City proposed county tax levy for airport

On Tuesday, April 5, Eddy County commissioners heard from New Rockford mayor, Stuart Richter, regarding the airport north of town.

Richter began by telling commissioners that, first and foremost, the airport needs a new overlay, as the most recent one was completed in 2005. Troy Georgeson, lead member of the New Rockford Airport Authority, was also in attendance and told commissioners that an overlay of the runway and taxiway is planned for 2023. 

Richter then explained that they’d also like a new hangar to replace the one that was blown away in a 2018 wind storm, “but the city can’t afford to do both,” he added.

“After the hangar blew away, things really died,” said Richter. “There was a pretty progressive group of individuals flying out of there, utilizing it, making it work, benefiting the city, benefiting the county; but ever since then, it’s changed, so we’re trying to get that back.”

Richter explained that some insurance money is still available after the 2018 windstorm, and Georgeson added that they can expect a 70/30 split for funding: 70 percent would come from the state, while 30 percent would be provided locally.

Official cost estimates were unavailable at the time of Tuesday’s county commission meeting. When commissioners asked what kind of price they could expect, Georgeson said it could be as high as $1 million total.

Richter added that a lounge at the airport is also being requested, which could cost another $100,000 or more.

“We’re hoping to, at minimum, build a lounge and then the runways and taxiways,” Richter told commissioners. “... but for maximum, we would like to build the hangar, which we feel that we owe our citizens.”

Richter added, “Apologies for not having ... exact numbers, but we are basically asking for up to four mills from the county.”

Richter and Georgeson concluded by expressing how important they feel the airport is to New Rockford’s business activity, as well as for agricultural use in the county. They also expressed their intention to return to the county commission, as soon as May, with more exact numbers regarding cost.

County Commission Chairperson, Glenda Collier, added that the issue could be put on the ballot for upcoming elections, either primary or general, but no final decisions were made at Tuesday’s meeting.

Up next for county commissioners was a somewhat contentious discussion regarding a stream crossing determination conducted on County Road 16 at the Oak Creek crossing, which was requested by the Eddy County Commission in Oct. 2020.

Doug and Kris Skadberg attended Tuesday’s meeting to request an update on the county’s plans regarding the Oak Creek crossing. Also in attendance were Monty Schaefer and other members of the Eddy County Water Resource Board.

The Skadbergs, who own land in Eddy County, had attended previous county commission meetings this year where they argued that N.D. Century Code requires Eddy County to upgrade the culvert’s at the Oak Creek crossing in order to meet the requirements of the stream crossing determination.

According to Eddy County State's Attorney, Ashley Lies, the stream crossing determination stated that there must be a “design discharge of 493 cubic feet per second, to meet the minimum design standards.”

Previously, Eddy County commissioners, under advisement from Interstate Engineering Inc., had contested the assertion that they’re responsible for upgrading any culverts. However, that stance seemed to be walked back by State’s Attorney Lies at Tuesday’s meeting.

“We are not in disagreement that the law, and that’s N.D.C.C 24.03.08, provides that when the determination has been made by the Department of Water Resources, the board of county commissioners upon notification of the determination shall ... install a culvert or bridge of sufficient capacity that would permit the water to flow freely and unimpeded through the culvert or under the bridge,” said Lies.

The Skadbergs, who own land in the area, had also asked that Eddy County install 48” and 54” culverts at the Oak Creek crossing to meet the requirements, per an Apex Engineering Group, Inc. (Apex) hydrologic and hydraulic study completed in July 2019.

However, on Tuesday, Lies explained that the stream crossing determination does not share the same suggestion of the size or shape for any new culverts, and further stated that Eddy County’s engineer, Interstate Engineering, has concerns about Apex’s assessment for the culverts’ size.

According to Lies, their concern stems from an assumption that was made in their 2019 study, as well as a lack of review of the potential downstream impacts of adding 48” and 54” culverts.

For those reasons, county commissioners declined to make a motion regarding the Oak Creek crossing, deciding instead to gather more information from Instate Engineering and State’s Attorney Lies.

There was evident disappointment and some frustration expressed by some in attendance, but Lies assured all parties that her discussions with the Skadberg's attorney, Zachary Bermiester, have already been productive, and that further discussions could yield a solution by next month’s meeting, including any clarifications regarding liability.

Before adjourning, commissioners discussed leftover CARES Act funding following the basement and storage room remodels in the courthouse, among other costs, which have left $17,841.91 in CARES Act money still available.

Commissioners discussed using the money to address various security concerns at the courthouse, and to upgrade the commission’s ability to utilize Zoom conferencing.

Also discussed was scheduling a time to interview Interstate Engineering regarding their proposal for repairs to the Munster Bridge east of New Rockford, as well as continued discussion with Road Superintendent, Todd Weber, regarding the Challenger tractor lease.

Weber also made the suggestion that construction on the Sheyenne Shop be moved to 2023, saying that spreading the project out over two years could jeopardize the concrete as it sits over the winter. The commissioners agreed, and plans were made to do site work this year in preparation for construction in 2023.

The next county commission is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, May 3, at the Eddy County Courthouse.