[0:00] I'm the auditor's office. You will call
the
[0:04] August 10th
meeting of Missouri Valley Complex
[0:07] Committee to order.
Uh in lieu of Reese's absence, Steve,
[0:15] would you call the roll, please?
>> LaCoe.
[0:19] » Here.
>> Peters.
[0:21] » Here.
>> Leker.
[0:23] » Here.
>> Olson.
[0:24] » Here.
>> Martinson. Here. Berglund. Here.
[0:28] New. Here. Hellerud. Here.
>> Thank you, Steve. Uh my
[0:33] normal reminder to make sure everybody
use microphones when you're speaking.
[0:39] Um actually, it carries better on the
owl
[0:43] without a microphone than when we use
the recording that's here, but still,
[0:47] please uh use your microphones and
we'll roll into the next agenda item,
[0:55] which is the approval of the minutes of
the June 17th meeting. Those were
[1:00] distributed via email.
Are there any additions corrections
[1:05] um or I would look for a motion to
approve the minutes.
[1:10] » I move that we approve the August
uh the
[1:14] June 17th minutes.
>> We have a motion. Do we have a second?
[1:18] » I'll second it.
>> All right. Motion and a second to
[1:21] approve the June 17th meeting minutes as
distributed. All in favor signify by
[1:28] saying aye.
Any opposed, signify nay.
[1:33] It was approved. On to the next agenda
item, I would entertain a motion to
[1:39] approve the approve or any uh additions
or changes to the agenda. However,
[1:45] before that, I want to clarify that
under item number six,
[1:49] the discussion of the Missouri Valley
Complex Committee alignment with the
[1:53] Park Board governance will also include
a review of the committee's scope,
[1:58] responsibilities, authority, and
resources, and that is the first page of
[2:04] the document that I distributed earlier.
So, with that understanding, I would
[2:09] entertain a motion to approve the
agenda.
[2:10] » Madam Chair,
a couple things. I did Monday night send
[2:13] out the amended agenda.
I've taken off the open position
[2:18] discussion.
>> Okay.
[2:19] » And then also corrected the next meeting
date, which is September 23rd.
[2:24] » Good notes. I do see I have the amended
agenda. Um
[2:27] I have an extra copy if anybody needs
one.
[2:30] Okay.
[2:33] Motion to approve the agenda.
>> So moved.
[2:35] » Second.
>> All in favor?
[2:38] » Uh all in favor of approving the agenda
as distributed amended, signify by
[2:43] saying I.
>> I.
[2:45] » Opposed to the sign. Hearing none, the
agenda is approved. We'll move into
[2:50] public comment. This is restricted to
Berkeley County residents and
[2:53] landowners. Um public comment is now
open.
[2:58] Given the only other audience member in
attendance is also on the agenda, I will
[3:04] assume you are offering no public
comment. With that, I will close the
[3:08] public comment section.
Agenda item number six is a briefing
[3:13] with several bullet points from
Commissioner Munson.
[3:16] Um before Commissioner Munson as he
walks up to the lectern here, walks us
[3:20] through the park board proposal, I want
to establish one piece of context for
[3:25] the committee.
Um if we're considering formally
[3:28] aligning the Missouri Valley Complex
Committee within a new governance
[3:32] structure, we should also be very clear
about what that means for this
[3:36] committee's role, authority,
responsibilities, and access to the
[3:40] county resources. With that framework in
or with that in mind, can I briefly run
[3:46] through this document while you look up
on your computer? So, on the front page,
[3:49] which is the front page of
the document is the one that is have the
[3:54] title of Missouri Valley Complex
Committee project status and direction
[3:58] needed. Um I felt that this was
important to distribute ahead of this
[4:03] discussion. The purpose is to make sure
that we have a shared understanding
[4:06] where things stand.
Um including is uh long-term planning
[4:11] for the Missouri Valley Complex. We are
working on development planning for the
[4:15] proposed
planning and site development needs,
[4:18] infrastructure, future facility
planning, etc., etc.
[4:23] The County Commission previously
authorized continued development of the
[4:26] Ag Equestrian Center project plan with
the intent of pursuing private funding
[4:31] and no anticipated county capital
contribution.
[4:34] Now, one thing that I think is important
to note is what has changed um and in
[4:39] light of recent discussions around the
County Commission table is when the
[4:46] agricultural acreage was leased in 2025.
Um and we actually got into the growing
[4:54] season quite late that year, but we were
the acreage was leased in 2025. The
[5:00] working assumption about a year ago was
that the lease would only be for 1 year
[5:06] because work was anticipated to be
started with the Ag Equestrian Center in
[5:10] late 2026.
However, things changed. Since then,
[5:16] changes involving the extraterritorial
area affected the jurisdiction and
[5:20] process for platting moving from city to
county.
[5:23] Platting work that had prog- progressed
through the city had to transition to
[5:27] the county process, which extended the
development timeline.
[5:31] And the original expectation of
beginning site work in late '26 was no
[5:35] longer realistic. Questions remain
regarding what planning work the
[5:39] Commission expects the Missouri Valley
Complex to continue pursuing and what
[5:44] county resources are available to
support that work. And then the
[5:47] responsibility for mowing, weed control,
agricultural land management, and other
[5:52] routine maintenance has also not been
clearly established. Um one note that I
[5:57] would also make on the timeline ahead of
your recap of the last couple of
[6:04] meetings and discussions is
there's been heavy discussion around the
[6:09] committee or the commission table
regarding weed mitigation and weed
[6:12] management, and I think that
the framing on that is missing a little
[6:18] bit and can be seen with this timeline
presented in this document that again uh
[6:24] this committee took it upon themselves
to authorize the management of that land
[6:30] where the Ag and Equestrian Center was
going to go and had also
[6:34] uh supported Commissioner Munson's
engagement on putting that plan forward.
[6:39] We still went into the beginning of the
year assuming that we were going to be
[6:43] having development out there, and
because of the changed timeline with the
[6:48] ETA change, that
really had an impact on some of those
[6:55] duties falling through the cracks. So, I
I do feel that it's really important for
[7:00] that timeline and the changes to be
taken into consideration for that
[7:03] discussion. With that, Commissioner, I
would leave it to you.
[7:08] » I'm going to challenge you a little bit
on your last statement.
[7:11] Um
in December of last year after the
[7:13] Bismarck Park Board decided to no longer
take care of the Burleigh County park
[7:21] projects, park land,
we attempted to have a meeting with the
[7:25] weed officer
uh and the county highway department to
[7:28] start planning cuz we knew these things
were coming.
[7:31] Um
that meeting never happened. Um
[7:36] that portfolio holder chose not to
meet. Uh I did get a hold of Darren
[7:43] a little later and then you know that
was late April and we started making a
[7:46] plan for all of the parks. He completely
forgot complex. Okay. So in May then we
[7:53] had the conversation now we need to make
sure because we had a rodeo event
[7:57] coming. We needed to make sure that that
area was sprayed
[8:01] and so by the time he got his resources,
his vendors there
[8:06] a little later in the season and so
yeah, we became we ended up having a
[8:09] problem on that egg so
um
[8:14] process was started it just never it
never got finished. Um
[8:18] but
be that it is it is it is now taken care
[8:22] of. Um
right, wrong or indifferent it's taken
[8:25] care of.
>> Lots of make you feel good for sure.
[8:31] » It it it it makes for good television
and makes for a good soap opera.
[8:35] Um and so
So anyway, you know, we we talked a
[8:39] little bit about where things stand with
the with with the Missouri Valley
[8:42] Complex Committee
and if you remember years ago
[8:47] the structure that we proposed to the
county was different than what is
[8:50] actually approved and what we're
operating with now.
[8:54] Some of the county commissioners felt
that it was very important that this
[8:57] board was an advisory board to the
portfolio holder only.
[9:02] Um as opposed to initially we had
written in that document
[9:08] um
responsibilities for the board other
[9:11] than just being an advisory board.
Um and they chose that they wanted to
[9:16] have final say in all things and so in
order to have this board approved
[9:22] we accepted
a lesser role.
[9:25] We accepted a role we are an advisory
board
[9:29] to the Burleigh County Commission as
well as prime one of the reasons that
[9:33] did stay consistent is this board
being together to coordinate the events
[9:38] that are happening at the complex as
well as working forward to developing
[9:43] the rest of that complex into a much
better facility. Uh so we've been very
[9:48] successful minus the timeline issues
moving from city to county planning and
[9:53] zoning. Um
we've been very successful. I think
[9:56] we've done a lot of great work out there
and you guys need
[10:00] uh to you deserve that credit. It is it
is come
[10:03] We've made more more progression with
that area in the last 2 years than the
[10:08] previous 40.
So um
[10:12] you guys you guys have done done well
uh even with the battles that we've
[10:17] we've faced. Uh so
um now moving forward what I'm trying to
[10:22] do
is introduce to the county um and I hope
[10:27] for the last time on Monday
uh the 17th the plan for Burleigh County
[10:33] Park Authority
um renaming Missouri River Complex. I
[10:37] shouldn't say renaming it but
considering it a park so it's all within
[10:41] one group
uh eliminate that portfolio itself so
[10:45] that we have one group that is working
towards
[10:50] uh the common good of of all parks
within Burleigh County uh
[10:55] minus the city. Not to take over Dave's
job. I don't want your job.
[11:01] Um
but I think it's important uh and it as
[11:04] you read through the document that has
been sent to you
[11:07] um
it changes the the makeup of the park
[11:10] board the park authority from five
sitting elected officials and two
[11:14] appointed to two elected officials and
five appointed
[11:20] with the responsibilities to perform
the duties laid out in the budget that's
[11:26] been approved by the commission
giving the park authority the ability to
[11:31] hire weeds, hire mowing, coordinate the
employees that we have
[11:36] or proposed employees that we have in
our plan. Um I know it it was taken off,
[11:41] but we were successful in hiring
a hybrid employee that will work in our
[11:46] park district as well as for the highway
department.
[11:49] Uh he should start
week and a half from now.
[11:52] And so roughly his duties will be 40%
park, 60% highway, but he is a full-time
[11:58] employee. And so we will have his
services 5 days a week.
[12:02] And that'll that'll be helpful for us as
well. I'm hoping we can open up our
[12:08] our fishing dock for the first time this
year because
[12:13] what I
Carson was a great kid, 18.
[12:17] When that thing plugs up now I'm I'm not
asking an 18-year-old to stick his hand
[12:20] down a grinder to try to fix it.
I need someone with a little more life
[12:24] experience before we start doing stuff
like that. So So now we have that
[12:28] employee.
But anyway, as you read through the new
[12:31] structure of the park authority
like I said, it gives the park authority
[12:36] that
decision-making ability to
[12:40] take care of all the parks within the
budget that has been approved by the
[12:43] commission.
Um
[12:45] and I think it's
the change from five elected officials
[12:50] to two
right now is is what I hear is my
[12:54] biggest challenge at the Burleigh County
Commission table.
[12:57] Um
my challenge to that is there's seven
[13:01] people on that park board right now.
One is working.
[13:06] That's it. Nobody else is doing anything
on it.
[13:09] I want seven engaged people that are
going to be working towards the benefit
[13:14] of
all parks within Burleigh County.
[13:17] Uh
in that document it it does keep the
[13:20] Missouri Valley Complex Committee
alive. I mean you are still a valid part
[13:24] of a vital part of that um as a
subcommittee to the park authority.
[13:29] Uh rather than a subcommittee to the
commission, it would be a subcommittee
[13:33] to the park authority.
Um
[13:39] It will still
be a battle on Monday. We've We've had
[13:42] it in front of us now two times prior.
This will be the third.
[13:47] Um
there'll be There'll be some lively
[13:49] discussion about it, but um
I think it has
[13:56] I think it has a lot of positives within
it and I and I think it's a very
[13:59] valuable piece. Um I've said this
before, but I want to thank Dustin again
[14:04] for for being an integral part of
writing that document because
[14:10] it's way above my pay grade. He He did
He did all the work. So,
[14:14] uh I just get to fight the battle, you
know, at at the commission table. So,
[14:18] uh it is it is a good doc and I think it
gives us
[14:21] a good direction. So.
Questions on that? You guys have all had
[14:27] the document. You've seen it. You've
read it.
[14:29] Um
any points that we need to
[14:34] Madam Chair?
>> Yes.
[14:36] » Um
First
[14:39] First I guess my first question is the
terminologies that are being used.
[14:46] Looking at statute, it's pretty clear
it's a park board. It's a park
[14:51] commission. Park board.
I'm not
[14:54] I'm not real clear on where this
authority came from
[14:59] because I don't think you've got any
authority to change the name.
[15:04] Um because it's statute, it's
county park commissioner, it was county
[15:08] park board.
Uh
[15:10] and and I think the issue that you've
got at the table is that the authority.
[15:15] Yeah. The people are looking at this or
there's the assumption that you're off
[15:18] on your own and you're not going to be
responsible back to the county
[15:21] commission, which
it's clear in the statute who you're
[15:23] responsible. Yep. Secondly, um
[15:30] is this
I wholeheartedly support a
[15:33] wholeheartedly support
going to seven members, five citizens.
[15:40] It was the one time it was.
>> Mhm.
[15:43] » And then it got switched
with some personalities, but it was at
[15:48] one time. It was a citizen-based board.
And
[15:53] I I whole wholly support that. But, I
think the other clarity is policy or
[15:59] governance, is that the role of the
group, or is it going to be management
[16:03] and running around the county looking at
the parks? Cuz you've got staff that
[16:08] you're proposing here, and it's supposed
to be doing work.
[16:10] » Right.
>> The other thing that came up in the last
[16:13] meeting is this whole issue and nonsense
that you don't have access to the county
[16:16] highway department.
But, you're looking to put an employee
[16:20] with the county department during the
winter months.
[16:22] » Right.
>> Which doesn't make sense because
[16:25] all of the statute lists the other
auditor and the state's attorney and
[16:31] treasurer, and there's what, five
>> Sheriff's department.
[16:34] » Sheriff's department already there.
>> Yep.
[16:36] » Why aren't the rest of the county
departments? Because there was also
[16:40] statement made at the last meeting about
working together amongst the
[16:43] departments.
[16:46] I think the simplest thing you've got
all you've got to do is change the
[16:50] structure and let the group develop the
plan.
[16:54] » Yep.
First
[16:56] First to answer to your question,
I chose to to label it authority because
[17:03] I wanted to avoid two things.
>> This mark
[17:08] park district has a very good
[17:13] reputation, and I don't want to label it
a district or a board because you
[17:18] currently have a park board
for the city.
[17:22] And you have a park district within the
city. And so I chose not to use those
[17:27] two words, which I don't think you can.
>> You can't use the word district. It
[17:31] doesn't allow you in here and to be a
district.
[17:34] » asked the state's attorney for
clarification on that. I haven't
[17:38] received it yet, but the reason I I I've
used authority was to try to keep it
[17:42] separate from the group that's already
organized. I don't want the confusion in
[17:46] the public between the two.
>> Yeah. Um
[17:50] there hasn't been that confusion for
years.
[17:53] It's the Bismarck Park District and
Burleigh County Park.
[17:56] » Yeah.
>> That that's that's good. And I think
[17:59] that's the way it statute even is pretty
clear to me that you're not a district
[18:04] because you're not a separate autonomous
operating governing body.
[18:09] You're responsible to the county
commissioner.
[18:12] » So that's exactly why I didn't use the
word district. Um
[18:15] » Which but it's in this report for the
last couple of times.
[18:20] » So I think it talks to what was and what
is.
[18:23] If I if I left district in there, I
apologize.
[18:26] » Yeah, but
to me in all these years, it's never
[18:29] been Burleigh County Park District.
>> Right.
[18:32] It's always been park board.
Um
[18:35] And so like I said, I I I chose the word
authority just to try to give it some
[18:38] separation.
>> But it's it's still responsible to the
[18:42] county commission.
>> Correct.
[18:43] » And I And the other part
that I agree with is if this changes to
[18:48] the format that you're suggesting, and
again I'll say county park board,
[18:53] with citizen representation being five,
that this group should blend into it. It
[19:00] should be part of the county parks.
And as such with operation and budget
[19:06] and management oversight, so you don't
have these
[19:10] slip through the crack things like weeds
and everything or development and
[19:14] consistently development and management
consistent management and from all the
[19:18] user groups we've said that consistent
relationships with leases and operation.
[19:23] And so when you when you're looking at
manpower, um
[19:26] the rest of this year and next year, I
do have the one employee in there that
[19:30] is split or hybrid between parks and and
highway. Next year my goal is to have
[19:35] that park manager hired. That will be a
full-time position.
[19:39] Um
we spent $8,000 this year hiring a uh
[19:47] an engineering firm just to do the
permit process to dredge our two roofs.
[19:53] Bismarck Park District has done that for
us for the last how many years and
[19:58] within all within the fees that were
charged.
[20:00] » Yeah.
>> Um we're seeing we we talked about it. I
[20:05] mean, lawn mowing,
Damn near cost us what Bismarck Park
[20:09] District charged us all last year. And
that's just to mow the lawns. Um
[20:14] so so having that full-time employee
uh that can be part of this group, be
[20:21] part of the reporting to the to the park
authority park board, whichever way we
[20:25] want to go.
Uh uh
[20:27] that's a huge piece to make sure that
that manager is available to be on top
[20:33] of all those things, handle those
applications, walk that all through. The
[20:36] um
uh it's going to cost us
[20:41] estimated $6,000 to put together the bid
package to replace the roof of a vault
[20:47] toilet that a tree fell.
[20:50] » Which is probably going to be ongoing
costs of engineering and blood passion
[20:55] services.
>> But there's going to be, but not as
[20:57] much.
>> Yeah.
[20:58] » Because they're running it start finish
where the the manager can handle the
[21:03] majority of that work.
Um so so when I look at having that
[21:08] full-time employee, that's a cost
savings to the county.
[21:12] Um,
and we have then that full-time person
[21:14] that can Maybe we don't want to hire the
the weed board to spray our weeds. That
[21:20] park manager can hire his own
subcontractor and now we're not
[21:25] waiting for somebody else. So, what
you're what you're you're heading
[21:30] towards, Commissioner is
hiring a manager
[21:35] to manage the day-to-day operation,
correct? The park board to be governance
[21:39] and direction, policy, and planning.
Correct.
[21:43] And by the document, it truly lays out
that the park authority park board will
[21:48] create all of that process and
procedure.
[21:55] I think then the simp The easy The one
step you have is to change the structure
[22:00] of the board from five
commissioners to five citizens and two
[22:04] commissioners. And then let that group
develop develop plan. Correct.
[22:08] » And not at that commission table trying
to develop plan.
[22:11] » Right. Right.
>> Cuz it doesn't work.
[22:13] » We just need to get it
We need to get it through the
[22:16] resolutions. Yep.
>> of the park board.
[22:19] » Yep.
>> Which is allowed in
[22:20] » Yep.
>> state law.
[22:21] » Yep.
Yep. We need to get it through the the
[22:24] the approval of the commission
of the current park board first then
[22:28] then the commission after that. And then
let um
[22:33] Julie get the resolution done to bring
back.
[22:35] » Are the county park positions paid?
>> Yep.
[22:39] It's not covered in my document.
>> No, but are they are they
[22:42] » Currently, they are.
>> They are.
[22:43] » Yep.
>> So, they're they're compensated board
[22:46] like several other boards.
>> Yep. They're per meeting.
[22:48] » And which this board and this group is
not, correct?
[22:51] » Yep.
>> Well, and I just want a quick follow-up
[22:53] and I think Dustin and and Wayne both
have comments, too, but on that
[22:58] um
paid,
[23:01] currently only two are paid.
>> Correct.
[23:04] » Because the county commissioners that
are already serving on that are getting
[23:07] paid because of their
>> Yes.
[23:10] » pay for being a county commissioner.
>> Their monthly stipend or whatever it is.
[23:14] » Right, right. Cuz there was a statement
at the last commissioner meeting that it
[23:17] would be an increased cost, a
substantial increased cost,
[23:22] uh to have more citizen members on that
because more would be paid, but um I
[23:27] think it's pretty nominal per meeting.
>> $75 per meeting once a month for three
[23:33] additional
three additional people.
[23:36] » Yeah.
>> Does that answer your question?
[23:38] » Not a large increase.
So, I think one
[23:42] one thing that needs to be added to the
document is there there is a belief by
[23:48] at least one, probably two,
commissioners
[23:51] that will go nameless,
uh that
[23:55] that this is going to be a deep state
situation
[23:59] to override the county, basically.
And the irony is that we're
[24:04] they're they're confusing this plan with
this committee and and
[24:08] uh you know, this committee is being
considered both rogue and do nothing at
[24:12] the same time, which I guess we're the
Schrödinger's committee at that point.
[24:16] Um
but one thing that that keeps coming up
[24:22] is the belief that there's a secret plan
to extort the county into spending
[24:28] millions of dollars to build the
equestrian center.
[24:32] And so, what what I would like to see
and and maybe we need to take a motion
[24:36] and write a declaration that
the there's no secret plan to have the
[24:43] county foot the bill for $10 million
equestrian center, that the county's
[24:48] obligation to that is the land and the
engineering costs that have gone into
[24:52] the whole complex, basically, and limit
it that and and make it a declaration
[24:57] so that there's no gray area because
essentially we've got county
[25:01] commissioners that are that believe that
there's a conspiracy here.
[25:05] » So, to answer that though, Dustin, we've
already taken that action at the
[25:09] commission table and it passed 4-1.
But that's how we're moving forward with
[25:14] the equestrian center. So,
that's already been asked and answered.
[25:19] Um
[25:22] the piece that is that that the county
commission needs to keep in mind is
[25:28] when the park authority creates a
request for a budget,
[25:34] county commission still has final say
over that budget.
[25:37] » Mhm.
>> So, at any point if there was a $10
[25:40] million
line item for an equestrian center, this
[25:44] county commission just simply doesn't
approve it.
[25:47] They already they will still have
the final control over the budget side
[25:52] of it.
What I what I
[25:55] what I feel is happening with this
creation of this new authority
[25:59] is that day-to-day
and the week-to-week and the
[26:04] coordination of events as well as the
maintenance and
[26:10] we don't want to get into maintenance,
but um
[26:13] because of our lovely citizens on the
park side of it, uh I spent another
[26:18] $8,000 just cleaning out a ball toilet
last week. And 3/4 full of garbage. No
[26:24] room for the waste.
So,
[26:28] there is so much else that comes into
play with this that
[26:33] uh this is not just about the complex.
This is about the parks as a whole and
[26:38] making sure that we have that
day-to-day, week-to-week
[26:43] pulse from the residents
to the users so that we have a
[26:48] functioning park district. Park
apologize park authority park
[26:52] » Park
But it it it's
[26:56] Burleigh County has forgotten.
And this is where I'm going to give the
[27:00] credit to Steve. Steve taught us many,
many years ago.
[27:04] People move here for a job. They stay
because of our amenities.
[27:08] Our number one amenities are parks.
Bismarck Parks and Rec has phenomenal
[27:14] group of amenities. Burleigh County has
fallen severely behind
[27:19] and letting them
go.
[27:22] Nobody's paying attention. Nobody's
taking care of them. Nobody's improving.
[27:25] There hasn't been an improvement
to the park district except for 2 years
[27:30] ago I was successful getting it through
the commission to put an ADA sidewalk
[27:35] and a new vault toilet at Steckel.
That's the last
[27:40] to my knowledge, there hasn't been an
improvement to a a ramp or a park except
[27:46] in in '09 when we put the vault toilet
at Schafer.
[27:51] Nobody cares on the park side and that's
wrong. We need to have a much more
[27:56] vibrant, active
Park Authority, Park Board
[28:01] to make sure that all of our parks are
being taken care of and are being put
[28:05] forward as the best that we can.
We've got a long ways to go to get up to
[28:09] where Bismarck Parks and Rec is at.
But this is the first step.
[28:14] I really believe this is the first step
and it's not just about the complex.
[28:18] » Yeah, and and but the the commissioners
are opposed to pretty much everything.
[28:24] Or just one more thing.
>> Yeah, yeah. And and
[28:29] they want to
make sure that no future commissions can
[28:34] go the wrong direction. And the only way
that they can bind the hands of future
[28:38] commissions is to go into the home rule
charter and bind the hands of as the the
[28:43] citizens to bind the hands of future
commissioners.
[28:47] So,
ultimately, any of this comes back on
[28:51] them. And so, I know that that
K has
[28:56] uh some some language that she wants to
put forward. Uh I had come up with some
[29:01] stronger language than that.
But, at the end of the day,
[29:06] the commission needs to be the one that
makes the determination as to what these
[29:11] things do.
And if they don't want
[29:16] the committees or park board authority
or whatever you want to call it
[29:21] nomenclature-wise
to do certain things, it's up to them to
[29:25] proactively
put in place
[29:29] the the process to prevent things that
they don't want to happen in the future,
[29:34] while not getting in the way of things
that should be happening. And so, part
[29:39] of
your challenge is probably putting
[29:43] together a plan that not only shows
where you want to go, but also putting
[29:48] in place where you're willing to close
certain doors to get where you want to
[29:53] go, if that makes sense.
[29:57] » Yes, it does, but I want to challenge
that a little bit.
[30:01] I I'm an elected official.
This is not what I want.
[30:06] This is what's best for the citizens and
needs to be led by the citizens.
[30:11] I'm elected to be that person that goes
in between the citizens and the
[30:14] commission. That's my job.
But realistically, we need to create a
[30:19] park authority, a park board
that is active
[30:23] in our community and wants to make sure
things grow.
[30:27] Um
we've had too many years of stagnant
[30:32] um growth in our park I Yeah, it costs
money.
[30:36] I
I'm an accused of spending a lot of
[30:38] money.
Uh if you Google me, that's the first
[30:40] thing that comes up As I like to spend a
lot of money.
[30:43] Um
but it is not for me.
[30:48] I've never used a ramp in Burlington.
I've been to a few of the parks.
[30:54] It's not for me.
It's for the residents.
[30:57] I chose this portfolio because I wanted
to make it better for our residents.
[31:02] Again, I'm going to blame Steve. Steve
had 10 years of
[31:05] of making sure that I understood what
He trained Randy so Randy could train
[31:10] me. But
um he he had 10 years of me to make sure
[31:14] I really understood what the benefit
that our park system does for our
[31:19] residents.
And and he's not wrong.
[31:22] And and
as a as a county commission we failed.
[31:28] » Mhm.
>> And I need I need It's my It's my
[31:31] mission to make this better.
And I believe this is the way to do it.
[31:35] Put it in the hands of the citizens.
[31:39] The budget goes to the
commission for approval.
[31:43] They can ask for whatever they want.
Reality of it is is the commission still
[31:47] has final say over dollars.
And dollars will dictate what we can do
[31:52] from there.
You know, we had an audit done. Bismark
[31:56] Parks and Rec was hired to do an audit
of our ADA facilities within our park
[32:01] district.
Everyone failed.
[32:05] I was able to get Steckel
almost there.
[32:10] They pulled out of my budget the last 2
years
[32:13] to fix anything else.
And
[32:20] they just don't feel as it's it's
needed.
[32:23] It's wrong.
>> Mhm.
[32:25] » Completely wrong.
And there are a couple commissioners
[32:28] that are going to say no no matter what
you do.
[32:30] They'd rather get sued
than spend $5,000 to replace a the to
[32:35] make sure it's ADA compliant.
Makes no sense to me.
[32:39] You know, we got to wait for a tree to
fall on
[32:41] a vault toilet to fix it.
That vault toilet
[32:46] could have used some other maintenance.
Now, we don't have any money.
[32:49] You know, but the reality of it is is
[32:55] Mr. News is correct. People come here
for a job, they stay because of our
[32:58] amenities.
Now, you listen to to Jared Cole
[33:03] and you look at what we can bring into
the community if we grow,
[33:09] whether it's tax dollars, whether it's
it's dollars to our businesses,
[33:15] it is huge.
Costs money, but we will get it back in
[33:20] a lot of different ways. So,
I agree that, you know, we'll never get
[33:26] those two vote yes.
It don't matter what we grant.
[33:30] I'm not worried about those two.
I quit worrying about those two a couple
[33:33] years ago.
Uh I have to move forward and hope that
[33:36] I can get the other the other two
uh to see the benefit.
[33:41] And I'll never get those two.
There's one else.
[33:45] Right?
Yep.
[33:46] » So, I know that one of your bullet
points here is to consider formally
[33:50] approving alignment of the Missouri
River Complex Committee with Burleigh
[33:53] County Park Board. So, I wanted to steer
that discussion a little a little bit
[33:56] further and I know that Wayne and Steve
both had uh questions and discussions
[34:01] and um if they pertain to that the
discussion point.
[34:05] » Uh you
wait your turn to talk before.
[34:09] » Yes. You know what I want to talk about?
I didn't bring it up anyway. But, you
[34:13] know what? Will this have any effect on
Missouri Valley Historical Society out
[34:17] there at Buckstop Junction?
>> No.
[34:19] » So, okay. Everything's the same on
>> The only The only piece that will affect
[34:24] Buckstop at some point and Dustin and
has been talking about this for a long
[34:29] time,
we need to align all of our agreements,
[34:33] if you will, to be the same.
You have a lease.
[34:37] Motocross has a has a use agreement. I
mean, we have so many other agreements
[34:41] out there. None of them are the same.
The only thing that will affect the
[34:44] current folks that are there is
eventually we will all get to be under
[34:49] the same agreement for the use of the
land.
[34:53] But, beyond that, no.
>> And also, you would have a direct point
[34:57] of contact with the county park board
and not have to go
[35:02] » Right.
>> walking down the hall to find an office
[35:03] to talk to somebody. You'd have a
relationship. There'd be somebody you
[35:07] work with.
>> Yep.
[35:08] » And we got our own uh
Well, we don't have a budget really
[35:11] because we don't have no funding out
there. In fact, we got to rebuild our
[35:15] church out there, the steeple. It blew
off the doors off the strong wind we had
[35:19] here a while back. And we got paint.
That's a lot of That's a lot of money.
[35:23] We do have an escrow account for the
church. And we're going to probably use
[35:27] up most of that just to repair the
church. And there's a lot of groups that
[35:30] want to use that church for weddings.
>> Yeah.
[35:32] » And uh we've got to replace furnaces and
air conditioning in a couple of the
[35:37] buildings this year already. So, uh
we're we're getting short-handed cuz
[35:42] some of our
members retired and
[35:45] uh can't can't walk anymore.
And um I might be included. I don't
[35:51] know. But, um we're moving forward. We I
did uh manage to buy a tractor for out
[35:57] there to use for mowing.
>> Good.
[35:59] » And it works real good. It's one I
picked up at an auction sale
[36:02] uh last year and bought it just for the
purpose of using it for out there. So,
[36:07] they just I just delivered that the
other day.
[36:10] And the guys that are using it like it.
>> Good.
[36:12] » And it runs good.
And uh
[36:15] now the other question I have,
what are we going to do with that mess
[36:20] that those contractors left at that
racetrack?
[36:23] That is such a mess. They I I want to
make it into a motion that they
[36:26] abandoned that
that project.
[36:29] » I have been on them to
>> Cover it up.
[36:32] » be in front of the commission for the
last several months to give us an
[36:36] update.
Uh as of last week, they did finally
[36:39] finish all of their borings
where they found more
[36:43] bad soil just like they hit now.
>> Right.
[36:47] » Um and they're they're still haven't
come up with a solution
[36:52] as to how they're going to move forward.
>> They should abandon that route that
[36:55] they're on and take the thing and uh
move it south of the track in that flat
[37:00] area and head straight to the 52nd
Street.
[37:04] » South is worse than where we're at.
>> Well, at least they won't be digging up
[37:09] the track.
They're going to do underground boring
[37:12] on that from what I understand, huh?
>> They
[37:15] » But uh they made such a mess out of it.
It makes my stomach sick every time I go
[37:18] out there and look at it.
>> Mhm.
[37:20] » And they're hauling more junk out there,
big timbers and stuff to bury.
[37:24] » I asked if they were going to start
paying storage fees cuz they're their
[37:27] stuff has been all over our complex for
a year.
[37:30] » Yeah, mhm.
>> So
[37:31] » We could all use a gravel someplace out
there.
[37:33] » Yeah.
>> But no, something's got to be
[37:37] changed on that whole direction. Abandon
that sewer line. Move it to a different
[37:41] location.
>> We're still waiting for the engineers to
[37:43] come back to the commission.
>> want that going across that racetrack,
[37:47] period. And they got to fill in those
corners before frost comes in.
[37:51] » They got a lot of work to do.
>> They do. But how are they going to do
[37:54] it?
Or fire one or two.
[37:57] » I am going to interject just because I
have a hard stop at one and we're
[38:01] getting a little far off of the agenda
topic that we're on right now.
[38:06] Um
>> It had to be brought up.
[38:07] » I know and I always appreciate you
keeping your finger on the pulse of
[38:11] what's going on with that specifically,
but I would definitely entertain
[38:16] um
you know, for future discussion on that
[38:18] should it be warranted. Steven, I I you
had a question.
[38:21] » I'm sure.
commissioner, just just a couple things.
[38:24] I'm going to address something that
Dustin said as well. You know, this
[38:28] whole conspiracy of the equestrian
center was that was self-generated right
[38:32] at the table. And unfortunately, that
group didn't even get an opportunity to
[38:38] present.
Um and the other discussions that we've
[38:42] had around this table and and with
engineering firms is that a plan needed
[38:47] to be developed that also included the
work and funding recommendations to go
[38:53] forward.
This park board
[38:57] discussion and reorganizing again
citizen and get people engaged in the
[39:02] same thing including it and the complex
again should be included in that. But as
[39:06] part of the overall master planning, how
strategic planning was brought up about
[39:11] three times at the last county
commission meeting by somebody I didn't
[39:14] even think knew how to spell it.
But
[39:17] » You know, it doesn't mean that he knows
how to spell it if he said it.
[39:19] » Yeah, I I don't know if there's an A or
an E in there. But you know, it's a that
[39:23] is the kind of thing that this group can
do. But in to be part of that and if the
[39:28] county commission doesn't want to do
parks or fund this or operate it, which
[39:33] I don't think some of them do,
then give it to somebody else who can.
[39:39] And maybe that's the long term, but this
is a good alternative, but you got to
[39:43] engage some people. So the planning and
infrastructure we've talked about whose
[39:48] responsibility is the infrastructure,
who who's the owner of the property. And
[39:52] that's part of this discussion as well.
I I think if if it moves to county park
[39:57] board with that kind of relationship, um
yeah, we'd support it. We'd move
[40:00] forward.
>> It may not be a chair that way.
[40:03] » If I can, let's let's get engineering up
here first to make sure they have their
[40:07] presentation. You've got a hard stop.
>> Yeah.
[40:10] » I can come back up and get you talking.
>> sure and I am
[40:14] wait, I I'm very okay with moving on in
the agenda items, but I want to make
[40:20] sure that I give you the opportunity.
Are you looking for formal action or
[40:24] would it be
um
[40:27] positive
for you to have formal action from this
[40:31] committee by way of a support should we
consider doing such a thing?
[40:38] for this
plan that you plan to present.
[40:42] » Let me think about that.
>> Okay.
[40:44] » Before before we all adjourn, I will
come back up and address that.
[40:47] » I I would just have to add that
and I agree with that and then up here
[40:51] you want to bear and agree with that
before I just say
[40:56] I think I think what it would do and
with formal and formal, but the
[41:00] indication
has been that we've been kind of the
[41:04] stepchild to the county commission and
that so we're not doing anything and we
[41:08] haven't we haven't done anything in 3
years or 2 years, but
[41:11] it would um
give the group a whole but it would
[41:16] bring everybody together and I think
help the county park board. I mean count
[41:20] and the county commission then can say,
well, that's with county park board and
[41:23] it's all together and that's all. So and
and I know
[41:28] the old dam is separate, but that's a
whole another situation with the water
[41:31] resource board and we're not going to
mess with so
[41:33] » Nope, so it is.
>> So so but put it in with the parks. Get
[41:36] it all together so
>> Yeah, I think we should have Lon come up
[41:41] and
plan and sorry.
[41:43] And uh
where I got lost.
[41:46] » I'm really trouble hearing that so I
think
[41:48] » I don't see you enough.
>> You never show up.
[41:50] » That's right.
>> That's right.
[41:52] » Welcome back.
>> Thank you, Shirley
[41:55] Lon and I are going to spend some time
here in New Jersey to give you an update
[41:57] on the planning process.
Um as you know, the the preliminary plan
[42:00] was approved a couple of months ago.
Um it was kind of around that time where
[42:04] obviously the county had taken over the
jurisdiction from the city. So we're
[42:07] making that transition from discussing
urban gutter streets with the public
[42:12] right-of-way and things like that.
You're eliminating all that. You're just
[42:15] basically going back to one large lot
that the county would own and you can
[42:18] develop the interior however you see
fit.
[42:21] Um so right now we are we're preparing
the final plat for submittal next week
[42:25] um along with the stormwater management
plan. Those of you who have been
[42:28] involved in in in developments know what
the stormwater management particularly
[42:31] in a site like this where there's a lot
of wetlands to deal with, it's kind of
[42:34] the driver how it all why it's
developed. So we're working on uh sizing
[42:39] ponds depending on how we how much we
believe is actually going to be
[42:42] encumbered by hard surfaces and
buildings and things like that. Uh and
[42:46] then we're working with the county
engineering department to get that
[42:48] approved. So the plan is to uh submit
next week. So we would be on the
[42:53] September 21st
uh excuse me, September 9th planning and
[42:56] zoning meeting for a public hearing.
And then assuming we get an approval at
[43:00] that point, we'll be moving forward to
either September 21st or October 5th. My
[43:04] money says October 5th for the county
commission meeting for for the final
[43:08] approval. Some of that depends on how
much uh time the the county staff has to
[43:12] get together what are our advertising
they need to do and also for county
[43:15] engineering to determine if our
stormwater stormwater management plan
[43:19] meets their needs.
Um but that's where we're at right now
[43:22] and so theoretically, approval October
and then we can file the plat at some
[43:27] point there after. It'll be your call if
you want to file it this year, next
[43:30] year.
I don't know if it's relevant for for
[43:33] our group to do that.
>> Okay.
[43:36] It's been a very long process. Yes. And
I appreciate your work on
[43:40] every step along the way.
Uh any questions or comments from the
[43:44] » Land of September 9th, is that the
county planning and zoning commission?
[43:48] Not the city. Whatever I need to do.
County community, yes.
[43:53] » And
[43:57] So from the 20 2026 discussion of
development, we're now in 2027.
[44:05] How many can develop?
[44:09] That's okay. works.
I'm sure it will come.
[44:13] » Mr. Follow.
>> So, this is Landon the other day, you
[44:16] and I and and Jason were talking about
uh
[44:20] some additional costs that came into
play when we went from city to county.
[44:25] I I would like to present that bill to
this group for approval prior to it
[44:31] going to county.
Uh
[44:34] so, when that bill is ready, um
let's make sure it's on next month's
[44:39] meeting here
uh to get approval for that.
[44:42] » Okay.
>> Thank you. I will get that to you.
[44:45] » Thank you.
[44:48] » All right. Seeing no
nothing further for you. I thank you
[44:52] again.
>> Thank you.
[44:53] » All right.
[44:56] Um
Commissioner Munson, did you have
[44:59] anything further on your agenda items if
you want to provide a
[45:04] quick update
on the
[45:07] budget and budget schedule?
>> So, I can give you um
[45:13] what was submitted to the
commission and approved at the
[45:19] preliminary budget
uh for the Missouri Valley Complex
[45:25] full of $468,100.
[45:29] Uh now,
that's a little misleading because where
[45:33] I put all of the equipment that I plan
on purchasing to mow the lawn, so a
[45:38] pickup, a trailer, a lawn mower, that
all ended up on the Missouri Valley
[45:42] Complex budget um primarily that's
that's the biggest budget and was it
[45:47] would be used mostly at the complex uh
hours-wise. Uh so, we put it in the
[45:52] complex budget at that point. Uh
now, this is going to be my third year
[45:57] in a row
where I have uh
[46:01] added the uh the line item to repair the
asphalt road
[46:06] uh coming off of um
Bismarck Expressway that goes up to the
[46:11] park and wreck building and around to
uh
[46:17] Highway 10. Uh we have a lot of areas on
there that need to be repaired, but
[46:20] we've been holding off waiting for
uh yeah, the sewer to be finished.
[46:25] There's no reason for me to go out there
and repair roads that are going to get
[46:29] ripped up and repaired again.
Um so, there's $150,000
[46:34] that has been in this year this budget
the third year in a row.
[46:39] You know, the last 2 years it didn't get
used so it went back to the general fund
[46:43] uh as far as that goes, but there's
$130,000 in here for equipment
[46:48] uh
so that we can save $100,000 a year for
[46:52] the next 10 years. Um
just in mowing costs. Uh
[46:57] I do have, you know, our our normal
utilities. That hasn't changed a whole
[47:01] lot over the last several years.
Um
[47:05] we do have uh
Auditor Skowronski has been phenomenal
[47:08] helping me getting this stuff done. You
know, we've got
[47:14] 50 gifts out there for different events.
We've got garbage out there. We've got
[47:18] all other things out there that need to
be taken care of and that has been
[47:21] handled quite well.
Um
[47:24] I do have uh some money set aside for
parking lots, snow removal, trail
[47:30] repair,
general maintenance. Uh last year I
[47:33] think we bought a uh
couple of different gates for the rodeo
[47:37] grounds, you know, so we've got $25,000
into that. Um
[47:43] for uh
incidental incidentals, but uh
[47:49] last year
I think we we I don't we we didn't spend
[47:55] 50% of our budget last year.
Um the last full year just simply
[48:00] because we didn't repair the road.
Um this year's budget that we're
[48:04] currently in,
we're going to be way under again uh
[48:08] just simply because we're we're not
repairing that road again. Um I I don't
[48:12] foresee that getting done this year at
this point. So,
[48:15] um we've done well and it's finished
correctly. So,
[48:20] yeah.
>> Yeah, who's uh in charge of leaving the
[48:22] lights on out there rodeo grounds all
the time? Over by there are times in the
[48:26] evenings the lights are on and over here
are on. The rodeo people need to learn
[48:30] how to shut the lights off.
>> Yeah.
[48:32] I've seen that happen a few times.
>> Okay.
[48:34] I will I will visit with them.
>> You might have to ask him if they were
[48:38] born in a barn.
[48:42] » Is that something going on this
Saturday?
[48:45] Excellent.
All right. Thank you, Commissioner.
[48:49] Again, thanks for your hard work on
that.
[48:51] Um
if it's okay with the committee given
[48:54] that we're going to be back-to-back with
another
[48:57] uh meeting
here, uh we'll move on to agenda item
[49:00] number eight. That was the discussion on
development of Missouri Valley Complex
[49:05] concept plan, etc.
Um
[49:08] I want to bring back uh now that we've
talked about all the proposed governance
[49:12] structure and heard where the plat
stands,
[49:16] I think it's time to look at the second
page uh as part of the broader
[49:20] discussion. Item eight asked us to
discuss development of a concept plan
[49:25] and so on and so forth. Um
however, before we start assigning
[49:29] ourselves more work,
it might behoove us to get very clear
[49:33] about what the commission actually
expects this committee to do and what
[49:38] authority and resources we have to do
it.
[49:42] Uh if the committee agrees that these
are areas where we need clarity, we
[49:46] could look at formal action. Uh
specifically, I'm looking at numbers one
[49:49] through five on the second page. Uh the
committee should seek clear direction
[49:54] from the county commission on overall
complex planning,
[49:59] infrastructure planning, county
resources, maintenance responsibilities,
[50:03] and the governance to include what role
and authority the complex committee has
[50:08] as count as the county considers future
governance structures.
[50:14] Also included in here is the who is the
responsible for the maintenance, the
[50:18] weed control, etc.
This
[50:23] considerable discussion may we have that
already today, but is there any formal
[50:29] action the committee would like to take
to request that direction from the
[50:33] commission or is there further
discussion on the items?
[50:37] » I I'll move make motion to that the
Missouri Valley Complex Committee
[50:42] formally request a written clarification
from the Burleigh County Commission
[50:47] regarding the committee's current scope,
responsibilities, authority, and
[50:51] available county resources, maintenance
responsibilities, and direction for
[50:55] continued planning of the Missouri
Valley Complex and proposed egg and
[50:59] equestrian center, and give chair
Nicole permission to
[51:06] go to the next commission meeting to
discuss that with the full commission.
[51:11] » We have a motion on the table. Is there
a second?
[51:15] » Second.
>> A motion and a second to
[51:19] have the
Missouri Valley
[51:22] Oh, my goodness. Missouri Valley Complex
Committee to request formal direction
[51:27] from the Burleigh County Commission and
bring that forward at a the future
[51:31] commission meeting. Any discussion on
the motion?
[51:36] Yes.
>> For discussion clarification, but uh
[51:41] Commissioner
your presentation is Monday again on the
[51:46] County park board change. Correct.
>> Okay.
[51:50] Which
if it's approved to move forward, that
[51:53] begins January 1st. That's in the Yes.
[51:59] Timeline of this
as soon as possible. Okay.
[52:04] » I think Yeah, I I think
>> Either or. Either they approve it
[52:08] the changes or don't, doesn't matter.
This can
[52:11] » I One way or the other, I think that the
commission needs to be put on the spot
[52:15] as to what they expect. There was a
comment made by the chairman of the
[52:18] commission at last meeting that he's
disappointed in what this committee
[52:23] specifically has been doing or not
doing, not clear which. Um
[52:28] And I believe that that is separate from
this
[52:32] larger plan to consolidate the the
parks. Uh
[52:37] you know
I have been personally accused of uh
[52:42] basically carrying Commissioner Munson's
water on this. Ironically, the primary
[52:48] reason that I've been helping him on
this is Commissioner Bakken was
[52:52] uh
uh
[52:54] trying to persuade me to do that and
hoping that I would do that.
[52:57] So,
part of this is
[53:00] when I say that we've been accused of
being rogue, it's mostly me, but uh
[53:07] the idea that one of the one person on
the committee is going rogue for the
[53:11] portfolio holder, even though that
there's a second commissioner that has
[53:15] been supportive of that. I think that
we need to put the full commission on
[53:21] the spot as to what they expect from
this committee, at least for the next 6
[53:26] months.
And you know
[53:29] so that we know what we're supposed to
be doing other than developing this plan
[53:32] that they may or may not go for.
[53:38] » Any further discussion?
Seeing none, the motion has been
[53:45] ordered
and seconded. You're voting on
[53:50] providing
the county commission the opportunity to
[53:55] give us written clarification on our
scope, responsibilities, authority, so
[54:01] on and so forth. I believe that we will
be able to capture the specific motion
[54:05] from the minutes.
And with that in mind, Steve, can you
[54:10] please call roll?
>> Uh
[54:15] Wicker?
>> I.
[54:17] » Peters?
>> Yes.
[54:18] » Wilson?
>> Yes.
[54:20] » Martinson?
>> Yes.
[54:21] » Grau?
>> Yes.
[54:23] » New? Yes.
>> McCall?
[54:25] » Yes.
>> Motion carried.
[54:27] » Motion carried.
>> Um I don't believe that included in the
[54:30] motion was a specific meeting date,
correct?
[54:34] » Not in the motion.
>> Uh I would look to our commissioner
[54:39] liaison portfolio holder as the
direction of which of the next meetings
[54:44] you would like to put that on.
>> That's an interesting point cuz I was
[54:49] just trying to decide when the next
meeting was. So, the 17th we have to be
[54:55] we needed to have agenda items by noon.
Uh and
[54:59] too much between now and
Monday to to worry about it.
[55:04] But our next meeting is not until
September 10th.
[55:07] It's a Thursday.
Because Labor Day is the 7th
[55:11] Monday.
So,
[55:13] I would I would prefer to do it at that
September 10th meeting.
[55:23] » I'd say September 10th is fine.
>> Chung King?
[55:26] » With a ball.
>> Uh we've reached the point of the agenda
[55:31] for any other new or any other business.
30 seconds to go. I none. Uh the next
[55:39] meeting for us will be Wednesday,
September 23rd. Same room, same time.
[55:45] And we will
stand
[55:50] adjourned.
>> Adjourned.
[55:51] » Adjourned.
>> Adjourned.
[55:52] » Adjourned.
>> Huh.