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

Kathy Feist, Bismarck Parks and Recreation District (BPRD) finance director, reviewed the 2024 Operating Budget. The Bismarck Board of Park Commissioners held its public hearing on the budget, but no public comment was provided. The Board approved the second reading of the budget resolution and mill levy and adopted the 2024 Operating Budget.

Recipients of 2023 North Dakota Recreation & Park Association awards were recognized:

• Bismarck Public Schools and the City of Bismarck received the Partnership Award, which honors organizations that developed a successful partnership to create a program that benefits the community, region or state and increases awareness of the importance of parks, recreation, and leisure services in quality of life, for their partnership with BPRD for the Local Foods Program.
• Dylan Thiem, facilities manager for arenas and outdoor pools, received the Outstanding Young Professional Award.

The Board approved selection of EAPC as consultant for the Bismarck Municipal Ballpark artificial turf, ticket booth expansion and batter’s eye project and selection of Apex Engineering as consultant for trail construction from Meridian Drive to General Sibley Park and also approved the associated professional services agreements and calls for project bids.

The Board approved the extension of the Bismarck Youth Baseball agreement through 2029, the update to the Bismarck Public Schools agreement for indoor ice arenas, and an addendum to the Bismarck Hockey Boosters agreement.

The Board authorized staff to apply for a Transportation Alternatives grant to extend the Sunrise Trail from Sunrise Park to East Century Avenue.

The Board authorized staff to call for bids for 2024 equipment, vehicles and golf carts.

The next regularly scheduled Board meeting is Thursday, Oct. 19, 2023, at 5:15 p.m. in the Tom Baker Meeting Room.