00:00:11,470	Park District Board meeting to order. Today is April 13th, 2020 sixth at 530. Any additions or deletions to the agenda? None. Board any additions or deletions okay. Hearing none at this time, we’ll open public communication from visitors. Anybody would like to come up and speak.

00:00:36,400	If you haven’t been scheduled to speak, now would be the time to do that. Okay. Seeing no takers, we will close that portion of our meeting. Uh, can we start by getting approval of the March 9th, 2026 regular meeting minutes and the March 12th, 2026 special meeting minutes? I’ll make a motion to approve March 9th, 2026 regular meeting minutes and March 12th, 2026 special meeting minutes.

00:01:01,700	Motion by Commissioner Freilich second. Second by Commissioner Mudar. Any further discussion? Hearing none. All in favor say aye. Aye. Opposed. Same sign. Okay. Motion carries. All right. Moving into our agenda. Item number one. Consider Josette Dupree of big stick cigars. Request to sell their product at Mandan golf courses. Josette.

00:01:37,530	Good evening, commissioners, and thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Josette Dupre, co-owner and general manager at Big Stick Cigar Lounge. I’m here to respectfully request commission permission to sell premium cigars at select golf tournaments hosted through Mandan Parks and Recreation during the 2026 session season.

00:01:57,970	We are specifically requesting approval to partner with three tournaments the Mandan Police Department Explorers Tournament. On June 19th, Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center, heroes on the Green on July 10th, and the Kiwanis Golf Tournament on August 14th.

00:02:18,530	Our goal is to enhance the tournament experience by offering a premium controlled cigars service that aligns with the relaxed social atmosphere many golfers enjoy. We would operate in a professional and responsible manner, setting up in designated areas, ensuring all sales are to adults 21 and over and maintaining a clean, respectful presence throughout each event. We have also received interest from additional tournaments.

00:02:40,530	However, we are intentionally holding off on any further commitments until we understand the board’s position on expanding this opportunity. We believe this can add value to the events, create an elevated experience for participants, and support local business engagement within the community. Thank you for your time and consideration. Consideration.

00:03:01,870	I’m more than happy to answer any questions you have about golf tournaments or potentially reselling to either of the golf courses for them to resell the product. Okay. Uh, Josette, can I know there’s. This was a few years ago before you when you came to the board and asked for it. And I think we gave you I think we allowed you to do two. Is that correct? That is correct.

00:03:21,030	Okay. Can you tell us how how that’s gone? They went very well. Unfortunately, last year I did have the two, um, but we had a scheduling conflict at the last minute for the one event with Dakota Children’s where I couldn’t make it to.

00:03:39,730	But the feedback I got from fellow golfers in our community was wonderful. Saying it was so nice to have you there so I didn’t have to go and stop beforehand at your lounge to get what I needed, and then go out on my golfing journey.

00:03:56,930	Um, or they found out, you know, they were golfing with other people and they wanted additional cigars, and they saw how controlled it is and how I remind folks, hey, we’re not like cigarette smokers. When you’re done with your product, you don’t flick it on the ground. You can keep it controlled and you snub it out, put it in a bottle or container and bring it back and dispose of it properly.

00:04:15,500	I know you included our minutes from that meeting. Um, back in 23, I believe. That’s correct. June 1223. 1222 2023. Um, any feedback from our, uh, golf manager or pro shop manager as far as any, you know, we’re so Joe said we were hesitant to do it the first time because our park

00:04:37,630	board policy actually strictly for forbids the sale of tobacco on, on, on our grounds. So, um, I guess it was kind of a feel out period to see how things went so cold. You have have your.

00:04:57,370	And we talked at our golf portfolio meeting with Commissioner Scott and there were no issues related to what was taking place on the property. Um, the question was, though, if we want to continue this, where does it stop or where does it end in regards to now it’s two, then it’s four, then it’s six.

00:05:09,270	And if it really is a need for this type of product to be sold, kind of the history lesson is when Brad Olsen, way back in the day, used to have a little humidor and he sold them specifically, then the Mandan Tobacco Tobacco Coalition came through and asked us to basically not allow any smoking or tobacco on park property, and we had a big

00:05:26,300	discussion with it. We had a couple hearings. And the reality that came out of that from that time at that board, I can’t remember what year it was. I want to say in that 12 to 14, 20, 12 or 14.

00:05:40,100	But the reality was, is they said, okay, we have public buildings that state law stay within 20ft of the entrances. So we implemented that. In addition to that, we wanted to make sure that all the playgrounds where young kids were at that didn’t have a choice to inhale secondhand smoke. We wanted to make sure that that was at least a 20 foot separation from there.

00:05:53,970	We understand that people are going to do what they want to do, but we wanted to make sure that the kids weren’t exposed to that at that time. Then they put in there that we would not sell tobacco products, and that’s when Brad Olsen was selling, then no longer sold cigars.

00:06:08,200	And that’s how that policy got put in there. So if we would like to offer this service, I think it should be ran through our golf pro who we have the contract to sell, and he can elect to buy them from Josette and her business or anyone else that feels.

00:06:21,170	And then we would allow that variance to be sold at the golf courses. Now, the other concern would be the age of the employees that are working behind the tables. Most of them are 18 or 21. Um, but we just have to have to monitor that just as another layer. Since we do sell alcohol.

00:06:33,830	I would say even before that we would need to change our policy. Correct. Commissioner Scott, you guys, you you guys may have done. Yeah. And and Cole hit it on the head there. There has been no issues. Uh, Josette is right that, uh, things went smoothly. The the idea behind the comments by Garrett.

00:06:56,800	And then in a later conversation with Brent were the fact that it’s the what ifs. Nothing has happened yet. But, you know, and it can happen because people can bring their own. It could happen. Cigars or cigarettes out there. And their concerns are we lease the carts. So burns on seats and and different things like that.

00:07:18,670	Or leaving Josette hit that one too with, you know, putting it, disposing of it correctly, you know, um, but it can happen. And we see it out there already with people leaving cigarettes on the edge of the green while they putt or whatever, and then it just gets left there.

00:07:36,670	So then our staff ends up having to clean up the mess after, you know, somebody that doesn’t dispose of it properly. Um, I will say that, um, both Brent and Garrett felt like we should be following our own rules, so to speak. If they’re in place, we should be following them.

00:07:58,800	And if we don’t want to follow them, then we should be changing our bylaws. Yes. Rhyme out. I got a real quick question, Commissioner Scott. How many people do smoke out there? That’s a great question. Uh, I don’t see a ton of it, but I know that it’s it’s out there quite a bit.

00:08:25,400	Um, it’s just that with the group I golf with, none of us are smokers, but none of us hold it against people that are. So, um. I love the smell of a good cigar. So? So it’s it’s one of those things. I don’t want to smoke it, but I definitely don’t mind breathing, you know, smelling that smell, because there definitely is a a good smell.

00:08:42,130	But, um, I would guess that and it would be a guess. Less than 25% of the people that are out there golfing are smoking as well. Cole, I’ve got a question for you. Um, because I’m looking at the top of the tobacco. Um, free policy here. It says 20ft from Mandan Park District.

00:09:07,000	Shelters and concessions buildings, grandstands, bleachers, playgrounds and controlled areas for events. Does that include the golf carts? That does not. Based on this, and we did have public hearings when we had this.

00:09:24,970	Like I said, I don’t remember the exact year, but there were individuals who came forward saying that it’s my right to choose and come to your establishment to choose to smoke. And that’s why the board did not eliminate 100% from the golf courses. They allowed that they knew that people of the age 18 or older can make that decision for them and bring it on, but we wouldn’t sell it. But that’s. Now 21 or 21. Sorry. Yeah. Back then I think it.

00:09:41,000	Was I think it was 18 probably then. Yeah. I do work. In partnership with Hawk Tree, um, Golf Course, which is out in Burley County, and they did a few years ago. They bought a humidor from me, a desktop humidor.

00:09:57,130	And usually about this time of the year, I grab it from them and I season it and I get it all cleared up, ready to go. And then they buy cigars from me and I stock up for them to resell back.

00:10:10,130	So that’s I don’t know if that would be something as a consideration or not, but I’ve been doing that now for about four years and it’s been going very well. In addition, I also do a very large golf tournament there with the Sanford Health BlueWave Invitational Tournament, and it’s always been a success.

00:10:33,530	I know that first year we waived the fee that goes along with the the somebody coming in to sell their products on our property. Um, do you happen to know if it’s being charged? So I did reach out to Brent Weber, our golf pro, and he said it was not that he’s aware of. So again, it’s gone.

00:10:52,200	Well, um, it’s really what do we as a park district want to have as a wellness activity? You know, youth oriented, whether or not you believe that they are getting exposed to it or not in different ways or whatever.

00:11:08,370	I just feel from the Park district standpoint, it’s been working very well, and we gave it an opportunity to see how it went and there were no issues, but I just don’t feel that’s the direction that staff want to go at this time. Well, and I think, you know, we also serve alcohol at our golf courses. And again, I talked to you cold before the meeting. The difference between.

00:11:22,600	Alcohol and tobacco smoke is two different, two different things. I mean you’re self imposing the poison as opposed to if you’re standing next to somebody. I think that’s why some of those laws came into effect.

00:11:38,700	So I think if we’re going to go a healthy, healthy lifestyle, will you be pulling everything that’s, you know, make people walk? I don’t know, um, I don’t obviously we’re not going to do that because you’d have a lot less golfers. But, um, I guess for me, I see that if we’re going to expand this one, we’re going to expand this.

00:11:56,000	We have to change our policy before we before we go another route two. Um, just said how many, how many? Uh, in Bismarck, Mandan or state in North Dakota run a business like you? Would you say rough estimate? Oh. Cigar lounges? Yeah. Cigar lounges or or retail cigar sellers. Or maybe not even so much a lounge..

00:12:19,500	As far as cigar lounges, I still am currently the only cigar lounge in the state of North Dakota. Okay. There are locations you can go to, uh, liquor stores in that where they do have a small humidor to sell for selling their cigars. But we get a lot of foot traffic for off site sales. Uh, I call them grab and go.

00:12:36,030	They come in and grab their cigars. I’m excited for golf season because I know what’s going to be going on for me. With a lot of folks coming in to grab their cigars for that day’s tournament or whatever. Um, adventure they’re on. Um, but yeah, we are the only ones in the state so far.

00:12:50,700	And, you know, I think we as a park board have to protect ourselves in, in not monopolizing with one like I believe Captain Jack’s. They have humidor within their, their liquor stores.

00:13:08,330	If they were to come next meeting and say, well we want to do three events or two events, you know, for us, I think we need to put a little more thought into this as far as how, how, how far we’re going to let it go, especially when our policy is actually, um, saying that we shouldn’t or can’t. So, um, I don’t know what the other what the rest of the board, their thoughts.

00:13:31,800	I would, I would like to see us look into the policy first before we even make a decision. I don’t I don’t want to put her on hold, but I would like to make sure that we’re.

00:13:45,000	I mean, I was I’m looking at it and I’m thinking if it’s a golf course and they can smoke on the golf course, well, then they have the right to buy it too. So I would rather see us look at the policy and make sure we know what we’re doing before we make a real hard decision here.

00:14:02,300	Joseph, do you have, um, when you say two, are they the same tournaments that you’ve had? Yes. Two to. And now a third has come forward. Um, again, Dakota Children’s Advocacy Center, they’re heroes on the green. And the Mandan Police Department. Explorers golf tournament at Mandan Municipal. Those are the two that you’ve historically done.

00:14:23,700	And then the third one. Now, the Kiwanis Golf Tournament has also asked, hey, we would really like to have you there supporting. Which is in August, I believe. Correct. August 14th. So for the first time in since the beginning of the Kiwanis, I was not there last year.

00:14:43,370	Did you do the Kiwanis Tournament last year? No one reached out to me to ask me to participate, but overwhelmingly, already this year, please come. Please come. Oh, she’s asking to add that one. Yeah, I had heard somebody else had talked to me about that and said that she was at the one during Kiwanis last year.

00:15:00,470	So I assumed the, the, uh, police Department one and the Kiwanis were the two. But evidently it was a children’s advocacy group, and the police department once. Correct. Okay. Thank you. President and attorney rough might be a question for you.

00:15:17,000	So the way our golf operation or excuse me, Golf Pro works is he is at least or a contracted employee for rental space of the of the pro shop. So regardless if let’s just say the board was to change the policy and our contract is with Brent Weber, our golf pro, and he chooses not to sell it because that’s his business within us. Yeah.

00:15:36,500	And he’s telling us today that he doesn’t want to do that and that he would like to follow policy. We would have to change his contract. And we as a park district could mandate that this is our policy and that you could do that. But today we don’t have any control on what he sells in that pro shop.

00:15:53,330	So golf balls, club shirts, designs, anything. We don’t set pricing. He has all of that. Plus he has the liquor license to sell the alcohol. It’s not in the park district’s name. But we do get a percentage. Of take a percentage for the rental fee for the space of our building.

00:16:07,700	Right. So it’s a little more complex than just taking him. Hawk tree probably is a little different. They, they they’re not run by a government entity. So and they’re in the county not in the city. And a few different things. But Cole, one other quick question.

00:16:28,100	Um, if Brent did decide that he wanted to sell cigars, would he have to change his current license? Very good question. I’m not sure how that would work for off sale. He would need to have a state and City of Mandan tobacco license to do so. I should have directed that to you.

00:16:49,070	But instead of putting you, Cole, under pressure. Any anything else? When is the first tournament that you have scheduled? June 19th. June 19th, and in fairness to you, um, how soon would you absolutely have to know in order to make things work as far as inventory and things like that? About three weeks.

00:17:22,500	So president, Michigan Commissioner, May 11th is our next board meeting. So if we wanted to table it and have further discussion or put together the portfolio or whoever else needs to be involved in it, we could have it answered by May 11th.

00:17:38,500	And even if it did go into June, it sounds like the two that you have are earlier, correct? Correct? Yes. June, July and August. I have till August, which we’ve allowed her to do. I have a question. Josette. Uh, how many sales at a tournament would make it worth your while to even be there? Dollar amount. It’s usually 500 or more. Sure.

00:17:58,270	And did you do that? Did you exceed that in the two that you did last year? Well, the one, um, I’m scheduling conflict. We couldn’t. But the other one, yes I did. Yeah. Because we also I think we waived for that first year that $100 vendor permit, um, and you’re saying that that has not been. Know that wasn’t charged. Okay.

00:18:20,100	So we have to probably tighten some things up on our end. So because if it does get bigger and somebody, like I said, next meeting, somebody comes in and they want to they want to come up and set up a stand. You know, it’s it’s not just it’s not just big stick cigars that are.

00:18:34,570	Right in the city of Mandan. You do have to have a storefront presence at selling cigars in order to do anything off site. So anytime I do something off site, I do have to request and get a $25 permit to be off site for each event that I do on site within the city.

00:18:53,730	More catering type, correct? Yeah. And I and I think, like I said, Captain Jack’s could probably do the same thing. They could they have a very small the last time I was in there. It’s a very small desktop humidor that only had like ten cigars. I’m not saying they will. I’m just trying.

00:19:07,600	To. It’s a possibility. I can’t see that they would goof up their inventory because cigars are very controlled. We’re taking. Care of them. I think the Mandan one is quite small. The big I think Bismarck is bigger.

00:19:26,470	So, um, I guess I’d like to table this and we’ll do a little more research and try to wanna try to stiffen up what we’re doing now. So we’re in compliance with our policy. Um, and to try to predict the future, to protect the park board and, and Mandan. So. All right. Okay. All right. I’m available for any questions at any time.

00:19:43,930	I’m just a block over from here, and I usually am there all the time. Yes. You had to leave work, didn’t you? Right. Okay. Thank you Commissioner. Thank you Joseph. Thank you for being here.

00:19:58,930	So, president, whiskey and commissioners, just to follow up on that, are you wanting the golf portfolio committee to resolve the tobacco, or is this more of a. Like district wide? I think that, you know, Commissioner Scott, you kind of heard all the what ifs. And I know you heard the what ifs from their side.

00:20:14,870	But then as a board, how we have to proceed, whether or not we proceed with it. Um, I guess I’d like it to go back to the golf committee. And if you can share those meeting notes with us, then, um, we have an idea. But that that the future probably scares me the most. Well, first, we’re not.

00:20:32,130	We gave an exception to our policy, and we asked how it would go. Uh, maybe a report back from from Brent on his on his intentions, because I did read in there, too.

00:20:47,470	He was going to come back and let us know how it went at some point at a future meeting, I guess maybe that’s next month. Um, and we can go from there. Okay. We’ll get back together. Okay. Thank you. A quick question. So, and, um, will this I’m, I’m looking at the future, too.

00:21:14,170	Maybe, but what happens if somebody wants to do it at, um, at Legion Park or something like that? I mean, are we going to try to just leave it for golf, or are we going to make sure we cover all our I. I would tend to say it should just be golf.

00:21:28,730	I mean, if we’re having kids around the Bay, I mean, there’s a lot of kids around there and, and, uh, I guess we, we see oh, we see smoking at the dog park. I, you know, I mean, we see those things.

00:21:42,700	I don’t think we’re going to set up maybe, but but I, I guess I’d like to see it restricted to our two golf courses. Anything else? All right. Moving on to item number two. Consider a request to add new North Pavilion to Dale Park Arena. Oh, you want to start. So president Mr. president Mexican commissioners. Uh, Jason Milstead um, again raise more money.

00:22:08,200	Uh, so it’s a good problem to have, but they would like to add a new pavilion to the north end of the arena behind the crow’s nest. And as you can see in your packet, there’s two signed purchase donation agreements between, uh, Greg Babin, Dick and his foundation, along with the Dale Park. So there’s $200,000 that are raised. $100,000 will come May 1st.

00:22:27,900	The other $100,000 will be over five years in my agenda. Doc, it was originally going to be over four years now changed to five. So we essentially will have $120,000 starting May 1st, and that dollars will be used towards the pavilion and some other additional items that Mister Middleton will talk about here

00:22:43,930	in a moment in the Excel spreadsheet, I kind of circled in red and highlighted it. There’s $67,000 that once we make our final payment in August of 26, there will be more pledges coming through. So there’ll be $67,000 there. So we’re really only short about 13 grand to finish the full $200,000 worth of improvements.

00:23:06,800	Then if you look in 27, we’re going to collect another $347,000 and some change in pledges. We would just reimburse the Park district for that 13 grand that we’re short. So what we’re looking for tonight is just to upfront that 80 grand, basically carry it.

00:23:24,630	If he doesn’t, if the man and rodeo committee doesn’t spend the full 80 grand, obviously we would just perforate the difference and then carry that over. Um, for that standpoint. And so what they’re looking at is just adding additional amenities. As you see, there’s a handout I put in front of you underneath your agenda.

00:23:41,000	Um, Dustin went out and got the bids, and you can see that the bids that were submitted, um, 1 to 4 contract or five, were solicited only for submitted. And the recommendation is to go with any time works in the amount of $122,390, for that is for the pavilion, and that includes concrete. And we had some concerns with $100,000 difference in the bid going.

00:24:00,770	What did they miss? Dustin and Jason met on site just to make sure there was no concerns, and everything that was in the specs were followed through. And then on the bottom, Mr. Mill said.

00:24:15,600	We’ll kind of talk about since there is such a substantial savings, though those are some items that he would like to add into the pavilion to spend the full. As you see. 195 um, dollar amount today. So let Mr.. Middleton. Jason. Yeah. Uh, so this is a project that’s been a long time coming. Uh, it’s something that we wanted to do prior to even building this, this new facility.

00:24:43,130	Um, we’re men, and rodeo days is always. Every year we need to, uh, put up a tent back for. And what this is for. Actually, I should start there. It’s on the north end of the facility. It’s for hospitality. It’s what feeds all the contestants and the committees and things like that. It’s a very busy place.

00:24:58,330	So, uh, the Men and Ideas Committee ranch tent every year for that. But now, other events that happen there, like the college, same thing. They rent a tent also to put there. And then, uh, Chad Berger puts on a big event there. He’s renting a tent. Um, it’s it’s $2,000 every year to rent that tent.

00:25:17,070	Uh, so it would help all those committees. Bottom line, uh, the Man and Horse and Saddle Club would also see a benefit for this for for their stuff. Um, so it, uh, one thing that’s different, uh, that we’re going to include with this is storage also.

00:25:34,670	So another thing that we do is we’re always having to borrow tables and chairs. We’re out. We’re still hauling this stuff. We have a storage facility that’s on the end of the strip. So, uh, still hauling stuff back and forth.

00:25:53,570	We have this facility, and, uh, and we’re still hauling stuff back and forth, but by having that storage included with this, that now we’ll be able to purchase our own tables and chairs, uh, get rid of that storage facility down on the end of the strip there, and everything will be on site and make things way more convenient. Uh, like Cole mentioned, uh, the the winning bid for this project.

00:26:14,230	Uh, very impressed with them folks meeting them there. They’re more after building relationships. They want to help. And that’s why their bid was considerably lower. And because of that, um, I’d like to add a misting system to the east side set of grandstands. And that’s the sunny side we call it.

00:26:35,730	So, and people are catching on. There’s a hot side and there’s a cool, shady side. And so this would go on the hot side. And I am not really familiar with it.

00:26:55,100	So I did some research and we have some people in our committee that will be helping install this that are familiar with it, but it’s essentially an air conditioner for outside that that works. There’s it’s it’s a proven system that other facilities have that are similar to what we have.

00:27:15,070	Um, another small project is when we did all the wiring for the video board that gets rented every year for these events, uh, how it gets wired in and hooked up was correct at the time, but they’re currently using an updated system. So of course things are a little bit different. We pay an electrician to come in and hook this up every year. Um, so that would just be putting the right equipment, uh, in for the video board.

00:27:38,070	So, so yeah, here’s seeking approval to move forward with all that. And I would be happy to entertain any questions that you have. Your Commissioner Motor. Um, we I hate to even bring this up because I feel like a broken record all the time, but, um. Bring it up, Mister Mudder.

00:27:59,930	Uh, restrooms. Uh, we we kind of promised the horse and Santa Club one of the first things that we would do is get the get the, um, restrooms done, because there’s a lot of people want that. And for our guests to really be informed. But I want to make sure.

00:28:18,170	Are they okay with you doing this before their restrooms project? So I am here representing, uh, everybody, all the user groups that are there. I’m not here solely for Mandan rodeo days. Um, so yes, we have discussed this with the Men and Horse and Saddle Club, and they’re fully on board with this. Yes. Thank you.

00:28:41,530	Any other comments? Questions? Okay. I two was, you know, any time works incorporate. Have they built structures like this before. I mean are they a new company I guess I don’t. Know why they are not. Um okay. Don’t call me. I did ask that. I think they’ve been around 13 years, roughly 13.

00:28:56,430	Not sure on the years, but they did build a South Pavilion that when you come into that entrance. That has. Oh well, they do have name on there. They built that one. Okay. So again very they’re very familiar with the project and what it takes in there. But they do a lot of work for Paramount.

00:29:10,300	Oh okay. Any other questions. If not what are the board’s wishes. Are you putting doors on this one there. Well, there there is two garage doors. Okay. It’ll be for. The storage. Right.

00:29:30,670	I can mention there’s a there’s 12ft off, uh, off of the end where there’s going to be two storage compartments, one that, uh, with a eight foot wide garage door for tables and chairs, storage, and a ten foot wide garage door off to side or miscellaneous storage. Thank you. Jason, where on the site is this going to sit.? So directly west of the rodeo office on the north side of the property. Adjacent to that.

00:29:57,830	Adjacent to that north fence. When you come in on that approach. They’re going to put sidewalks in and we have to put sidewalks in on the other pavilion. Didn’t we have to add those later? So what that is, I think you’re referring to is we add a little more concrete on the outside edge, for.

00:30:23,430	It was for it was for the food vendor vendors too, wasn’t it? Okay. Oh and then we there it wasn’t us. It was, uh, Chad Burger bought these booths. Yeah. And we use them for, like a VIP, VIP booth. And we put concrete underneath where we set that. Okay? Yeah. Okay. Okay.

00:30:49,100	What are the board’s wishes? I recommend improving the North Pavilion project as presented and not to exceed 2000 for using 2026 pledges to cover majority of the costs. And the park district covering the difference. 2027 payment will reimburse the Park district for the different difference needed to complete the project.

00:31:10,930	And do you want me to add, um, the other projects here to up to that 200,000? Cole. No, I think when we originally talked, it was just for 200,000 to be spent. And so what we presented today, I would just the intention is knowing that what’s been presented to you would be what’s been approved.

00:31:28,130	And then it’s not to exceed the 200,000. Okay. Second. Okay. We have a motion by Commissioner Motter, second by Commissioner Scott. Okay. Any further discussion? I would just like to say thank you to Jason for all the work you do out there. And, um, I know it’s sometimes a thankless job, but we do appreciate everything you do.

00:31:48,370	Well, thank you. So appreciate that. So does man down city man down. Yeah. Thank you. Any other discussion hearing? None. Commissioner. Mudar. Yes. Commissioner. Freilich. Yes. Uh, Commissioner Mel Hoff, high commissioner. Scott. Yes, yes, for me as well. Thanks, Jason. Good luck. Hopefully you get it up by then.

00:32:12,270	Uh, moving on to item number three, update on Mandan Hockey Club discussion to pursue adding on to the Star Sports Complex. Trying to pull up the overhead, but the projector doesn’t seem to be working to demonstrate it, so I’ll just. Have to. Add a little here a little bit.

00:32:29,130	So we had a facility portfolio meeting with Commissioner Mel Hoff, along with Matt Stockard, who is the representative for the Madden Hockey Club. And we’ve been having preliminary discussions about adding on to the Star Sports Complex.

00:32:46,400	And if you remember in the packet, there is a feasibility study that was done, I believe, in 21 and the Mandan Hockey Club at that time in 2021, wanted to see what it would take to expand the back side of the Cadillac rink between the football exterior bleachers and that wall on the back side of the Cadillac rink. At that time, it was $2.3 million, and the hockey club decided at that time not to move forward.

00:33:04,730	We’ve already completed a topo. We’ve already completed soil testing back in 21, and we still have that information today. Since then, it’s kind of been on hold, but we’ve been hearing that the hockey club would like to do this expansion.

00:33:21,870	It has now changed where they would like to have dry land space and potentially make it a two level building at the upper level could be for storage and or offices. And so as the discussions kind of went through, some of the concerns we talked about was that’s the only space that the Park district three, five, ten, 20 years from now, if we ever

00:33:37,870	wanted to add additional locker rooms, that’s the only space that we’d be able to do that at because of the proximity to the back of the benches where all the players are at.

00:33:52,100	So one of the comments that we made in the meeting was, we’re comfortable with the expansion for dry land space, but we want to make sure all the utilities and everything is pulled in there originally. So that way then if we ever have different ideas or concepts that we would be able to renovate that or that space into locker rooms, but not have to pull utilities, drains and all the things that we would needed to have that

00:34:07,770	become a locker room. And since then, I think there was discussion last Tuesday from the hockey club, and I think they were just trying to figure out what’s the best direction, where’s the best way to spend the dollars at this time.

00:34:23,200	So they asked to not have it on the agenda to move the project forward. It’s been tabled on their end to determine what the next steps are going to be. We have not had discussions with the full hockey board. They have, again, a general manager, Matt Stocker, who kind of speaks on their behalf and does some of the day to day operational things.

00:34:37,670	We spoke with him and we’re just going to do a wait and see. But from a timeline standpoint, if they wanted to come back to the board and do something, we want to work it backwards.

00:34:52,600	From the spring of 27 because we don’t want to impact the fall with 2500 to 3000 people coming to a football game. So our thought process, if we were to start it in the spring of 27 or even in spring of 28, yes, it’s going to impact some track meets, but not as much space in the back that we would have when we have

00:35:06,770	the larger football games and soccer events that take place there. So working backwards, we would have to open bid sometime in, um, excuse me, advertised bids in December, January and then award in that February review period, maybe even March award and then initiate contracts and hopefully start breaking ground. Weather allows into April.

00:35:28,570	So from a timeline standpoint, if we’re going to advertise in December or January, they need at least 3 to 4 months for design and architect wood. So that puts us back into about August. And now we have the financing and the agreements and everything that would need to take place.

00:35:46,670	Um, push into about a July, you know, maybe August if we’d have to get an answer from the mountain hockey club. If they want to proceed, proceed to go forward. So it’s really more informational. What’s been transpiring. It originally was to come before the board and have approval to do the expansion, and it’s been tabled. So they want dry land only.

00:36:04,100	At this time, along with a second level for office space and then just open storage space at this time. And you talked about renovating the dry land or adding on from the dry land. Adding on the dry land room that was there today has already been converted to small lockers. Okay, okay.

00:36:20,100	So then we were having even bigger discussions going okay, it. Will be used the word renovation. So I thought what something about building the dry land. And then again be you’re saying have have everything wired. Have all the. Sewer new construction. Water, everything there to add on. What he’s.

00:36:36,700	Saying is the, the Matt soccer and the hockey club wanted to proceed with considering only dry land. And we we pushed back and said, well, we heard a lot about locker room needs and this and that. So we asked them to go back to the board and talk that through.

00:36:56,100	And then, uh, and so the renovation would be, uh, if we went now with all dry land, but then decided in the future we needed to add. I just want to make because I need a renovation. I thought, to renovate and take over the dry land again, but yeah. And so, like you said, in 2021, it was locker room.

00:37:14,200	Space was needed. Now in 26 it’s dry land space. And so I know boards are going to change over like our boards and hockey boards, volunteer boards. It’s whatever that issue is today.

00:37:28,600	And then the park district is always left with, what are we going to do in the future? And my concern is that’s the only place that makes sense for future lockers, whether they go in or not. At least we got all the amenities in there for utilities, right? Okay. Any other questions for Cole? Okay. All right. Moving on to item four. Consider human Resources update. Uh, handbook changes and trustees changes for retirement plan.

00:37:52,500	Yes. So, commissioners, we had a portfolio meeting to review these handbook changes. A lot of it was just clean up that Tyra Ripple did with as far as updating the handbook, a lot of it is, like I said, just clean it up, clarifying, removing some old language.

00:38:10,670	Um, the real main additions that you see in red at the bottom of that first page on 4.1, that’s is the new item. Everything else has been in there. It’s just was cleaned up with new language and new acts as far as Ada.

00:38:24,700	But the bottom of this paragraph talks about if there was a full time employee that was off duty and there were some type of illegal crime or some type of felony that took place that they would have to communicate us.

00:38:38,930	And the reason why that was put in is we did have some employees who have gotten a DUI or some other infraction and didn’t tell us, and we found out 60, 90 days later, and they’re operating our equipment and vehicles when we should have been communicated what was taking place. And we understand there’s privacy, but we got to be safe and conscientious from an employer standpoint.

00:38:52,900	So that was added in there. And then 9.1, we in the city changed our full time eligibility from 19 to 18 years. Um, that was added in there. And that’s already been voted on by the city commission with our um trustees in regards to our retirement plan.

00:39:14,170	And then the last was just talking about the, um, vesting period. So we wanted to make sure it was more clear because it says 25% vest in the first year of service, 50% in the second year, 75, and a third 100% and the fourth.

00:39:28,730	Well, was it if you work one year and one day or you 50% or you’re 25%? So what we wanted to clarify was if you work one year and one day, you are eligible for the 50% vested for your retirement. Again, that’s only what the park district puts in. So if you have a $100 in there, you would get 50%. If you make it one year and so on.

00:39:46,730	So those were the major changes. And then the deletions that you can see in there are what we took out. And it was approved at our administrative portfolio meeting. Any questions on changes deletions. They all seem sensible and necessary. So I would make the motion to approve the handbook changes as presented.

00:40:19,470	Motion by Commissioner Scott. I’ll second second by Commissioner Mudar any further discussion. Hearing none. All in favor say aye. Aye, aye. Opposed? Same sign. Okay. Motion carries. And then just follow up on the trustee changes. So today, um, Terry Welch and myself are the trustees for the Park district.

00:40:42,970	Terry’s name will still remain on as a trustee, as a manager. But the day to day will be Tyra Ripple will be added to it because she’s handling the human resources and the payroll. So now it’s Tyra and myself will be the representatives.

00:40:58,600	Terry will always have a spot on there, but she won’t attend the. We have quarterly meetings, sometimes semiannually meetings. She will attend those since she’s already making the changes in the behind the scenes on the software. In regards to staff changes and things of that nature and termination. So it just made sense to add her to that.

00:41:12,670	There’s no motion needed at that. Just wanted to clarify who we’ll be on there. Item number five updated ASA plat and parking lot status. So we had a meeting last week with a preliminary planning and zoning.

00:41:32,470	As the school district is trying to get this zoned, the old high school site, which again, the All Seasons Arena sits on that property. So that will be presented here at the end of the month. I know Commissioner Mutter sits on the planning and zoning as a representative for the Park District.

00:41:44,500	He’s well aware of some of our concerns, but the property lines and everything that’s been stated in your packet is agreeable to staff and along with ourselves in regards to, um, how the parking lot will be laid out, some concerns are coming up from the planning and zoning, along with the city and the school district. That has nothing to do with the Park district at this time.

00:42:02,800	But you see on that illustration where it talks about where the roads would be, have right of ways and where those roads are located at. The city is wanting to just get the land dedicated for a right of way.

00:42:15,700	So when a road is going to go in, we don’t know when a road is going to go in, but we at least like to have those roads located and right of ways and be recorded on the plat. The school has to approve that because it is technically their land today. So that’s still going to be pending. The concerns that we have from the Park district.

00:42:32,270	As you see, some of my items in the agenda, doc, though, would be where access points would be, when can we do our parking lot? We talked about repaving that parking lot, mill and overlay, potentially reconstruction in some areas in 27. Well, we know the land around the all seasons arena.

00:42:49,330	It may not be developed at that time. So we asked the question can we temporarily fence off our property to not have damage to a parking lot that’s going to be around 1.2 to $1.

00:43:06,170	3 million, but not having access in there eliminates people from the South, and that Christ the King Roosevelt area, who you like to go to the grass dumps. We don’t have a problem with, you know, half ton trucks and things of that nature driving through there. It’s the heavy equipment that may be going on whenever progress happens. On the former Mandan High School site.

00:43:22,530	So that’s the dilemma that’s taking place here today, along with the utilities that you see go through there. Um, there are no easements for those utilities. You see them cross and all across that parking lot. So we want to get all of those utilities in the right of ways to so that there’s an easement.

00:43:37,630	And then there’s going to be some access easements to some of this because the lines do run into unassuming. They run underneath the all seasons arena. And we have no idea where they go.

00:43:53,200	If they go to our building or they go all the way to where the old former gymnasium used to be located, because we there’s no documents that demonstrate where these things are at from the 70s and 80s, when this stuff was put in. So a lot of moving parts with that. Um. Well, is there any talk about ninth Street Northwest being vacated. So that it.

00:44:09,930	I wish we had the projector working here, but if you kind of go to the south of the All Seasons arena, there was ninth or. Excuse me, um, eighth Street northwest. That road was kind of supposed to split the property, and that was discussed also in regards to what’s taking place. So that hasn’t been deeded over as far as an easement either been figured out. We may have the projector.

00:44:38,270	But there is no talk about ninth Street Northwest being vacated. Okay. At this time, no. See if he got his. High. Yeah. So what I’m referring to is this road here that comes in today and then goes to the South. There’s been discussions about taking this road and running it west, and then it would come in on the south end of our parking lot.

00:45:03,370	But as you see, there are no easements for a right of way, as is just to the north, south, in the east west projected. And I know from a school standpoint, they want to sell the land as make it as simple as possible to whoever buys it and develop as it, but

00:45:16,800	it impacts the park district as far as what we can do with the parking lot, with all these unknowns. So there needs to be right of ways dedicated. And then you can see our layout of what the parking lot would look like. And then in that next slide.

00:45:37,170	Kind of demonstrates how it would be potentially laid out. And again, very preliminary. We just had more engineering do with some cost estimates. More engineering is doing the improvement district to the west. So we’d like to piggyback on that improvement district and special assess this parking lot back to the park district. And that’s what they laid out as far as potential access points.

00:45:54,570	And we that’s if that same road that. Correct. But we then I asked the question during the preliminary planning and zoning is do we need to put curb and gutter around the parking lot, not knowing what’s going to happen in the future if we put in asphalt like it is today and

00:46:10,670	the road never goes in for 5 to 10 years, and then they choose to draw the road, then they would come in and just tear that part out. So a lot of unknowns, I guess, is what I’m trying to say until this gets worked out.

00:46:21,400	The first step is to zone the land, which is a school district responsibility. And then the second point would be if we can piggyback onto this improvement district and special assess this parking lot back to us, can we get it done in 27 or is it going to be extended into 28? We don’t know.

00:46:37,330	And then the other thing I can just add is the water line is getting moved. Um, right about in here on Wednesday. So the water will be shut off to the building and they’ll make that transformation from where it was a shut off.

00:46:50,900	Used to be down in this area somewhere, um, to the school, but it fed to our all seasons arena. We wanted that shut off, moved on to our property so that whatever happens in the future, we don’t have to go on someone else’s property to shut off the water to our building.

00:47:07,500	So the concern, though, would be is, is that’s about 1,000,002 estimate on a parking lot. And then those roads, as you see on the west side of it, you know, that’s an assessment too, that potentially would come into us. So we had talked about what is the actual impact of the Park district if we were to assess it.

00:47:24,370	As you know, we are not allowed to go up more than 3%. But special assessments do not have a cap. And so we’re looking at probably about a 1.5 million increase for this component. Um, over a 10 to 15 year period, depending on how the improvement district would go with the city, they would special assess it back to us.

00:47:41,470	We’d be looking at about a 1 to 1 and a half mil increase. Now, we’ve been doing a really good job and Terry does a good job. And you’ll see at our July retreat, we try to buy down these specials.

00:47:52,300	And what we’ve always tried to eliminate is not get our, you know, our our special levies go up and down. We kind of want to maintain. So some years we may have a little extra that we can buy down small ones.

00:48:03,730	And then the years that we don’t have a whole lot, we can build it back up to pay off because we’re still paying for southwest. Excuse me. Yeah. Southwest managed along the municipal golf course and along the ball diamonds. We did 16th Street in the parking lot for the tennis center. So those are two large specials that we have there. And this one would just add to it.

00:48:18,470	But it definitely is a need. It is. It’s an attraction to our community. The parking lot is in very dire needs to be replaced. Probably was about five years ago. And with the school passing their bond, I wouldn’t replace the parking lot either. And so we’re getting free land.

00:48:31,330	It’s our responsibility to do it, and we just gotta figure out when the best time that is. Do we also have specialists coming on the strip to. Yeah, we’ll get that one. That was pretty minimal. I mean, between Prairie West to Close Park, it’s maybe pushing 90,000, which I’m happy with that one. And then we have the lower heart assessment coming to.

00:48:49,100	Okay. Any other questions for Cole? Yeah I have a few I think um, or maybe Lane. Uh, so they basically want to rezone it to make it marketable. And what zoning are they proposing? It’s in. the vague today. It’s eg today. Is it a eg. So I just got the letter in the mail.

00:49:11,100	I think it’s not good at the R7. And then there’s an R7 e I can’t remember, but I know they’re trying to rezone it to make it where it has more flexibility, whether it’s commercial in the front which has been discussed and then multi-unit, and then housing. Okay.

00:49:32,000	But they want to keep it as open as possible so the developer doesn’t have to come back and forth and try to get it rezoned. Yeah, yeah, I get it. Sure is the city. So they they had all those meetings to put some sort of a commercial slash residential area. There is, are they, are they planning to follow that. Do you know. So as we know the.

00:49:49,130	Master plan. Or whatever master plan that we had for that area had a lot of green space and a road and kind of connecting into Division Street and taking the road? Well, I mean, it had a lot of nice amenities.

00:50:02,570	The reality is, is to pay for those amenities at least gives people who are going to buy the land an opportunity to decide if they want to do anything with it. But I can’t speak on behalf of the school and the city. What they’re going to enforce, that’s for them to determine.

00:50:13,470	Yeah, we just got that little piece of pie in the middle that whatever goes around us, we hope, you know, the landscaping topography. We got to figure out all of that as far as we do have a 50 foot buffer easement around the perimeter of our building so that we have better access for snow removal.

00:50:26,400	But if we tear all that concrete out and we want to put in some kind of greenery, we have a buffer to there. But then we have to have access to the upper level, the all seasons arena for the wrestling club and then a secondary exit for the lower

00:50:37,570	level in case of fires that they have two exits to get out. Anything else for coal? All right. Moving on to item six. Let’s start with Sunrise Estate land purchase.

00:51:03,730	Unfortunately, commissioners, we had a written agreement that we had offered, $140,000 to buy the four lots up in the Sunrise Estates, and we had a closing date set as of tomorrow, April 14th at 3 p.m.. Received notification right before the board meeting that we are unable to complete the sale. There’s something on the owner’s side that they have to clean up with their banking institution.

00:51:22,430	Um, we’re working through that now. I was texting with their realtor to determine what needs to be done to complete the process. Um, once I know, I will share with the board and we can make a decision if we have to amend or do anything different as far as what our offer originally was, but it was agreed upon, and now

00:51:38,530	it’s just between the owners and their banking institution. Determine what the next steps would be. Okay. Pump track. So if you remember, last year, a bicycle group came before us to put a pump track up at Sunset Park.

00:51:54,570	Um, they applied for the land and water grant that land and water grant denied it last year, but was, um, encouraged to reapply again. That opened up today. Got a two week period. We got a two week opening for the grant applications. So they are resubmitting it as a reminder. That was the local share was a 5050 match, was estimated around 36,000.

00:52:13,700	So the park district share would be around 18 if they were funded for that grant. So it’s more just a reminder since they are reapplying, we approved as a board to do that and they would like to reapply. It’s been it has been submitted. And so we’ll wait to see here at the end of um, April, what happens to that funding.. And Capra.

00:52:33,900	And then Capra. So I sent that, uh, a meeting invite to you to I blocked out that last week of June. We’re looking at that 28th as a Sunday where the committee, the three committee members would fly out here.

00:52:49,400	And as you know, we have to pay for the expenses associated with coming out here in the hotels and things. And then there would be a review period on that Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, which I think is a 28, 29th and 30th. And dates are right.

00:53:01,470	I can pull up my phone, but the concept would be we don’t know what your role would be. So I just kind of wanted to give you a kind of a block of time. If your schedule allows to ten, it sounds like, um, we will get an agenda about two weeks before they fly out. And there is a lot of responsibility to the staff where we have to present our information.

00:53:16,670	I think there’s going to be like a meet and greet or a social that we might be able to do in the evening. We might have something Eagles Park and just have a welcoming type thing, get to meet the commissioners and ask them questions on how the process would go.

00:53:27,370	I don’t know what your involvement will be, at what level, or if you’re available to attend, but we just wanted to get it on your books, just so you’re aware that that’s when it’s taking place. See, you sent us an invite for the 28th, the Sunday.

00:53:44,200	We fly in on Sunday, so there could be I will pick them up at the airport or and get them there. But the 29th is when the actual review would start, and that includes a tour of the park system. Meet with each department manager along with myself, Q and A follow through.

00:53:58,870	All of our nine standards that we had to fulfill the information in. Probably going to be leaving on that July 2nd is what it sounds like they’re going to. Or the first fly out that first, you know, depending on their flights and where they’re coming from. But there’ll be three people from different parts of the state.

00:54:11,070	But we had our review, um, last week and it went very well. So kudos to all of our staff. That provided a lot of information. They had very few questions. Um, so that’s a positive. Usually when you get that first initial review, you got to like my tests back in high school all red lined.

00:54:26,700	It wasn’t a whole lot of red lines. So I was pretty, pretty happy for that. I was kind of glad that we were worried. Not sure if we gave too much or not enough information, but it’s been very well and so we’re happy with that. Okay. Thanks, Cole. All right.

00:54:44,200	Item number seven, authorization to pay our monthly bills. We get a motion. I’ll make a motion to approve payment of our monthly bills. Motion by Commissioner Hoff. I’ll second. Second by Commissioner Freilich. Any further discussion? Okay. Hearing none. All in favor, say aye. Aye aye. Opposed? Same sign. Okay. Motion carries. Commissioner. Staff reports. Cole.

00:55:08,200	Anything else? So there was a budget timeline in your packet. It’s that time of year again as we start going. Um, as you see, April 27th, we’ll hand the information out to the managers in regards to the next step. We will be having portfolio meetings.

00:55:24,130	Um, as you see here, that president will announce here. But we got the next two weeks, our quarterly, um, portfolio meetings. Um, so we’ll talk a little bit about the budget at that time, some of our strategic plan items, but just wanted to share the budget calendar.

00:55:37,600	Um, just as a reminder, kind of the process, our retreat is set for July 27th. Um, typically it’s always that last or last Monday of the month in July, and then the next item would be just, um, raging rivers. As you know, we applied for that grant, the destination grant that the awards don’t go out till the end of April. So April 30th we would know.

00:55:55,700	I’m not sure how many people have applied, but definitely it was a difficult grant for information to submit and timely matter. So we’ll wait to see on that result. And again, that was a $4 million project, $2 million grant, 2 million match.

00:56:10,930	And then the last item would be just some discussions that we’ve been having with the school district in regards to Custer Elementary. I know I shared in my email when the packet was sent out, but, uh, they’re moving forward.

00:56:23,630	The school district with Custer, as far as who goes in the next steps, there’s a few options that I think the school district will decide and what needs to go forward. But there’s been discussions about dedicating certain space for a park in that area.

00:56:37,530	And those that grew up here in the 80s and the early 90s, that’s where that basketball court at Custer, there used to be a city wide pool, and it’s been converted to a basketball court, and we potentially would be looking at dedicating a green space. How much is still to be determined and worked out? Um, we still got to look at parking access or a parking lot easement. As far as the we have a cross access to, um, to get kids there.

00:56:53,430	But if you remember, that’s back in that 1012 range, two that we used to have a little Haven Park in that area that we sold the park to adjacent landowner. And so there really is no neighborhood park in that area anymore. We always use the Custer Elementary as kind of the neighborhood park.

00:57:06,830	And so I don’t know how fast this is going to move on the school district side, but I just wanted to bring it to your attention as at some point it will come before the board for approval to accept the land donation in exchange for Park.

00:57:20,330	Now, what’s our expectation from the parks to put in a playground and other amenities? We don’t know. Um, but just something to think about as we move forward. Hey, turn your off, Commissioner mutter. I just want to bring up. I don’t know if anybody been paying attention, but the volleyball youth volleyball has been growing again.

00:57:40,570	Another 10% with 34 teams this year, which is awesome. And I also want to thank the staff for making sure that the MCC program is fully staffed again, so I know how hard it is to find workers and stuff like that. So thanks guys for that. Commissioner Freilich. I’ve got nothing. Commissioner Hoff, uh.

00:57:59,470	This might be news to Commissioner Scott, but the golf courses are open. It’s been a little bit of a roller coaster ride, Miles, but, uh, we’ve been open and then closed and then reopened, and who knows this later this week we might be closed again for a couple more days, but, um, the beauty of what, uh, Commissioner Mudder said was that, staffing wise, we came

00:58:20,570	through without losing anybody. As far as the maintenance staff at Prairie West and and Mandan Muni. So um, that’s a big deal when you’re not having to look for staff, um, during the off season because everybody’s coming back.

00:58:38,000	Um, the other thing is that there’s a lot of familiar faces in the pro shop, too. So, um, really happy with the way the course looks. Um, I played on Sunday with a gentleman that’s a member at Oxbow, and he said, this place is starting to look more like a private club than a public golf course, which is a compliment, in my opinion.

00:58:57,870	With all the updates that we did with the within the budget last year. So. , Commissioner Hoff, were you done with your report? Yeah, I am okay. Was that your was John Scott okay? He was done. Yeah. All right. Future meeting dates for park Board commissioners. April 16th. Park operations portfolio at the park operations building at 7:30 a.m., April 21st.

00:59:20,130	Facilities. Portfolio 8 a.m.. Starring Sports Complex, April 24th. Community Engagement portfolio, 9 a.m. at the Park Administrative Building. And then our next regular board meeting will be here. Uh, May 11th at 530. I will be absent for that one. Um, so hopefully we get a quorum and hopefully everybody can be here. And then I forgot.

00:59:43,970	Before I adjourn, call. Yeah, I forgot to add one more date. So we do have our spring DCP advisory, Dakota Daniel Park. I didn’t put that on the agenda, but that is on the 16th at noon. We do that every spring with all the groups. Just pull them in. So Dakota Park Advisory Board Meetings April 16th.

00:59:59,600	April 16th. Okay. All right. With that, can we get a motion to adjourn? So moved motion. Mayor, Commissioner. Second, second by Commissioner Scott,