Mandan · issues
Civic issues
Topics getting the most attention in Mandan public meetings, ranked by how frequently they come up.
NDOF loan applications — PetroServe USA and SLR LLC 03
The North Dakota Opportunity Fund Loan Committee was scheduled to consider loan requests from PetroServe USA of Fargo and SLR LLC 03 of Bismarck, discussing them in closed session. These loans can help businesses finance growth in North Dakota communities.
Pop-up Shop Rental Assistance Pilot Program
701 Venue gets up to $30,000 in matching funds to spruce up its Main Street storefront — a win for downtown revitalization.
2027 Library Calendar and By-Laws Review
The board was scheduled to approve the 2027 library calendar and discuss updates to the Board of Trustees by-laws — housekeeping items that set library hours and how the board governs itself.
Satellite Library (The Branch) Funding and Operations
Updates were scheduled on the bookmobile, The Branch (previously targeted for an October 20 opening), the SideTracks tourism makerspace, and fundraising efforts. These projects shape where and how residents access library services.
Capital Reserve Transfer to Destination Development Grant
A proposal to move or designate $16,000 from the capital reserve into the Destination Development Grant fund (218.243) supporting the SideTracks makerspace. This uses savings set aside for capital projects to boost the tourism makerspace.
Water, sewer, and Public Works rate increases for 2027
New rates for water, sewer, and Public Works services take effect January 1, 2027 — utility customers will see the changes on their bills in the new year.
Improvement bonds Series 2026ABCD
The financing resolution lets the city sell improvement bonds to fund infrastructure projects.
Special election on proposed ordinance
Voters will decide a proposed ordinance at a December 15, 2026 special election.
Landfill capacity expansion
Weisz and Sons, Inc. won the landfill excavation contract with a small $6,500 budget increase from the solid waste fund.
2027 city budget and property tax levy (Ordinance No. 1488)
The commission finalized the city's 2027 budget and 2026 tax levy. This sets spending priorities for everything from police to parks next year.
Fringe Area Road Master Plan update
The 2027-2030 plan update guides future road improvements in the areas surrounding Mandan, adopted jointly through the Bismarck-Mandan MPO.
Morton Mandan Public Library 2027 budget
The library board was scheduled to consider a $1,000 increase to the adult materials expenditure line, alongside a reported 2027 budget change. It's routine budget housekeeping for the library's collections.
Wastewater Treatment Facility expansion
The commission authorized staff to seek a construction manager at-risk for the wastewater treatment plant expansion — a big infrastructure project with long-term costs.
Open City Commission seat
The commission discussed how to fill its vacant seat, and resident Susan Beehler submitted written testimony on the matter. A decision hasn't been made yet.
Utility master planning solicitation
Staff got the green light to advertise for qualified firms to help the city plan its utilities — water, sewer and related infrastructure — for the future.
Passing of Commissioner Craig Sjoberg
Commissioner Craig Sjoberg died August 29 while serving on the commission. The meeting opened with a tribute and Mayor Froelich ordered flags at half-staff on September 4, the day of his funeral.
E-bike, e-scooter and minibike regulations (Ordinance 1489)
New citywide rules now govern electric bikes and scooters: 15 mph caps on sidewalks and trails, helmets for riders under 18, minimum ages of 12 and 16 for certain devices, pedestrian right-of-way, and a ban on minibikes and gas-powered devices on paths and sidewalks. Fines start at $50 and rise with repeat offenses.
2027 Health Insurance Plan Design Changes
The city's employee health insurance plan will see design changes for the 2027 plan year, approved along with a budget amendment. This affects city employees' coverage and the city's budget.
Sales tax ordinances 1491 and 1492
Commissioners gave final approval to Ordinance 1491 enacting a sales tax code section, and took the first vote on Ordinance 1492, which deals with the maximum tax imposed. A second reading of 1492 is still to come.
Flock surveillance cameras
Mandan may soon get Flock license-plate-reading cameras, which log vehicle movements as cars pass by. The source says it's not confirmed for Mandan yet, but it's worth watching if local privacy rules matter to you.
Data Center Development
Mandan residents packed a town hall to push back on a proposed data center, raising alarms about water use, power demand, and noise. The fight is expected to move to city hall soon, so expect local officials to face pressure over what the project costs the community.
Construction project progress across Mandan
Memorial Highway's east half should be substantially done before the Fourth of July; the west half is ramping up. Several other street and water projects are wrapping up or moving forward, with a second public input meeting on the 8th Ave/27th St project June 25.
Street Improvement District 244 (8th/27th Phase II)
The city created the district for a $6.7 million rebuild of 8th Avenue NW and 27th Street. Federal grants and city utility funds cover most of it, so typical special assessments dropped to about $5,000 for adjacent lots — roughly 64% less than the 2022 version. Property owners in the district will get letters about the protest period and a June 25 input meeting at Mandan High School.
Marina Bay multi-use shop condos
Thirty-four personal-use shop condos are coming to Lot 35, Block 1, Marina Bay Addition near the Broken Oar — indoor storage with water hookups but no commercial operations. Neighbors' drainage concerns were addressed, and grading could start this fall.
Mandan Airport Authority 2027 budget
The airport hit a milestone with 106 based aircraft and a 12-person hangar wait list. Its 2027 budget funds a $1.2 million fuel system upgrade (half from ND Aeronautics, if approved) and design work for a new T-hangar.
2025 City Audit Results
Mandan's 2025 audit came back clean — unmodified opinions across the board. Two repeat findings involve airport internal controls and auditor-prepared financials; two federal grant findings were fixed quickly. City assets grew $70.3 million, largely from the Memorial Highway project.
Trustee Resignation and Vice President Vacancy
The board was scheduled to accept the Morton County representative's resignation and appoint a new vice president, after Jen Padilla announced in June she would step down before her term ends. These seats shape who guides library policy going forward.
Data Center Ordinance
Mandan is drafting rules for data centers while a facility could be headed to town, and a packed public meeting shows residents are paying attention. The key question is what gets built and who pays for the roads, water, power, and other infrastructure.
Updated Change Order Policy for Engineering Department
The city replaced its 2009 change order rules with a sliding scale tied to project cost. Staff can now approve cumulative change orders up to 5% of a project's cost on smaller jobs and 3% on big ones, instead of a flat $25,000. Anything over the cap still comes back to the commission, and there's a state law ceiling of 20%.
City Hall roof failure and emergency replacement
The City Hall roof has been patched for years and is now leaking onto employees' desks and computers. The city is spending roughly $250,000 to replace both roof sections, using an emergency declaration to skip delays before winter.
Old school site rezoning (Ordinance 1485)
The second and final reading of the zone change for the School District 8th Addition was on the agenda but wasn't taken up — the commission skipped straight to the next item.
14th Street & Collins Avenue intersection trial
The city converted the 14th/Collins intersection from four-way to two-way for the July 4 crowds and is studying real-world traffic data — the trial may be extended because of a nearby water line project.
Keidels South Heart Terrace 5th Addition subdivision connectivity
A 71-lot subdivision on Mandan's south side was denied because the developer wouldn't preserve a right-of-way for a future road connecting east. Staff worry that self-contained subdivisions are creating traffic and safety problems as the south side grows. The developer can reapply with revisions.
Emergency water main replacement at 14th St NE & Collins Avenue
An aging asbestos-cement water main buried 15-18 feet deep keeps breaking near Eagles Park, leaving three businesses on temporary water. The commission declared an emergency to speed up replacing 500 feet of pipe with a $200,000 budget amendment.
City employee compensation and salary study
The city is paying about 90% of the regional market and 94.5% of what Bismarck pays. New Plan C raises pay to 97.5% of market with a guaranteed 3.5% minimum increase in 2027, costing roughly $600,000 — which finance says fits the ten-year plan.
Touch A Truck and Summer Events
Buggies-N-Blues drew an estimated 36,000 people; the new July 3 Pyro Musical fireworks show expects 12,000-15,000 and the America 250 parade 40,000-50,000. Police have deployed barriers, patrols, and traffic controls, with Main Street closed July 2-4.
Alarm system ordinance update
A routine cleanup of the city's alarm systems ordinance was adopted on final reading, with a January 1 effective date added by the city attorney.
Raw water intake sandbar study
Sandbars keep causing problems at the city's raw water intake. A $225,000 study, split 50/50 with Marathon, will model river migration and design long-term fixes.
Traffic fine doubling restored (Ordinance 1487)
A state law change accidentally wiped out the city's doubled fines for most traffic violations. This ordinance brings back doubling for everything except speeding. First reading passed; one more to go.
2026 Street Striping Project Bid Rejection
Only one company bid on Main Street striping, at 25% over estimate. The commission chose to rebid after July 4th, meaning the work likely won't be done before Mandan's 250th anniversary parade — a tradeoff between cost savings and timing.
Fire Department Sales Tax Initiative
The fire department wants to redirect the existing sales tax (currently funding the Star and Sports Complex) to build a third fire station. It goes on the June 2026 ballot, and a public information meeting is set for May 18 at Fort Lincoln Elementary.
Old high school site replat and rezoning
The former Mandan High School site was replatted and rezoned from agricultural so the school district can sell lots for future development. The approval is contingent on a future roundabout, which some residents have asked about — the city stressed it's only a concept.
2025 Police Annual Report
Serious crimes fell 10% over two years with no homicides, but five residents died of drug overdoses. DUIs rose as staffing recovered, and code enforcement is back to full strength.
50 Years as a Tree City USA
Mandan is one of only about 16 cities entering their 50th year as a Tree City USA, dating to a 1976 commission decision recognized at this meeting.
Lead Water Pipe Inventory
Mandan is mapping out where lead water pipes are still in use, because lead in drinking water is a real health risk. The catch: replacing those lines could mean higher water bills for residents.
Memorial Highway water main replacement funding
Mandan is replacing about 3.2 miles of aging asbestos cement water mains along Memorial Highway, from Main Street to 46th Avenue SE. The state covers 60% of eligible costs, and both East and West segments will now be built at the same time in 2026.
Attorney General Opinion to City Commission
The North Dakota Attorney General sent Mandan’s City Commission a formal legal opinion, and it could change how commissioners handle a specific issue. There’s no public detail yet on what that issue is, but the next moves by the commission are worth watching.
Fireworks Ban
Mandan has banned fireworks this year because drought conditions make any spark a real fire risk. So skip the sparklers and backyard shows—the city is prioritizing safety over celebration.
Mural Lawsuit Settlement
Mandan’s legal fight with Lonesome Dove over a mural is finally over, closing a dispute that cost City Hall time and money. The settlement ends the case, though the source doesn’t lay out the terms. Why care? It’s public money and a public-art fight wrapping up.