Then we’ll call the man and Park District Board meeting to order today is December 8th, 2025 at 5:30. Uh, any additions or deletions to the agenda? No. None. OK, uh, public communication from visitors seeing nobody in the crowd at this time. We will open and close that portion of the meeting. uh, moving on to the minutes. Could we seek approval for November 10th, 2025 regular meeting minutes. approve November 10, 2025, regular meeting minutes. A motion by Comm Freehlich. seconded by Comm Mutter. Any further discussion Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Opposed and approved. All right. Moving on to item number one. Uh, consider for approval first reading of Ordinance 1058 to adopt signature threshold for petitions, uh, for candidates to the Park Board of Commissioners, North Dakota Central Code 40-49-073. Uh, Attorney Ruff for Cole, do you wanna, I’ll just give some, I’ll just give some background context to it, obviously, um, City of Madan for city commissioners have had this in place for the last, I think, 2 elections for sure. Um, the park districts were the 10% of the last election, so we went before legislative during legislative session and asked that we could have the same opportunity and so we had reached out to C Administrator Neubauer, and their attorney and requested that based on the language that was approved. for the threshold of naming or nominating petitions that we adopted. So before you is the ordinance that Attorney Ruff drafted, which is Ordinance 1058. spells out all the requirements and essentially if for some reason in the future that the city of Mandan were to drop it from 125, we would be able to just appease with that in the future, but as of right now, if you were to run for park board, you’d only need 125 signatures compared to the last time it was 10% of the last election. Would it work the same if they raised, if the city raised it too, we would follow their lead on that to bring it back before you have to bring it back here and and adjust it or we could keep it at 125, I guess. OK, so we have that, you know, there was some confusion before because they’re at 1:25. I think school board doesn’t require signatures, and then we were 10% of the last election, so this kind of just seemly, you know, makes it more consistent amongst any elected official office that you’re running for, OK? All right. Any questions for Cole or Arlen? OK It’s all right All right, how would the board like to proceed? I’ll make a motion to approve adoption of ordinance 1058 to adopt the same signature requirement of 125 for nominating petitions for candidates to the board of Ark Commissioners. Most of by Comm Melhhhoff. seconded by Comm Freelich. Any further discussion? OK, all in favor say aye. I oppose same sign. motion carries. President Meske and Commissioners, I will bring it back next month for our 2nd and final reading and then it’ll be implemented at that time, OK. All right, moving on to item number 2. Consider for approval, starring Sports Complex, ice rental agreements. Hi Dave. Good evening, President Meske Commissioners, um, before you, we have our agreements with the University of Mary Hockey and Man at Hockey Club for the years 2026 to 2028, and we do a three year agreements with, with both groups and those groups are both up, um, at the end of this year. So before you, I have the agreements, um, of the hourly rates and pretty much everything is status quo with, uh, both, both, both clubs are good with so we’re doing a step scale with hourly rates this, this time for the next 3 years, um, before we just did one raid for 3 years, but with uh continuing of salaries and utilities and cost of goods, um, we’re gonna increase the, the rent. Um, every, every year or so. I’ll answer any questions. And like the gymnastics as well. Gymnastics had one too. They have escalator clause every year it goes up, so. Anything for Dave I have some Um, real quick question, I noticed that University of Mary doesn’t have 10% of grosscession sales, do they have any concession sales up there? No, men at hockey Club is the sole concession heir of the whole facility. So that’s why that’s in there because Manor Hockey Club is the only one that sells any concessions at that facility’s football, soccer, track, um, University of Mary hockey games, um, high school games and club games. OK. Anything else for Dave Yeah, I have one more. On the, on the repairs, if something happens, are we, are we the ones who um, if something breaks or something. do we tell them that their pro their fault or? It depends on what happens. Um, if it’s anything that has to do with like the mechanical compressor, um, anything like that that’s on the Mandan Park District to repair and fix and, um, we did have an example of the University of Mary was playing a game and one of the guys broke a door. We did charge them for that because it was their fault. They ripped the door off the hinges and it was like 2500 bucks. So they did pay the bill for that, but I mean any normal wear and tear things that break, we cover that, but if somebody destroys something or wrecks something in the locker rooms, they will pay for it. Same with the club. The club does the same thing too. You know, I think the attent is that we will repair it and bill them accordingly or or whatever. We don’t want anybody just hiring their own repair or doing their own right, and that’s what we did. We called Northwest Contracting. We got a new door in there. They repaired it and we sent a bill to University of Mary. Makes sense. Anything else for Dave All right Bore wishes I’ll make a motion to approve Starring Sports Complex ice rental agreements with the Manan Hockey Club Club and the University of Mary. OK, motion by Comm R Eloffoff, seconded by Comm Mutter. Any further discussion OK. All in favor say aye. Hi opposed same sign Kate, motion carries. Thanks, Dave. OK, I’m number 3. Update on operational changes for uh for going into effect January 1, 2026. Program of facility rate increases, uh, implementation of a credit card processing fees in 2026 capital Project and. equipment So Commissionerers in your board packet, I just thought it would be good as we approved things at our July retreat and implemented them in our 27 or excuse me 26 budget in August and September, and so things are just starting to roll out. Um, I’m not gonna go through each fee that’s been presented that’s in your board packet, it’s more of just an FYI as you’ve been presented it again in July, but again, we just want to make sure to bring it to your attention. So the fees that we have on there are already in place for some of the fall programs that started in October. and carry over into 26 because they’re over two fiscal years, so we’ve already implemented those fees in there. The one I wanted to touch base with you just to clarification would be the service fee of credit card and debit cards that are being implemented and so we have what’s called um installment payments for our Mac program, so individuals who automatically have fees taken out of their account. and that is a fee that’s 3.25%, that’s charged by our service provider through that MID. So that fee will be passed on to them and then in addition to that, any invoices that we send out to organizations, user groups, individuals, exceeding $500 which we talked about today for clarity, um, that would have the 3 3% added on top of that, and that is the fee that we are charged by our credit card, um, vendor. So that will take effect January 1. We haven’t heard any negativity associated with that. We are not charging people who walk into the front desk to sign up for a program or golf for Raging rivers and things of that nature. That number is already built into our fee and backed out along with sales tax. Um, this is just being passed. We’ve had individuals with $10,000 invoices for rental um or a golf tournament, and we’re backing off that 3% from there. So that’s why we’re passing that. They don’t have to pay the 3% if they choose to play with a check or have a direct um ACH deduction out of there. Were you able to pay that too. So there are ways that businesses can avoid. So what was going on is a lot of businesses were using their credit card for their incentives and their rebates that they get and we were getting that 3% fee taken off the top, um, so we’d made that implementation and that’s already taken place November here for uh the Mac billing and then obviously January 1 for any type of rentals and invoices that I mentioned before in the board packet. And then the last is just an FYI on the question on that. Matt, uh, the Mac uh, they can do ACH or check as, as, or do you take checks for checks. Yeah, but if they want the ACH where it’s the installment billing automatically just coming out of their account. That fee is charged by our service vendor that they sign up for. But if they just want to make sure they have the option for those, they do have the option and I think it was 70% of the people did sign up for the automatic polling, so they were comfortable um to avoiding that ACH. The ACH, excuse me, is not charged the fee. It’s the installment payments that is charged the fee. um, but we have 70% of the people have taken that and some have still elected to choose a credit card um in this matter. And then the last is just all the items that the um staff it was approved in the 26 budget as far as all the capital improvement projects, some of those have already started to get bid and so I just wanted to present to you that those items are gonna start getting either purchased or bid at this time and get those things rolling out there at this time, but any questions you may have for me, it’s more informational and educational at this point for things that have been presented. I guess I asked my question. Any other questions for Cole or Dave OK All right. Moving on to item number 4. Consider for approval employee service recognition. So I know Cole and I had actually talked about this a few months ago, um in, in that one for some retention. We have pretty good retention, uh, at Man Dam Parks and Rec, and I, I think it’s because we, you know, we do treat our employees, uh, well, and, and we, uh, let them know how good of a job they’re doing. This was, this was something I think a few other park districts have this in place. Um, and, and really it’s, uh, it’s, it’s a nice thank you for sticking with us at the end of the year, um, help you out with a few more expenses at the end of the year, not really a, um, I suppose kind of a bonus, but, um, when presented the policy and, and it breaks down the spreadsheet in there. Attorney Ruff did look through it and and thought that it would be fine. Uh, that we’ll still pay tax, we’ll still pay payroll taxes on these things, uh, as well, but there’s kind of a graduated scale there to, uh, to look at, um, the 0 to 55 to 1010 to 15, and 15 to 15 plus years. So when I looked at it I guess my first impressions were whether you, you know, whether you’re a manager or director or whatever, if you’ve been there for, for 15+ years, you know, you’re committed, you’re committed to man and Park District and, and, and we want to show that we’re committed to you to to be able to help you out. So, um, I kinda, I guess when I talked to Cole a couple months ago about this, this is something that we came up that, that maybe we can, can do for our employees. our full-time employees. So um, policies there uh chart is on there um go ahead and pick it apart or give some input. So Cole. Got some information from other districts and, and put this together. So anything to add Cole No, I think just to add would be um the dollar amounts that we have allocated there are definitely on the lower end of what other districts, both city parks and counties have done some of it’s a percentage of your salary, meaning 1%. Um, we didn’t want to get into something like that. We think what we get is here is a good starting base as in the re requirements and the eligibility is that obviously you have to finish your 6 months of employment for you’re eligible, and then if you are on any type of improvement plan or corrective action, you’re not eligible for this, and that would be approved by each manager to have the discretion to be able to determine who is eligible for this for the each department. Are there any gray areas in that that I read that where they talk about the 6 months. I know you’re leaving it up to HR to make that decision. See any gray areas in there? The only thing that we talked about this morning would be obviously if there’s attendance issues or um attitudes and things about nature, but you hope that would be addressed in improvement plans, so that’s why we’re trying to basically put it back if he’s put on an improvement plan, some type of performance improvement or written up in his personnel file, then that would be to indicate where corrective actions need to take place wouldn’t be eligible. And, and I, and you have continuous employment. We’ve had some people leave and come back, so that would restart reset when they come back, right? Yeah. Unique. questions, concerns with this policy No, but I’ll make the motion because I think it’s very important that we be our employees with respect and and a friend of mine, Bruce always says, if you don’t respect your your employees, how can we respect the rest of the citizens of our town. So that’s where I’m at. Well, if you want a motion, I’ll do it. All right. That’s a motion by Comm Mutter. Second by Comm Freelich Any further discussion? OK. Hearing none, we’ll start with you, Comm Melhhhoff. I Comm Frelick, Comm Mudder, I from me as well, motion carries. All right, uh, item number 5, consider for approval of the 2026 to 28 strategic plan. I know K Cole sent this out in an email. uh, what, a week or two ago just for us to look at it and give input and, and uh hopefully we’re able to do that at uh were there any changes, Cole, from what you originally sent out? grammatical changes that’s going to take place, but overall, each man is reviewed it multiple times. Each commissioner’s had an opportunity to review it. um, Kelly and the managers all put together this information and so we kind of change it from prior years where we kind of had everything kind of lumped in as a district. This year we broke it down by department to kind of clean it up and make it more consistent for each area, and I think that’s been coming I guess from the comments from staff and and managers that’s a lot more easier to follow and know where their areas might kind of over, instead of overlapping in different areas, now it’s in their specific area, um, as again, it’s a 3-year strategic plan, it’s always revolving. So next year we’ll bring it back for you with 27 to 29 and just keep updated in as we roll on, but we would need a motion to approve this plan as presented. Well, and I guess I liked that you split it up. It actually helps you probably focus and us focus on, on those areas. And when we, I think in the past when we look at our strategic plan, we, we follow it pretty well. We, we do stay on top of that. A lot of times, uh, like for Kohl’s annual, um, uh appraisal, he’s, he’s, he’s looking at some of those bigger items and making sure that we’re, we’re crossing those off our list and, and so it’s a good plan and, and it also helps us when we make decisions now for future things and when those things can fit in. So it, it looked, it looked very well done. So those had input where did a nice job, I thought Anything else? Questions for Cole. Yup Yeah. Will you look for approval if there are no issues or I’ll make the motion to approve the 2026 through 2028 strategic plan. I’ll motion by Comm Fehlich, seconded by Comm Mutter. Any further discussion OK. Hearing none, all in favor say aye. Aye opposed All right, motion carries And we’re in December, so we have to look forward and schedule our regular board meeting dates. Um so, item number 6, we need to approve the 2026 board meeting dates. as presented in our packet weren’t they Yeah there, there, they are You knew they were here. All right. Are those still, uh, 2ndun does it follow the second Monday throughout? Yeah, it’s the 2nd Monday of the month. We’re just required to bring present this before you each year. Put it on the website and things like that, so. so nothing really has changed from the past. 8 years So we’d look to approve that. I’ll make a motion to approve the 2026 board meeting as presented in the packet. and most of my Comm M Mehlhoff, I’ll second, seconded by Comm Freehlich Any further discussion? OK, hearing none, all in favor say aye. Opposed motion carries All right, uh, our monthly bills, if we can get a motion to pay our monthly bills. I’ll make a motion to approve our payment of our monthly bills. Second, motion by Comm Freehlich, seconded by Comm Melhlhhoff. Any further discussion All in favor say aye. Hi. Opposed All right, motion carries All right. Any, so we got a few more things in our packet, letters of support and things like that. I don’t know Cole if you want to talk about them, but any further reports? No, just to add, and obviously in your in your packet is that we submitted um the city of Mandan is applying for additional grant funding, and that would bring down about a half a million dollars on Red Wing Drive, which, you know, we had presented that back in October, it was over a million dollars, so hopefully we can get that funding and allocate and decrease some of our special assessments, so we’re looking forward to that opportunity, not sure exactly on the timeline when that will be communicated, but just wanted to bring it to your attention that the city is bringing that back up to the table. I’m associated with that. Our annual report, as we know, we get done at the end of the year, takes about 60 days to kind of get all of our financials in order so that the annual report has been started, Reached out to our user groups, getting statistics, we’ll be compiling that hopefully presented the goal would be February. I don’t know if it’s realistic, but for sure by March depends on the financials and the year-end closing out, but it’s all I have. Dave, anything? Commissioners, um, just one quick thing. We did our Black Friday sale for season past at Raging Rivers, sold 850 this year, which is really, really good. Last year we sold the toll of 7995 for the whole year, so we’re already at 8:50 and I know people have been coming in, um, quite a bit, so. it’s been going really well Now we just need sun turning rough Um working on, working on getting the date set for the mediation. Uh, I had given Attorney Laird three names for mediators. He was fine with all three of them. Contacted one and he’s retired, the other two are not available So I came up with two other names that I sent him. for possible mediators, and he’s not gotten back to me on that. I thought I might have heard Friday or today before today’s meeting, but I’ve not heard. As soon as I hear which one, then we’ll get that set up for either the 13th or what was the other date in January. Yeah, the 13th or the 14th, I think their preference was the 13th, so that’s why I sent it out to our commissioners that that was the date and we just set the date aside all day, so we’re working on that hopefully we get the mediator lined up so he can be available at those times too, but it’s trying to coordinate everybody for the schedule, so. Comm Mudder I just want to thank Kelly for the the new sign and the new, um, me in the meeting room at the park and Reck building, they ordered a sign. It’s nice and big and shows where we’re at and I like the branding of it. Um, and the rest of it, I just want wish everybody happy holidays since Christmas is right around the corner. Comm Frelich. I’ve got nothing and Comm Mahoff, uh, no report this month. OK. All right. Future meeting dates for, uh, Mandan Park Board Commissioners. Uh, we have, uh, January 8th, the Mandan Public Schools and the Mandane Park District annual joint powerers agreement meeting at noon here at Raging Rivers, not here at Raging Rivers, at Raging Rivers. And then our next board meeting will be January 12th right here at 5:30. Could we get a motion to Adjourn? So moved. Most of my Comm Milhhhoff, I’ll second, seconded by Comm Frehlich. Any discussion? All in favor say aye. All right,