the incredible amount of work that happens often behind the scenes to support our quality of life here in Bismarck. What stood out most to me was the people.

00:13:24,200	The dedication, professionalism and pride shown by our city employees from the fire department, police department, public works all the way to the city Commission and administration departments gave me a whole new level of respect for those who serve our community. Every day. Just as meaningful were the connections made along the way. Getting to know my fellow Citizens Academy participants, people who share a love for this community with such an unexpected gift.

00:13:47,100	These new friendships made the experience even more special. This program truly reflects what it’s all about learning, connection, engagement. It’s an incredible opportunity to better understand our city, meet the people who make it run, and find more ways to be involved.

00:14:09,330	So if you ever have the chance to participate in the Citizen’s Academy, I highly encourage people to apply. It would absolutely change the way they see their city in the best possible way. Thank you for this opportunity. Thank you. I think I’m last so we can wrap this up quick. Uh. Good evening. Mayor Schmitz. Commissioners.

00:14:42,570	Um, my name is Rosie Weber, and I’m honored to speak tonight on behalf of the participants of Bismarck Citizen Academy. Uh, first, I want to thank this commission. Um, we know that without your support, this programming would not exist. Um, also, a big shout out to the city’s administration department for all their work building and executing this 12 weeks of programming.

00:15:06,700	Um, well, actually, 13 weeks because of the bonus week. So, um, special shout out to, um, assistant administrator, city Administrator Doug Wiles and city communications strategist Kaitlyn Austin for hosting us each week. Um, we gave up our Thursdays. Uh, and they also gave up their Thursdays evenings. So we appreciate that.

00:15:33,370	Uh, I also want to thank the city departments and offices, uh, that hosted our groups each week. Um, all of, uh, the academy, um, sessions happened after business hours. And so all these staff, um, dedicated their time. And we appreciate that. Um, I also want to express my personal appreciation for the Bismarck Citizen Academy.

00:15:56,300	Uh, when I started this program, um, I had recently found out that my husband and I were expecting our first child. Um, now I’m six months pregnant, and this t shirt barely fits.

00:16:17,330	Um, but, um, my point is that as, um, someone who is still a newer resident of Bismarck, um, this program has really made me feel incredibly fortunate to call North Dakota’s capital city home. Um, you know, across all sectors of this city, uh, we saw it extremely dedicated and professional staff.

00:16:38,670	Um, that work for the city government, um, who are eager to keep Bismarck safe, um, and make our community better today and in the future. And so this it’s very clear that the city has a good a great vision for the future. And I’m incredibly, um, uh, glad to raise my family here. So thank you. Thank you. Yeah. Good to see you all. You guys all get to come up for a picture. Perfect. Yes. Good job. Yes.

00:17:41,000	Yeah. I know right? I. Thank you. So much. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you. Stick around or take a moment. Yes you do. Oh, thank you for. To. Okay, now we’re to public comment.

00:18:38,300	Public comment is for those items on last meetings agenda or the consent agenda today or anything on the regular agenda. That’s not a public hearing item. So anyone anyone who wished to speak, please come forward. Identify which topic you’re speaking to, identify yourself and sign in. I’m sorry, is that my time? Thank you. I would. Like to comment on the taxicab healing ordinance. Uh, I know, Thank you.

00:19:27,670	That is a public hearing item. That’s what I thought. So if we can wait till then, I’d appreciate. It. Just one minute. Is there anyone else who wish to speak? A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment.

00:19:57,970	Seeing no one and hearing no one, I’m going to close the public comment. Period. Moving to the consent agenda, I personally need to pull item for k for um related to a contract because I have a potential conflict of interest independence related issue related to someone working there. So I would like. What number was. It for K four, which is um towards. K.

00:20:25,870	4k for permission to award contract for management at risk. Is there any other items. I’d like. To pull? Item D for? And if there’s no other items I would motion to approve. Second. Okay, so we have a motion and a second to approve the consent agenda. With exception of those two items.

00:20:55,230	Any discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner Zenker.. Yes. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Mayor Schmitz. Yes. Uh, vice chair Cleary, would you mind dealing with, uh. Okay, we can do D4 first. Go ahead. Commissioner Connelly. Um, this again is the letter for the Opportunity Fund that always comes across our desk.

00:21:27,830	If it was a company, say, um, it was a pharmaceutical that’s being made overseas. And a company wanted to open up here, and there was no other competition in the community. Um, things like this would be easy.

00:21:47,070	Or a nonprofit that was buying a building so they could better serve our community than, um, I’d be more for endorsing these. This is an electric company that competes against other electric companies. And, um, changes the playing field. Um, so, um, I’m making a motion to deny this. I’ll second. Um, okay, so we have discussion.

00:22:13,000	I’m just going to make a comment as I have last time. This is this is a way of economic development occurring in the city of Bismarck. And the state of North Dakota is providing funds for the interest by down. It’s an interest by down. And we aren’t even participating.

00:22:26,170	We’re just given a letter of support so they can take it to the North Dakota Opportunity Fund, where they’re borrowing money and repaying the money. So that’s my comment. I will leave it at that. Okay. Mr. Mayor. I understand completely, but it’s an electrical contractor in town. There’s lots of electrical contractors.

00:22:41,070	They want to build a new building or buy a new building. Fine. Good for them. I I’m really supportive of that. But I don’t know. I think it should be more narrowly focused. Our economic development efforts, even though it’s a state.

00:22:58,930	Deal, it’s a state sponsored deal, and the banks are encouraging them to provide to apply to the Bank of North Dakota for the funding. And this is our support to it. So is there any other discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll and a yes vote would mean you deny it. A no vote would mean you do not deny it. Correct. Do I understand the motion correctly? Okay. Call roll please. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary, no. Commissioner Risch.

00:23:27,400	Yes, Commissioner. Zenker. No. Mayor. Schmitz. No. Do I need to? I wouldn’t. Move to approve. Okay. Item D4. Second. Is there any further discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner Cleary. Yes, Commissioner. Risch. No. Commissioner Zenker. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. No. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Moving to regular agenda item A no. You have one pulled off. Oh. I’m sorry.

00:24:12,270	What’s the number again. K for? It’s a four. Yeah. K four. K four. Thank you for reminding me. Okay. I’ll move. We approve k four as presented. Do you want. Me to. You can run. Okay. So, uh, this is under k four.

00:24:29,630	Consider the request for approval for the Public Works Service Operations Department for the following item. For permission to award construction management at risk for the new police headquarters to the team of J.E. Dunn Construction and Northwest Contracting, Inc.. Any discussion? I’ll move. We approve it as presented. Second. The motion and a second. Any further discussion on the matter? Go ahead and call the roll. Commissioner Risch. Yes. Commissioner Zenker.

00:25:00,830	Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes, Commissioner. Cleary. Yes, mayor Schmitz. Abstaining. Okay. Okay. Thank you. Thanks for reminding me. Uh, moving to regular agenda item five a receive the 2025 annual report from the City of Bismarck Human Relations Committee. And. Not who’s who’s presenting all three. Okay. Wonderful. Good evening.

00:25:44,670	My name is Katie Hull, and I am the current chair of the Human Relations Committee. Mayor and commissioners, we appreciate the opportunity to present our 2025 annual report and provide an overview of our committee’s work over the last year.

00:26:11,370	The mission of the Bismarck Human Relations Committee is to create an atmosphere of inclusion, equality and accessibility through education and outreach while recognizing the value of a diverse community. Our work is guided by five core goals outlined in the committee’s strategic plan. First, to exhibit leadership in the areas of civil and human rights, ensuring that our work reflects non-discrimination, acceptance, and respect for diversity. Second, to educate the public about civil and human rights through community outreach and participation in community events.

00:26:33,900	Third, to identify issues of principal concern related to civil and human rights by creating opportunities for community members to share input and perspectives. Fourth, to recommend priorities and objectives to the City Commission on issues affecting our community.

00:26:54,100	Serving as a bridge between residents and city leadership, and finally to advocate for compliance with federal and state civil and human rights law. The committee is made up of seven citizen volunteers. These members bring diverse experiences and perspectives, and all share a commitment to helping make Bismarck a welcoming and respectful community for everyone. It was a busy year for us and myself.

00:27:15,700	Betsy and Sergeyevna are going to walk you through and highlight a couple of the initiatives and events that we were involved in in 2025. One of the highlights of the committee’s work each year is the Humanitarian Award, which recognizes individuals and organizations who demonstrate exceptional leadership and a commitment to service in our community. Last year, the committee received 57 nominations for the award.

00:27:37,300	I think really reflects a growing awareness and engagement in the Humanitarian Award in the Human Relations Committee. For the award, we also expanded to include a Youth Humanitarian Award recognizing the important contributions young people are making in our community.

00:27:59,170	Up there on the screen, you can see our first youth Humanitarian Award was given to Lauren Zandt. She was recognized for her work supporting individuals with disabilities through programs such as United Sound and Pride, Inc.. Lauren clearly went above and beyond her volunteer work, organizing inclusive community outings and maintaining strong relationships with the individuals she supported. The adult humanitarian went to Micah Strickland.

00:28:22,700	She was honored for her volunteer leadership with Designer Jeans, where she organizes events that create connection and support for families of children with down syndrome, while raising awareness and promoting inclusion and the organization Youth Works was recognized for its commitment to supporting young people by creating safe spaces, positive adult relationships, and strength based programming that help youth advocate for themselves

00:28:45,100	and overcome barriers. I really want to take a moment to also plug that we are accepting nominations for the 2025 Humanitarian Award this month until April 30th. The nomination forms are live on the Human Relations Committee website, and I really encourage those in this room and those watching online to really think about someone that’s making a

00:29:05,300	really meaningful difference here a youth, adult or an organization. And let’s take this opportunity to recognize them. And I’ll pass it to Betsy. Good evening, Mayor Schmitz and commissioners. Our efforts have focused on community engagement, education and fostering inclusive. Excuse me, inclusive spaces where all residents feel seen, heard and valued.

00:29:40,570	Starting in January, we participated in the Martin Luther King Junior Day celebration, which featured a screening of February 1st, a documentary highlighting the Greensboro Four and the 1960 sit in movement. This event created space for meaningful reflection on the legacy of peace, peaceful protest, and the ongoing pursuit of equality.

00:30:11,030	It also sparked thoughtful discussion about fairness, opportunity and human dignity. During this event, committee members connected with attendees, shared resources and discussed our role in the community. In April, we participated in the families Around the World, an event at the Bismarck Veterans Memorial Library. This annual gathering celebrates cultures and traditions that shape our community.

00:30:36,700	The community hosted an interactive rock painting activity, creating a welcoming space for conversation and connection. Through this hands on experience, we engaged with families and shared more about our role in promoting inclusion and strengthening relationships across cultures here in Bismarck. We hosted an outreach table at the fourth Annual Culture Expo, a vibrant celebration of Asian cultures.

00:31:03,000	The event featured performances, art and cultural displays that highlighted the richness and diversity of these traditions. It provided another valuable opportunity to connect with community members and support cultural appreciation and understanding. And in June, we participated in Capital Pride, a family friendly celebration honoring the LGBTQ two plus community.

00:31:31,930	Through our outreach booth, we connected with attendees, shared information about the committee’s mission, and engaged in meaningful conversations about inclusion, dignity, and equal opportunity for all residents. At this time, I’ll turn it over to Diana to continue. So continuing on, in June, we sponsored and participated in the Juneteenth event. This event celebrates the African American culture.

00:32:02,030	It is filled with learning and community spirit. Our committee had a table at the event where committee members were able to visit with individuals in attendance, about the purpose and mission of our committee, as well as activities we’re doing in the Bismarck community. In September, we sponsored and volunteered at the walk for Down Syndrome.

00:32:22,830	This event supports efforts to promote understanding, acceptance, and inclusion for individuals with down syndrome. In addition to sponsoring this event, we also had committee members that played an active role behind the scenes. Before the event.

00:32:41,570	We had committee members who assembled team bundles and sponsorship kits and delivered them to the different sponsors, and on the day of the event, we had members who assisted with check in, welcoming families and supporters to the event, and also sharing our committee’s mission. In December, we participated in the first annual world A day event sponsored by Shine Brighton Live.

00:33:02,830	And just kind of a shout out, Jason Greenwich, who used to be on the committee, is now the executive director of that organization. Um, this event brought community members together to raise awareness about HIV and Aids in North Dakota. Through powerful storytelling, shared education, and acts of solidarity. Attendees honored the lives of those who have passed since.

00:33:25,370	Support of individuals living with HIV, and reaffirmed the community’s commitment to compassion, inclusion, and continued progress in public health awareness. For two years now, we’ve been doing community Conversations forums. This is an opportunity to facilitate important conversations about the adversities that many of our residents of Bismarck face.

00:33:52,600	A panel of subject matter experts, as well as those with lived experience, talk about various issues in our community with the hopes of building an ongoing conversation with the city as well as other community organizations. In 2025, we had two events. The first one was in May and we had the conversation on transportation. This event allowed the City Commission’s Transportation Committee to receive direct feedback from subject matter experts.

00:34:15,570	Individuals with lived experience, as well as the public. In November 2025, we hosted our Community Conversations Forum on homelessness. This event was our largest to date with nearly 100 community members and stakeholders coming together to discuss issues and impacts of homeless in our community.

00:34:37,600	This conversation, we found, needs to be ongoing, so our next community conversations will also be on homelessness. Our next community conversations is on April 21st and from 530 to 730 at the Dream Center, and all community members are welcome to come.

00:34:56,100	And lastly, probably my favorite thing about being on the Human Relations Committee and a bucket list that I got to check off because of it was, are these Are Your Neighbors podcast? Tia Jorgensen and myself are host of the These Are Your Neighbors podcast, and we’ve been having the podcast for the past three years.

00:35:15,000	The podcast highlights conversations with local leaders, advocates and changemakers whose work strengthens the fabric of our community. We recorded at Dakota media access and for the podcast, we spotlight the stories and experiences of diverse voices, and we encourage residents to build connections and gain a deeper understanding. Who of the people who live and work with them.

00:35:38,470	Our Share Our Show airs three times a week, and in 2025, we feature guests that include community leaders, advocates from a variety of sectors, each of them offering so much insight into how they’re working to make Bismarck a more welcoming place. And just to brag a little bit. A milestone that we set and reached in 2025 was that our podcast hit 25,000 downloads.

00:36:01,700	So those are the events that we have for 2025, and that is a report. And we hope you guys, we’re here in 2026 to share about all the amazing things we did that year. And we’ll stand for any questions. Are there any questions? Thank you. Thank you. Thank you for the work. All right. Thank you.

00:36:26,070	Item B under the regular agenda is a public hearing on the request for a taxicab license for Guiding Wheels, LLC. This is a public hearing. Anyone who wish to speak to this topic, please identify yourself. Sign in and. Trevor Burnette, citizen. I’m concerned not just about the. Not so much the accessibility about their one cab, but also how do our community members know we don’t.

00:36:55,630	We have some of them that don’t have proper phone numbers. Uh, signage. We don’t even know when people are coming to the airport. They don’t even know where the capital city. They don’t even know that these one seat companies exist.

00:37:18,300	And I know it’s a business plan, but I think the city needs to facilitate that because they’re not getting the word out. When we’re the capital city, when you’re coming from other states, they don’t even know what’s going on. So I would just have us relook at that ordinance. Thank you. Any questions? Thank you. Again, this is a public hearing.

00:37:48,000	Anyone wish to speak? Hey, uh, this is Emma Basic with guiding meals. Um. Good afternoon, and thanks for having me on. I’m joining under Guiding Wheels, and then, uh, I called in for audio, but just to answer, um, the concern that the citizen had there. Um, so I was born and raised in Bismarck, North Dakota.

00:38:08,570	I graduated from Bismarck High and then, uh, got my associate’s degree, um, from Bismarck State College. So I do know the area, um, and I yeah, I, I am familiar with the area, and, uh, so it wouldn’t be a concern as far as you know, knowing the capital city and stuff like that.

00:38:32,000	So I just wanted to assure you I am from the area. Um, so you don’t need to worry about that. Does anyone have questions? This was this gentleman is the owner. My my question is, how are you making known your telephone number? So there is a phone number on. We have a Facebook profile, company profile.

00:39:00,830	And then some brochures. So this is just starting off. Um, but, you know, we need to go through the proper process before we can actually get fully started.

00:39:23,600	Um, you know, as far as getting the taxi application approval, but I will make sure that the phone number is, uh, easily found, you know, through the Facebook company profile. And then also we have a brochure that I planned on handing out and maybe even. Yeah. Uh, put it on Google. So someone, you know, anyone looking for the service could easily call but haven’t quite gotten there yet. Okay. Thank you. Any other questions? Susan. Go ahead.

00:39:52,870	My name is Susan Dingell. I am a citizen. I have in the past been a frequent user of taxi 9000. And I have some concerns about this. I can’t tell from these applications.

00:40:18,030	Is this really a one vehicle company? And that’s all that you’re offering? Because I am sorry, one vehicle in a metro area of almost 100,000 people is totally inadequate. It amounts to a cosmic joke and again, there are stories I think are people in economic development could share them with you because I’ve heard them in other places of out of town consultants coming in to talk

00:40:44,170	to us about economic development, coming into the to the airport. And when do most flights come into the airport? Why? They come in at night and they weren’t able to find a taxi. And also, by the way, Uber and Lyft were not really available either. At some length.

00:41:06,230	I can’t remember how they did this. If they got in touch with one of the organizers, or if somebody from the airport gave this person a ride, but it was kind of catch as catch. Can. This is not the way to go. And it seems that we do have quite a bit of trouble now maintaining a taxi company.

00:41:30,630	I realize they do cost a lot of money. Transportation is not cheap. I know that, but something has got to be done. This is not an acceptable state of affairs and the other thing I have picked up, because I do talk to the drivers, this was a little bit true with taxi 9000.

00:41:55,700	It was hugely true with TTS and it was part of the application of another company that’s been approved in the past, which charges $32 an hour for transportation.

00:42:21,900	Most of these people are making many of their trips and a lot of their money on medical transportation, both in town and more important, out of town. They’re going to Rolette and Devils Lake. Dickinson, the Twin Cities, Fargo, and so medical transportation seems to be kind of the subtext about this. And as we know, medical transportation and rural transportation and links between systems are big issues.

00:42:51,770	Well, I do think between the city and the state and other entities, we need to get together and figure stuff out because this is not acceptable. And the kinds of rates that are being charged with TTS. I paid $20 a trip. I also discovered that if you wanted to go to the airport, it was $50 one way.

00:43:18,000	And I also heard from other people who were using assistive devices that they were being charged $30, which, by the way, I think is illegal. That’s one of the things that Uber was sued for. You cannot have differential rates in a public transportation system based on people’s disabilities, but somehow, you know, TTS was maybe getting away with this, or maybe I was getting a special favorite person rate,

00:43:42,670	which, again, is probably not. It is probably not legal either, but we need to do much, much better. We do not have a taxi system and you know, 2 or 3 one vehicle companies are not a taxi system. They are 2 or 3 vehicles offering public transportation.

00:44:08,100	So, Susan, I appreciate the comments, but this is about this person’s application, for it is not about the ordinance. Okay. And the ordinance is passed. And honestly, this is a free business enterprise. Okay. So if somebody wants to ultimately bring forth an opportunity for us to look at an ordinance or whether we’re going to publicly fund taxes, which I think will be very difficult.

00:44:28,400	Yeah, to do, we can talk about that. But I think let’s keep it to this particular application, please. All right. Well, to the individual applicant, um, I don’t think most people coming into the airport are checking Facebook to find out about transportation. There needs to be some plan about marketing, and marketing is not cheap.

00:44:49,230	But, you know, realistically, to make a taxi company go, there are a whole bunch of items in a business plan that need to be addressed, and I’m not sure that they’ve been fully addressed here. It’s all I’m going to say. Thank you.

00:45:11,870	Anyone else wish to speak to this application? A second call for public comment on this application. A third and final call for comment. Public comment period is now closed. Commissioners, what are your wishes? I’ll move. We approve as presented. Second. Any further discussion? I’d just like to say I appreciate your remarks, Susan, but, um, we’ve got a shortage.

00:45:31,430	We’ve got a shortage. It’s it’s tough. Um, I used taxi 9000 all the time, and I was so sad when they discontinued and. And Uber and Lyft, um, unreliable, to be fair. Um, we got snowed in at Bismarck Airport. They delayed the flight till the next day.

00:45:48,500	Cost me $50 to go home the night before. And the next morning when I came back out, it was $28. So you never know what they’re going to charge you. It’s all over the map.

00:46:00,430	But this is one more, one more opportunity, one more person that’s going to give it a shot and let them give it a shot. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work. Commissioner Conley. I concur with what Commissioner Risch said.

00:46:20,500	When we changed the ordinance, it was before we had a pretty high bar to where as far as accessibility and that and our environmental or our economic environment makes it difficult to start businesses. I would rather see somebody starting off with a single car if they find success and build a business plan to where they can grow to two, three and beyond.

00:46:36,870	If they get to the area to where all of a sudden they trip to where they can look at that accessibility space, there’s a little nuance of insurances there, and hopefully they find that success to where they can grow into that space better, because to not have anything at all is not helpful either. Well, I agree. The other thing is taxi 9000 had about. 22 cabs. To deal with Bismarck Mandan.

00:47:01,100	None of the ensuing companies have ever had as many vehicles. Just saying. Commissioner Cleary. Um, I guess I would just like to kind of agree with what’s already been said at the table, but to the point of I think when we discussed this ordinance to begin with, the

00:47:19,970	goal was to try to entice people to create this type of business because it was not existing in our community and is needed. And I think that the hope is to Commissioner Connolly’s point, hopefully one car leads to two, uh, to Susan’s point. Marketing’s not easy.

00:47:41,870	There’s no proof at what type of marketing works for this type of company in this town, because obviously there’s a huge shortage. But running a small business isn’t easy, and there’s going to be some learning curve.

00:47:54,700	And I would like to have him similar to everybody else in the community, have the opportunity to do that, and hopefully he succeeds and we can see more of it because I think it’s needed. So. Push your colleague.

00:48:12,830	This might be a good time to also mention that our, um, uh, Visitors Bureau just added an application to where it’s interactive, and that might be a good place for anybody that’s licensed through the city to where that could be one of the, uh, featured points, because there are some people out there not working under a blessing of the city, so to speak.

00:48:31,130	And for the ones that are willing to put themselves into that space, that might be a good resource because they would have the access they have a they modeled it at their annual luncheon last week, um, where you could type in the parameters of what you’re looking for and all of that information aligned with restaurants.

00:48:49,300	Maybe it’s transportation in this case, and so on, to where people can look up specifically what they need in order to enjoy our city and our surrounding area, for that matter. Mark. It’s nice to hear about. Yeah, there there needs to be this kind of sharing. And so this is we have a discussion here at the table. Um, and again, we’re trying to grant a license.

00:49:07,630	So somebody has the opportunity to provide service. That’s really what we’re about here. And so I have a motion, I believe on the table. So to have any further discussion here and then we’ll call roll. Commissioner Zenker. Yes. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes.

00:49:32,830	Item C is a public hearing on ordinance 6657, an annexation of part of the south half of section 19, etc.. Daniel. Good evening, Mayor Schmitz. Commissioners, uh, this is the city of Bismarck petitioning for this annexation. I’ll read the full title. Just so we have it.

00:49:50,600	For the record here, uh, the annexation of part of the south half of section 19, Township one, 39 North, range 80, West Hickory Township, uh, which is also included in document 90 75320 and Auditor’s lot B1 of the west half of section 20 of Township one, 39 North, range 80, West. Hate Creek, pursuant to documents 727447.

00:50:13,870	Uh, so where is that? Uh, that is north of Valley Drive. East Valley Drive on the map that you see here. Uh, this is land and is, as I mentioned, owned by the city of Bismarck, uh, has been acquired within the last year for the purpose of creating stormwater detention, roadway improvements.

00:50:30,070	Most of the land is inside of the coulee. It is within the, uh, parks and open space category of the future land use plan. There’s a little bit of urban neighborhood as well. Uh, in this area. And, uh, about 54 acres in total.

00:50:45,330	Uh, you see here on the on the future land use plan with the extension of Tyler Parkway, which is planned through through this area. Uh, it is in our growth phasing plan, identified as priority urban service area. And that really just means it’s very contiguous to the city limits. It’s almost surrounded by the city limits at this point.

00:51:06,170	So, uh, it is a one that we’d recommend annexing, and we are petitioning to do so. Uh, this did go to the Planning and Zoning Commission on February 25th of 2026. Uh, they did recommend approval of that annexation at that time. So this is a public hearing tonight. So we did notice this according to our standard procedures, including, uh, certified letters to the county and township.

00:51:25,570	Uh, also a sign at the site and legal notice in the Bismarck Tribune. Uh, so, based on the findings that are contained in your staff report, uh, the Planning and Zoning Commission does recommend approval. Any questions? Doesn’t look like. It. Go ahead. I guess I have one question.

00:51:44,200	I live there, but there’s no what we’re annexing. There’s no room to build homes or things like that. I mean, it’s a real steep coulee with a sharp drop offs. Is that correct? Yeah, that’s. That’s correct. I maybe I won’t say there’s no room possible to build any homes, but right now, uh, it’s not really set up for that. Okay. Commissioner Conley.

00:52:05,970	Um, this might be for landing or whatnot. Um, why isn’t the entire corridor of Tyler Parkway part of this? Sure. I, Commissioner Conley. So. So as the petitioner, we we only brought forward the portions that are under city ownership. Um, north of here, some of that land has already been annexed.

00:52:28,470	There is a portion on the east side which has not yet. And so, uh, at this time, I think we would just wait until that area, which is intended to be developed in the near future. Typically we just do that alongside of the subdivision and zoning map amendments. We would wait for that. Okay. Any other questions? Okay.

00:52:48,100	Thank you. Daniel, this is a public hearing. Anyone who wish to speak to this topic, please come forward. A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment. Seeing no one in hearing no one to public comment period is now closed. Commissioners, what are your wishes? Move to approve. Second.

00:53:13,170	Is there any discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. Roll. Commissioner Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Commissioner. Zenker. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Next item D is a public hearing on ordinance 6660, a zoning map amendment from Agricultural District to RR residential zoning district. Um, Isaac, I’ll let you proceed, because I think this is like a hearing on an appeal. Yes.

00:53:42,530	That is correct. Mayor Schmitz and commissioners, uh, this particular regular agenda item comes to us from Heather Jones and Lauren Fisher, who are requesting approval of a zoning change or zoning map amendment from the agricultural zoning district to the RR residential zoning district, a major subdivision final plat, titled J.F.

00:54:01,770	Fox Haven Subdivision and an accompanying Major Street Plan amendment for a segment of a future alignment of 76th Avenue Northeast. This was appealed from a Planning and Zoning Commission denial. We’ll get to that in a moment.

00:54:25,430	So, as you can see on the screens before you here, this project is located northeast of Bismarck between 73rd Avenue Northeast to the south and Arcata Drive to the north, and primarily along the west side of 41st Street Northeast. Although the major street plan portion does extend to the east side of 41st Street as well.

00:54:44,530	The plat area of the project would consist of ten acres of currently undeveloped land, and would create five lots in two blocks if approved as proposed, and the zoning map amendment portion of the project would change the entire platted area from the existing agricultural zoning district to the RR residential zoning district, and then the major street plan portion of the project would shift a proposed future alignment of an extension of 76th Avenue Northeast, which is

00:55:06,970	listed on the maps shown here by the dashed Blue Line. As a future collector roadway approximately 200ft to the north, so the left side of the street is. The existing right side is the proposed. There.

00:55:27,000	Um, and this would rearrange the land on the west side or according to the applicant, would help rearrange the land on the west side to be developed there, as well as potentially rearranged land on the east side for some future development.

00:55:46,370	If that were to occur, the plat area on the west side of 41st Street Northeast there was identified as rural residential in the future land use plan, which are described as places for country living with convenient proximity to city life. The plat as proposed is shown here, and all of these, of course, were included in your staff reports. Uh, prior to the Planning and Zoning Commission hearing, the public was notified of this request via publications in the Bismarck Tribune on February 13th and 20th, 99.

00:56:08,370	Zero postcards were mailed to owners of nearby properties on February 13th, and a physical sign providing information on the public hearing was placed in a publicly available spot near the project location on February 9th, 2026.

00:56:25,500	In addition to the standard public engagement that we do for all projects, planning staff sent a letter, provided more information on the major Street Plan specifically to the two to the two landowners on the east side of 41st Street Northeast, on whose land the major street plan would shift. That roadway. That letter was sent on February 5th, 2026.

00:56:47,230	The Planning and Zoning Commission held their public hearing on February 25th, 2026, where planning staff recommended approval based on the findings of fact contained in your staff reports, their staff received three inquiries for more information prior to that hearing, including from the landowners directly to the east of the plat area who received that major Street plan. Amendment letter.

00:57:07,270	Planning staff received a comment from them and that was forwarded to the Planning Commission, as well as to the city Commission here. And then during the public hearing, the land owners who submitted that letter provided some written, uh, provided that written comment, also spoke at the hearing and provided more detail on their concerns with the Major Street Plan amendment, specifically, at the conclusion of that public hearing, the Planning

00:57:26,530	and Zoning Commission made a motion to approve the request, and then that motion failed with a 3 to 5 vote against. And the request was therefore denied. As a majority of the commissioners did not concur with staff’s determination that the proposed zoning change, major subdivision, final plat and Major street plan amendment were consistent with the

00:57:45,130	required findings of fact. An excerpt of the minutes from that Planning and Zoning Commission meeting were included with your agenda items for your considerations, the applicant then appealed the denial, and the City Commission heard the appeal, accepted it, and called for a public hearing at your March 10th meeting of this year.

00:58:04,330	The public was then again notified of the request via publications in the Bismarck Tribune on March 27th and April 3rd, and 90 postcards were again mailed to owners of nearby properties. On March 27th, a physical sign was placed in a publicly accessible spot at the project location.

00:58:23,830	On March 24th, 2026, and then, to the best of my knowledge, planning staff did receive one additional comment. As a result of that public engagement, and this was forwarded to the commission prior to this hearing.

00:58:42,630	As a cumulative result of the findings contained in the staff reports that you received, uh, planning staff found that the proposed major subdivision final plat zoning map Amendment and Major Street Plan amendment would generally not adversely impact public health, safety, and general welfare, and that it was generally consistent with the Comprehensive Plan Bismarck Code of Ordinances and relevant state law. And as a reminder, the Planning and Zoning Commission recommended denial at the conclusion of their hearing.

00:59:01,070	Um, at this time, I would stand for any questions that you may have for me. Commissioner Risch. I just want to say very thorough, very good job, Isaac. Thank you.. So I would just like to make sure that it’s clear that the major road designate or the future road designation doesn’t mean the road is going in anytime soon.

00:59:24,230	The landowner where the road would be would have to agree to it first. Is that correct? Uh, Mayor Schmitz and commissioners, that is correct. The major street plan is not a legally binding document.

00:59:42,930	It is basically saying, given trends that we have seen in the Bismarck area and seeing the growth over time, we will need more major roads in some locations. And given information we have right now, staff think that, you know, this area on a map could be a suitable location for one of those more major roadways.

01:00:00,700	It does not require any land owner to develop their land or provide dedications for right of way, or easements or anything like that. It does not require any land owner to build or do something with their land. If they do not want to do that, no. Thank you, Commissioner Conley. So in watching the meeting, the one landowner just to the east owns the north side. And they also own the south portion.

01:00:22,930	If we can bring. The where the road is.. So you can sort of see the the small narrow lines there. Those are the parcel lines from Burleigh County.

01:00:45,370	Um, so regardless of if the future roadway in the plan were to stay where it is right now or shifted north, it would be within their land. If that answers your question, Commissioner Connolly. Not really below the blue line there. Do they also own that other portion of the section? Uh, no, that is a separate landowner. Okay. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions for Isaac? Commissioner Cleary.

01:01:07,800	I’m sorry if this is a silly question, but now that I’m just, like looking at that and to the mayor’s point it with the, um, major road put in there, can the west part be developed? And then the like the east coast, the east side is a different property owner, and then they can say no to the

01:01:25,170	east side of that road. Is that what you’re saying when you say that? It’s just a plan? Uh, Commissioner Cleary, for my own clarification, are you referring to the line sort of being disconnected so that there would be two separate sections, or are you referring to something different?

01:01:42,470	It just seems like when you’re looking at the other photos that the, the, the intention of the person is to develop the west side. Now. Correct? That is correct. So like that road will go in and then just the east side of the road will not go in until it’s like needed and or wanted by the landowner.

01:02:02,200	Yes. Commissioner Cleary, that is correct. Okay. Any other questions? If not, we’ll open the public hearing. Anyone who wish to speak to this, please come forward. Thank you. Mayor and commissioners. Lana and Swenson again. Engineering representing Heather Jones. Um, yeah.

01:02:34,630	Just to add a few points to what Isaac had presented already and maybe some things that we’re not clear at planning and zoning that that we should have gotten into a little a little deeper, um, on this west side of the road that we’re discussing tonight where the plat is going to be, the future land use calls for a rural residential type subdivision,

01:02:46,570	which is what we’re applying for tonight. On the east side of that road, uh, the future land use plan shows that it’s urban reserve. So at some point, that land is officially designated as what they would the city would like to see.

01:03:00,470	There’s urban style, lots city style, lots that would have city water, city sewer and things like that. Smaller lots than what you typically would see out in the county. There would be city style lots.

01:03:14,470	Um, to that end, the road that we have shown here on the west side of the road and then relocating it on the east side as well, if that were to ever happen. Our intent there is, is not just an arbitrary line out in the middle of nowhere. We are looking at where the location of the existing home and tree row is.

01:03:27,330	We’re looking at where there’s an existing water line on the west side of the road, which is now within the right of way that we are showing here today. Uh, we’re also providing them an era where they can show urban style lots a little more easily with the position of the road repositioning it further north. So those lots are not nearly as deep as what you would typically see in a rural setting.

01:03:43,800	Um, on top of that there, like you mentioned, there’s already a water line in place and we’ll be putting it in the right of way. Um, really, some of the questions about, uh, from the, from the home are being concerned that they were going to have to remove their septic system or move their home or anything

01:03:57,670	like that. The home would not need to move. We’re leaving them ample space to meet setbacks. We’re staying out of what we would consider sort of the homestead area, uh, if their septic system is in that area.

01:04:12,570	Whenever city services would be available, which could be decades, uh, the septic system would no longer be necessary at that point because there would be sewer city cities who are available to them. Um, at this point, city sewer and water a couple miles away. This this could be a long time before this parcel has ever developed into an urban style subdivision. Uh, but I can certainly answer any questions if.

01:04:29,770	You have. The question, I have. So to the east of what is it? 43rd Street. 41st. The first. 41st. 41st would be urban style. In the future, could the land being redesignated on the west side? Could that be urban as well? Could they develop that at this point in urban style,

01:04:49,900	Commissioner Ridge, because there’s going to be utilities eventually going up in that area. Thank. Commissioner Rich. Theoretically, yes. You could designate as urban style, but you couldn’t actually develop it today because those services are just not available.

01:05:14,030	I think it might also be important to point out that this particular parcel of land that’s being requested on for changes now is not even in the Oeta any longer. Is that correct? Do I have that my memory right? It was in the E.T.A. until March. The application was put forth before the Oeta or as part of the whole transition process. And so it is Burley County land jurisdiction moving forward.

01:05:34,770	So urbanizing. It is even a further step down the road because it would have to come into the city through some desired result of those landowners. Thank you, Mayor Smith. That is correct. When we started the process, it was the city’s jurisdiction. In that meantime, it switched over to the county jurisdiction.

01:05:52,500	However, we started with the city, so we will continue on with them through the planning and zoning process. Whereas the land of the East is in the Oeta. Correct. Commissioner Conley.

01:06:15,570	So essentially, since it does shift to that, if anybody on the East say, um said road depicted here, that’s subject to change to they can move it, it might be not a through street, it might be something different because of the difference in planning and zoning, whenever that might occur. Commissioner Kelly. That’s correct. Generally speaking, we could we could be looking at sort of where the intersection where these two roads line up.

01:06:31,130	But after that road is already in place at that intersection, that road can meander into any place that works for their subdivision. Okay. Any other questions for London? Thank you. Thank you again. This is a public hearing. Anyone wish to speak? Please come forward. Good evening, Mayor Schmitz and commissioners.

01:06:55,570	My name is Heather Jones. I’m here representing Jones Family Properties or what’s listed as GFP. Uh, for the subdivision. I’m the potential developer of this property. Um, just to kind of clarify what I do, this property development is not my day job. And, uh, in fact, I live in the neighborhood.

01:07:15,700	My home is featured in every image that you’ve seen tonight, just adjacent southeast to this. Um, I’ve lived there with my husband for 21 years, raised two children, and I think in the 21 years that I’ve lived there, we’ve seen this property be listed, sold and bought.

01:07:32,770	I think this is at least the third time, um, just to kind of fill you in on, on, on the why of it if, if we could just for my sake, pull back that road. So currently that area again is listed agricultural and the blue dotted line is the existing road plan.

01:07:54,100	And for my neighbors, um, which I know all of them very, very well. Some have been there as long as I have been, um, where the road runs it, it runs right behind. Um, many of other properties. And personally every area around it is rural, residential.

01:08:12,830	And, uh, if I don’t want to call it a risk, but the next buyer could very well put a horse farm or goats or put the road in right behind. Uh, three of my neighbors properties. Tree rose the way it’s drawn today. And, uh, for the sake of our neighborhood, and this is my personal.

01:08:31,000	Why, I’d rather have, you know, potentially five more great rural residential neighbors. Um, than, sorry, small animals or large animals, for that matter. But, um, I think if I could share, I think part of the angst of this and, and this is my feelings about it is, you know, we understand when we’re asking for a road adjustment, city and county

01:08:50,170	wants to know what it could look like ten, 20, 30 years from now. And to be honest, if I were the owner of a rural 20 acre oasis and someone showed me an image of 100 plus half acre lots running through a property I’ve only owned for two years, it might cause some confusion.

01:09:11,130	Um, however, I wish we could have probably gotten gotten that, um, through to them before this, but but either way, my goal would be is our property to the West? I really believe that, um, this is what’s best for our little piece of the world on the West side.

01:09:30,900	Um, and I just to be clear, I have no desire to tell anyone from the East what what they should or shouldn’t do. We just sort of painted a picture, I think, of of what it could look like. Um, and that’s kind of how it got a little bit confused in the communication of it all.

01:09:48,430	So, um, but as far as the wise, um, just half jokingly, my husband says I should never get bored because I get ideas. And I’ve learned a lot in this process. I’m not I, I may or may not ever try to develop again in the future, but, um, but it’s been interesting and fun and, um, and challenging.

01:10:10,200	So I don’t know if anybody has any questions for, for me. Mr. Connelly. Is it the normal setback, like where that tree row is the 50ft from the centerline of the road? Or is it more than that? Um, so I, I believe I maybe let it land and answer that, but it

01:10:25,970	should be the same as all the other rural residential lots. All right. Well, some. That’s where he could. Some, uh, developments, choose a different setback than the standard. Landing. Can you confirm that? Thank you. Thank you, Commissioner Kyle.

01:10:50,370	Yeah, it’ll be the the standard setbacks that the, uh, the the RR residential zoning in city Bismarck or the R-1 in the county would, would be it would be applied here, be 40 foot setbacks off of the property line. Okay. And does the is there an intention of making, like I say, the tree rows and things? Is that going to go up into this developed property.

01:11:07,530	Maybe a buffer? Because the one thing that property has is they have a tree row to the development north of it. Um, they somewhat have a half one down, but they’ve kind of enjoyed having country on both the West and East side with this development. Now that’s going to change.

01:11:26,030	So would there be like another tree line on the development side or something to buffer that a bit? So Commissioner you’re a friend of the to the property to the east or to the west. On on the west. Yeah. To make that buffer contiguous. Sure.

01:11:39,370	I mean there wouldn’t be significant changes in the lots other than what we need to do for grading for stormwater management and things like that. Um, but like Heather mentioned, this is intended to blend in with the neighborhood. Obviously, these are residential lots. The intent is to be is to mirror what they have.

01:11:51,630	Right now, the only tree removal would come from, like I say, if we have to do any kind of stormwater management, ponding and things like that. All right. Thank you. Okay. Any other questions? Okay. Guess we’ll. Proceed forward. This is a public hearing. Anyone else wish to speak? Please come forward.

01:12:19,930	I am the it’s. My husband and I are co-owners of the property. To. The east. And while you’re speaking, if you don’t mind signing in as well. Just so we have it on record, but. And state your name. My name is Mona Hyde.

01:12:38,130	And, um, we own the property to the east side, I guess. I don’t think we were confused on how this property was going to be set up. And, you know, with the going for the building across the street, um, the plans that we had seen were where they were putting a cul de sac in across the street on the west side of 41st, and that was

01:12:58,970	going to be with five properties around this cul de sac. But, um, the road that is proposed goes further south of our property, more towards the fence line where the the road that they have drawn up comes right about 40, 50ft from our house. Goes over our drain field.

01:13:22,030	And then right after our house, it takes a drive up to the north, which then cuts our property off to the north side, leaving us with a bunch of useless land up north because it’s right against the houses to the north of us, which, like Heather was talking, they didn’t want to have a bunch of properties built right behind

01:13:45,370	those three houses to the south of the the west side of the road, we have neighbors the same that are on the north side of us, on the east side of the road, that don’t want a bunch of houses built right next to their property.

01:14:01,830	So either way that it goes, it’s going, you know, but the way they have proposed the road and I know I didn’t pay them to make the surveys or, or drop these plans, but the only one that benefits from this property or this road development is the land is the ones who’s purchasing and starting this

01:14:20,200	development, because their road will go straight into their property where ours takes, goes right by our house and then takes a big dive north and cuts our property in half, or not even in half. It cuts it up to the north.

01:14:45,400	So I guess our decision was that we didn’t want it to set up the way it’s proposed, because the way it cuts up to the north and cuts off our property, and then there’s only like a 40 50ft between our part of the road and the property to our to the north of our.

01:15:10,400	And we’ve talked to a couple neighbors to the north of us, and they don’t want the road, you know, because then it would cut into their, you know, the back end of their lots. Does anyone have questions? Commissioner Rich. Mona, where is your house exactly? Your west of 41st. And I am east of 41st. You’re east? Yes. So it’s the house that the road? Oh, I see it, I see it, I. see it, yeah. Okay.

01:15:35,330	So if you see the proposed road, you know, the way it used to be, that blue line is way farther south from my property or from my house. Anyways, where the one that they brought up, it’s right next to it.

01:15:58,800	Commissioner Kylie, do you have a question? So. And what I referenced when, um, Isaac was up here, do you own South of the blue line on the east side of 41st? Um, just a small portion of of south of it. Okay. So, um, I think it’s right on that tree on that fence line.

01:16:19,170	Okay, of ours versus the there’s like an LLC or something that owns the property to the south. Okay. And then just to the east of you where you say it curves up and goes right through the center. So you essentially own the top half of that whole section? Yes. Okay. Okay.

01:16:44,270	Um, and when we talk about it, say, because your ETA now. So that would have to go through any development of that side of a road would have to go through the county. Well a lot of times things size differently than what this particular board does. Right. Um, actually they’re in the their land is in the ETA that would come through planning and zoning.

01:17:02,900	Okay, I misunderstood, I apologize. I tried to it is confusing. Yeah, no I apologize. I’ll remove that comment. I’ll start to speak. So okay. Uh, I guess this would be, uh, Isaac question, but I can wait until after the, um, maybe because she could still speak.

01:17:32,270	Is there any problem with where that road could go straight through? I don’t not the way it’s proposed that they had planned it out. I don’t know, right. But that would take the half of the property out of the conversation. So. Yeah. Any other questions? Thank you. Yep. Again, this public comment. Anyone else wish to speak? Please come forward.

01:18:01,600	Thank you. I just wanted to clarify one item as far as the the roadway network that we have shown there. Um, when we we put that in, we were trying to show developers what they could do with that parcel of property.

01:18:17,870	In other words, saying urban style lots would fit with this roadway here for our change of the roadway where we would like it. It’s really only that intersection on 41st, where we’re with two little roads would line up together if they determine at some point in the future when they want to develop, that they don’t want to skew to the north.

01:18:31,030	They can shift it to the south and match up with where that where that blue line is today and follow the old roadway master plan. It’s really only the intersection itself that we’d be changing. And only to the west. Only to the west. Nothing to be built on the east. Correct? Okay. Thank you. Thanks. Public comment is still open. A second call for public.

01:19:00,900	Identify yourself and sign in. Hello. My name is Lauren. Fisher. Uh, and I own the property in question that. Uh. Uh, Heather. Jones is. Looking at purchasing. Anyway, what I wanted to mention here is there’s a lot of confusion on what’s going on. The property to the west is all rural development.

01:19:23,370	That means acre and a half lot. Minimum property on the east side of 41st Street is is, uh, basically city limits. That means no other lots other than city size lots, which are basically about a quarter acre. Lots can be put in there unless something majorly happens.

01:19:43,730	There’s some sort of zoning change, but right now it’s zoned agricultural and being also city limits. Uh, that means city sewer, city water, city sewer and water are not within two miles of this property. So if somebody was going to develop that property on the east side, it’s going to cost an enormous amount of money to bring city sewer and water to that property.

01:20:04,900	Therefore, any developer would run. Okay. So there’s there’s a possibility that this could happen someday, that it may be decades down the road after everybody in this room and the commission is probably gone and dead. That may happen.

01:20:22,030	But right now, to the west side of the road, that’s real life that we can do is already real water there. There’s lines in place. It’s five lots to grow the community and more tax revenue. I know it’s not supposed to be biased as far as any type of revenue, but that’s more people paying in contributing to the community, whether it’s rural or city.

01:20:42,300	But the difference is rural. On the west side city on the east side, and there’s not going to be any need for the heights to move their house. Nobody’s ever said that, and nobody has ever going to say that unless they want to move their house, their septic field may go away.

01:21:01,430	If the city sewer eventually comes up, they’re 20 years down the road, but then they get the benefit of having city sewer and water, because septic systems have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years. Ask me, I have one. So there’s a chance that these folks are going to have to replace their septic system in their drainage field within the next few years.

01:21:16,730	Anyway, so then they start all over. But nothing is in the process of being designed or built. No road easement. It’s just a future road plans that are drawn out on the east side of 41st and that, as Landon has mentioned, that can all change. It depends on the application.

01:21:37,870	When somebody is going to try to develop that if and when, and it could be 20, 30 years down the road, you know, who knows? I’ll probably be gone in dead.

01:21:52,870	And as far as the west portion of the, uh, the ten acres section, I still own a five acre lot there. And the blue lines of road go cross that I. I don’t want a road going cross that as long as I’m alive. So that road is not going to continue. So therefore this road is not going to be a through street.

01:22:04,570	It’s going to dead end on 41st and it’s going to come in somewhat like a cul de sac until I’m gone and dead, and someone else wants to do something with the five acres next to my house, because I’m another one that doesn’t want a road next to my house, because

01:22:17,430	if 76 goes across there, I lose half of my front yard. My neighbors to the south of me lose a good portion of their backyard. So I’m at a standstill. It’s like, well, I don’t want the road going across there.

01:22:35,030	And this is my best case scenario with what, uh, Heather Jones and Landon have proposed as far as coming in and and changing the roadway and utilizing that to make five lots, because building the road is expensive and the more lots they have, it helps share that expense.

01:22:51,870	And, you know, beyond what anybody else would expect, there’s not a lot of money being made in this project because everything costs a heck of a lot of money nowadays. You guys know how that works. You know, I just I feel that the hides, unfortunately, are a little bit misinformed or don’t understand it 100% as far as what’s going to happen, nothing is going to happen with their property until they say it’s

01:23:08,870	going to happen. And if they wanted to sell it tomorrow to developer, developer is not going to do anything with it either. Until the city and sewer comes closer, so that developer is going to have to sit on it for 10 to 20 years or more.

01:23:23,170	So therefore making it really not feasible to sell and not really that marketable, they may have thought they’ve purchased a nest egg, which was worth a lot of money. And it is. Don’t get me wrong, land is always worth money and always appreciates, but it’s not really a developable piece of property right now. Financially, I guess that’s all I’ve got to say.

01:23:41,130	Any questions? Thank you. A second call for public comment. A third and final call for public comment. Public comment period is now closed. Commissioners. Uh, maybe I should ask Isaac, can you come forward for a minute? So I just need to have a description of what our options are and how we go about them for this.

01:24:22,270	Certainly. So, uh, Mayor Schmitz and commissioners, you have a few different main options. There could possibly be more, but the main options would be you could, uh, approve the project sort of as they are presented, you wouldn’t necessarily need to change findings if you did that.

01:24:37,370	If you were to move to deny the project, uh, you could follow the planning and Zoning Commission’s path, or you could alter the findings of fact as presented in the staff reports in in a different way. If you think there’s a certain finding that should be adjusted, that would be another route.

01:24:53,730	So if we move to approve the the request, the appeal, we do we need to have findings of fact or do we just rely upon the staff report. The the findings of fact in in the staff report are still in the affirmative, as if you would be approving in. That.

01:25:15,300	Case, if they’re the same findings that were presented to the planning. As we deny, we either have to have concur with the findings from planning and zoning. Or alter them in another way. That is correct. Okay. Thank you.

01:25:28,800	I just need to I need to understand in my own mind, I don’t know if anybody else had confusion or not. So, commissioners, what are your what are your thoughts? I’m going to move. We approve.. Second. Okay. You can second. Do we have discussion? Commissioner Conley. Um, on these cases, I err on the side of property rights and the people to the West certainly have them.

01:26:02,570	Um, it’s not infringing on the folks to the East and the folks to the east still have a lot of control, because it does go through the vetting of planning and zoning.

01:26:19,400	I would hope that there would be a notation on this, because I’ve seen it where history, the kind of forget information of past discussions that hopefully they consider if the land separation is still owned by the same property owner, to not have the road split their property, so to speak, if there can be something in the history noted about that. The landowner will have that choice. So they’ll have that.

01:26:43,570	Just that there was a reference by history because I’ve seen the conversations come up in other planning and zoning issues that some of those conversations got lost. Okay. Any other discussion here? Now I’m going to call roll. Commissioner Cleary. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes, Commissioner. Zenker. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. It was approved. Moving to item E, consider request for resolution.

01:27:16,100	Awarding the contract for Street Improvement District C 596. Okay. Mayor. Commissioners C 596 for street improvement number 596 is our 2026 ditch section roadway pavement maintenance project where we will be working on 52nd Street between Apple Creek Road and Main Avenue. We opened bids on April 8th and we had two bidders on the project.

01:27:54,030	As you can see on the screen, we recommend awarding to the low bidder, Northern Improvement Company, with a bit of $1,364,415.80. And I’ll take any questions that you may have. Any questions, Commissioner, commissioners, any questions? What are your wishes? Move to approve. Second. Any discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner. Yes. Yes. Commissioner Zenker. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary. Yes. Mayor.

01:28:27,600	Schmitz. Yes. Next item f consider request for resolution. Awarding the contract for Street Improvement District C 597. Go ahead. Gabe. Mayor. Commissioner, street Improvement District 597 is our concrete pavement repair project that we’ll be doing on Main Avenue between the Washington Street Bridge and about seventh Street.

01:28:47,670	We opened bids on this project also on April 8th, and we had two bidders. We recommend award to the low bidder of Strata Corporation with a bid of $658,978.77. And we’d take any questions that you may have. Are there any questions? Commissioners, what are your wishes? Move to approve. Second. Any any discussion? Hearing none. We’ll call roll. Commissioner Zager. Yes. Commissioner. Connolly. Yes. Commissioner. Cleary.

01:29:20,730	Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Mayor. Schmitz. Yes. Moving to item G, consider requests from Commissioner Risch, uh, to purchase two electric patrol cars for the Bismarck Police Department. Commissioner, I’ll turn it over to you. Well, this. Is pretty exciting. Um, we’ve been discussing this. For more than a year with the department.

01:29:39,870	Uh, the idea of trying a couple of. Electric patrol companies, um. Far more efficient. Than the. departments that. Use them around the country. Say. I’m not. Able to hear. Commissioner Risch. You need to pull your mic or. Excuse me. Okay. Thank you. Commissioner. I’m sorry about. Sorry about that, Commissioner Zenker.

01:29:57,500	Yeah. Um, this is kind of exciting. We’ve been discussing this at the police department for the last year or so, and the idea is to try a couple of electric patrol cars.

01:30:13,230	First of all, I thought we’ll try one, but the chief was right and say, well, sometimes we buy two vehicles that are just alike, and one is kind of a bummer and the other one isn’t. So the idea is to try two of these electric patrol cars.

01:30:31,430	Um, some departments around the country, I’ve seen reports where one the saving $6,700 annually in operating costs and maintenance, very low maintenance, um, plus, you’re not being, um, buying all the fuel you have to buy. And with fuel prices going up as they are and electricity in North Dakota being some of the lowest in the country, we have the potential to save beyond that $6,700 annually. And certainly there’s hardly anything to do as far.

01:30:48,770	No oil changes, things like that, far fewer parts. Plus it stays in town. And these vehicles that we’re looking at are the Chevy Blazer. And the Chevy Blazer is rated at 250 miles per charge. So that’s quite a bit in it. Certainly do the 12 hour shift without any problem.

01:31:07,200	In addition, the electronics in the car really uses very little of the energy from the battery so that we were concerned about that to begin with. But that’s that’s an inconsequential thing. Um, uh, they’re more powerful. They make very little noise.

01:31:25,270	I was watching a video, a drone video that the chief sent me yesterday or today rather, about this drones going after the bad guy in the patrol cars come running up. Well, electric patrol car doesn’t make any noise if you shut the noise off. And it could sneak up on a bad guys better. Um, plus these things, they’ve got a real low center of gravity, so they’re really stable.

01:31:40,630	It’s very hard to, uh, roll over an electric patrol car. There’s just a bunch of stuff, and they’ve got five star, uh, energy rating or safety ratings. Uh, the batteries are warranted at 100,000 miles a year. Uh, or 100,000 miles. And, um, that’s about how much we use in police car, anyway. About 100,000 miles. We turn them over.

01:31:59,970	But anyway, they’ve got 498 horsepower. Um, so I’m pretty excited about, um, the potential of trying just trying a couple of electric cars and see where it goes. The only concern I have. The only concern at all is that, um, the patrolman might start fighting over.

01:32:18,630	He gets the electric patrol car at the beginning of the shift. Maybe not. But anyway, with that, um, I would move that we. It’s not all the other thing. The cost of them, they’re they’re about the same cost as a, um, internal combustion engine. They’re not any more expensive.

01:32:36,230	So the initial cost, we’ll have to put in a charging station at the old station. But, um, that’s part of the deal that will last a long time. So anyway, I’ll move that. We approve this. Oh, one last one last thing.

01:32:54,270	The reason it didn’t actually go through the regular budget process is because they buy these cars quite a bit in advance, and it didn’t get in with the original package plan. So we’re not adding more patrol cars overall, but we’re just going to the next two. We’re going to try and get electric or two, we’re going to get electric. Second. Okay, so we’re all for discussion. My first question is, is which budget year are we talking.

01:33:15,370	Because we’ve probably already bought the cars for this current budget year. That’s a question for Eric how he’s going to figure this out. Good evening, mayor and commissioners. Um, so like you mentioned, we’re in the 26 budget year.

01:33:41,700	Obviously, we have already procured and purchased all of our vehicles that were in the 26 budget plan. Um, the ordering window for these EVs, I believe, is April 24th. That’s why we’re here tonight to talk about this.

01:34:00,970	Our plan would be to alter the 27 budget process to account for these two cars in our equipment replacement plan for the 27 budget. Um, if you remember, for the 26 budget year, at the end of 25, um, once the budget was approved, we ordered our vehicles ahead of time for cost savings. Um, on the 26 budget plan.

01:34:19,170	So we will have some cost savings in 26, but the expenses will take place in 26. Um, with some adjustment in the 27 budget plan to account for these essentially reducing the number of patrol cars that we’ll be asking for in the 27 budget. So would. this then, as I listen to you, this would require a budget amendment.

01:34:38,330	It is possible when we get to the end of the 26 budget year, um, depending on how the cost savings with the rest of the purchases of equipment through the course of the year, it may necessitate a budget amendment.

01:34:55,970	Um, probably March of April, March time frame in 27, recognizing what took place in 26. I can’t guarantee it will happen, but it is a possibility. Okay. Other questions or comments? Commissioner Cleary.

01:35:19,630	Since Eric’s up here, uh, the cost of putting in the charging station and that sort of thing, or if maintenance has to be done separately from the regular fleet maintenance, is that all going to be 2027 budget as well, though, because that added expense of the charging station. So the charging station, my guess would be um, I think the cost estimates were 20 to 30,000 to get the charging station necessary that we need. Um, that would likely take place in 2026 as well.

01:35:44,070	Um, if I remember correctly, in talking with, uh, Lieutenant Tram, if we meet the ordering window, we anticipate these vehicles being on the ground here in Bismarck late October. November timeframe. So it would be very end of the year before we would take possession of these things. Okay. Commissioner Connelly.

01:36:05,470	So with the timing of it being a little off from new station versus, um, the one we currently have, does that mean charging station at the current one? And then consideration for a charging station at the new one.

01:36:25,630	Or that would be my understanding, Commissioner Connelly, that we would need the charging station at the current at the current police department headquarters. Um, and that would be permanently affixed to that property. And then going this route, it would be designed into the new facility, um, through that architectural and engineering process. Okay. So that’s the cost times two. Yes. Okay. Thanks.

01:36:51,770	Any other discussion? I want to be fair. This building is not going away. And we’re seeing more electric vehicles. So that charging station could be used probably for some other city vehicles in the future, or maybe even a patrol car if they want to set one down there. After the new station is built.

01:37:12,130	Is there any other discussion? So, mayor? Yes. Go ahead. Commissioner. Yeah. So thank you mayor. Commissioners. Um, so I do have a couple concerns with this. Um, one, obviously this the size of the budget and I guess it’s going to replace some cars. I’m not quite sure if we’ve already ordered the cars.

01:37:30,600	It’s going to be. In addition, it more sounds like to me, but what about what about the outfit of the cars to to meet the patrol needs and the squad car scenario that we have? Um, I would I would assume that, um, there would be some difference between the gas powered vehicles and the

01:37:51,700	electric vehicles. Um, so if we do this for two, what’s the cost? And if we don’t like it, we we’ve kind of we can’t reuse some of that stuff. And sometimes you can’t reuse that anyways when there’s body changes. Right. Every model has an upgrade.

01:38:11,500	Um, the other thing is, is I wonder about the dependability of the electric vehicle in the winter time. Um, I do, I do have friends who have some electric vehicles, and they do say that depending on the weather that, um, with their just running around the city, it’s fine. Uh, they can charge it. Not a big deal.

01:38:30,630	But if they make long extended runs, it’s an issue. And these cars run. You know, the ships are eight, ten, 12 hours. They’re going to be running, continuing continually.

01:38:51,500	Or is there going to be enough time to, um, make sure that one vehicle runs for one shift in those weather conditions and we’re not running back to the to the station to swap those out. Um, I guess I don’t I don’t fully electric. Um, makes me a little bit nervous versus a hybrid scenario. So if anybody’s got any answers to that, that’d be great. Good. Commissioner Risch. Mr. mayor, Mr.. Commissioner Zenker yeah. As far as the equipment end of it, these are patrol cars.

01:39:13,230	They’re built as patrol cars. They’re wired specifically, and we can take the existing equipment and they’ll be installed in these cars just like they were internal combustion engine.

01:39:32,330	Uh, the estimate was for some reason, it’s $700 more to equip them, which is pretty non consequential when you’re dealing with this range is you’re correct that in the wintertime they do get a reduced range. But a 250 miles. Um that’s that’s quite a bit I’m not that concerned about it I wish I wish the Chevrolet Silverado was in a police edition because that’s 450 mile range. That would be a lot more substantial. They’d be a little more expensive.

01:39:51,270	But, um, this is where it’s at right now with the Blazers. 250 miles, which, incidentally, is at least as good as the extended range Ford Lightning that’s now been discontinued. So I’m pretty confident that 250 miles will be adequate. Um, in the 30s, 40 below. Whether it will have a bit of an impact.

01:40:10,770	But if we can keep these things inside warm when they take off and they they last a lot longer than leaving them outside. I have a question in this. This comes back to budget for me, and I think that’s probably my biggest concern here is the order window.

01:40:34,400	I mean, I can’t is there only one order window a year? That’s the confusing part for me, because we were talking about this last year and all of a sudden, oh no, we missed the window and all of a sudden we’re about to miss the window again. I don’t I don’t understand that.

01:40:48,030	Because I would I probably would have less concern if we are going to be looking at it for the 27 budget. And we knew the window would allow us the delivery date after December 31st. That makes more sense to me. But we’re keeping keep in mind we’re not adding additional vehicles that would just be out of the 27 budget.

01:41:03,200	Fleet, but it’s still a budget number from one fiscal period to another fiscal period, and tax revenues cross over the calendar year. So so that’s my struggle. Like I’m not opposed to trying.

01:41:24,630	I just don’t want to add to the budget for 2026 when we already are living in a budget that is appropriately tight because of our what we do for property taxes. With the legislative action. What appeals to me about this is the potential savings, potential savings and maintenance, potential savings in, um, reduce. Again, my my concern is the budget cycle for the equipment purchase. We’re saving some money.

01:41:43,800	But we’re not going to save the cost of the vehicle in the calendar year. No. So so that’s my that’s my struggle. I’m not opposed to the concept of trying, because I think it may be a valuable tool, but, um, so so that’s that’s where I’m at. Um, we have any other discussion. I just.

01:42:06,270	Eric or Chief or someone else who was in the conversations of this, do we know is that the only is there is there just one annually? Is there a way that we have this discussion? But it just becomes part of 2027? There’s one ordering window a year. Is that.

01:42:23,330	What I don’t know specifically about the ordering window being available more than once with an EV? Um, the ordering window with the state contract for our traditional um, gas powered engines that does close, I want to say middle to end of October annually.

01:42:51,300	Um, for those for that process, um, I don’t recall in conversations with Lieutenant Traum that we’ve explored the ordering window previously with the EVs. Um, I don’t recall an ordering window coming up when we were initially talking about this, um, months ago with placing it with Ford for the the lightning F-150 pickup.

01:43:15,870	Um, it may this ordering window may be specific to the Chevy brand. Um, with state contract, but I don’t know specifically if they have a different ordering timeframe for those vehicles. It’s something we can certainly ask about.

01:43:36,430	If the direction tonight is to include it in the 27 budget process, we will definitely have to do more homework to try to fit these into the process. Sure. Okay. Any other discussion or questions for. Eric? Okay. I’m going to call the vote. Commissioner Connolly, no. Commissioner cleary. Yes. Commissioner. Risch. Yes. Commissioner. Zenker. No. Mayor Schmitz. No. I would like to consider it for the 2027 budget, though.

01:44:18,200	All right. We’re two other businesses. Anyone else have other business? Commissioner Cleary. Um, I just want to remind everyone that it is Spring cleanup week next week. So you’ll have your normal, normal garbage day with your bin.

01:44:40,270	But you can also put the the there’s certain items that are not allowed to be on the curb, but for the most part, your items can go out on the curb. They get picked up by a separate team.

01:44:49,630	So if you’re a garbage can gets picked up and you’re like, why is the rest of the stuff still sitting at my curb? They’re coming the same day as your garbage pickup, but it is a separate crew that goes out to do that. And so that’ll be happening Monday through Thursday next week. But during that week is also free drop off at the landfill. And that runs Monday through Saturday out at the landfill. So I just wanted to remind people that that is happening.

01:45:07,270	Commissioner Conley. Um, to reiterate with the community conversation, it’s a new location. Being at the Dream Center. Um, we’ve had several at the library. Um, there’s we’ll see if there’s an advantage with that. Um, it’s certainly a nice room up there. And I would encourage people that have those concerns.

01:45:26,500	Or even if you’re just learning to come on April 21st at 530. Thank you. I was going to ask you for the time because that’s next Tuesday. Yeah. Commissioner. Mr.

01:45:41,030	mayor, commissioners, I just want to follow up with, uh, Commissioner Cleary, this is a big thing for our city to pick up all this stuff, and it’s relatively new phenomenon. This didn’t happen years ago, but I just want to encourage people that when they put their stuff on the on the boulevard to put like the wooden stuff in one pile, the metal stuff on the other pile, because we’ve got these different trailers

01:45:55,830	that come through and the people that are out there shopping, um, which is technically against the law to go shopping and picking up other people’s stuff without the owner’s permission. But I know people that do it.

01:46:11,130	But the people that are out there shopping don’t make a mess of the piles. I mean, leave them in better shape than when you you took them. And actually the people that are out there shopping and removing truckloads and truckloads of this stuff for good, repurposing actually saves our landfill quite a bit.

01:46:28,130	Um, so I want to give a shout out to a Star City employee. I don’t know if you read today my trusty Tribune. I read my trusty Tribune and, um, Tammy Rosler, 911 dispatcher, helped deliver a baby last October over the phone.

01:46:47,330	And it’s amazing if you go to the 911 center, they’ve got, oh, this incident comes up and they’ve got all the actions to take to help deliver a baby or whatever the case may be. And she successfully worked this husband through delivering a baby right out at the rest area east of Bismarck. So I want to give a shout out for to Tammy, because she did a remarkable job.

01:47:03,300	And this is a really positive thing to have happen. And thank Michael and his team over there at 911 for the good work that they do. Thank you. Is there any other business seeing none? Hearing none. We are adjourned.