Dickinson City Commission approves ordinances, agreements and procedural change in single session

The Dickinson City Commission approved a series of ordinances, contracts and procedural changes during a meeting that included public hearings and staff presentations.

The commission voted to adopt a Municode adoption ordinance (Ordinance 18-14), approve an actuarial services agreement with Gallagher for 2025, adopt an updated harassment policy (Ordinance 18-12), modify a previously approved 2025 road maintenance special improvement district to remove curb-and-gutter from the SID assessment and reset the SID interest rate, and accept a cost-participation and maintenance agreement with the North Dakota Department of Transportation for the Highway 22 signal replacement. The commission also approved development items including the North Energy Center future land-use amendment and rezone, the Maduna rezone and the Madoona First minor subdivision. A tobacco license for Moe—s Smoke Shop was granted and the commission approved findings and an order in a demolition hearing for 348 E. Broadway.

The meeting opened with routine agenda and consent approvals. Staff presented the annual actuarial services agreement with Gallagher; Mrs. Rita Carlson summarized the scope and the increased fees for the 2025 full actuarial valuation and GASB reporting. The commission voted to approve the agreement after a motion by Commissioner Bair and a second by Commissioner Oderman.

Commissioners also voted to amend the order of business for future meetings so that public comments on items not on the agenda will appear later in the agenda (to become item 9 going forward). Commissioner Oderman moved the change; the motion passed unanimously.

On infrastructure and finance items, City Engineer/Community Development staff brought a resolution to modify the previously approved 2025 Road Maintenance SID (remove curb and gutter from the SID and set the interest rate at 3.7 percent). The commission approved the modification and staff said updated letters to affected property owners will be sent. The commission also approved a cost-participation and maintenance agreement with N.D. DOT for the Highway 22 traffic-signal replacement; city staff said the city—s requested additional scope (intersection cameras and emergency-vehicle infrared beacons) was accounted for in the 2025 capital budget.

Land-use votes included approval of a future land-use map amendment and concurrent rezone for the North Energy Center residential subdivision (previously heard by Planning & Zoning in 2020 but not recorded) and approval of the Maduna rezone and the Madoona First minor subdivision to allow a property owner to combine lots and construct a detached shop.

Other formal actions included approval of a tobacco license for Moe—s Smoke Shop (3275 Westridge Drive) and approval of the findings and order from a demolition hearing for 348 E. Broadway. The commission also approved the second reading of an update to Chapter 29 (E.E.O. and harassment policy) as Ordinance 18-12.

Several items were presented for information: Dickinson State University provided an update on campus capital projects (new indoor arena and AG building, enrollment and programs). The commission—s routine recall-election update reported no petitions were filed by the filing deadline.

Votes at a glance

- Actuarial services agreement with Gallagher (annual valuation/GASB reporting): motion to approve by Commissioner Bair; second by Commissioner Oderman; vote recorded: Bair Aye; Oderman Aye; Frederick Aye; Riddle Aye; Chair Aye — outcome: approved.

- Change to agenda order: move public comments (items not on the agenda) to item 9 for future agendas: motion by Commissioner Oderman; second by Commissioner Frederick; unanimous — approved.

- Findings and order from demolition hearing (348 E. Broadway): motion by Commissioner Bair; second by Commissioner Oderman; vote recorded: Bair Aye; Oderman Aye; Frederick Aye; Bridal Aye; Chair Aye — outcome: approved; property owner has 30 days to appeal to district court.

- Municode adoption ordinance (Ordinance 18-14): motion to approve by Commissioner Frederick; second by Commissioner Riddle; vote recorded: Frederick Aye; Bridal Aye; Oderman Aye; Bair Aye; Chair Aye — approved.

- Ordinance 18-12 (Chapter 29 harassment/EEO policy), second reading: motion by Commissioner Bair; second by Commissioner Frederick; vote: Bair Aye; Frederick Aye; Oderman Aye; Riddle Aye; Chair Aye — approved.

- North Energy Center future land-use amendment (Ordinance 18-15) and rezone (zoning map amendment): motions by Commissioner Oderman/Frederick; seconds noted; vote recorded as unanimous — approved.

- Maduna rezone (rezoning to match adjacent parcels) and Madoona First minor subdivision (replat to allow construction of a detached shop): motion to approve by Commissioner Bair; second by Commissioner Bridal; recorded votes in favor — approved.

- 2025 Road Maintenance SID modification (remove curb/gutter; set interest to 3.7%): motion by Commissioner Bair; second by Commissioner Frederick; recorded vote: Bair Aye; Frederick Aye; Riddle No (noted as a No on special assessment); Chair Aye — motion carries.

- Highway 22 traffic-signal maintenance agreement with N.D. DOT (project 5-0221-45070): motion by Commissioner Frederick; second by Commissioner Baer; recorded unanimous approval — approved.

- Moe—s Smoke Shop tobacco license (3275 Westridge Drive): motion by Commissioner Oderman; second by Commissioner Frederick; recorded unanimous approval — approved.

What the votes mean now

Staff said it will finalize plans, send updated notices to property owners where required and proceed with bids and implementation steps on capital projects. The city attorney noted the demolition findings will be served on the property owner and that the owner will have 30 days to appeal to district court.

Commissioners scheduled follow-up work by staff on a number of items (including the demolition accessory-structure issue discussed in a hearing and implementation details for the SIDs). The city will post formal ordinance texts and updated project letters on the city website.

Ending

City staff will circulate notices and next steps on the approved projects; the commission asked staff for timeline details and cost updates as final plans and bids are prepared. Several informational presentations were deferred to future updates, and commissioners said they expect staff recommendations on enforcement and implementation for items raised during public hearings.