Wednesday, March 18, 2026
** Mountain Time

Hear directly from city officials about their firsthand experience tackling local blight. They will cover proven strategies for property cleanup and offer actionable advice on how your city can replicate these successes to revitalize your community.
Kim Gaugler, Auditor, Beach
Lana Schmidt, Environmental Health Specialist, Western Plains Public Health
Scott Solem, City Attorney, Solem Law Office

Join Linda for a review of the 3% property tax cap and the related tax cap worksheet. She will use practical experience gained from the first year of implementation to answer your questions and refresh your understanding of the process.
Linda Svihovic, Research Analyst, ND Association of Counties

Aaron will focus on the rules for cities issuing local permits and restricted event permits for charitable gaming. There will be a special focus on the rules surrounding alternative selection methods for raffles.
Aaron Hummel, Director of Gaming, ND Office of Attorney General

The staff of the NDLC consistently reviews and evaluates the services it offers to North Dakota cities. Currently, the Leadership Exchange Program is underutilized and lacks the mentors needed to effectively offer this program. Matt will walk through the initial purpose of the program, welcome your feedback on the value of the program and explain the commitment it will take from you, the auditors across the state, to continue providing it.
Matt Gardner, Executive Director, ND League of Cities

Front-line work comes with real pressure and emotional challenges. During this interactive session, you will gain practical mental health and mindset tools to help navigate tough conversations, manage stress, and handle difficult situations with greater confidence, clarity and resilience.
Calli Thorne, Maxwell Leadership Team

Codes of conduct are often promoted as a solution to accountability and governance challenges in local governments — but they are not a cure-all. This session will help local leaders assess whether a code of conduct is needed, what issues it can realistically address, and what concerns may require other tools or approaches. We will distinguish between codes designed for elected officials and those directed toward public administrators, highlighting the different expectations each group faces. The session will also feature firsthand accounts from both administrators and elected officials who will share lessons learned from developing, implementing, and navigating codes of conduct in their communities. Participants will gain insights to support thoughtful consideration of whether — and how — a code of conduct could work in their community.
Mayor Dave Carlsrud, Valley City
Shawn Wenko, Administrator, Williston Commission Code of Conduct
Michelle Beuhlmann, Clinical Assistant Professor, Political Science and Public Administration, Nistler College of Business and Public Administration, University of ND

Thursday, March 19, 2026
** Mountain Time

Job Service North Dakota and Workforce Safety and Insurance will walk through pertinent programs, services and requirements for city governments. The focus will be on Unemployment Insurance, Labor Market Information and WSI payroll and employer reporting.
Steve Belka, Premium Audit Supervisor, Workforce Safety and Insurance
Taryn Steckler-Houle, Field Auditor, Job Service North Dakota
Mary Urlacher, Dickinson Workforce Center Manager, Job Service North Dakota

Our presenter will help you learn about a city attorney’s role and how they can help your city. Taylor will also cover simple ways to communicate better with your city attorney so you can get clear advice and avoid trouble.
Taylor Olson, Attorney at Law, Furuseth Olson & Evert P.C.

2025 set the record for the most tornadoes in a single year for North Dakota at 80+, including an EF5. These significant weather events require emergency preparedness, response, clean-up and the often-forgotten documentation and tracking. Learn from our speakers about the on-the-ground response effort and lessons learned.
Sheriff Jesse Jahner, Cass County
Chauncy Schultz, Science and Operations Officer, National Weather Service
Jamison Veil, Deputy Auditor, Jamestown

Each year, every city receives a municipal calendar listing various legal requirements the city needs to meet. Our presenters will take a closer look at those requirements and provide examples of how other cities meet those requirements. If you are new to city government, you won’t want to miss this session! And this will be a great refresher for experienced city leaders. This session is complimentary but pre-registration is required.
Kristina Dick, Auditor, Lisbon
Brenda Klein, Auditor, Valley City