March Mandan e-Messenger

Mar. 1, 2022

Mandan e-Messenger

Market increase leads to property valuation increases

The City of Mandan Assessing Department will soon mail notices to property owners with a 2022 real estate valuation increase of $3,000 and 10% or more. Notices are being sent to owners of approximately 3,000 parcels, a quantity the Assessing Department hasn’t seen since 2016.

The State Board of Equalization requires all property be valued within 10% of prevailing market values. Frequent reasons for notices of increased value include property with a new or additional structure in the last year and situations involving expiration of an exemption, such as for new homes or businesses. Values may also change in 2022 as a result of rising market value due to sales of comparable property occurring in 2021. According to the Bismarck Mandan Board of Realtors, the average sale price of residential property in 2021 was $282,034, up from $261,930 the year prior.

Financial assistance sought for flood risk reduction project

The Lower Heart River Water Resource District (LHRWRD) is seeking financial assistance through a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) grant for a project to recertify the Lower Heart River levee system in Mandan. The grant would help reduce the local share of the $19.3 million FEMA recertification project, which will replace the floodwall, raise the top of the levee in certain locations, extend a stability berm, re-align the levee, incorporate interior drainage improvements, and more.

The levee system runs from the second railroad bridge west of Mandan through the city to where the Heart River connects with the Missouri River. The area of land subject to flooding—the inundation area—is anything from downtown Mandan to Memorial Highway, including Lakewood and Borden Harbor areas. Click here to view a detailed map.

The LHRWRD and City of Mandan are working together to create a city-wide special assessment district for the project. If the BRIC grant is awarded, special assessments are estimated to be:

Within the inundation area - $886 for residential and $1,107 for commercial properties.
Outside the inundation area - $211 for residential and $264 for commercial properties.

Without the BRIC grant, special assessments would double.

Business Pitch Challenge finalists to present March 23

A selection committee has reviewed 11 business start-up applications for the 2022 Mandan Business Pitch Challenge. The four finalists are:

Bubbles and Brews ND by Cassidy Hartman and Krysten Faehnrich — a mobile beverage service;
Cornhole Cave by Brad Anderson, Jed Geer and David Koch — a recreational venue;
Saffpower by Randy Lang — hand sanitizing lotion; and
The Sew Connection by Bianca Deloreschild — a space for custom sewing, sales and classes.

Finalists will pitch their business proposals to judges March 23 at the Baymont Inn, 2611 Old Red Trail. Doors open at 5 p.m. with contestant presentations beginning at 5:30 p.m. The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to vote for a people’s choice award recipient. For planning purposes, registration is requested by March 18 at cityofmandan.com/register or by calling 701-667-3478.

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Engineering & Planning welcomes new employees

The City of Mandan welcomes two new employees to the Engineering and Planning Department.

Project Engineer Deanna Mussatti began in December. Mussatti retired from the Army Reserves in 2020 and most recently worked for the North Dakota Department of Transportation.

In the role as project engineer, Mussatti will develop plans, specifications, estimates and schedules for infrastructure projects; as well as inspect and monitor construction projects.

Assistant City Engineer Mitch Murray began in February. Murray interned with the Engineering & Planning Department in 2018 and most recently served as an environmental engineer for the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality.

In this role, Murray will help in the development of construction plans, specifications and estimates for various street, sidewalk, curb/gutter, water and sewer projects; review and process right-of-way applications; manage inspections; assist Public Works with infrastructure maintenance or replacement projects; and assist the city engineer with setting the capital improvement plan and the process of budgeting all city infrastructure projects.

Both Mussatti and Murray hold bachelor's degrees in civil engineering. For Engineering and Planning staff contacts and more information visit cityofmandan.com/engineering.

Click here to view current City of Mandan job openings.

Growth Fund seeking letters of interest

The City Commission will soon consider an appointment to the Mandan Growth Fund. A representative of the community at large is needed to fill a position with an unexpired term ending Dec. 31, 2023.

The nine-person committee makes recommendations to the City Commission related to applications for assistance to businesses desiring to expand or locate in the Mandan area. The committee meets about once a month or as needed depending upon applications for incentive or assistance programs. Members may be representatives of the business community through ownership or employment with a Mandan business or Mandan residents.

Interested individuals are encouraged to submit a letter summarizing their desired appointment, background and reasons for interest. Letters will be welcomed through March 31. Submit letters to Communications & Community Services Coordinator Kari Schmidt, by e-mailing to kari.moore@cityofmandan.com or mailing to 205 Second Avenue NW, Mandan, ND 58554.

April 11 filing deadline for local elections

Candidates for local office should be circulating petitions for election. The deadline for filing petitions for the 2022 local election is April 11 at 4 p.m. Candidates are encouraged to bring petitions in to the city administrator's office before the filing deadline so staff has the opportunity to verify signatures. For a signature to be considered valid, the petition must have the printed name of the voter, signature, and full address including the zip code. Signatures must come from an individual age 18 or older living in the city of Mandan.

Candidates for City Commission and Park Board must file a signed statement of interest and petitions with the city administrator office, 205 Second Ave NW. City Commissioner Amber Larson has announced she will not seek re-election.

School Board candidates must submit a statement of interest to the school district.

Candidates for County positions must submit petitions to the auditor’s office in the Morton County Courthouse.

The 2022 local election day and Morton County primary is June 14. Top candidates from Morton County will advance to the Nov. 8 election. For more information, visit cityofmandan.com/elections.