Property could change hands before earthwork begins on a new elementary school site in Bismarck.

The possibility was broached at a Bismarck Parks and Recreation Commission meeting Thursday over a four-acre park district parcel adjacent to the school site.

"I suggest we transfer or deed the land to the school district," said park district director Steve Neu. The land should stay open space, he said.

The land is near the site of the new elementary school for northeast Bismarck near the KOA Kampground. Bismarck Public Schools plans to open an elementary school that can accommodate 500 students by fall 2010.

The school district approached the park district to share in the cost of earthwork, at an estimate of $50,000 to the park district.

If done jointly, the district and park district could take advantage of the elevation changes with the cut and fill work that needs to be done on the two properties, Bismarck Superintendent Paul Johnson said. The district also wants permission to run a storm sewer through the park district property. Its placement could affect where a building is placed.

If the park district deeded the land to the district, it would not incur costs from earthwork on the site. The park district also would not need to give the school district its permission for the storm sewer line.

Two park board members, Paul Quist and Mike O'Brien, and Neu will decide what options the park district should consider. The park board will consider those options at a special meeting at 4 p.m. Sept. 5. The location is not yet set.

The board wants to make a decision before the Bismarck School Board meets Sept. 8. At this meeting, the school board could decide what to do on sitework, Johnson said. The school district would like to get earthwork at the site done this fall.

The park board and school district have developed projects together in the past. In some cases, it is a combination of adjacent park district land developed into recreational space or grants for playground equipment.

Also at the park board meeting Thursday:

The board considered fees in light of the first reading of the 2009 budget. Golf fees, shelter reservation fees, alcohol permit fees and BLASTafter school program fees could go up. The budget accounts for the indoor aquatics center opening toward the end of the fiscal year.

In short:

n golf fees are proposed to increase 5 percent across the board,

n shelter reservation fees proposed to increase $5,

n alcohol permit fees are proposed to increase $10, and

n BLASTfees proposed to increase to $100.

The budget will have a public hearing at 5:15 p.m. Sept. 18 in the Tom Baker Meeting Room. It will be upon the park district Web site for the public to view.

(Reach reporter Sara Kincaid at 250-8251 or sara.kincaid@bismarcktribune.com.)