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.
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.
Landfill capacity expansion
Weisz and Sons, Inc. won the landfill excavation contract with a small $6,500 budget increase from the solid waste fund.
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.
Improvement bonds Series 2026ABCD
The financing resolution lets the city sell improvement bonds to fund infrastructure projects.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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%.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.