June 1, 2022

Local elections will be held on Tuesday, June 14. This will also serve as a primary for the November general election.  

Polling locations will be open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. 

Early Voting Precinct.  An early voting precinct will be set up at Disciples Church, 3001 Memorial Hwy SE, Mandan. Ballots for each precinct in Morton County will be available. Early voting dates and times are as follows:

• June 8, Noon to 5:30 p.m.
• June 9, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
• June 10, 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 
• June 13, 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

A North Dakota League of Cities report indicates Mandan’s consolidated mill levy, at 285 mills, ranks the fifth lowest of the state’s 13 largest cities. Mandan’s levy for 2021 is 1.43% of value for commercial property and 1.28% of value for residential property.

Factors behind difference in mill levies includes sales tax base and whether a city of county benefits from natural resources such as oil, gas and coal. Market values also vary by city.

Buggies-N-Blues car show and music festival will take place in downtown Mandan June 11-12. A section of Main St. will be closed starting Friday, June 10 for set up, the event itself, and tear down. Here are the details:   

• Beginning at 8 a.m. on Friday, June 10 through 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, Main St. from Second Ave NW to Fourth Ave NW will be closed. Third Ave NW from Main St. to the alley will also be closed. A temporary four-way stop will be installed at the intersection of Third Ave NW and First St.

• The street closure will transition at 2 p.m. on Saturday, June 11, with Main Street being closed from First Ave NW to Sixth Ave NW. Avenues in the area will be closed from Main St. to the alley. Temporary four-way stops will be installed at the First St. intersections of First Ave NW and Third Ave NW.

• Beginning at 6 a.m. on Sunday, June 12, Main St. will be closed from Third Ave NE to Sixth Ave NW until 5 p.m. Second Ave NE will be closed from Main St. to First St. The other avenues along the Main St. closure will be closed to traffic from Main St. to the alley. Temporary four-way stops will be activated at the First St. intersections of Third Ave NE and Third Ave NW.

West Main Street access will remain open for Runnings and Morton Mandan Public Library. Motorists are encouraged to use First Street as a detour. Truck drivers may wish to take an alternate route. 

Earlier this year, Mandan Regional Airport became the second airport in the state to install a LED rotating beacon – a device approved by the Federal Aviation Administration in 2021 to help indicate the location of an airport to pilots in the air. Glen Ullin was the first.

“It’s pretty exciting that two general aviation airports were the first in the state to install the LED beacons,” says Airport Manager Lindsay Gerhardt.

Prior to the LED beacon, an incandescent light bulb was used for years. In December 2021, Gerhardt was changing a bulb that burned out when the beacon fell to the ground and broke. An issue with the existing wench and cable system used to lower the beacon caused it to fall. The new beacon was installed by the third week in January.

The LED rotating beacon has a lifespan of 50,000 hours. Replacement is anticipated once every 10-12 years, compared to every other year with an incandescent bulb. Some other benefits of switching to the LED beacon include:

• Gives off much better light over time;
• Direct beam makes for a better, more reliable product;
• Electrical savings of 65% in one year;
• Visible through fog;
• Stands up to the shaking and vibration of the pole; and
• Internal heater to withstand deep cold.

The total cost for the repairs and installation was $17,000. A $5,000 insurance deductible helped cover some of the cost. For more information on the airport, visit cityofmandan.com/airport. 

Mandan’s 9^th Annual Litter Clean-Up Day was postponed due to snowy, wet ditches and an unfavorable weather forecast, but more than 100 volunteers joined forces throughout May to pick up litter in ditches along major roadways. Thank you to all those who cleaned up routes:

• Black Lions Bar
• Bonita Moch & family
• Centre Inc.
• City of Mandan employees
• Comfort Inn & Suites
• Cub Scout Pack 153
• Dave Berger & family
• Deb & Tim Hopfauf
• Dialectic Brewing Co.
• HDR
• State Farm Insurance Heather Fried Agency
• Martina Dvorak
• Mary Rebenitsch & crew
• Mandan High School Four Directions Group
• Moore Engineering
• North Dakota Association of Rural Electric Cooperatives (NDAREC)
• Prairie Rose Family Dentists
• Boy Scout Troop 123
• Boy Scout Troop 7013

Only two routes remain to be cleaned up. If your organization or group would like to pick up litter along one of the remaining routes, please contact Kari Schmidt via email or call 701-667-3478. 

Clean ditches wouldn’t be possible without all our volunteers, supporters and organizers. Our community looks better because of your efforts.

While out for walks, consider picking up litter to keep Mandan looking great. Please bag trash, wear protective gloves, and avoid sharp objects. Report the discovery of suspicious items to the Police Department at 701-667-3250. Large items like animal carcasses or discarded tires should be reported to the Public Works Department at 701-667-3240 or publicworks@cityofmandan.com.

During May’s Spring Clean-Up week, Public Works crews collected:

• 166 tons (332,000 lbs) of waste;
• 32 tons (64,000 lbs) of appliances and metal;
• 7 tons (14,500 lbs) of electronics; and
• Residents took 728 loads to the landfill.

The event required a little over 737 hours of labor this year with employees from all

divisions of the Public Works Department to ensure Mandan had a successful Spring

Clean-Up Week.

The City of Mandan reminds property owners, residents and caretakers of property within city limits that all noxious weeds and overgrown vegetation must be maintained under a 6-inch maximum height.

Failure to maintain control of grass and noxious weeds will result in the property being cut and/or sprayed by the City with the cost being added to the property owner’s special assessments. Residents planning on spraying a property instead of cutting it must notify the code enforcement officer at 701-667-3264 or the property will be cut with the cost being added to special assessments for the property. To report violations, visit cityofmandan.com/concern.

Mandan's new dining and nightlife guide is now available at cityofmandan.com/dining and will be included in the June utility bill mailing.

All Mandan eateries need the support of other business people, residents and visitors. Check out the array of choices and try something new this month! 

Fireworks typically permitted July 3 & 4

The possession, use, discharge and explosion of fireworks is permitted from noon to 11:59 p.m. on July 3 and 4. Updates will be posted at cityofmandan.com/news.

Sky lanterns and bottle rockets are prohibited within city limits. Fireworks are not allowed in city parks, with the exception of Mandan Rodeo Days’ annual display at Dacotah Centennial Park. The fee for violations is $150.