Mandan Mayor Ken LaMont and Commissioner Dan Ulmer will join a committee to continue discussion on the possibility of an event center.

A survey conducted by the Bismarck-Mandan Chamber of Commerce Leadership Team shows that there are varying levels of support for such a facility among its residents and businesses.

Local government jurisdictions are creating a committee to explore the issue.

To date, the Mandan Park District has appointed board members Wanda Knoll and Jason Arenz to the committee, while Tom Arenz and Lynn Wolf will represent the school district.

LaMont asked city administrator Jim Neubauer if the Morton County Commission has been asked to participate. Ulmer said he understood why the park district, school district and city were involved, but questioned what the county would have to offer.

Neubauer said the county hasn't been contacted, but at LaMont's prompting, the city administrator said the offer will be made.

"Personally, I think we need to keep moving forward," Ulmer said. "Even if some resources have to be expended to narrow down the field."

The committee won't be deciding what the event center will be or where it will go, but needs to put a perspective on the facility, LaMontsaid. The mayor said that it could be six, seven, eight or even 10 years down the line.

"Even if we decided to do it today and had the money in the bank, it would take three years to accomplish," Ulmer said.

The survey indicates that downtown Mandan is the favored location for a facility that should be midmarket size. Such a facility would be about half a city block, with seating for about 3,000. It's envisioned larger than the Mandan Community Center but smaller than the Bismarck Civic Center.

In other action, the Mandan city commission:

3 Approved a Mandan Jaycees project to display American flags on Main Street on holidays and special occasions. The Jaycees will provide the flags and manpower to build the mounts, put them on poles and arrange for the flags to be put up and taken down. The flags will be put up on light poles from Bonanza to Central Market.

3 Heard that the Jaycees are nominating Mandan Development Director Ellen Huber for the Outstanding Young North Dakotan recognition award.

3 Approved the purchase of a vacuum street sweeper from Swanston Equipment for $170,870.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 250-8255 or gordon.weixel@;bismarcktribune.com.)