OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Bismarck City Commission Meeting - August 11, 2026: Kratom, Water Plant Funding, Audit, and Street Fee Task Force

City Commission — Tuesday, August 11, 2026
BodyBismarck, North Dakota
SessionCity Commission
DateTuesday, August 11, 2026
StatusNEW · FILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:21:08
Transcript — Verbatim
0:10

I have 515.

0:11

It's the 11th of August.

0:13

We're in the Tom Baker room of the City County Building.

0:15

We will be having our Board of City Commissioners meeting here briefly, but before we begin, if Chaplain Calis would mind uh invocation and leading us in the pledge as well.

0:35

Thank you for the uh opportunity to open this meeting in prayer.

0:39

Let's uh stand together as we pray and have the pledge.

0:45

Heavenly Father, thank you for this day for this beautiful evening.

0:49

Thank you that we can live in a place where we experience and enjoy the change of seasons and the warm summer weather.

0:57

Grant safety and strength for farmers and others as harvest continues.

1:02

Thank you too for the privilege of living in this city of Bismarck as well as in this state.

1:07

Thank you for the many blessings and opportunities that this local community offers for our families and each of us who live here.

1:15

And I pray today for those who are in the offices that govern this community.

1:19

I ask that your spirit guide as they make decisions.

1:23

Thank you too for the freedom citizens have to speak up and be heard.

1:28

I pray for Mayor Schmidt's and those who work in that office.

1:31

I pray for each commissioner as well as other elected officials and city workers, and ask that each one would be blessed by you as they carry out their responsibilities.

1:41

I also pray for our first responders, those who put themselves in harm's way to protect the citizens of this community, our police and other law enforcement, firefighters, EMS workers, dispatch, health care workers, and others.

1:57

Please protect them in their line of duty so that they might protect those of us who placed our trust in them.

2:03

Help them to be resilient as they deal with their own emotions when facing impossibly sad and heart-wrenching conditions.

2:11

Grant them wisdom and peace.

2:14

So God, we ask for your guidance in everything said and done this evening.

2:18

I'm thankful for each and every one of the blessings you give in Jesus' name.

2:22

Amen.

2:24

Say the pledge together.

2:25

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

2:51

Commissioner Risch.

2:53

Here.

2:54

Commissioner Dahl.

2:55

Here.

2:55

Commissioner Connolly.

2:57

Here.

2:57

Commissioner Hull?

2:58

Here.

2:58

Mayor Schmitz.

2:59

Here.

3:00

At this point in time, it's public comment.

3:02

Public comment is restricted to the items on the consent agenda.

3:06

The regular agenda that is not a public hearing or a prior uh city commission agenda item.

3:12

So anyone who would wish to speak, please come up forward to the microphone.

3:16

Make sure you signed in, identify yourself, and tell us what you're uh speaking to.

3:33

Hello, my name is Sarah Kalloff.

3:37

Just print that quick.

3:56

Okay.

3:58

Um good afternoon.

3:59

Um again, my name is Sarah Koloff.

4:02

I am a very concerned mom.

4:04

Last week something happened that I had never encountered before in my lifetime.

4:10

Can you tell us which topics?

4:11

Oh, Kratom.

4:12

Okay, thank you.

4:13

Yep, absolutely.

4:15

Um last week something happened that I'd never encountered before in my life.

4:18

Someone that I voted for in government made a bold and brave move to protect their citizens.

4:24

I first encountered Kratom when it first appeared in gas stations and bottles like five-hour energy drinks.

4:30

I worked at a Senx and we only had a few early morning customers that would grab one.

4:35

After a short period of time, they were buying several every morning with their breakfasts.

4:41

Then it became a whole box not long after that.

4:44

Then one day one of them came in and bought every box we had for a grand total of over $900, which he split between three credit cards.

4:53

My manager was a responsible human being and made the right decision that day to never reorder the stuff because it was obviously highly addictive and dangerous.

5:02

There is a wave of new substances and synthetic substances slash compounds, overtaking our youth and majorly competing for their attention.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management███████████████████████████27%
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Procedural██████████████14%
Public Safety██████████████14%
Budget Equity Analysis██████████10%
Youth Programs████4%
Cannabis Regulation███3%
Property Tax Assessment███3%
Public Health██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Bismarck City Commission Meeting - August 11, 2026

The Bismarck Board of City Commissioners met on August 11, 2026, at 5:15 PM in the Tom Baker Room of the City-County Building. The meeting included public comments on Kratom, approval of several routine items, a detailed update on the water treatment plant expansion and a funding request, acceptance of the 2025 audit, and discussions on Kratom legislation, non-disclosure agreements, and a street fee task force.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved the consent agenda (with items E2 and G5 removed due to conflict of interest).
  • E2: Approved encroachment and waiver agreement with Church of Ascension (vote 5-0).
  • G5: Approved passenger rail siting study contract with KLJ Engineering (vote 5-0). Commissioner Risch commented on the need for a station in Bismarck.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Sarah Kalloff (concerned parent): Expressed strong opposition to Kratom and synthetic substances, describing personal observations of addiction and calling for a permanent ban.
  • Lexi Gunderson: Shared her brother Nick's fatal overdose on mitragynine (natural Kratom) after using it as a perceived natural alternative to opioids. She fully supported Governor Armstrong's ban and provided educational materials.
  • Alison Smith (Director of Government Affairs, Global Kratom Coalition): Distinguished between natural Kratom (used by 23 million Americans) and lab-created synthetic derivatives (e.g., 7-OH). She noted the DEA's July 6 notice of intent to schedule concentrated 7-OH as a Schedule I substance. She advocated for regulation rather than a full ban and offered to answer questions.

Discussion Items

  • Water Treatment Plant Expansion (Item E): Michael (project lead) presented an update. The project originally estimated at $83M (2023) is now projected at $130M due to design refinements, inflation, and additional scope (sand removal, clear well, etc.). $50M in state funding is already secured. Staff requested authorization to apply for and accept an $80M DWSRF loan (at ~3% interest). Commissioners questioned cost allocation to outside entities, rate impacts, and the necessity of the loan. Commissioner Risch noted a preliminary budget includes a 3.5% water rate increase (half percent above usual). The motion to approve the loan application passed unanimously.
  • 2025 Audit & ACFR (Item F): Ryan from Finance presented the audit, which received a clean, unmodified opinion with no material weaknesses. One carryover finding on the event center is expected to be resolved. The city maintains healthy fund balances. The report was accepted unanimously.
  • Kratom Special Session (Item G): Commissioner Connolly raised the upcoming September 2 special legislative session on Kratom. Commissioners discussed whether to take a formal position. Consensus was to monitor the bill and call a special meeting if needed; no position was adopted.
  • Non-Disclosure Agreements & Open Records (Item H): Commissioner Connolly referenced concerns from other communities about NDAs limiting transparency. Attorney Julie Mees explained that NDAs conflic with North Dakota's open records laws unless specific exemptions apply (e.g., trade secrets). Commissioners Risch and Connolly stated they personally will not sign NDAs.
  • Street Fee Task Force (Other Business): Mayor Schmitz proposed establishing a task force to study a street utility fee as an alternative to special assessments. After brief discussion, the motion to authorize the Mayor to form the committee passed unanimously.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda approved with E2 and G5 passed separately (all unanimous).
  • Public hearings on alcohol license (La Quinta) and victim witness ordinance approved unanimously.
  • Ordinance 6678 (alcoholic beverages) continued to August 25, 2026 due to notice deficiencies.
  • Easement release for Treetop Edition approved unanimously; applicant indicated plans for a roller rink.
  • Water treatment plant loan application ($80M DWSRF) approved unanimously; staff to also seek additional state grants.
  • 2025 audit and Comprehensive Annual Financial Report accepted unanimously.
  • No formal position taken on Kratom legislation; commission will monitor and potentially meet if needed.
  • Street fee task force authorized; commission noted importance of community engagement.

Meeting Transcript

I have 515. It's the 11th of August. We're in the Tom Baker room of the City County Building. We will be having our Board of City Commissioners meeting here briefly, but before we begin, if Chaplain Calis would mind uh invocation and leading us in the pledge as well. Thank you for the uh opportunity to open this meeting in prayer. Let's uh stand together as we pray and have the pledge. Heavenly Father, thank you for this day for this beautiful evening. Thank you that we can live in a place where we experience and enjoy the change of seasons and the warm summer weather. Grant safety and strength for farmers and others as harvest continues. Thank you too for the privilege of living in this city of Bismarck as well as in this state. Thank you for the many blessings and opportunities that this local community offers for our families and each of us who live here. And I pray today for those who are in the offices that govern this community. I ask that your spirit guide as they make decisions. Thank you too for the freedom citizens have to speak up and be heard. I pray for Mayor Schmidt's and those who work in that office. I pray for each commissioner as well as other elected officials and city workers, and ask that each one would be blessed by you as they carry out their responsibilities. I also pray for our first responders, those who put themselves in harm's way to protect the citizens of this community, our police and other law enforcement, firefighters, EMS workers, dispatch, health care workers, and others. Please protect them in their line of duty so that they might protect those of us who placed our trust in them. Help them to be resilient as they deal with their own emotions when facing impossibly sad and heart-wrenching conditions. Grant them wisdom and peace. So God, we ask for your guidance in everything said and done this evening. I'm thankful for each and every one of the blessings you give in Jesus' name. Amen. Say the pledge together. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Commissioner Risch. Here. Commissioner Dahl. Here. Commissioner Connolly. Here. Commissioner Hull? Here. Mayor Schmitz. Here. At this point in time, it's public comment. Public comment is restricted to the items on the consent agenda. The regular agenda that is not a public hearing or a prior uh city commission agenda item. So anyone who would wish to speak, please come up forward to the microphone. Make sure you signed in, identify yourself, and tell us what you're uh speaking to. Hello, my name is Sarah Kalloff. Just print that quick. Okay. Um good afternoon. Um again, my name is Sarah Koloff. I am a very concerned mom. Last week something happened that I had never encountered before in my lifetime. Can you tell us which topics? Oh, Kratom. Okay, thank you.

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