May 2, 2022

Local elections will be held on Tuesday, June 14. The following candidates are running for office:

City Commission. Two seats are up for election.

• Bradley W. Olson
• Dennis Rohr (incumbent)

Southwest Water Authority (Mandan).  Incumbent Bob Leingang is running unopposed.

Park Board. Three seats are up for election.

• Miles Mehlhoff (incumbent)
• Stan Scott
• Layn Mudder

School Board. Three seats are up for election for a member-at-large, three year-term.

• Tom Peters
• Savannah Schmidt
• Karmen Siirtola
• Lori Furaus (incumbent)
• Lorraine Davis
• Dustine Simmons
• Heidi Schuchard

County Commissioner. Two seats are up for election. Candidates for county positions will advance to the Nov. 8 election.

• Jackie Buckley (incumbent)
• Andrew “Andy” Zachmeier (incumbent)

County Auditor. Incumbent Dawn Rhone is running unopposed. 

County State’s Attorney

• Gabrielle Goter
• Allen Koppy (incumbent)

County Recorder. Incumbent Nancy Seefeldt is running unopposed.

County Treasurer. Incumbent Kari Hatzenbuhler is running unopposed.

County Sheriff. Incumbent Kyle Kirchmeier is running unopposed.

Southwest Water Authority (Morton County). Bruce Engelhardt is running unopposed.

May 15-21 is National Public Works Week. To kick off the celebration, Mandan Public Works, invites the public to an open house on Monday, May 16 from 4 to 6 p.m. Tour the new facility at 411 Sixth Ave SW; learn about the street, landfill, forestry, utility, cemetery and grounds maintenance divisions; meet the crews; enjoy food; and learn about the department’s job opportunities.

The theme for National Public Works week is “Ready and Resilient.” Mandan Public Works is ready to serve the community and resilient when encountering challenges.

City of Mandan staff and Community Beautification Committee Chair Luci Snowden made the tough decision to cancel Community Litter Clean-Up Day this past Saturday. The decision came after volunteer input and a weather forecast for a very rainy, cold and windy day on top of already wet and snowy ditches. Organizers are offering volunteers an alternative approach to cleaning routes throughout the city.

Here’s how you can help. Volunteers already enlisted as well as other groups and individuals are asked to take responsibility for picking up litter along various routes during the month of May. The City and Keep North Dakota Clean will provide supplies, route guidance, t-shirts, and the opportunity to be eligible for prize drawings. To sign up for a route, please contact Communications and Community Services Coordinator Kari Schmidt or call 701-667-3478 to make arrangements.

Development of new residential subdivisions in Mandan is off to a strong start in 2022, a continuation of the uptick in activity seen in 2021. The City’s Engineering and Planning Department is actively reviewing plans for new subdivisions that, at full build-out, could add 782 residential units to the community. Proposed developments are spurred by recent investments such as the north central area trunk sewer project and new schools.

In areas north of I-94, subdivisions actively being reviewed include

• Rock Prairie Estates Addition,
• West Hills Fifth Addition,
• Sunrise View Estates Addition,
• Big Sky Estates Seventh Addition,
• Rockwood First Addition; and
• Heck Addition.

In the south part of the city, new subdivisions include:

• Heart Ridge Fourth Addition,
• Keidel’s South Heart Terrace Fifth Addition,
• Shores at Lakewood Addition; and
• Heart River Villas Addition.

Plans indicate a range of housing types being proposed, from single-family homes to apartments. As these projects are being reviewed, opportunities for public engagement include Planning and Zoning and City Commission public hearings and by contacting Principal Planner Andrew Stromme at 701-667-3225. 

The annual Touch A Truck event is taking place Saturday, May 21 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Main Street in downtown Mandan. A quiet time with no horns or sirens is planned from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. The event offers children an up-close, hands-on opportunity to explore heavy machinery, safety vehicles and other cool trucks, as well as ask questions of the people who operate the machines.

Admission to Touch A Truck is free, but attendees are asked to bring a non-perishable food item to be donated to the Aid Incorporated food pantry. 

For more information visit mandanprogress.com or call 701-751-2983. 

Area business people are invited to learn about infrastructure and residential developments, the new high school and commercial sites in north Mandan during a free informational forum on May 10. The session, running from 2 to 4 p.m., will be held at the Marathon Refinery administration training room, 500 Old Red Trail NE. Sign up by May 6 online at cityofmandan.com/register or by calling 701-667-3478.

The session will feature information about projects north of interstate 94 that extend roadway, water and sewer services for residential and commercial growth. Speakers will talk about new subdivisions and available business sites including outlots surrounding the high school being planned for a fall 2024 opening.

As Memorial Day approaches, Mandan Union Cemetery staff reminds the public that floral items may be placed on graves no earlier than seven days prior to holidays. Staff will dispose of remaining items 14 days after the holiday.

Permanent plantings are not permitted on gravesites because memorials become compromised or damaged as plantings grow. Those who have planted trees or shrubs in the cemetery are asked to remove them. For removal questions, please contact the Grounds Maintenance Department at 701-667-3240 ext. 7. 

Mandan Union Cemetery rules and regulations are available at cityofmandan.com/cemetery. 

Over the next few months, Taylen Thomas will be assisting with Support Local interviews through episodes of 'On the Town with Taylen.' He'll meet with local business owners to acquaint area residents with the people behind Mandan's shops, restaurants and other businesses.

Dr. Brittany Schauer, owner of Vision Source Mandan, participated in the first episode of 'On the Town with Taylen.' View the interview on YouTube or 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.