The City of Bismarck will host a public informational meeting to provide information and seek input from builders, developers and citizens regarding proposed amendments to the Floodplain Ordinance. The public input meeting will be held Thursday, May 13th, 4:00 – 6:00 PM, in the Tom Baker Room in the City County Office Building, at 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck, N.D. There will be a brief presentation on the content of the ordinance at 4:00 p.m. The proposed amendments modify many sections of the ordinance and are intended to minimize public and private losses from flooding in the future.

The proposed ordinance amendments will bring the City’s Floodplain Ordinance in line with requirements of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and include provisions that would require new residential structures, attendant utilities, accessory buildings and substantial improvements to existing structures to be elevated on fill to at least two feet above the base flood elevation. For more information call 701-355-1840 or visit www.bismarck.org/communitydevelopment.

BISMARCK, N.D. – Mayor John Warford is seeking Bismarck residents interested in serving a three year term on the Bismarck Human Relations Committee. The deadline for applications is May 17, 2010. The volunteer committee has one open position. Anyone residing in the City of Bismarck or the City’s extraterritorial area is eligible for appointment. The new committee member will be announced at the May 25, 2010, City Commission meeting.

The Human Relations Committee meets the third Monday of every month at the City/County Building. The committee has adopted a policy that four consecutive absences from meetings will result in a request for resignation.

The mission of the Mayor’s Human Relations Committee is to protect and promote the personal dignity of all Bismarck citizens and to eliminate any discriminatory barriers that prevent them from reaching their full human potential.

Interested Bismarck residents should send Mayor Warford a letter describing their qualifications, background, and why they would be interested in serving on the committee. Please visit www.bismarck.org and click on application. The letter and or application should be mailed to:

Mayor John Warford
City of Bismarck
PO Box 5503
Bismarck, ND 58506-5503

For more information you may contact: Bismarck City Administration at 701-355-1300 or visit www.bismarck.org

BISMARCK, N.D. – The annual Bismarck Mayor’s Prayer Luncheon, will be held May 13, 2010, at 12:00 Noon until 1:00 p.m. The Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy will celebrate its 30th anniversary this year and the program will include Senior Chaplain Dan Sweeney, who will deliver the keynote address. The event will take place at the Ramkota Inn, 800 South Third Street, Bismarck. Reserved table sponsorships are $500 for a table of eight, $250 for a table of four. Individual seats may be reserved and are $20 each. Reservations must be made in advance by 5:00 p.m., May 10, 2010. For information about sponsorship and to reserve an individual seat, contact Dan Sweeney at 701-355-1889. Proceeds from the luncheon will benefit the Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy program.

The Chaplaincy was founded in 1980 by Rev. George Walker. Chaplain Walker served until his untimely death in 1999. In its infancy the Chaplaincy served only the Bismarck Police Department. Soon, however, the Burleigh County Sheriff became involved with the program. Over the years the Chaplaincy has grown to serve also the Bismarck Fire Department, the N.D. State Highway Patrol, the Bismarck/Burleigh County Emergency Management and Combined Communications Center. The Chaplaincy is also instrumental in training chaplains around the state to serve their own emergency services departments.

Today the Chaplaincy is headed by Senior Chaplain Dan Sweeney and there are seven volunteer chaplains who give of their time in serving our agencies. Chaplain Les Wolfgram, Shepherd of the Valley Lutheran Church, Chaplain Sam Saylor, Gateway Community Fellowship. Wolfgram and Saylor have served since 1999. Sister Agnes also serves as a parish worker for Cathedral of the Holy Spirit; Chaplain Lonnie Grabowska is from Corpus Christi parish and is studying to be a deacon. Chaplain Nathan Keith is an associated pastor at Trinity Lutheran Church. Chaplain Cecil Stanton is from the Faith Center at 2303 E. Divide. Chaplain Terry Kern of the First Evangelical Free Church has been with the Chaplaincy program for over 20 years. For more information about the Bismarck Law Enforcement Chaplaincy www.chaplainsnd.org. For more information visit www.bismarck.org

BISMARCK, N.D. – The community of Bismarck has been challenged to grow 8000 pounds of garden produce to share with food pantries. The challenge is from the Hunger-Free ND Garden Project. In partnership with community gardeners, Bismarck Burleigh Public Health has agreed to coordinate the Bismarck Community Hunger-Free Garden, located near the existing community garden plots, west of the Municipal Ball Park. Soil preparation will be completed by the Bismarck Park District but citizens or group volunteers are needed to pull weeds, water plants, and harvest. Families or groups are asked to volunteer for a week or a month and together do what is needed, to help make the Hunger-Free Bismarck Garden Project a success. Individuals, organizations, or groups interested in taking a turn in this project, to be added to the growing season schedule, or for more information regarding a pledge card and signage labeling, should call Wanda at 355-1540. Volunteers are needed beginning the first week in June and ending at the first frost. Farmer Market grower Bonnie Munsch, has agreed to donate seeds for the Hunger-Free Bismarck Garden. Harvested produce will be weighed and donated to Bismarck food pantries, allowing them to include fresh produce in food baskets.

The statewide project was announced March 3 by the N.D. Department of Agriculture and NDSU Extension Service. Many large and small communities are taking the challenge, as are many individuals. The intent is to make fresh produce available at existing charitable food distribution sites across the State. It is reported that each week in ND, 8000 citizens receive food assistance from food pantries, soup kitchens or homeless shelters. The Hunger-Free ND Garden Project is expected to grow a minimum of 500,000 pounds of fresh foods and distribute it at 244 food pantries in North Dakota. Supporters hope the system works using local man power and existing distribution sites so fresh, healthy produce will be available to everyone. The project hopes to recognize growers and track quantities of produce donated in North Dakota, therefore all community and individual gardeners will be registered. Other Hunger-Free ND Garden partners include Healthy ND, ND Farmers Market and Growers Association, Lutheran Social Services Great Plains Food Bank, and Pride of Dakota.

For more information visit www.bismarck.org/publichealth or http://bisparks.org/Facilities/CommunityGardens.asp