June 30, 2023

Walking has many benefits including but not limited to lower blood pressure and cholesterol, better memory and cognitive function, and lower stress and improved mood. To promote the many benefits of walking, the Safety and Wellness Committee will be hosting a walking challenge, where we will be exploring England’s World Heritage Trail! This journey is made possible by the World Walking website. For more information, visit https://worldwalking.org/

The deadline to enter the walking challenge has been extended to July 5. To enter, please email Brittany Cullen. Further information will be sent out today to those already registered.

Employees participating in the City’s health insurance plan are eligible to participate in the Wellness Program, where you can earn up to $250 per year. The reward is redeemable as Visa cash cards, for points earned Jan. 1 – Oct. 31 (some activities must be completed by September 30 to receive the reward).

Our wellness program offers free health coaching! Health coaching provides the following:

• Receive personalized plans and guidance based on your needs and goals.
• Learn how to access your strengths and help yourself for the future.
• Receive empowering motivation and a friendly accountability partner.
• Improve your decision making skills.
• Increase your self-awareness.
• Boost your confidence.

The health coaching program could address various health aspects such as:

• Movement & Exercise
• Sleep & Rest
• Nutrition
• Relationships & Communication
• Physical Environment
• Spirituality
• Tobacco Cessation
• Weight Management
• Disease Prevention (including Diabetes, Hypertension, Hyperlipidemia, and Obesity Prevention)

Health Club Credit. Earn 2700 points ($27) for each month in which you visit a participating health club 12 or more times.

• Points are awarded the month following the month in which the visits took place (i.e. Points for 12+ July visits are awarded in August).
• Visit NIHCARewards.org to see if your health club is participating and/or to enroll to receive Health Club Credit points.

To get started with the wellness program, complete the following steps:

1. Register at NDPHIThealth.com and complete your account information. This will allow you to become eligible for the rewards program.
2. Login to the Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) HealthyBlue Wellness Platform.
3. Take the health risk survey to see where you’re at. Being aware of your health is the first step towards improvement.
4. Complete wellness challenges and activities in your BCBS HealthyBlue wellness platform to earn up to 25,000 points (which equates up to $250).
5. Schedule an appointment with a Health Coach. Visits with the coach are FREE as part of the wellness program. Work towards your goals with personalized one-on-one guidance. 



Questions? Please reach out to HR Director Brittany Cullen.

Mandan Police Department Sgt Michael Breid was recognized on June 27 by the Chiefs of Police Association of North Dakota as Sworn Police Officer of the Year.

"I am so proud of Sgt Michael Breid and his dedication to the city of Mandan," says Police Chief Jason Ziegler. "His faithful and determined duty to protect life has earned him the Chiefs of Police Association of North Dakota Sworn Police Officer of the Year for cities that have 10-50 sworn police officers!"

Congratulations, Sgt Breid!

Jordan Singer recently completed his certified building official courses. As building official, Jordan oversees the Building Inspections department, providing guidance regarding zoning, lot coverage and other site and building requirements, as well as allowed uses for particiular properties or parcels. The department also issues building permits and inspections of such work for compliance with building code, among other duties. Way to go, Jordan!

Carolyn Reisenauer was recently promoted to a building inspector position with the City of Mandan. Reisenauer has been employed by the City since 2013 and most recently served as a Senior Permit Technician.

Over the past year she’s been obtaining certifications that allow her to complete inspections of commercial and residential construction, working side by side with her predecessor Jon Benz before he retired at the end of May. Congratulations Carolyn!  

Water Treatment Plant Operator Coleton Schmidt recently passed his Class 4 Operator Certification. With this accomplishment, he received a promotion and is now a Water Treatment Plant Operator III. Congrats, Coleton!

City Administrator Jim Neubauer was recently recognized with a Visionary award for his leadership achievements through the North Dakota League of Cities (NDLC).

Neubauer has served as City Administrator for the City of Mandan for over 20 years and has an active role with the NDLC.

Congratulations, Jim!

Jessi Hummel is the Administrative Assistant for the Finance Department and Administration. She has been with the City since April 2021. In her role, Jessi helps many departments, not just Finance and Administration. She's a big support and great help to everyone she works with. Here's a few things about Jessi:

Fun Fact about you: I am an avid cowboy boot collector (currently at 51 pairs). Also an aspiring plant collector.

What do you do in your role? A lot of different things. It varies from day to day which keeps it interesting. A steadfast task is preparing everything for the City Commission meetings, along with front line customer service for the Finance office.

What do you love most about your job? Being able to help the residents of Mandan when they stop or call in.

What’s a hobby you have outside of work? Working out, cooking, reading, being an aunt to eight little people (with one on the way). I am also currently working on restoring an antique steamer trunk that was left at my family’s farm a long time ago (currently trying to find a manufacture year for it. Best I can find so far is the company existed from 1890 to at least 1914, possibly longer) and my great grandfather’s milk cans this summer.

What’s one item you can’t live without? Not really an “item”, but life would suck a lot more without my pets: Douglas, Reginald, and Martha.

What’s your favorite thing to do in Mandan? Playing rec league volleyball with my friends

What’s your favorite restaurant/business in Mandan? I have a few: La Cantina, Old 10, and Station West are my current top 3.

The Human Resources department is responsible for much more than just the beginning and end of employment with the City of Mandan. HR Director Brittany Cullen provided a little bit of information on the department for this quarter's department spotlight:

The responsibilities of the Human Resources Department include:

• Administering pay and personnel policies.
• Compliance with state and federal law, and city policies and procedures.
• Employee benefit administration.
• Assisting with the employee life cycle, such as recruitment, new hire selection process, onboarding paperwork, exit interviews, etc.
• Coordinating wellness and safety programs, including Workers Compensation.
• Assisting with performance management.
• Completing employment verifications.

The HR department is made up of one full-time employee (Cullen). The department receives part-time assistance from Payroll and Benefits Specialist Jonathan Mathisen, who assists with benefit administration, employment verifications, new hire paperwork, and the safety and wellness committee. It's important to note that payroll is a Finance Department function, but interacts regularly with HR.

Cullen enjoys interacting with each of the departments and learning more about how they operate. She also enjoys the variety of the HR workload, which keeps her on her toes as no two days are the same.

When asked how fellow co-workers can help the HR Department, Cullen asked that we remember HR is primarily a department of one serving all departments in the City.

For anything Human Resources related, contact HR Director Brittany Cullen. In the HR Director’s absence, the City Administrator is the back-up for HR.

APRIL

Mason Fode, Police Officer

Ryan Sonetti, Police Officer

Neil Lalej, Utility Operator I

Kelsey Kreidt, Seasonal Public Works Laborer

MAY

Larry Ressler, Seasonal Public Works Laborer

Jerad Johnson, Utility Operator I

Thomas Litt, Seasonal Real Property Appraiser Assistant

Mike Mittleider, Equipment Operator I

Daniel Hampton, Police Officer

Amanda Aakre, Seasonal Public Works Laborer

Erica Newgard, Seasonal Public Works Laborer

JUNE

Joshua Gartner, Police Officer

Ty Kruger, Wastewater Treatment Plant Laboratory Technician I

Evan Laib, MMPL Circulation Desk Assistant

Arlette Faul, Seasonal Public Works Laborer

Jon Benz, Building Inspector (35 Years of Service)

Mary Henderson, MMPL Public Services Coordinator (16 Years of Service)