New Resident Packet

Welcome Home

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CONTENTS City of Oakes Elected Officials

Monty Zimmer ½ Mayor April Haring ½ Auditor

Nathan O’Brien ½ Council President Arthur Conklin ½ Council Vice President

Larry Engel ½ Councilman Jeff Forward ½ Councilman Nick Harris ½ Councilman

Matt Schaefer ½ Councilman

City of Oakes Departments

Police, Fire, EMS Emergency ½ 911 Clerk / Auditor ½ (701) 742-2137 Economic Development ½ (701) 742-3508 Fire Non-Emergency ½ (701) 742-2161 Police Non- Emergency ½ (701) 742-2172 Ambulance Garage ½ (701) 742-3244 Library ½ (701) 742-3234 ext. 155 Oakes Public Schools ½(701) 742-3234 Connect with Oakes

Website ½ www.oakesnd.com Faceboook ½ www.facebook.com/oakesnd/ Instagram ½ @oakes_nd

City council meetings are held the first Monday of every month at 6 pm unless

otherwise noted. Meetings are held in the meeting room at the Community Center,

124 S 5th St.

WELCOME HOME

A QUICK SNAPSHOT

QUALITY OF LIFE

LOCAL ECONOMY

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HOUSING & DAYCARE 09

COMMUNITY LIVING 10

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On behalf of the City of Oakes, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome you to the community. Oakes offers big city services in a small town atmosphere. You have chosen a great place to live, work and raise a family. As you get settled I encourage you to read through this welcome packet as it provides information to help you discover all Oakes has to offer. Also, you can visit the City website, www.oakesnd.com for additional information. I believe you will enjoy being a part of our vibrant community. It is a pleasure to serve as your Mayor and I look forward to meeting you. Our job at City Hall is to help you thrive and succeed here in Oakes, don’t hesitate to contact us for any reason. Sincerely,

Monty Zimmer Mayor

Greetings, Welcome to Oakes, we are excited to have you join our community and be a Tornado! The Oakes Public School’s Mission is Educating today’s students for tomorrow’s world. Our Commitments are 1) respect, 2) genuine relationships, and 3) growth mindset. Oakes truly is a great place to live, raise a family, and work. Oakes has a long-standing history of supporting education and is fortunate to be home to the Southeast Region Career & Technology Center that provides career and technical education courses for our students and those of the surrounding communities. Our District is comprised of two schools under one roof with a K-12 enrollment of nearly 500 students. I look forward to meeting you and welcoming you to this great town in southeast North Dakota! Thank you for choosing to call Oakes your home. Sincerely, Kraig Steinhoff, Superintendent

Kraig Steinhoff, Superintendent of Oakes Public Schools

welcome home

Monty Zimmer, Mayor of Oakes

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a quick snapshot

History Oakes is proud of its past and holds faith in the future. The community was named for Northern Pacific Railroad President, Thomas Fletcher Oakes. Founded in 1886, Oakes has always been a hub of southeastern North Dakota with Highway 1 connecting east and west sides of Oakes and a short drive to interstates 29 & 94 and US Highway 281. Oakes has long been a leader in civic progressiveness, recreation, and cultural achievement with a strong agricultural economy and loyal residents. As a community that values its roots, we have a Heritage Society that is active in preserving and reminding us of our town’s history and culture which shape our daily lives. With an eye toward the future, our community remembers our foundation and strives to lead progress in rural North Dakota

Demographics Oakes is the perfect community to try something new, settle down, raise a family, and plant your roots. Our community is proud to have people of all ages call home, with a balanced representation of people young and old. Our diverse population is a testament to our vibrant quality of life; showcasing a respect of tradition with an eye toward innovation.

Source: DataUSA: Oakes, ND https://datausa.io/profile/geo/oakes-nd/#category_age

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quality of life Education

Oakes is home to state-of-the-art educational facilities and award-winning teachers and administrators; our community has safe learning environments conducive to every type of student. Preschools:

• Southeast Region Career & Technology Center

• Tiny Tornadoes Elementary:

• Oakes Elementary School (K-6) Junior High:

• Oakes Junior High School (7 & 8) High School:

• Oakes High School (9-12) High School Vocational Education:

• Southeast Region Career & Technology Center

Nearby Colleges: • Trinity Bible College (23 miles) • Valley City State University (59 miles) • Northern State University (70 miles) • North Dakota State College of Science (80

miles)

Parks & Recreation As a community that values our youth & engagement, we prioritize innovative recreation. The quality of our summer programs, swimming pool with waterpark features, community parks and more cannot be matched anywhere else in the region. Community Parks

• Hockenberry Park • Westside Park & Softball Complex – with disc golf • Veterans Memorial Park • Eagle Scout Park • Oakes Public School Playground

Swimming Pool equipped with • 150-foot waterslide, 10-foot flume waterslide

& 3-foot baby slide • Zero-entry kiddie pool connected to deep

end with high and low diving boards • 7,000 sq. foot outdoor pool to swim and play

Summer Programs • Softball and baseball for ages 6+ • Junior Chef Academy youth cooking classes • Artrageous Express art classes • Swimming lessons with certified instructors

Winter Activities • Skating rink • Rollerblading at the Community Center

“The people of Oakes take pride in their community parks, as well as participate in year-round recreation activities. The Oakes community pool is an amazing facility for all ages to enjoy refreshing summer fun!” - Jason Paradis, Oakes Parks & Recreation President, Oakes resident for 7 years

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quality of life Health Care

Oakes boasts health care services that cannot be found within a 60-mile radius. We are a healthcare hub of southeastern North Dakota home to talented and dedicated physicians who provide quality care. Chiropractors

• Dethlefsen Chiropractic • Back to Health Chiropractic • Sundby Family Chiropractic

Clinics • Oakes Community Clinic • Sanford Health

Dentist • Dr. Mark Malmberg, DDS

Dialysis • DaVita Dialysis

Emergency Care • Oakes Ambulance

Hospital • CHI Oakes Hospital

Massage Therapy • Helping Hands Massage • The Touch Therapeutic Massage • Zieman Massage Therapy

Optometrist • Dr. Geoffrey Rath Optometry

Pharmacies • Tara’s Thrifty White • Oakes Family Pharmacy

Senior Living • Oakes Good Samaritan Society

Places of Worship As a community that values diversity, we are home to churches of different denominations and beliefs to accommodate our residents’ faithful lives. Each location of worship offers a variety of services and support for their membership.

• Oakes Church of the Nazarene • Grace Lutheran Church ELCA • Jehovah’s Witness • First Presbyterian Church • St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church • St. John’s Lutheran Church LCMS • United Methodist Church • Southeast Baptist Church

“Since the moment we moved to Oakes we have been welcomed with arms wide open. I can't think of a better and safer location to raise our growing family. Oakes is a place where everyone is a neighbor and friend.” - Austin English, Grace Lutheran Church Pastor, Oakes resident for 2 years

“Oakes offers exceptional healthcare for a community of this size. It is very rewarding to be part of a service industry that is so critical for the citizens of our town. All residents, young and old can get the services they need, which is a huge drawing point when choosing a place to live.” - Becki Thompson, CHI Oakes Hospital President, Oakes resident for 40+ years.

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quality of life Community Organizations

Volunteerism and engagement are alive and well in our community. Many children and adults choose to involve themselves in community organizations to give back, meet new people, or learn new skills. Some clubs and organizations in Oakes include:

• Bear Creek Roughriders • Boy, Cub, & Girl Scouts • Dickey County 4-H • Friends of Fine Arts & Academics • Athletic Booster Clubs • Ludden Sportsmen’s Club • Oakes Lions Club • Oakes Teammakers • Prairie Twisters Gymnastics Club • Relay for Life • Sno-Busters • Oakes Volunteer Ambulance • Oakes Volunteer Fire & Rescue

A complete list of community organizations can be found on our website at: oakesnd.com/communityorganizations Booster Clubs Friends of Fine Arts Active Arts Lions

Seasonal Activities North Dakota experiences all four seasons, so the activities differ as the temperature changes, but there are a wide variety of ways to spend your time in Oakes. In addition to year-round activities, we have seasonal things-to-do. Summer:

• Swim at the beautiful Oakes pool • Enjoy the 9-hole Oakes Golf Course • Attend softball & baseball games • Fishing at the James River

Fall: • Experience some of the best pheasant & deer

hunting in North Dakota • Cheer on Oakes Tornado volleyball & football

Winter: • Drop by the skating rink or go sledding • Ice fishing • Cheer on Oakes Tornado basketball &

wrestling Spring:

• Plant a garden • Attend choir & band concerts, plays, or

musicals • Cheer on Oakes Tornado track & baseball

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local economy Oakes is the dynamic center of southeastern North Dakota. It’s a great community to work and live. Primarily agricultural, Oakes still has a large industrial sector, an appealing, vibrant main street and complete healthcare services. Combining small town quality of life with low costs of living, Oakes cultivates consumer-friendly prices in a competitive and diverse economy, and a short drive to big city convenience.

The biggest employers in Oakes are manufacturing businesses, private agricultural companies and family farms, the public school system, and variety of medical services. In addition, there is no shortage of small businesses that offer retail services, dining, recreation, and more, totaling just short of 200 businesses in Oakes. Economic development is directed by Oakes Enhancement, Inc. and the Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce. Both are comprised of board members that work in a variety of fields in the community and share their expertise with entrepreneurs, business owners, employees, and residents alike. If you have inquiries about Oakes Economic development, contact Emily Ptacek at oakesnd@drtel.net.

"One of the things that really makes the community of Oakes stand out is the quality of our locally owned businesses. The backbone of any small community, our business owners are not only successful entrepreneurs, but they give back. They are the first to sponsor and volunteer to help with the quality-of-life events that are crucial to making Oakes a great place to live, work, and play." -Rebecca Undem, Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce President, Oakes resident for 10 years

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housing & daycare

Housing

• 250+ rental units in town • New home construction eligible for

two-year tax exemption up to $100,000

• Home renovation eligible for three-year tax exemption

• Renaissance Zone incentives available • 5+ local realtors available to help you

find the perfect property • 5+ local licensed contractors available

to build your new home or perfect your existing building

Daycare

• Bethie’s Place – Beth Wolff • Buzy Kidz – Kathy Erickson • Giggles & Grins – Lori Hayenga • Paula Brummund • Peterson’s Playhouse – LeAnn

Peterson • Sara Maroney Daycare • Sara’s Lil Sprouts – Sara Neer • Tiny Toes – Randa Raatz • Tiny Tornadoes • Amanda Anderson Daycare

Oakes fosters a work-friendly environment by offering multiple child care options, including in-home day care licensed as well as a location on main street. There are 10 licensed locations to choose from, which include:

For contact information, please visit our website at https://oakesnd.com/daycare

As a community on the grow, we understand that it is necessary to accommodate housing needs of our new residents. There are many options to choose from if you would like to rent, and incentives available for building or renovating homes.

For details on tax emptions, available rental units, and related housing questions, contact city hall at

(701) 742-2137

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small town big living

Library Irrigation Days

Evening in the Park

Oakes Pool

We are constantly updating facilities in our community to give our residents an edge towards the future.

Open Memorial Day through Labor Day, the Oakes Swimming Pool is the envy of the region. Since July 2004, swimmers of all ages have enjoyed our renovated pool with 3 water slides from 3 to 150 feet, a zero-foot entry convenient for young & restricted mobility swimmers that connects to a spacious 12-foot depth area with 2 diving boards. Boasting gate prices that can’t be beat, we can’t wait for you to come swim with us!

Renovated in 2016, the Oakes School & Public Library is among the most technologically advanced in the state. With 18 desktop computers in the computer lab, 30,000 volumes available, and access to e-reader software via Library2Go, the possibilities are endless. The Oakes Library was the first in North Dakota to be used as the school library as well as the public library.

During the second weekend of June, the city of Oakes hosts its annual Irrigation Days festival. The Oakes Area Chamber of Commerce, along with local businesses, sponsor the fun for all ages to enjoy. Some highlights of the weekend include a karaoke competition, community wide rummage sale, grand parade, 5K run / walk, kids pedal tractor pull, street dances, food court vendors, rodeo, and demolition derby. It is an event that the community looks forward to year-round and takes pride in hosting.

Hosted every August in Hockenberry Park, the evening in the park includes a “taste of summer” community supper followed by a pet show. The evening is a great way to wrap up summer and spend time with friends and meet new people and pets!

Oakes hosts an annual summer festival and celebrates public events that grow our small town’s sense of community.