By Leann Eckroth
April 5, 2011
The Mandan City Commission received a report about the economic impact of its airport on Tuesday.
Representatives from the state Aeronautics Commission and Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson detailed the results of a statewide study it recently completed about airports. It determined that the Mandan Municipal Airport employed 31 people and brings in just more than $1 million in annual payroll.
The study showed Mandan had $2.3 million in on-airport impact and $329,000 in visitor impact.
The airport creates a total output for the city of nearly $4.4 million. Output measures how income from the airport turns over in a community.
The study said the airport is used for recreational flying, corporate aviation, air cargo operations, environmental patrols and flight training for civilians and the National Guard.
In other action, the commission gave final approval to an ordinance that spells initiative and referendum requirements as ruled by the North Dakota Supreme Court in other cases.
“In order for a Home Rule Charter to become fully effective, it should be implemented by ordinance,” said city attorney Malcolm Brown. He said the issue was not involved in Mandan’s noise ordinance litigation.
Yet, Brown said in reviewing ordinances since the Home Rule Charter was adopted, he was unable “to find an ordinance that directly addressed initiative and referendum.”
To prevent future issues with the lapse of an ordinance, he felt it was best to create wording for an ordinance dealing with initiatives and referendums for the home rule charter.
The commission also approved replacing two higher-risk pension fund investments with Mutual Global Discovery R and Prudential Jennison Equity Income A. The new funds earn the same percentage of returns, but are lower risk, said city administrator Jim Neubauer.
Source: THE BISMARCK TRIBUNE
Date: 2011-04-05