April 1, 2024

REMINDER: We need your help to 'get the lead out'

The State of North Dakota is working to “get the lead out” of the state’s drinking water pipes, and the City of Mandan and its residents are being asked to help.

Many Mandan utility customers may soon receive a letter with instructions to determine the material their water service pipe (the pipe coming from outside that provides water to their home or business) is made of. This is one of the many steps the City is taking to develop an inventory of any lead materials in our water system.

Lead in water infrastructure can be harmful, and this inventory (required by new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency rules) will help Mandan access future funding for the replacement of lead water lines in the future.

If you receive a letter and survey, please complete it by the deadline provided. We need your help to accomplish this important task!

The City of Mandan is working with engineering consultant AE2S to conduct the lead and copper inventory. Funding for this project is provided through a contractual agreement between the North Dakota Department of Environmental Quality Drinking Water State Revolving Fund and AE2S. 

2024 Spring Clean-Up is April 13-20

The Public Works Department annually 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 13-20. The City landfill will be open on Saturday, April 13 and Monday, April 15 through Saturday, April 20 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. 

The City of Mandan was recently awarded three different grants from the Marathon Community Investment Program.

• Mandan Police Department received $35,000 in funding for two Brinc drones and the associated training. These drones are designed to enter dangerous situations including hazmat, search and rescue, negotiations, hostage rescues, de-escalation, special event security, fire/flooding response and nearly any other public safety situation. These two drones differ from the departments current drones in their capabilities.

• The Grounds Maintenance division of Public Works received $20,000 for a green space improvement project. This funding will allow grounds maintenance to plant trees along the recently reconstruction portion of Cemetery Road; expand the irrigation system along west Main street, east of the welcome sign; and help the boulevard tree planting program.

• The Business Development & Communications Department received $13,240 to replace existing street pole banners along Main Street and Memorial Highway. These banners highlight different attributes of the community and will be displayed annually during the warmer months.

City staff and officials thank Marathon Petroleum Mandan Refinery for the grant award and their continued commitment to the community!

Waste Water Treatment Plant Superintendent Steve Himmelspach recently announced his retirement after 36 years with the City of Mandan. Steve started as a custodian and eventually worked his way up to his current position. Steve has been very passionate in his role at the Waste Water Treatment Plant and could tell you most anything there is to know about it.

Himmelspach’s last day with the City of Mandan will be April 3. Thank you Steve for your years of service with the City of Mandan! We wish you the best of luck and all the happiness in retirement.

City officials recently named Ryan Malsam as Himmelspach’s successor. Malsam has worked under Himmelspach’s leadership since 2012, most recently as Assistant Superintendent at the Waste Water Treatment Plant.  

​The City of Mandan, in coordination with the City of Bismarck and the Bismarck-Mandan Metropolitan Planning Organization is conducting a Safe Routes to Services Study, a project aimed at improving transportation connectivity for all users with an emphasis on pedestrian, bicycle and transit access to services such as retail, healthcare, and social services. 

Residents are welcomed to share their thoughts and feedback regarding the accessibility of services within the community and what mobility and access improvements should be considered. The project team is using the InputID Mapping Tool to collect feedback, where users can place their comments and upvote/downvote those provided by other users. 

Volunteers may claim routes to clean in the city of Mandan during the month of May for Community Litter Clean-Up Month. Those cleaning routes in May will be eligible for door prizes. Learn more or sign-up to volunteer at cityofmandan.com/littercleanup. 

The City of Mandan is pleased to announce the return of the Gate City Bank Neighborhood Revitalization Initiative for 2024. This program is once again offering up to $2 million in reduced interest loans specifically designed for homeowners in Mandan who are looking to renovate or enhance homes that are at least 40 years old. Projects must meet qualifications and program criteria. 

The home or property must meet all of the following criteria: 

• Located in city limits
• Zoned for residential use
• Outside of 100-year floodplain
• Owner-occupied 1 or 2 unit, single-family home
• Current on property taxes and special assessments
• The current assessed value is under $275,000
• Home at least 40 years old

Qualifying projects include:  

• Foundation work (drain tile, bracing)
• Major exterior improvements (siding, roofing, windows & garages*) *Garages must follow zoning regulations. Any garage requiring a variance would not be eligible for this program. 
• Addition of bedroom or new living space
• Major interior remodeling (kitchen, bathroom, etc.) or replacement of major mechanical systems (furnace, electrical system)
• Landscaping, porch or decking addition or updates 
• Retaining wall addition & updates
• Convert rental unit to owner-occupied 
• Water & Sewer upgrades
• Radon mitigation



Applications are accepted on a first come, first served basis through Oct. 31. Homeowners can visit cityofmandan.com/neighborhoodrevitalization or contact the City Planning Department at 701-667-3225 for more information on the program. 

The Memorial Highway Reconstruction project has undergone some phasing and drainage revisions following extensive coordination between the City of Mandan and the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT). A drainage outfall for the eastern portion of the Memorial Highway corridor has recently been selected to be carried forward into environmental documentation and design in 2024. Construction on the roadway is anticipated to occur mainly in 2025 and 2026. An overview of the project schedule is available at dot.nd.gov/memorialhwy, along with a map to show areas included in each phase of construction. Limits of each phase may vary depending on final design and construction plans. 

Visit dot.nd.gov/memorialhwy for more information. To submit concerns, email input@memoorialhighwayproject.com. Periodic updates will also be posted to cityofmandan.com/roadprojects.

The design process for this summer’s street improvement project is complete. The project consists of two areas: north of Main Street and west of I-94 between Mandan Ave and Missouri Dr NE; and in the Lohstreter area west of 10^th Ave NW, north of Third St NW and west of Lincoln Place. During design, Moore Engineering worked to deliver a project that improves roadway surfaces, replaces aging water mains, and improves pedestrian routes throughout the project areas.

Since the public input meeting, the existing roadways have been reevaluated to determine the proper improvement level. Criteria evaluated were existing asphalt thickness, existing aggregate thickness, roadway condition, and previous rehabilitation. Moore Engineering also secured funding for the project through the Department of Water Resources. The funding included a 60% grant for all water main design and construction items. In total, the grant is over $1.5 million. Construction is estimated to start mid-summer with completion at the end of summer 2025.

The City Assessing Department mailed notices of increases in March to property owners with a 2024 real estate valuation increase of $3,000 and 10% or more. Owners not in agreement with the assessed value may initiate a review of the property valuation by contacting the Assessing Department. Owners may ultimately appeal the valuation to the City Board of Equalization.

If you did not receive a notice, view your property card here to find your property value for 2024. The Board of Equalization will meet on Tuesday, Apr. 2 at 7 p.m. at City Hall to discuss property valuation changes. The County Board of Equalization will meet in June. Local taxing authorities will take valuations into account when setting mill levies used to generate property tax revenue for 2025 budgets.

The State Board of Equalization requires all property be valued within 10% of prevailing market values. Frequent reasons for notices of increased value include properties with a new or additional structure added within the last year and situations involving expiration of an exemption, such as for new homes or businesses. Values may also change in 2024 as a result of fluctuating market value due to sales of comparable properties occurring in 2023.

For more information, visit cityofmandan.com/assessing.

Candidates are circulating petitions for several positions up for election in 2024. Petitions must be filed no later than 4 p.m. on April 8. 

Open positions include the mayor, municipal court judge, two city commissioners; two park board members; four school board members; and three county commissioners. 

As a reminder, the City has established ordinances related to pets within the City limits:

• No person shall keep or maintain more than three dogs and three cats, six months of age or older. (Sec. 6-2-6)
• Cats and dogs over the age of six months must be licensed through the Mandan Police Department, identified by a tag that states the name and phone number of the owner, and be vaccinated for rabies. (Sec. 6-2-7)
• Dogs must be restrained from running at-large at all times, except within the dog park. (Sec. 6-2-2)
• A dog is consider under restraint if it is within the real property limits of its owner and securely confined by a fence or tether with doesn’t allow the dog to reach the property of another person, public walkway or road. (Sec. 6-2-2)
• A dog is consider under restraint if it is secured by a leash or lead no more than six-feet in length held by a person capable of controlling the dog. (Sec. 6-2-2)
• Owners must keep dogs and cats from defecating on a neighbor’s property or on public walkways/recreation areas. The exception is if the pet owner property removes and disposes of the waste immediately. (Sec. 6-2-1)
• Barking, yelping, howling must be kept to a minimum. (Sec. 6-2-1) 
• Permits are required for chickens in City limits. Please see Sec. 105-1-16 of the Mandan Code of Ordinance or contact the Planning Department for more information.

These codes are in place to provide a safe community for all Mandan residents and visitors. Please contact the Police Department at 701-667-3250 with questions related to the licensing or nuisance of pets.  Report concerns at cityofmandan.com/concern. 

Mandan Police Department Detective Mary Ann Ternes passed away on Feb. 25 surrounded by her family and close friends after a long, fearless battle with Stage 4 Triple Negative Breast Cancer.

There is no way to measure the countless lives Detective Ternes has changed for the better due to her work as a police officer and voice for victims and their families.

Our continued prayers are with Mary's family and friends. Mary will be missed by all and never forgotten.

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