National Guard proposes Camp Grafton South expansion

Eddy County landowners filled a meeting room at the Eddy County Courthouse and spilled out into the hallway on Tuesday, Sept. 18 as they came to hear a proposal by the North Dakota National Guard (NDNG) to expand the Camp Grafton South training area located in eastern Eddy County.

A letter sent to landowners living or farming close to the training area said that since Sept. 11, 2001, NDNG has transitioned from a Strategic Reserve to an Operational Reserve. Historically, the NDNG has been a strategic reserve that would be mobilized in the event of a larger than expected contingency or in the event of a domestic emergency. An article written by John Guardiano for the U.S. Army website defines a strategic force as a force in waiting, which does not expect to deploy unless there is a conflict.

However, during the conflicts following 9/11, the role of the National Guard moved to more of an operational reserve. During those conflicts, National Guard forces participated routinely in ongoing military missions and entire units were deployed. They became units that are part of the operational force, one that is fully integrated into the deployment cycle. The objective for the National Guard, as an operational reserve, is to be a force that is manned, trained and equipped for recurrent mobilization and for employment as cohesive units.

The letter went on to inform the landowners that, as an operational reserve, the National Guard has been a critical component in the country's defense and must be ready to deploy on shorter notice than ever before, while also being ready to serve locally and meet the needs within the state.

"The obligation of being an operational reserve comes with added and more complex training and readiness requirements," the letter states. "The Camp Grafton South training area and range complex are inadequate in size and capabilities to meet our current readiness needs."

The NDNG is researching options that would allow them to acquire additional land needed to expand and meet the expected readiness requirements. An expansion like the ones the NDNG is proposing require legislative approval and funding.

As stated in the letter and reinforced at the meeting, the NDNG does not have, nor would they seek, eminent domain. Any land obtained would be purchased at fair market value, and the NDNG would pay special assessments in lieu of property tax on the parcels. The NDNG also manages grazing, haying and farming programs that would allow farmers and ranchers the opportunity to lease the land back for continued agricultural purposes.

Landowners were invited to attend one of the four informational meetings that have been set up to provide additional information, answer questions and address any concerns the public may have. This first meeting was scheduled in conjunction with the Eddy County Commission's regular meeting.

Major General Alan Dohrman, the Adjutant General of the NDNG, told the group that the advancement of weaponry has made it increasingly difficult for them to meet the training requirements necessary as an operational reserve. They no longer have the space necessary to meet their needs in North Dakota. As a result, NDNG forces are sent to training sites in Minnesota and Wyoming to complete their weapons training.

Dohrman showed the landowners a map outlining the proposed expansion, which is published to the right in Exhibit A. The map shows the current training area bordered in yellow, with their expansion plan encompassing an additional 23,000 acres bordered in red on the map. He explained that the additional land would be used to build a firing range and provide room for maneuvers. It would also allow the NDNG forces to be trained closer to home and would allow for more frequent and advanced training. With the nearest training site located at Camp Ripley in Minnesota, Dohrman stressed that their major priority is to provide the proper training within the state to get soldiers ready when they deploy.

A downside to landowners would be the additional traffic as training use increased at the range, with most of that training happening from June through September. Some landowners stated unequivocally that they would not be selling their land, although most (or all, in some cases) of their land was included in the expansion plan. Land that had been in their families for generations was planned to stay in the family for future generations.

Landowners voiced frustrations with the current training site, with the noise of guns firing at night and low flying helicopters scaring livestock. One landowner who lives close to the training site said that he realizes the NDNG has a program to pay an owner if livestock happen to be hit and killed as a result of the firing. However, he said there is no way to determine what kinds of losses they face when cattle on the grazing land are frightened and run from the helicopters. He added that it's hard to prove that a broken leg or lost calves he has faced and believes have happened as a result of grazing within the training site wouldn't have happened anyway. He said he was concerned that those kinds of incidents would occur more often with increased use of the site.

Landowners also questioned Dohrman about the number of families that would be displaced as a result of this expansion plan. He said that based on the current plans about 17 farmsteads would be affected if the NDNG were able to obtain the entire 23,000 acres. If they downsized the project and only acquired enough land to have an adequate firing range training, however, they would need, at minimum, 5,000 to 6,000 acres to build a range complex and one farmstead would be affected. Dohrman noted that the actual number of farmsteads affected could change after talking to the landowners and identifying what land might be available.

Dohrman stressed that the plans were just proposals, and that the NDNG needs to explore the possibilities of keeping the training site and the jobs in North Dakota. He said they are aware that there are many challenges that come with this expansion plan as they are dealing with families who have lived and worked on the land for generations. He also shared that there would be other challenges because former treaty land is included in the plan.

Landowners and members of the public who wished to be notified of future progress and legislative hearings were asked to add their name to a list.

In closing, Dohrman thanked landowners for the opportunity to explore the possibilities of a project where the obligation is to keep North Dakota soldiers as safe as possible when they go overseas and improve their readiness, while giving them the opportunity to train as close to home as possible.

Additional meetings will be held at these locations. Attendees are asked to RSVP to the NDNG to ensure adequate seating is available.

 • Monday, Sept. 24 at 7 p.m. in the Brown Memorial Auditorium, New Rockford

 • Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 9 a.m. in Building 1500 of the Camp Grafton Training Center west of Devils Lake

 • Wednesday, Sept. 26 at 3 p.m. in the Camp Grafton South Range Complex, eastern Eddy County

In other county business, Eddy County Road Superintendent Irvin Loe reported that they have been mowing ditches. With the dry conditions, they have been able to get more of the cattails mowed down. Commissioners also discussed the mixed comments they have heard regarding the new gravel on the county roads. Some residents were positive about the improvements, while others were concerned about the quality of the gravel used in their area.

Eddy County Treasurer Kathy Anderson approached the commission about certificate of deposit (CD) rates. The commissioners approved the rollover of one 12 month, $500,000 CD and the opening of another. They also reviewed the invoice for the repairs made to the communications tower after the July storm, which totaled $5,640.25. An insurance claim has been filed.

Other new business included:

 • Discussion regarding the appointment of delegates to the North Dakota State Fair's annual meeting. Commissioner Glenda Collier will contact Eddy County Extension Agent Tim Becker for his recommendation.

 • The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) sent Eddy County a letter regarding the amount of money available in its federal aid account for 2019 and the projects scheduled that are eligible for federal funds. This will be discussed at a meeting between commissioners and the NDDOT at the North Dakota Association of Counties conference in early October.

 • Apex Engineering Group has requested a temporary construction easement for the road projects scheduled to take place on U.S. Highway 281 and the frontage roads in 2019. Commissioners will sign the easement and return.

The next meeting of the Eddy County Commission will be held Tuesday, Oct. 2 at 8:30 a.m.