Archive for February, 2010
BISMARCK, N.D. – The Morton Burleigh Bismarck Mandan (MBBM) Opportunity Development committee – a subcommittee of the Mayors’ Economic Advisory Group established by Bismarck Mayor John Warford and Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling – will hold their first meeting Tues., Feb. 23, 2010, 4:15 p.m., in the 4th Floor Mayor’s Conference Room of the City County Building located at 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck.
Agenda
• Discussion of meeting locations and rotation
• Discussion of mission statement
• Discussion of meeting frequency and timing
• Discussion of topics for future meetings
For more information visit www.bismarck.org
Mandan February 19th, 2010, Snow Removal information (Corrected)
Posted by: | CommentsCrews will be out at 8:00 a.m. to remove snow from the following areas:
2nd Street NW from 13th Avenue NW to 14th Avenue NW
3rd Street NW from 13th Avenue NW to 14th Avenue NW
14th Avenue NW from Main Street to 3rd Street NW
Please remove all vehicles from the street, and thank you for your patience
**Note: This is the corrected news release.
Applicants Sought for Bismarck Human Relations Committee
Posted by: | CommentsApplicants Sought for Bismarck Human Relations Committee
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 March 12, 2010. New committee members will be announced at the March 23, 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
Spit-Tobacco Users Urged To Quit–Great American Spit Out February 18, 2010
Posted by: | CommentsBismarck, N.D. – Emphasizing the fact that spit tobacco is not a safe alternative to smoking, staff members of Bismarck Burleigh Public Health encourage spit-tobacco users to get help with quitting during the Great American Spit Out February 18.
“With many public places across the world becoming smoke-free, the tobacco industry has started presenting the idea that spit tobacco is a good substitute for smoking. The fact is, though, that spit-tobacco will not help you quit smoking and is not a safe alternative,” said Susan Kahler, Community Outreach Coordinator. “Spit tobacco contains more than 3,000 chemicals – things like benzene, formaldehyde, arsenic, cadmium, cyanide and lead. Twenty-eight of these chemicals cause cancer. Spit-tobacco use increases the risk of oral cancers – which include cancer of the lip, tongue, cheeks, gums and the floor and roof of the mouth – and can cause other cancers, heart disease and strokes, high blood pressure, tooth decay and gum disease.”
In North Dakota, spit tobacco (also called chewing tobacco, snuff, snus or dip) is used by 5 percent of adults and 12 percent of students in grades nine through 12. Boys in grades nine through 12 use spit tobacco at a rate of nearly 20 percent, and 9 percent of adult males are spit-tobacco users.
“We encourage spit-tobacco users to watch for signs of disease,” Susan Kahler said. “If they have a sore in the mouth that does not heal within two weeks, feel any bumps or soreness or see any discoloration, they need to contact their health-care provider. These could be early warning signs of cancer.
“Better yet, instead of waiting to see signs of illness, and are interested in quitting there are services available,” Susan Kahler said. “The North Dakota Tobacco Quitline is free to help spit-tobacco users in their efforts to quit and will design a program specifically for them. The Quitline also offers free nicotine patches, gum or lozenges for those who qualify. These nicotine replacement aids can be a great help during the quitting process.”
The Great American Spit Out is being held during Through with Chew Week (February 15-19). Bismarck area school students will be having Great American Spit Out educational activities at Bismarck High School. Students have developed a Facebook page, which includes a video about health effects of spit tobacco. They will be promoting Through with Chew week by educating their peers through posters and their Bismarck SADD Facebook page. You can interview Bismarck High School SADD students from 2:38 to 3: 20 on February 18th. You can also contact Austin Schmaltz the School Tobacco Prevention Coordinator for Bismarck High School at 323-4800 to make arrangements for the interview.
Through with Chew Week was started in 1989 by the American Academy of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Inc. in an effort to decrease spit-tobacco use and to raise awareness about the dangers of using spit tobacco.
For help with quitting or for more information about the dangers of using spit tobacco, call the North Dakota Tobacco Quitline at 1.800.QUIT.NOW 1.800.784.8669) or visit North Dakota QuitNet at www.nd.quitnet.com
Mandan Parking Authority Reduces Boundaries for 90-Minute Parking
Posted by: | CommentsThe Mandan Parking Authority met Feb. 9 to review the impact of recent changes to downtown parking arrangements. Based on staff recommendations plus input from commercial property owners and business operators, Parking Authority members voted to reduce boundaries for on-street parking subject to 90-minute restrictions.
The main area where long duration parking is now allowed is the south side of First Street between Collins Avenue and Fourth Avenue NW. The change provides additional options for employees of downtown businesses and agencies as well as their customers and clients who need more time. The changes in enforcement became effective immediately. Signage for the 90-minute restrictions will be removed as schedules for the Public Works Department allow.
The Parking Authority will continue to evaluate parking supply, demand and turnover as downtown redevelopment occurs and businesses move into the district. The overall goal of changes made last fall and since January 1 to Mandan’s downtown parking arrangements is to assure convenient parking is available on the street and adjacent to businesses for customers.
The City of Mandan introduced a courtesy ticket in 2010 for those who park over the limit in a time-restricted area without a violation in the previous 180 days. The purpose of the courtesy ticket is to avoid offending shoppers and visitors, while providing guidance on parking for extended stays.
Recent parking changes have included eliminating fees for parking in public lots on the south side of Main Street, a previous reduction in the 90-minute time-restricted boundaries, increased fines for violations, and increased frequency and scope of enforcement. The increased parking fines and enforcement were implemented in 2010 to dissuade longer duration users from parking in these areas best left to customers, encouraging instead the use of designated lots and lower demand areas.
Feb. 9 actions also included the removal of a few smaller street segments from the 90-minute boundaries:
• the easterly portion of the north side of First Street NE between Collins Avenue and First Avenue NE,
• the east sides of Collins Avenue and First Avenue NW between First Street NW and Second Street NW, and
• the west side of Fourth Avenue NW between Main Street and First Street NW.
Restrictions on overnight parking for alternating days of the week still apply throughout the area to allow for snow removal and street maintenance.
A brochure with a map showing the new boundaries and various types of parking in downtown Mandan will be distributed to area businesses.
The Parking Authority consists of five downtown business operators. To share ideas or concerns with the Parking Authority, call the Police Department at 667-3455. The next meeting is tentatively planned for June 2010.
