Votes at a glance: Dickinson commission approves recalls workers, contracts, project agreements and a voluntary hazardous‑tree program

The Dickinson City Commission approved a series of staff recommendations and contracts during its regular meeting, including election worker appointments for an upcoming recall, an HR handbook rewrite agreement, multiple engineering task orders, and a voluntary hazardous-tree removal program that allows property owners to special-assess removal costs over 10 years.

Deputy City Administrator Carlson presented a recall election worker slate for the March 11 recall election; the commission approved the appointments unanimously. The city will pay judges and clerks $21 per hour. Appointed workers named in the meeting were Susan Westfall and Joan Heckman (judges) and poll clerks Ron Keller, Les Dykeman, Joanne Heiser and Peggy Maduna; staff recommended approval and the motion carried.

The commission approved an agreement with High Road Partners to help rewrite the city’s employee handbook and advise on Chapter 42 code changes. Staff reported a scope of services with estimated costs between $2,500 and $3,250 for the handbook and an optional $1,000–$1,500 to revise remaining code language; the work will go to civil service for review before returning to the commission.

In public works and engineering business, commissioners approved: - A voluntary Hazardous Tree Removal special assessment program (Resolution 06‑2025) allowing property owners to request hazardous-tree removal and pay through a 10‑year special assessment; the city forester can assist with removal as requested. - A master service agreement (MSA) with Civil Science Infrastructure Inc. to standardize terms for future engineering projects. - A task order to Civil Science for the 2026 road maintenance project (project 202601) that will include a mill-and-overlay bid package and a chip-and-fog-seal package; staff said the project is included in the 2025 capital improvement plan and financed with gross production tax (GPT) funds. - A contract amendment with Moore Engineering Inc. for the Tenth Avenue East (Velarde to Museum Drive) project; the original contract was $142,800 and the amendment adds $12,530 for additional utility coordination, curb ramps and right-of-way agreements.

The commission also approved two North Dakota Department of Water Resources (DWR) cost‑share application tasks with Barr Engineering: an initial task order for Manns Dam (task not to exceed $6,000) and a similar not-to-exceed $6,000 task order for Queen City Dam. For Manns Dam staff said a DWR general water management cost-share would cover 75% of eligible costs; staff anticipates an application for $135,000 with Dickinson’s share estimated at $45,000 (a total project estimate of about $180,000), and the city’s share is included in the 2025 capital improvement plan. The commission voted to approve both task orders and also approved a letter supporting the Manns Dam cost-share application.

All listed motions were approved by roll-call votes with ayes from Commissioners Frederick, Baer, Riddle, Oderman and Chair Decker unless otherwise noted in the record.

Ending: Staff will proceed with the approved contracts, appointments and applications. Items that require further steps (for example DWR cost-share awards and the HR handbook draft) will return to the commission when additional approvals or funding decisions are needed.