The Mandan School Board nixed a developer's plans for a drainage pond on district property.

Mitzel Builders approached the district to build a regional drainage pond on school district property, south of its third addition of Mitzel's Meadows subdivision in northwest Mandan.

"At minimum we lose one lot or worst case, two lots," said Eddy Mitzel of Mitzel Builders. "You lose taxpayers."

The proposal involved taking the lower corner of the district's lot and building a pond that would catch storm water run-off. Most of the time the pond would be dry.

Mitzel proposed buying it from the district, developing the drainage pond and deeding it to the city. It would pay for the developing and fees associated with platting and deeding the 2.8 acres need for the pond. The pond would drain the subdivision north of the property and the school property. In addition, Mitzel would have paid $5,000 to the district.

The board decided against the proposal at its meeting Monday. Board members were concerned about not having solid plans for the site and how the drainage pond would affect building development on the site.

"If there is no drainage basin above, it gives more restrictions," on the land, board member Dan Leingang said.

Water currently follows one of two ditches on the school property. If the district developed the property, it could change the water flow, similar to what it did at the new Mandan Middle School site.

"Even with the new junior high, we changed the direction of flow with earth moving and underground storm drains," architect Al Fitterer said. He is the architect for the middle school. He said something similar would need to be done for the property by the Meadows addition.

With the district deciding against the drainage pond on its property, Mitzel will take the equivalent space of one to two lots, make it a drainage pond and discharge it through underground storm sewer onto the school district property to follow the natural watershed of the area.

The Mandan School Board voted unanimously to let Mitzel build a drainage pond on his own land, and the district will decide what, if anything, it will need to do about a drainage pond on the property. If the district develops it, it will need to manage storm water runoff. If it sells it, the next property owner will need to do it.

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