News

Recall election petition for Marsden turned over to the City Auditor Office

By Scott Wagar

03/13/2012

It was announced on March 5 during the Bottineau city Council meeting that a recall petition had been filed against Mayor Doug Marsden. The petition was handed in by a local community petition committee, which asked that Marsden be recalled from his position in the city due to what they feel is how Marsden is managing the city.

The committee handed in over 100 signatures, which City Auditor Penny Nostdahl will verify. If the proper number of signatures is on the petition, Nostdahl will officially announce the legitimacy of the petition document. At that time, Marsden will have ten days to resign as Bottineau’s mayor. If he chooses not to resign, Nostdahl will then announce a recall election to allow the Bottineau residents to decide if they want Marsden recalled or to stay on as their mayor. At the present moment, a date for a recall election has not been set. It is expected that Nostdahl will have the recall election petition verified by this week.

In other city news, EDC Director Diane Olson made a request for the Bottineau Winter Park to assist in its Annie’s House Project, which will be the new ski lodge at the park, which will assist adaptive skiers who have physical and mental disabilities. The Annie’s House project is close to its deadline, and the project is just shy of the funding they need to do the project. Olson requested a $50,000 loan at zero percent interest for the project. Olson also made it known that the Winter Park might not need the funding, but would like the funding just in case they fall short of their goal. The council voted to approve the request.

At the same time, the aldermen agreed to sign a resolution of sponsorship for the Bottineau Winter Park as it has applied for a Community Development Block Grant for its present ski lodge project.

Sealed bids were opened for the street paving projects with ASTECH being awarded the contract at $308,950. The bid for the project came in under the city’s estimated cost of $412,459. St. Andrew’s Health Care Center will conduct a seal coating project at the same time with ASTECH, but will be funding that portion of the project on its own.

The city held a protest hearing on Farm Credit Services request to rezone a portion of land due south of the Nodak store on the south side of Highway 5 from “Agriculture” to “B-2,” enabling the business to construct a new building at that location. No protests were filed and the council voted in favor of the zoning request.
Bottineau Farmer’s Elevator also made a rezoning request of property west of Grace Lutheran Church on the west side of Railroad Avenue, and south of the bridge on that street, for an exit scale building to be constructed. The council approved a protest hearing for Monday, April 2 at 7 p.m. at the Bottineau City Armory.