The City of Mandan has declared a ban on the discharge of fireworks within city limits due to drought conditions. The Fourth of July fireworks display following the rodeo at Dakota Centennial Park is properly permitted and still authorized. This public display will require a certified pyro technician and firefighters on standby.

The City Commission recently approved changes to its budget policy. Finance Director Greg Welch suggested temporarily suspending the City’s funding formula for the local cost share for infrastructure projects due to funding shortfalls and removing a $500,000 cash reserve restriction in the 1% city sales tax fund.

A steering committee assisting with a Mandan economic and community development strategic planning process held its first meeting in May. The steering committee will offer input and ideas about community priorities to support city staff and partner entities in development of action plans for Mandan’s work on economic development.

The Mandan School Board in June, approved purchase agreements authorizing the acquisition of property for construction of a new high school. The property located between Eighth Ave NW and Highway 1806 consists of 49.42 acres to accommodate the building of the new school.

New elementary school. The same vote in April included a new elementary school in the Lakewood area, to open in August 2023. In 2011, the district purchased 24 acres in Lakewood, however, about 7 acres on the east side of the property are being sold. The site for the elementary school is located on the west end of McKenzie Drive in southeast Mandan.

For more information and updates, visit mandan.k12.nd.us. 

The Highway 1806 intersection with Old Red Trail and Collins Ave is under construction for the installation of a roundabout. The roundabout is part of a bigger project stretching from the I-94 Mandan Ave interchange to 27^th Street NW. The City and North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) partnered on this project after identifying a need to improve pavement conditions, increase roadway width, and add drainage facilities to bring the area up to standards of an urban arterial roadway to accommodate increased traffic volume in the area.

Earlier this year, the Bismarck Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization and KLJ completed a transportation planning study that evaluated traffic control at 65 intersections and traffic speed calming on 10 corridors in both Bismarck and Mandan. Of the 65 intersections studied, 27 were in Mandan.

The study is intended to provide cost-effective traffic control and traffic calming decision making strategies for City staff. Historically, there has been a lot of study work done on the placement of traffic control and crash rates. The overall goal is to find the best traffic control at all intersections.

The 142^nd Mandan Rodeo Days Celebration is July 2-4. Events include three action-packed professional rodeo performances.

Art in the Park will take place in Heritage Park in downtown Mandan on Saturday, July 3 from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and Sunday, July 4 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The largest Fourth of July parade in the Northern Plains will kick off at 10 a.m. on Sunday, July 4.

These events are hosted by the Mandan Progress Organization. Find additional information at mandanprogress.com.

Traffic Guidance. The City of Mandan has issued guidance about traffic and parking restrictions to accommodate events like Art in the Park, Mandan Rodeo Days including an approved fireworks display and the Independence Day Parade. Please visit cityofmandan.com/news or click on the links below to view the information on traffic control, parking and road closures:

Knife River Contracting reports pavement grinding on Main Street began June 28. This work will provide a better riding experience on the road as the grinding rubs the bumps out so the road is smoother. Pavement grinding will start in the downtown area, from Collins Ave to Fourth Ave NW, and a bit beyond each of those intersections. After the downtown area is complete, the pavement grinding work will move to the east end of Main Street.

Concrete pavement repair continues on the west end of the project near the 10th Ave NW intersection.

Construction crews are contractually obligated to have the streets and sidewalks fully functional for the July 4 activities.

City leaders thank local businesses for donating to the boulevard tree-planting program. Business donations in 2021 total $2,000. These contributions will help beautify the city with new trees and replacement of trees, removed due to Dutch Elm disease with more resistant types. The City will match these donations.

The tree-planting program offers partial reimbursement to residents or property-owners who plant boulevard trees adjacent to their property. Residents can receive up to $50 for each planted tree or $300 per property, as funding permits. Since 2017, 180 trees have been planted along city boulevards through this program!

Mandan is proud to be a Tree City USA for 45 years in 2021. This means the City meets four core standards of sound urban forestry management: maintaining a tree board or department, having a community tree ordinance, investing at least $2 per capita on urban forestry and celebrating Arbor Day.

For more information on the boulevard tree-planting program or to donate, call City Arborist Katie Nagel at 667-3240 ext. 8 or visit cityofmandan.com/trees.

The flyer and additional information are available here.

Members of the business community and residents are encouraged to submit a letter summarizing their desired appointment, background and reasons for interest. Letters will be welcomed until positions are filled. Submit letters to Communications & Community Services Coordinator Kari Schmidt, by e-mail or mailing to 205 Second Avenue NW, Mandan, ND 58554.

Kirstin Wilhelm, owner of The Sweat Co. recently participated in the Support Local video interview series. Check out all the interviews in this series on YouTube or cityofmandan.com/business.