April 1, 2022

The North Dakota Department of Transportation is scheduled to begin a traffic signal installation project at the intersection of Memorial Highway and Third St SE in Mandan on Monday, April 4.

During construction, Memorial Highway traffic will be reduced to two lanes and the left turn lanes may be closed at times. There will be no left turn available from Third Street during the installation.

Minimum delays are expected, and motorists should plan accordingly. Flaggers will be present at times during the project and speeds will be reduced throughout the work zone.

The project is expected to be complete May 1.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation and City of Mandan remind motorists to slow down and use caution throughout the work zone.

The Public Works Department annualy sets aside a week for special waste collection and free dumping at the landfill for all city residents. This year, Spring Clean-Up week is April 18-23. The City landfill will be open on Saturday, April 16 and Monday, April 18 through Saturday, April 23 from 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m.

Residents may place bulky items on the boulevard curb by 5 a.m. on your normally scheduled garbage days, but not more than 24 hours in advance of collection. Only items placed in front of resident houses on the boulevard will be picked up by crews. 

A project providing preventative maintenance to streets in the Plainview area is being planned for 2022 construction. This is the area south of the Heart River, west of Highway 1806 S, and east of Eighth Ave SE. The project area runs from Eighth Ave SE to Highway 1806, Plainview Dr SE, 10^th Ave SE and 14^th Ave SE from 27^th St SE to their respective dead ends.

The project includes chip seal, mill and overlay along with some asphalt patching and minor concrete work. The majority of the work is relatively low impact to give new life to many of the streets. 

Engineering staff recommends the special assessment district be divided equally among all residential properties in the improvement area, an approach supported by the City’s special assessment policy.

Bids for phase two of the 19^th St Trail project came in 66% over estimate. Since this project is being funded through special assessments, North Dakota Century Code states any bid over 40% of the engineering estimate cannot be accepted.

The City Commission rejected the bids with hopes to rebid the project at a later date. The Engineering and Planning Department will explore ways to lessen the costs for special assessment district participants.

Project plans. The first phase of the project created a trail from Fort Lincoln Elementary school to Macedonia Ave on the south side of 19th St SW. Phase II would extend the trail west to Highway 6. The project was estimated at $855,247. A NDDOT transportation alternatives grant of up to $290,000 and special assessment district would fund the project.

The winner of Mandan’s 2022 Business Pitch Challenge held March 23 is Bubbles and Brews ND, a mobile beverage service by Cassidy Hartman and Krysten Faehnrich. The partners receive $1,000 in monetary prizes, the chance to be eligible for up to a $10,000 forgivable loan from the Mandan Growth Fund, plus a host of other prizes to assist on their entrepreneurial journey. Their plan, focusing on guest experience, emerged from a field of 11 initial entrants and four finalists. Audience members also selected them for a people’s choice award.

First runner-up is Send-It! 24/7 Cornhole, a recreational venue planned by Brad Anderson, Jed Geer and Brandon Koch. They intend to locate a court for 16 sets of cornhole boards at 1700 E Main St.

Third place honors go to The Sew Connection, a space for custom sewing, sales and classes offered by Bianca Deloreschild at 104 Second Ave NW. The other finalist is Randy Lang of Saffpower, involving processing, distribution and sales of hand sanitizer and other products made with safflower oil.

All finalists received prizes plus coaching from the N.D. Small Business Development Centers. See the award list and donors at cityofmandan.com/businesspitch.

Morton Mandan Public Library staff remain active and in service despite the physical building being closed as construction wraps up and pending delivery of new shelving and furniture. Available services include:

• Curbside pick-up of books and other items on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 3-6 p.m. Staff hope to add more days in April. Browse and reserve items at www.cdln.info or call the library at 701-667-5365.
• Passport and notary services by appointment.
• Bookmobile available in the parking lot on Saturdays, beginning April 23. In the meantime, the bookmobile continues regular monthly stops.

All online services remain available.

Staff are diligently working on inventory, cross-training, updating procedures and the employee handbook. In February, Barb Sandstrom was promoted to director of the library. She served as public services assistant for two years and youth services coordinator for another year prior to her promotion.

The Library board of trustees and staff are hoping to reopen the building to the public in July. A celebration is being planned for the grand reopening and to mark the 15^th year of the merger of the county and city libraries.  

The City of Mandan Community Beautification Committee is seeking volunteers to pick up litter on Saturday, April 30, from 9 a.m. to noon. Each year more than 200 volunteers collect 400 to 500 bags of trash from ditches along major roadways. Businesses, civic organizations and youth groups are encouraged to take a route. 

Sign up to volunteer at cityofmandan.com/register by April 27 to receive a route assignment.

Volunteers will be pre-assigned areas and notified the day prior of designated meet-up locations. Route leaders will pick up supplies for volunteers on clean-up day from 8-9 a.m. at the City grounds maintenance building located at 1600 Mandan Ave NE.  

Following clean-up activities, volunteers will be treated to an appreciation lunch at the grounds maintenance building. Participants will have a chance to win a variety of family-friendly prizes donated by local merchants and organizations. 

Shane Weltikol was recently promoted to battalion chief for the Mandan Fire Department. Weltikol has been with the fire department for over 17 years, most recently as a captain. He is also a fire investigator, and many may know him as arson K-9 Webbster’s handler.

In his role as battalion chief, Weltikol is responsible for planning, organizing, directing, coordinating and supervising activities of the department including management of personnel, fire prevention and training activities, and oversight of programs under the direction and guidance of the fire chief.  

Mandan Fire Department hired its first full-time female firefighter, Mersiha Arapovic, in January. Women have served in a part-time role for the department in the past. Mandan Fire is excited to join several other departments across the state with full-time female firefighters.

Arapovic started as a part-time firefighter in 2019. She previously worked as a dispatcher and in corrections.



“I’d encourage women considering a career in firefighting to go for it,” says Arapovic. She added that while it’s not easy, the more work you put into it, the more rewarding the job is.  

The Mandan Police Department is organizing its third Brave the Shave event Saturday, May 14 from noon to 5 p.m. at Midway Lanes. Come dressed as a superhero and join the local first responders and friends of Brave the Shave for a fun filled afternoon of events, activities, bowling and more while supporting North Dakota children with cancer.

There are many ways to support this year's event:

• Competitive four-person "8 Pin, No Tap" tournament. Entry fees are $120 per competitive team. Register here by May 6.
• Non-competitive Bowling. Bowl with friends and family during the event and a percentage of sales goes to Brave the Shave.
• Silent auction. Consider donating an item for the auction or bid on items the day of the event.
• Head Shaving. Since hair loss can occur during cancer treatments, event participants may show support by shaving their hair. Click here to register and set a fundraising goal.

Brave the Shave is committed to supporting kids and their families by providing assistance and supporting critical research. Brave the Shave events allow the community to come together and show support for kids in their cancer journey.

Stacy Sturm and Michael Kashey participated in the most recent Support Local video. Wacth on YouTube and cityofmandan.com/business.

New interviews with Mandan business owners are being released periodically. If your business is interested in being featured, contact City of Mandan Communications & Community Services Coordinator Kari Schmidt.

• Acuren, 1105 32nd Ave SE
• Aerus Electrolux, 2318 Memorial Hwy
• Heritage Insurance Services, 4614 Memorial Hwy
• Jamieson Capital, 2705 Sunset Dr, Unit C
• Salon 1806, 1607 Hwy 1806 S
• Trademark Realty, 4614 Memorial Hwy