Bismarck Board of Park Commissioners Brief for Dec. 21, 2023


Terry Lincoln shared information about the new river otter exhibit at the Dakota Zoo as a Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) featured partner. Dakota Zoo and BPRD have been partners for 62 years.

John Bollinger with the Bismarck Larks also appeared before the Board as a BPRD featured partner and provided highlights from the Larks’ seven seasons in the community.

Mike Wolf presented BPRD with the James Farrell Award of Excellence from USA Softball for the 2023 Men’s Class E/Rec Northern National Championship, which was held Labor Day weekend. BPRD Recreation Specialist Ethan Eberle served as tournament director, and Mike Wolf was umpire-in-chief.

Jeff Ubl, Ubl Design Group, and Darin Will, Northwest Contracting, provided an update on the VFW Sports Center project, which is expected to be complete in mid-February 2024.

The Board approved the bid for the Ash Coulee to Cogburn Road Trail Project from Strata Corporation for $898,238.32, contingent on approval from N.D. Department of Transportation and City of Bismarck.

The Board approved the bid for the Sheila Schafer Junior Links Relocation Project from Cordova Construction for $459,570.

The Board approved the bid for the General Sibley Park Drain Field Project from Prairie View Excavating for $108,985.

The Board rejected the bid for the Sertoma Park Sanitary Sewer Connection Project due to the higher than budgeted cost and authorized staff to continue to work with the consultant on potential solutions to the complete the project.

The Board approved the bid for the District Office and Shop Lighting Project from Bergstrom Electric Inc. for $61,760.

The Board approved bids for 2024 fertilizer, maintenance equipment and golf carts.

The Board approved the bid for two snow groomers from Fletcher Equipment Sales and Service for $203,000.

The Board rejected the 2023 bid from C&B Operations for a 4WD mower as the company can no longer fulfill the bid and approved the next lowest bidder, RDO Equipment, in the amount of $24,137.90.

The Board approved the second reading of the proposed updates to BPRD ordinances. The ordinances will be printed in the Bismarck Tribune on Dec. 28 and become final three days after publication on Dec. 31.

The Board approved year-end transfers for capital projects and equipment purchases.

The Board authorized staff to work with the City of Bismarck to bid a waterline replacement in Sertoma Park, authorized a call for bids for Scheels Sports Complex concessions, approved disposal of outdated equipment, approved the 2024-25 Bismarck Gymnastics Academy Use Agreement, and approved JLG Architects as the consultant for the BSC Aquatic & Wellness Center pool deck/locker room resurfacing project and authorized a call for bids.

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, Jan. 18, 2024, at 5:15 p.m. in the Tom Baker Meeting Room.