The McDowell Dam recreation site will be closed for three days next week to allow for an alum treatment.

Ken Royse, chair of the Burleigh County water resource board, explains that the lake is high in phosphorus content which is a plant nutrient. By treating McDowell's water with a mixture of aluminum sulfate it will reduce the phosphorus which will improve the oxygen content, clear the water and improve the fishery.

Hopes are the treatment will last five to seven years and during that time another source of fresh water can be found for the popular recreation site.

"To facilitate the application and contractor's activities the McDowell Dam Recreation Area will be closed to the public May 9-11," Royse noted. "The application is anticipated to take around one day to complete, after which the recreation area will be reopened. The closure is simply to ensure the public's safety while the barge used for the alum is in operation and to provide a window of three days in case of inclement weather."

Cost of the treatment, which will take place on Wednesday, is a total of $91,000. Burleigh is on the hook for $36,000 and the rest is being paid for with a North Dakota Health Department grant.

Bis-Man Transit numbers

Bis-Man Transit director Robin Werre told Mandan commissioners on Tuesday that the Capital Area Transit is doing particularly well.

Werre was at the meeting to get clearance to put three bus shelters on public easements. A total of seven shelters are going up in Mandan.

In March the CAT provided more than 10,000 rides and in April 8,671. Werre noted that rising gas prices appear to affect ridership, but they are also affecting the CAT and more riders are needed to keep ride prices stable.

Routes will soon be altered to provide stops at the new Wal-Marts in Bismarck.

In the "Zone"

The Mandan City Commission approved three Renaissance zone projects. The renovation of Ski's to the new Captain Jack's Liquor Land was the first project.

Ellen Huber, who coordinates the zone's activities, said qualifying businesses which are being purchased or invested in for rehabilitation can get a five-year property tax exemption an a state income tax exemption.

The projects include:

3 The Spinecare Chiropractic Center being built by John Carter. He is putting up a new building where the old Masonic Lodge stood. For his investment of $675,000, the fiscal impact to the city will be $66,870 over five years.

3 Perrie Schafer is purchasing the former Vogel Law Firm building at 201 Third Ave. He also plans significant improvements to the building. Schafer's investment is $37,000, and he will receive about $13,000 in property tax breaks over five years.

3 Starion Financial is planning a major rehabilitation and expansion of its facility to the tune of $976,000. The property tax break will amount to $105,000 over five years.

New park board member

The Burleigh County Commission appointed Dwayne Wahl to fill the opening on the Burleigh County Park Board.

The 55-year-old Wahl is self-employed, having sold trailers in the community for the past 20 years.

(Reach reporter Gordon Weixel at 701-250-8255 or gordon.weixel@bismarcktribune.come.)