“We work. She said it was due to the governor’s guidelines […] It doesn’t matter of your background, your religion or who you are, we are coming together as a community,” said Nyamal Dei, a South Sudan refugee. The commission was considering whether to accept more international refugees to the county. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Once elected, the board represents the City as a whole while exercising both legislative and executive powers to govern the City of Bismarck. Some of the most passionate testimony came from refugees like Masa Harris and Ricardo Pierre-Louis. An Oregon man is in custody after kidnapping a a 7-year-old and attempting to flee to Canada. The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the Horizon Middle School cafeteria, according to Burleigh County Interim Auditor Allan Vietmeier. “We’re not coming to North Dakota to rob anybody, hell, we have been robbed of our childhood. The commission will officially accept the resignations at its Monday meeting. Website: Burleigh County Planning Commission Government Meeting Schedule. A year ago, KX News introduced you to a Minot woman who came up with a way to make the most out of their local communities through a publication. Shirley Dykshoorn, Lutheran Social Services' vice president for senior and humanitarian services, responded that the nonprofit could "indicate that there would be a certain capacity to resettlement" when it files its annual report to its national nonprofit partners, including Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service and the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops. In North Dakota today we have the highest rate of young people, those refugees make our kids here well-rounded,” said Bismarck resident and Haitian refugee Pierre-Louis. During the meeting, a commissioner could propose for the commission to vote on the request. "We have so little information about what this is that it's very difficult to go against your constituents when you hear 90% against any type of resettlement or assimilation," he said. Grand Forks, On Nov. 6, voters will award commission seats to three of Dec 23 – City Current – Bismarck Dec 22 – Morton County Commission Dec 22 – Bismarck City Commission Dec 21 – Mandan Public School Board Dec 21 – Burleigh County Commission. Doug Burgum’s 2021 State of the State address, Congress recesses as Trump supporters invade U.S. Capitol, clash with police, North Dakota’s Meth Problem has been Getting Worse for Years; It’s Not Going Away Anytime Soon, Legislation would allow extra-long semis on North Dakota roads. The Bismarck City Commission voted to approve a mandate during a six-hour meeting on Oct. 27. “I’m real familiar with the workings of county government,” Bitner said. Tom Baker Meeting Room - City/County Building 221 North 5th Street, Bismarck, ND As the hours ticked by, tempers started to grow short between the commission and the overflow crowd. Many who attended the meeting say … In 2018, the state received 162 refugees, followed by 127 in 2019. This community does not need that divisive bull****, OK?” said Bitner. “It showed that we have a side of unity, togetherness. We have been through a lot and we’re only coming to North Dakota because we want to survive,” said Refugee Harris. BEK Sports. Bismarck Mayor Steve Bakken voiced his opposition to new refugee resettlements at a Burleigh County Commission meeting in Bismarck on Dec. 9. Burleigh County Commission Meetings are held twice a month, usually, on the first and third Monday at 5:00 PM and follow a formal agenda. People who attended Monday's meeting were not able to comment during the meeting. “I stand here today imploring everyone in Burleigh County to ask themselves, ‘What would Satan say? It is our diversity!” said resident and migrant Klaus Lemkie. Doug Burgum last month sent a letter of consent to Secretary of State Michael Pompeo to "receive resettlement refugees, in conjunction with the continued assent and cooperation of local jurisdictions in our state.". Commissioners are elected for four-year terms and are limited to three consecutive terms. People listen during a Burleigh County Commission meeting in December in Bismarck, N.D. “Experience in government at this time is very, very critical,” Woodcox said. “Let’s help them become productive citizens. The City of Bismarck’s City Commission has four City Commissioners and one President of the Commission, the Mayor. Oct 15, 2020 — Posted Oct 9, 2020 2:34 PM . Copyright 2021 Nexstar Inc. All rights reserved. Copyright 2018 Burleigh County Water Resource District - All rights reserved. 2017 November 30 August 31 June 29 May 25 April 27 March 30 February 23 January 26. January 4, 2021. Commissioner Jim Peluso estimated he had received about 150 phone calls and text messages from people, mostly against refugee resettlement. “I think I had 600 e-mails in the last three or four days and initially it was 90-10 against having the refugee program. . KX News spoke with one refugee who told us Burleigh County avoided a major black eye Monday night. North Dakota has received 202 refugees since the 2018 fiscal year, according to the U.S. State Department Refugee Processing Center. Burleigh County Planning Commission. Burleigh County Commissioners are elected at large on a non-partisan basis for staggered four-year terms. We have starved, we have seen wars, we have suffered, we have been hungry. PO Box 1255, Bismarck, ND 58502-1255. 2019 May 30 February 28. During the 2019 fiscal year, 24 refugees arrived in Bismarck, according to Lutheran Social Services. The last two days it swung completely around to 70-30 in favor of having resettlement. A man holds a sign in opposition during a special meeting on refugee resettlement held by the Burleigh County Commission on Monday in Bismarck. MEETING OF THE BOARD OF CITY COMMISSIONERS October 21, 2020 On October 21, 2020 at 5:15 p.m., in the large conference room of the Public Works building, the Board of City Commissioners met for a Special Board of Health Meeting to receive an update from Bismarck-Burleigh Public Health Director Renae Moch and to Burleigh County Commission. Burleigh County Commission includes Chair Brian Bitner, Vice Chair Jerry Woodcox, Commissioner Mark Armstrong, Commissioner Kathleen Jones and Commissioner Jim Peluso. Many audience members had heard of the meeting through social media, where the proposal has been a hot topic. Refugee resettlement has declined annually in North Dakota since the 2017 fiscal year, when the state received 420 refugees. North Dakota has been among states that resettled the most refugees per capita every fiscal year since 2016, according to annual reports from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. Serving the residents of Burleigh County in North Dakota. Dozens of mayors across the country also have condemned the order. Here is how each voted: BISMARCK -- Burleigh County will hold a special meeting Monday, Dec. 9, to take comment on whether to continue accepting refugees, after the topic drew an overflow crowd to a regular county commission meeting this week and discussion had to be called off. The commission delayed a vote on consenting to the continuation of refugee resettlement, to give a large crowd more opportunity to comment. “Count the homeless people sitting on the benches, the bench right in front of city hall, mostly native Americans, a couple of veterans. Incumbents Brian Bitner and Jerry Woodcox say they bring experience to the job. What is the strength of the United States, commissioners? “It should be embarrassing to every one of us, that this thing has degenerated into some sort of name-calling and racism thing, or anything else like that. 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In 2018, Bismarck received 22. North Dakota Gov. . The work we do in public health affects lives every day. The commission delayed the first meeting out of fairness to everyone who wanted to speak. So coming to North Dakota is a privilege, and I tell you tonight, don’t be selfish, open your doors to us because we have seen a lot. More than 100 people attended the regular county commission meeting on Monday, Dec. 2. Burleigh County Commission includes Chair Brian Bitner, Vice Chair Jerry Woodcox, Commissioner Mark Armstrong, Commissioner Kathleen Jones and Commissioner Jim Peluso. June’s primary election resulted in six of eight Burleigh County Commission candidates advancing to compete in the general election. During the meeting, a motion was also made to limit the number of refugees accepted in Burleigh County to 25 at most in 2020. The County Commission is the governing body of the County responsible for overseeing County activities and working to ensure that citizen concerns are met, federal and state requirements are fulfilled, and County operations run smoothly. The public is invited to attend these meetings held in the Tom Baker Meeting Room of the City\County Office Building, 221 N 5th St, Bismarck ND. Commissioner Nancy Guy made a motion to discuss a possible mask mandate at the upcoming commission meeting on Oct. 27. County commissioners delayed a vote after 25 people had to be moved upstairs for space and fire code reasons. Burleigh County Commission Meeting from Horizon Middle School, Bismarck, ND. © 1998 - 2021 Nexstar Inc. | All Rights Reserved. Tom’s Sunday Evening #OneMinuteForecast 1/10/21, Minot magazine emphasizes the power of local through social media during pandemic, Tech expert explains potential fallout of social media sites banning President Trump, Gymnastics: Dickinson wins Century Invite, Class B Basketball: Our Redeemer’s and Kenmare split series, Shiloh Christian splits with Oak Grove, WDA Basketball: Bismarck and Mandan girls win big, Mandan and Century boys win at home, College basketball: UMary defeats St. The Burleigh County Commission did the right thing when it approved the continued resettlement of refugees in the area. Commissioner Jerry Woodcox asked if Lutheran Social Services would be able to place a quota on the amount of refugees resettled. Commissioners did not take a stance on the issue during Monday's meeting, but they did briefly discuss it. 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