Bismarck Board of Park Commissioners Brief for July 21, 2022

Dave Dewald shared information about the Lewis & Clark Wildlife Club as a Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) featured partner. The club was formed in 1950 and has about 75 members currently. He discussed the club’s efforts to establish and maintain the pollinator garden at Johnny Gisi Memorial Park, including a development of a brochure and educational panels/kiosks. The club also planted a pollinator garden at the new A. James Silbernagel Memorial Park.

The Board approved the continued work of staff with Apex Engineering Group and City of Bismarck staff regarding Hay Creek interceptor easements through Pebble Creek Golf Course.

The Board approved the naming of a new neighborhood park in Paradise Valley (south of Burleigh Avenue) as Moses Park.

The 2023 operating budget was introduced as a balanced budget with no increase in mills. The Board moved to approve the introduction of the 2023 operating budget with an additional 2.5% merit increase for full-time employees, to approve the 2023 budget resolution, and to approve the preliminary budget statement for 2023 and set the public hearing for Sept. 15 at 5:15 p.m. in the Tom Baker Room in the City/County Building.

The Board approved base bids for VFW Sports Center Expansion Project: Northwest Contracting Inc. for $9,547,100 (general construction); H.A. Thompson & Sons Inc. for $2,170,900 (mechanical construction); Edling Electric Inc. for $1,274,500 (electrical construction); and CIMCO for $2,776,630 (refrigeration).

The Board authorized staff to proceed with the consultant selection process for Ash Coulee/Tyler Parkway Shared Use Path and Phase III Municipal Ballpark Plan; to select a consultant and call for bids for interior finish updates for the Municipal Country Club; and to submit a grant application for Heritage Park improvements to the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department Land and Water Conservation Fund Program.

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, Aug. 18, 2022, at 5:15 p.m. in the Tom Baker Meeting Room.