BISMARCK, N.D. – When it comes to your health needs, how does our community stack up? Bismarck Burleigh Public Health (BBPH) wants to hear your opinion and is asking you to take a survey to share your thoughts. This survey is for City of Bismarck and Burleigh county residents.

If you reside in the City of Bismarck or Burleigh County and want to provide public input for the Bismarck Burleigh Community Health Needs Assessment, you may complete it online at:

www.surveymonkey.com/s/BismarckandBurleighCountyHealthsurvey

You can also stop by Bismarck Burleigh Public Health, 500 East Front Ave, Bismarck, N.D. to fill out a survey. All survey responses are anonymous. Completing the survey takes about 10 to 15 minutes. Surveys must be completed by March 1.

This survey is a part of the community health needs assessment Bismarck Burleigh Public Health is currently working on. BBPH is working with a number of community partners on this project. The goals of the survey are to help BBPH learn about community assets, our community’s awareness of services being provided, and suggestions to identify gaps in the services.

The survey questions were provided from a survey tool developed by the Center for Rural Health, The University of North Dakota School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

If you have questions about the survey, contact Sue Kahler, Accreditation Coordinator at BBPH, 701-355-1595. For more information visit www.bismarck.org

A new poll has been posted to the City of Mandan website. Visit the Poll section of www.cityofmandan.com to answer this question:

What do you see as the most important benefit of Walmart locating in Mandan?

Burleigh and Morton Counties are issuing controlled burn procedures for their residents. Landowners, equipment operators and outdoor enthusiasts are requested to take proper precautions during all open burning situations:

- Contact the appropriate County number listed below before a controlled burn is started so that emergency responders are not dispatched for reports of a fire when it is a controlled burn. Be prepared to give your name, contact number, location of controlled burn, and anticipated duration of the burn. After the burning is completed and the fire is out, again contact this number to inform them of the completion.

Bismarck/Burleigh Combined Communications Center: 223-9111
Morton County Dispatch Center: 667-3405

- Controlled burns need to be physically manned and monitored at all times. Once the fire has been started, do not walk away until the fire is completely out.

- Be prepared if the fire gets out of hand. Call 9-1-1 immediately and have resources available to mitigate the effects (tractor, digger, shovels, etc.).

Residents are urged to follow the precautions in the ND Rural Fire Danger Guide which lists the outdoor activity guidelines for the five fire danger indices (Low, Medium, High, Very High, and Extreme). Open burning and off-road motorized travel is prohibited when the Fire Index is in the Extreme Category.

The ND Rural Fire Danger Guide is posted on both County websites and the National Weather Service posts the daily North Dakota Fire Danger Index on their website under “Fire Weather”: http://www.weather.gov/bis

Jan. 30, 2012, Mandan, N.D. — Leaders of committees putting the Mandan Tomorrow strategic plan into action reported this evening at a public meeting on second year accomplishments and third year goals. 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.

“Business representatives, government officials and citizen volunteers worked together to continue moving Mandan forward on a number of fronts in 2011,” said Mandan Tomorrow Implementation Committee Chair Kirsten Baesler. “From continued local candidate forms, to putting Mandan marketing tools into the hands of real estate agents, holding a business succession planning seminar, to spearheading an outdoor movie night and increasing college dual credit course offerings at Mandan High School, our community was active in self-improvement in 2011. Plans for 2012 promise more growth and progress.”

“Mandan’s comprehensive planning process began in 2009 with community surveys and focus groups providing direction for the future,” explains Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce President Kelvin Hullet. “Those ideas are becoming realities. Community members have made great strides and are energized to do more.”

Anyone interested in serving on a Mandan Tomorrow subcommittee is encouraged to contact the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber, phone 223-5660. For more information about the Mandan Tomorrow Plan, visit www.mandantomorrow.com.

The presentation was video recorded and will be replayed on Government Access cable channel two. It may also be viewed on demand at www.freetv.org.

Following is an outline of committee reports. Click here to download the slide presentation.

2011 ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Overall Implementation Committee

- Shared news of Mandan Tomorrow 2010 accomplishments and 2011 action plans with media and public.

Leadership, Pride & Image

- Completed first year of the “Great Things: Made in Mandan” marketing campaign to elevate community image for purposes of recruiting businesses, residents and visitors.
- Presented opportunities for collaboration on community marketing to community and civic organizations.
- Secured partnerships in community marketing from at least five non-profit organizations and inclusion of logo and key messages in local government communications vehicles.
- Briefed real estate agents on Mandan progress and provided information to promote community strengths.
- Provided information about Mandan for Chamber packets given to people interested in moving to the area.
- Hosted second annual candidate information forum to encourage citizen interest in serving in local government.
- Conducted school board candidate issues forum to help citizens become familiar with views on pressing issues.
- Presented Mandan Tomorrow strategic plan, accomplishments and projects to Chamber’s Leadership Bismarck-Mandan class to help engage others in community betterment.
- Issued questionnaire at business social to begin gathering input on interest in improving communication with and among Mandan businesses and to improve cohesiveness.
- Sought participation in meetings of city staff regarding topic of community beautification.

Economic Opportunity & Prosperity

- Supported proposed bill to create a targeted retail state income tax credit during 2011 legislative session. Hearings helped bring attention to conundrum some cities and towns face between lack of sales tax and pressure on property tax.
- Began process of organizing a Renaissance Fund Organization to invest in redevelopment and associated business projects.
- Prompted mailing of fact sheet about assistance and incentives to all Mandan businesses.
- Supported lead taken by City of Mandan in application for U.S. Treasury’s Small Business Credit Initiative to obtain funding for expanded business financing programs.
- Hosted succession planning seminar for businesses.

Quality Places & Destinations

- Collaboration with Mandan Progress Organization on additional community events resulted in successful second annual Wild West Grillfest. The Sport and Recreation Show scheduled for May was cancelled due to inclement weather.
- Assisted Mandan Parks and Recreation with first outdoor summer movie.
- Participated in renewed discussions about community interest in an event or expo center.

Education & Workforce

- Increased by 12 percent the number of students taking advantage of after-school supplemental educational services to improve math and reading competencies.
- Increased high school student enrollment in dual credit courses by 84 students taking an additional 384 credit hours due to expanded opportunities and a reduction in the cost by 70 percent for students taking dual credit classes taught at Mandan High School.
- Bismarck State College’s Continuing Education, Training and Innovation program provided training to five Mandan businesses and organizations.

2012 ACTION PLAN

Leadership, Pride & Image

- Host information session on serving in local office to encourage citizen interest in candidacy.
- Involve Mandan youth in community through volunteerism and education about government and civic processes.
- Foster communication with and among Mandan businesses to improve cohesiveness and pursuit of common goals.
- Ensure voting-age adults are aware of candidate choices for local boards and candidate views on pressing issues.
- Encourage Mandan businesses and their employees to volunteer for community service efforts including projects, committees and activities.
- Engage key civic organizations by reporting progress regarding community marketing and overall implementation of Mandan Tomorrow strategic plan.
- Continue community marketing under consistent theme.
- Strengthen partnerships with government, business and civic entities to market and improve Mandan citizens’ impression of and satisfaction with community.
- Provide local media with information on positive efforts and momentum in Mandan.
- Make sure points of contact for prospective new residents have current information about Mandan.
- Continue to focus component of overall marketing strategy on capturing I-94 traffic.
- Explore means for more citizen involvement in community beautification efforts.
- Continue to collaborate with city officials on possibilities for property maintenance ordinance.

Economic Opportunity & Prosperity

- Establish Renaissance Fund Organization to stimulate major redevelopment and business projects.
- Capitalize on energy industry growth.
- Nurture entrepreneurs and small business development by hosting two educational sessions on topics such as franchise opportunities, available properties, or ways to benefit from the oil industry.

Quality Places & Destinations

- Continue to gauge interest in an event or expo center.
- Support new community events including Gladiator Rush, a new 5K run scheduled for June 30 at Huff Hills.
- Support second annual outdoor movie event.
- Explore possibilities for restoring and enhancing Ft. Lincoln State Park including possible coordination of a community survey.

Education & Workforce

- Work to secure a portion of funding or to benefit from Hess Corporation grant in support of standards-based education. This effort will be in conjunction with the Regional Education Association and Missouri River Educational Cooperative.
- Provide additional incentive and support for dual credit opportunities for Mandan High School students.
- Look into potential for student internship opportunities.
- Continue to work with the Mandan business community to recognize and provide incentives to students for academic achievement.

Mandan Tomorrow Year 2 Progress & Year 3 Plans

Humanities scholar and author, Clay S. Jenkinson and Bismarck State College President Larry C. Skogen discuss the life of Sitting Bull, based on Robert Utley’s book The Lance and the Shield. During their conversation, the scholars explore Sitting Bull’s place in American mythology and history, trying to make sense of the way in which some Indians became white favorites in spite of their – or perhaps because of – their resistance.

To find out more, watch Conversations with Clay Jenkinson – Sitting Bull: The Man, the Myth, the Continuing Controversy (12/18/11) on Video On Demand. (To view this show online, you will need Windows Media Player.)

These are conversations they both believe North Dakotans need to have. Their goal is to help people of the state reconnect with key events in their history within a broader social context and to spotlight Bismarck State College as an important player in promoting humanities within the community. These programs were funded in part by the North Dakota Humanities Council.

You can find more information and schedules on our web site.

Visit “Conversations at Bismarck State College” at: www.bsctalk.com.