Mandan city commissioners voted Tuesday night to hold a special election to fill the commission seat vacancy left by Tim Helbing's elevation to mayor.

Shortly thereafter, city attorney Malcolm Brown officially swore Helbling in as Mandan's new mayor, and Thomas Jackson as a new city commissioner. Both officially assume their duties on June 24.

The special election will be held on the November 4 general election day, along with federal and state elections.

The commission had the choice of whether to call for a special election or appoint somebody themselves to fill the two years remaining in Helbing's term.

"I think, let the public pick who they want in there," Helbing said.

Commissioners decided that the upcoming November 4 election provided a good opportunity to do this with little additional cost to the city. They voted unanimously to do this after checking briefly to make sure that no law required the election to be held sooner.

"As far as we can tell, there's not a time frame to call a special election to elect a new commissioner," said city administrator Jim Neubauer.

In other business:

n Commissioners approved the sale of $2,045,000 worth of municipal bonds to fund sewer and street districts. The bonds were sold as AAA municipal issues, as rated by credit rating service Moody's.

"Moody's is very happy with the city of Mandan," said Mike Manstrom, of Dougherty and Company, LLC, a local investment firm that handled the transaction

It's having a very positive effect on speeding up the revitalization of downtown," Huber said.

n Commissioners also approved growth funds for storefront improvement for four businesses: $10,000 for Berger Cattle Company, $5,000 for Round Up Bar and Grill, $525 for Mocha and More, and $8,828 for Chase and Layn's Photography.

Business Development Director Ellen Huber said the grants are part of an ongoing effort to revitalize the downtown area by restoring storefronts.

"It's speeding along our revitalization process by providing some public matching funds," she said.

Huber said the grant awards process favors older buildings doing revitalization projects that are extensive and pass muster with the architecture board. Under these considerations, applications from the owners of newer Capital Credit Union and Dairy Queen facilities were turned down.

At the end of Tuesday night's meeting, Helbing presented outgoing Mayor Ken LaMont a watch as a going-away present.

He said LaMont put his "heart and soul" into the job and that he will miss him.

(Reach reporter Jonathan Rivoli at 223-8482 or jonathan.rivoli.) @bismarcktribune.com