The Burleigh County Water Resource District board wants to get an agreement worked out with the Bismarck Park District for management of the McDowell Dam recreation area.

A recent state attorney's opinion related to assignment of power or obligations of one governing body to another didn't factor into the discussion though the board did recognize the effort. The park district has been contracting for management of the recreation area with the park district nearly since its inception some 30 years ago.

The Burleigh County Commission has approved entering into an agreement with the Bismarck Park District to manage all its park and boat ramp facilities. The commission has yet to sign off on the proposed agreement which was put together by the park district.

The water district is the owner of McDowell Dam and the adjoining property which is used for recreation. The water district is responsible for dam safety and water quality, but the park district manages and operates the recreational aspects.

The Burleigh County Commission indirectly controls the water district as it appoints water board members and approves the district mill levy. This year the water district requested and received 1.8 mills, a portion of which goes to the park district for operation and management. In the 2008 budget, the water board also requested funding for improvements to the recreation facilities.

Water board attorney Dave Bliss feels the appropriate language can be included with the county commission's agreement with the park district to include the interests of the water district.

"If the county commission wants to put it under some grand umbrella, well that could be a good thing," Bliss said.

The water district has always delineated its statutory responsibility when entering into agreements with the park district, Bliss added.

"The county commission is talking a one-year agreement and we're wondering whether it should be one year or two years, while Steve Neu (park district director) expresses an interest in a three-year agreement," board member Gailen Narum said.

The board wants to invite Neu to its meeting on Nov. 5 along with county commissioner Doug Schonert to discuss the details of a new agreement. The board also wants to discuss what capital improvements it will be able to fund at McDowell.

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