City Current

Tom Gerhardt

104 episodes listed below

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Local meetings, translated for residents.

The gist

City Current is a steady civic recap built around Bismarck and Mandan city government. It explains commission actions, department projects, public hearings, grants, taxes, facilities, and neighborhood services in language residents can actually use.

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About City Current

City Current is a practical, meeting-room view of local government in Bismarck and Mandan. It treats City Commission agendas as the starting point, not the finish line. The format is straightforward: recap what happened, ask why it matters, then let a city official walk through the process. That makes the show useful for residents who do not attend meetings but still want to understand what their city is doing. One episode may explain a half-cent sales tax extension for roadways. Another may follow a proposed use of existing sales tax for Mandan fire department facilities and Fire Station 3. A Bismarck discussion can move from variance appeals to land development code, then into police station design or Fire Station 6. Mandan updates can cover spring cleanup, build grants, inmate housing agreements, Memorial Highway, McKenzie Drive, and community events around America 250. The show is comfortable with civic vocabulary, but it usually grounds that language in everyday stakes. Taxi licensing, for example, becomes a conversation about public hearings, vehicle inspections, driver background checks, insurance costs, and why ride options can be limited. Event center management becomes a look at contracts, authority boards, tourism, retail activity, and compromise. Recreation planning becomes a question of surveys, stakeholder meetings, location, funding, and whether sales tax should carry the whole burden. The pacing is measured. The style is conversational rather than scripted. There are small jokes, weather asides, and local references, but the show keeps returning to dates, departments, websites, phone numbers, and next steps. Its strongest quality is patience. City Current gives bureaucracy room to explain itself, which makes it better for residents seeking context than for listeners looking for fast political combat.

Made for: City Current is for Bismarck and Mandan residents who want to follow commission decisions without sitting through every meeting. It especially suits people tracking taxes, public safety facilities, streets, grants, cleanup services, development rules, and local events.

What sets it apart: The show stands apart by pairing meeting recaps with direct, procedural explanations from city officials. It stays close to the agenda while still translating decisions into timelines, costs, public hearings, and resident actions.

In their own words

With a focus on Bismarck and Mandan city government issues, City Current presents information on City Commission actions and department activities, why they matter, and where citizens can go for more information.

As heard by us

Based on 5 episodes we listened to · September 2026

City Current translates Bismarck and Mandan commission business into clear accounts of municipal choices, responsibilities, costs, and practical consequences.

City Current turns Bismarck and Mandan commission meetings into direct conversations about how municipal decisions take shape. Tom Gerhart guides city administrators through the business behind the votes, moving from roadway funding and event-center management to recreation…

Read our full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

A one-car taxi application turns into your explanation of who regulates the ride home.

Press play if you want

  • to hear Bismarck's administrator explain the tradeoffs behind an Event Center management contract
  • to follow Mandan's questions about who pays medical costs under an inmate-housing agreement
Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →
City Commission meeting recapssales tax and roadway fundingfire and police facilitiespublic hearings and licensinggrants and infrastructure projectsevent center managementspring cleanup and city serviceslocal parades and community events

Talks about

Best episodes of City Current

Short reviews from the PlayNext desk, based on the episodes we processed.

City Current - Bismarck 4-15-26Apr 15, 2026

A plainspoken Bismarck meeting recap with useful detail on city process and service gaps.

Bismarck's April 14 commission recap moves from formal announcements into the practical issues that shape city operations, then shifts to taxi licensing, the Human Relations Committee annual report, and the possibility of electric police vehicles in the fleet.

City Current - Mandan 4-8-26Apr 8, 2026

A plain Mandan update on cleanup week, road funding, and summer parade plans.

City Current's April 8 Mandan edition is a straightforward civic update. It walks through the April 7 city commission meeting, Spring Cleanup Week, the growth fund recommendation for Memorial Highway and the Raw Water Intake Project, and the early shape of summer plans.

City Current - Bismarck 3-25-26Mar 25, 2026

A clear look at Bismarck's local spending and facilities decisions.

Bismarck's March 25 City Current focuses on three civic items: the half-cent sales tax extension for roadways, the Oakview Group management contract for the Bismarck Event Center, and a community recreation feasibility study.

City Current - Bismarck 2-25-26Feb 25, 2026

A steady recap of Bismarck's civic priorities, led by the rec center feasibility discussion.

City Current gives a plain, useful recap of a Bismarck City Commission meeting, with the rec center feasibility study for the Bismarck Parks and Recreation District doing the heaviest lifting.

City Current - Mandan 2-18-26Feb 18, 2026

A plainspoken city-meeting recap that turns policy, projects, and winter weather into useful resident guidance.

City Current's Mandan update keeps its feet on the ground. It moves through winter weather, sanding at intersections and streets, the city projects page, and the commission's inmate housing agreement discussion without making a fuss of any of it.

Podcasts like City Current

Episodes

  1. 1

    City Current - Bismarck 9-23-26

    Sep 23, 2026·30m
  2. 2

    City Current - Mandan 9-16-26

    Sep 16, 2026·23m
  3. 3

    City Current - Mandan 9-2-26

    Sep 14, 2026·29m
  4. 4

    City Current - Bismarck 9-9-26

    Sep 14, 2026·30m
  5. 5

    City Current - Bismarck 8-26-26

    Aug 26, 2026·29m
  6. 6

    City Current - Mandan 8-19-26

    Aug 19, 2026·24m
  7. 7

    City Current - Bismarck 8-12-26

    Aug 19, 2026·23m
  8. 8

    City Current - Mandan 8-5-26

    Aug 5, 2026·25m
  9. 9

    City Current - Bismarck 7-29-26

    Jul 29, 2026·34m
  10. 10

    City Current - Bismarck 7-15-26

    Jul 21, 2026·35m
  11. 11

    City Current - Mandan 7-8-26

    Jul 21, 2026·22m
  12. 12

    City Current - Mandan 6-17-26

    Jun 17, 2026·32m
  13. 13

    City Current - Bismarck 6-10-26

    Jun 10, 2026·29m
  14. 14

    City Current - Bismarck 5-27-26

    May 27, 2026·31m
  15. 15

    City Current - Mandan 5-20-26

    May 20, 2026·28m
  16. 16

    City Current - Bismarck 5-13-26

    May 13, 2026·32m
  17. 17

    City Current - Mandan 5-6-26

    May 6, 2026·25m
  18. 18

    City Current - Bismarck 4-29-26

    Apr 29, 2026·26m
  19. 19

    City Current - Mandan 4-22-26

    Apr 22, 2026·21m
  20. 20

    City Current - Bismarck 4-15-26

    Hidden gem

    City Current recaps the April 14th Bismarck City Commission meeting.

    Apr 15, 2026·27m·1 clip
  21. 21

    City Current - Mandan 4-8-26

    Hidden gem

    City Current recaps the April 7 Mandan City Commission meeting.

    Apr 8, 2026·31m·2 clips
  22. 22

    City Current - Mandan 3-18-26

    This episode recaps the Mandan City Commission meeting where a ballot measure was approved for June 2026 to consider using existing city sales tax for fire department facilities, featuring an interview with Fire Chief Mitch Bitts.

    Mar 25, 2026·30m
  23. 23

    City Current - Bismarck 3-25-26

    Hidden gem

    Tom Gerhart and Jason Tomanek recap the March 25th edition of City Current and the Bismarck City Commission meeting.

    Mar 25, 2026·32m·2 clips
  24. 24

    City Current - Bismarck 3-11-26

    This episode of City Current discusses recent Bismarck City Commission meeting topics including updates to Fire Station 6, new police station design, variance appeal denials, and land development code.

    Mar 11, 2026·35m
  25. 25

    City Current - Bismarck 2-25-26

    Hidden gem

    City Current recaps a Bismarck City Commission meeting and stays on the practical side of civic business.

    Feb 25, 2026·27m·2 clips
  26. 26

    City Current - Mandan 2-18-26

    Tom Gerhardt and Jim Neumauer open with winter weather and a reminder to slow down on Mandan streets.

    Feb 18, 2026·22m·1 clip
  27. 27

    City Current - Bismarck 2-11-26

    Feb 11, 2026·30m
  28. 28

    City Current - Mandan 2-4-26

    Feb 4, 2026·26m
  29. 29

    City Current - Bismarck 1-28-26

    Jan 28, 2026·28m
  30. 30

    City Current - Mandan 1-21-26

    Jan 21, 2026·19m
  31. 31

    City Current - Mandan 1-7-26

    Jan 7, 2026·20m
  32. 32

    City Current - Bismarck and Mandan 12-17-25

    Dec 18, 2025·1h 1m
  33. 33

    City Current - Bismarck 11-26-25

    Nov 26, 2025·22m
  34. 34

    City Current - Mandan 11-19-25

    Nov 19, 2025·23m
  35. 35

    City Current - Mandan 11-5-25

    Nov 5, 2025·24m
  36. 36

    City Current - Bismarck 10-29-25

    Oct 29, 2025·32m
  37. 37

    City Current - Special Edition 10-22-25

    Oct 22, 2025·20m
  38. 38

    City Current - Bismarck 10-15-25

    Oct 20, 2025·36m
  39. 39

    City Current - Mandan 10-8-25

    Oct 8, 2025·27m
  40. 40

    City Current - Bismarck 9-24-25

    Sep 24, 2025·32m
  41. 41

    City Current - Bismarck 9-10-25

    Sep 17, 2025·26m
  42. 42

    City Current - Mandan 9-17-25

    Sep 17, 2025·27m
  43. 43

    City Current - Mandan 9-3-25

    Sep 3, 2025·19m
  44. 44

    City Current - Bismarck 8-27-25

    Aug 27, 2025·27m
  45. 45

    City Current - Mandan 8-6-25

    Aug 13, 2025·31m
  46. 46

    City Current - Bismarck 8-13-25

    Aug 13, 2025·32m
  47. 47

    City Current - Bismarck 7-23-25

    Jul 24, 2025·38m
  48. 48

    City Current - Bismarck 7-9-25

    Jul 9, 2025·32m
  49. 49

    City Current - Mandan 7-2-25

    Jul 2, 2025·24m
  50. 50

    City Current - Mandan 6-18-25

    Jun 18, 2025·26m
  51. 51

    City Current - Bismarck 6-11-25

    Jun 18, 2025·36m
  52. 52

    City Current - Bismarck 5-28-25

    May 28, 2025·28m
  53. 53

    City Current - Mandan 5-21-25

    May 21, 2025·20m
  54. 54

    City Current - Bismarck 5-14-25

    May 14, 2025·36m
  55. 55

    City Current - Bismarck 4-23-25

    May 7, 2025·33m
  56. 56

    City Current - Mandan 5-7-25

    May 7, 2025·34m
  57. 57

    City Current - Mandan 4-16-25

    Apr 16, 2025·23m
  58. 58

    City Current - Bismarck 4-9-25

    Apr 11, 2025·36m
  59. 59

    City Current - Mandan 4-2-25

    Apr 2, 2025·39m
  60. 60

    City Current - Bismarck 3-26-25

    Mar 26, 2025·39m
  61. 61

    City Current - Bismarck 2-26-25

    Mar 5, 2025·40m
  62. 62

    City Current - Mandan 3-5-25

    Mar 5, 2025·35m
  63. 63

    City Current - Mandan 2-19-25

    Feb 20, 2025·33m
  64. 64

    City Current - Bismarck 2-12-25

    Feb 12, 2025·36m
  65. 65

    City Current - Mandan 2-5-25

    This episode of City Current features an interview with Mandan City Administrator Jim Neubauer discussing the recent City Commission meeting, including a beautification recognition for a property owner's Halloween decorations.

    Feb 5, 2025·43m
  66. 66

    City Current - Bismarck 1-29-25

    This episode features an interview with Bismarck City Administrator Jason Timonik discussing the recent City Commission meeting and his testimony supporting House Bill 1389, which proposes a street utility fee instead of special assessments for street maintenance.

    Jan 29, 2025·41m
  67. 67

    City Current - Mandan 1-22-25

    This episode discusses the Mandan City Commission meeting, featuring an interview with City Administrator Jim Newbar about the agenda and discussions from the previous night.

    Jan 22, 2025·40m
  68. 68

    City Current - Bismarck 1-15-25

    This episode of City Current features an interview with Bismarck City Administrator Jason Timonik, celebrating the program's 300th episode and discussing local government topics.

    Jan 15, 2025·33m
  69. 69

    City Current - Mandan 1/8/25

    This episode of City Current discusses the Mandan City Commission meeting highlights, including a significant project and holiday lights recognition.

    Jan 8, 2025·35m
  70. 70

    City Current - Bismarck & Mandan 12/18/24

    Dec 30, 2024·58m
  71. 71

    City Current - Mandan 11/20/24

    Nov 25, 2024·28m
  72. 72

    City Current - Bismarck 11/13/24

    Nov 25, 2024·38m
  73. 73

    City Current - Mandan 11/6/24

    Nov 7, 2024·30m
  74. 74

    City Current - Mandan 10/16/24

    Oct 23, 2024·28m
  75. 75

    City Current - Bismarck 10/23/24

    Oct 23, 2024·44m
  76. 76

    City Current - Bismarck 10/9/24

    Oct 9, 2024·41m
  77. 77

    City Current - Mandan 10/2/24

    Oct 2, 2024·30m
  78. 78

    City Current - Mandan 9/4/24

    Sep 4, 2024·30m
  79. 79

    City Current - Mandan 8/21/24

    Aug 21, 2024·27m
  80. 80

    City Current - Bismarck 8/14/24

    Aug 14, 2024·36m
  81. 81

    City Current - Mandan 8/7/24

    Aug 7, 2024·35m
  82. 82

    City Current - Bismarck 7/24/24

    Jul 24, 2024·40m
  83. 83

    City Current - Mandan 7/17/24

    Jul 18, 2024·23m
  84. 84

    City Current - Bismarck 7/10/24

    Jul 18, 2024·41m
  85. 85

    City Current - Bismarck 6/12/24

    Jun 12, 2024·28m
  86. 86

    City Current - Mandan 6/4/24

    Jun 5, 2024·27m
  87. 87

    City Current - Bismarck 5/29/24

    Jun 5, 2024·31m
  88. 88

    City Current - Bismarck 5/16/24

    May 16, 2024·40m
  89. 89

    City Current - Mandan 5/8/24

    May 8, 2024·31m
  90. 90

    City Current - Bismarck 4/24/24

    Apr 24, 2024·35m
  91. 91

    City Current - Mandan 4/17/24

    Apr 17, 2024·31m
  92. 92

    City Current - Bismarck 4/10/2024

    Apr 11, 2024·39m
  93. 93

    City Current - Bismarck 3/27/2024

    Apr 1, 2024·42m
  94. 94

    City Current - Mandan 3/20/2024

    Mar 20, 2024·32m
  95. 95

    City Current - Bismarck 3/13/2024

    Mar 13, 2024·35m
  96. 96

    City Current - Mandan 3/6/2024

    Mar 6, 2024·24m
  97. 97

    City Current - Bismarck 2/28/24

    Feb 28, 2024·30m
  98. 98

    City Current - Mandan 02/07/2024

    Feb 7, 2024·26m
  99. 99

    Mandan 01/17/2024

    Jan 17, 2024·27m
  100. 100

    City Current-Bismarck 1/10/2024

    Jan 10, 2024·35m
  101. 101

    Mandan 12-20-2023

    Dec 29, 2023·36m
  102. 102

    Bismarck 12-13-23

    Dec 29, 2023·37m
  103. 103

    Mandan 11-22-2023

    Dec 6, 2023·25m
  104. 104

    Bismarck 11-29-23

    Dec 6, 2023·27m