The North Dakota League of Cities (NDLC) prepared a question and answer sheet to share with cities and North Dakota residents regarding Measure 2. The following questions and answers are reprinted from the worksheet the League created.
What is Measure No. 2?
It’s a proposal to amend the North Dakota Constitution to prohibit political subdivisions (cities, counties, school districts, townships, park districts, water districts, irrigation districts, fire protection districts, soil conservation districts, etc.) from levying a tax on the assessed value of property. The proposal will be on the primary election ballot …

Looking at Future Community Growth
As energy development expands in Western North Dakota, Bismarck- Mandan and Burleigh and Morton counties are anticipating continued growth. While many local leaders don’t expect drilling to reach the community or surrounding counties, with an ideal proximity to the oil fields, many ancillary services and individuals are making the area home.
With a steady influx of businesses and employees expected, local leaders believe now is the time to prepare for the future. “It is important we plan to get our cities positioned for the right response to …

Two senior leaders within the North Dakota National Guard, who together have served nearly six decades in the military recently retired.
Chaplain (Col.) William M. Ziegler served as the chief of Army and Air National Guard chaplains and Command Chief Master Sgt. Paula K. Johnson was the state command chief, which is the senior enlisted leader for the North Dakota Air National Guard.
Both were honored during a Change of Authority and retirement ceremony on Jan. 7. During the Change of Authority, Command Chief Master Sgt. Bennett Bush, of Argusville, N.D., became …

The North Dakota National Guard’s Land Component Command (LCC) welcomed a new leader when the current commander retired. Brig. Gen. William “Bill” Seekins relinquished command to Col. David Anderson during a change of command ceremony at the Raymond J. Bohn Armory in Bismarck. The LCC is the Army component of the N.D. National Guard and consists of more than 3,350 Soldiers.

Measure 2, an initiative to eliminate property tax in North Dakota, will be up for a vote in June. Petitioned onto the summer ballot through eff orts spearheaded by the group “Empower the Taxpayers of North Dakota,” the measure, if passed, will constitutionally alter the state’s tax structure by eliminating property tax as a revenue source for local government entities.
While the prospect of eliminating property taxes is appealing on the surface, many in both the public and private sectors believe the proposal could be detrimental to state, county and local …

The Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Military Affairs Committee (MAC) will sponsor its first Military Education Fair, to be held at the North Dakota National Guard Raymond J. Bohn Armory on Saturday, Dec 3, 2011. The free event is open to all active duty and reserve personnel, family members, and veterans.
Representatives will be available from 20 colleges, universities and trade schools across the nation to answer questions about returning to school, enrolling, eligibility and transferring previously earned college credits. Each participating school will donate a door prize, valued around $200, which …

The Chief of the Boat assigned to Pre- Commissioning Unit (PCU) North Dakota participated in his first namesake visit to bring awareness to the Virginia class submarine.
PCU North Dakota’s (SSN 784) Chief of the Boat Master Chief Electronics Technician (SS/DV) Timothy A. Preabt, a Minot, N.D. native and Mandan, N.D. graduate, met with Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling, Bismarck Commissioner Mike Seminary the USS North Dakota Committee and state and national delegation representatives at the Seven Seas Hotel & Waterpark in Mandan on Oct. 21.
“I am extremely honored to be the …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
The oil boom in Western North Dakota is generating a lot of income. The State coffers are filling fast and business tills are taking in extra income along with many individuals. But although money is coming in quickly for many businesses, it is also going out in the form of higher wages.
Since North Dakota’s Bakken activity erupted in 2005, employers in the western part of the state have been steadily increasing wages to both attract and retain employees for a variety of positions and services. Recently, …

Gov. Jack Dalrymple announced that the Federal Emergency Management Agency has approved his request to extend the deadline for North Dakota residents to apply for federal flood assistance.
Home owners and business owners have until Nov. 21, 2011, to apply with FEMA for Individual Assistance. The deadline extension also givesflood victims 60 more days to apply for low interest loans provided by the Small Business Administration. Additionally, the extension means that FEMA will continue to operate a Disaster Recovery Center in Minot where property owners are recovering from unprecedented flooding along …

Congratulations to Dr. Brenda Werner for receiving the highly coveted North Dakota Teacher of the Year award at a ceremony at Bismarck High School on Sept. 27. Werner has taught for 23 years, eleven of those at BHS where she currently teaches Advanced Placement (AP) English 12, English 12, and Literary Magazine. She also has been instrumental in the formation and successful growth of the Writer’s Club at Bismarck High.
The classroom teacher is the backbone of the American educational system. No one person has a greater impact on the education …

By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Many issues impacting North Dakota businesses were discussed, debated and voted on during the 2011 legislative session, but a few key topics remain on the table for the upcoming special session scheduled to begin Nov. 7.
For the second time this year, state lawmakers will convene at the Capitol to tackle redistricting needs, health care reform and flood recovery. The session is expected to last five days and legislators will remain focused on a set agenda with few new bill introductions expected.
Interim Legislative Redistricting Committee members have …

The Bismarck Community Bowl Authority announced today that MDU Resources Group is the lead donor in the “Protect our Turf” campaign to renovate the Community Bowl. The company will donate $2 million through a 10-year agreement with the Bowl Authority and retain the right to extend the agreement from 2022 through 2032 for an additional $1 million. The venue will be known as the MDU Resources Community Bowl upon completion of the renovations.
“The Community Bowl is a tremendous resource for Bismarck and the surrounding region,” said Terry Hildestad, president and …

North Dakota residents who have been aff ected by the flooding that began April 7 can now visit the North Dakota Department of Emergency Services (NDDES) and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) Disaster Recovery Centers (DRC) if they have questions about recovery programs.
The DRC located at the Bank of North Dakota in Bismarck has recovery program representatives available to help answer questions about assistance. The DRC is set up for residents who like to speak one-on-one to recovery representatives, but it’s not necessary to visit a center to receive …

Gateway to Science, North Dakota’s only hands-on science center, will be taking part in the Blue Star Museums program. This program offers free admission to all active duty military personnel and their immediate family members from Memorial Day through Labor Day.
Gateway to Science invites North Dakota National Guard Active and Reserve Force families, Minot Air Force Base families and Grand Forks Air Force Base families to visit Gateway to Science this summer under the Blue Star Museum program. Blue Star Museums is a partnership among Blue Star Families, the National …

Draped in a star quilt, former North Dakota First Lady Grace Link accepts congratulations from those who attended an April 28 dedication program at United Tribes. The college named one of its child-care facilities for Mrs. Link and her late husband. The Arthur and Grace Link Child Development Center, originally constructed in 1978, was made possible by the support of then-Governor Arthur Link.
“The opportunity came across his desk to support a ‘Child Development Center’ at United Tribes…and he was most willing to give his full support,” she said during the …

Shannon Gangl, owner and CEO of the Best Western Seven Seas Hotel & Water Park in Mandan, has been selected as the U.S. Small Business Administration’s (SBA) 2011 North Dakota Small Business Person of the Year. This annual award recognizes exceptional business owners who demonstrate the entrepreneurial spirit in starting and growing a successful business. Nominated by the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce’s Excellence in Business Committee, Gangl was selected following a statewide competition.
“The Chamber is extremely proud of the work Shannon has done as a small business owner in Bismarck-Mandan,” …

Gov. Jack Dalrymple and North Dakota Tourism unveiled return on investment (ROI) results for its 2010 advertising campaign, along with 2010’s year end results, adding to the ongoing list of positive statistics that demonstrate the strength of the state’s tourism industry.
A $1.94-million investment in North Dakota tourism advertising brought $176.9 million in visitor spending to the state in 2010, according to research by Longwoods International, a leading travel industry market research company.
Each dollar spent on paid media in 2010 brought in $91 in visitor spending. In addition, each dollar spent …

The North Dakota Education Standards and Practices Board (ESPB) has granted approval for United Tribes Technical College to off er its own baccalaureate program in elementary education. The ESPB is the agency that approves teacher education programs in the state.
The college was informed March 10 that the board granted official approval and authorization for United Tribes to begin admitting students to a baccalaureate program in elementary education. The majority of the college’s academic, career and technical programs result in two-year, associate degrees or certificates of completion.
For the past eight years, …

Businesses play role in curbing spending
By Kylie Blanchard, Clearwater Communications
Recently the Chamber co-hosted a presentation with Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) to educate businesses about the state of the healthcare industry. The meeting outlined the state’s largest insurance provider’s aggressive plan to contain health insurance premiums and also provided business owners and employers with strategies to help curb healthcare costs.
“With the recent focus on healthcare reform, there has been a huge amount of attention on the cost of health insurance,” says Paul von Ebers, BCBSND president …

The steering committee for Mandan’s strategic vision plan, “Mandan Tomorrow,” recently met to review 2011 action plans submitted by four working subgroups. The four areas of implementation are: (1) leadership, pride and image; (2) economic opportunity and prosperity; (3) quality places and destinations; and (4) education and workforce.
“By working together, elected officials, business representatives and citizen volunteers accomplished a great deal in 2010,” said Mandan Tomorrow Implementation Committee Chair Kirsten Baesler.
“From launching two new major community events to starting a public school foundation, adding college dual credit courses at Mandan …