701 Rundown: Jan. 15, 2024

Here’s your weekly rundown of some of the most interesting headlines from newspapers across North Dakota.

Alexander school district bond referendum does not pass in special election

The preliminary results of the Alexander Public School special election show a tie of 89 votes for the school bond referendum and 89 votes against it. The referendum requires a 60 percent majority to pass.

In November, Alexander School District Superintendent Leslie Beiber sat down with The Farmer to explain what the referendum would be used for if it passed.

She stated that there were still parts of the school that have the original 1965 wiring and sprinkler system.

If the bond had passed, it would have allowed for updating to be done on the areas that have the original wiring and have all of the sprinklers in the school updated to current standards.

The school district will still move forward with the addition and cafeteria renovation they had planned, as the referendum did not affect the funds available for that project.

The current project is to include an addition to the existing school building that will add 10 more classrooms.

(Story by Kristen Jones, McKenzie County Farmer)

Basement price tag draws citizen criticism

Not everybody in the county is happy about the courthouse basement renovation.

At the Foster County Commission meeting last week, commissioner Pat Copenhaver told the board that some residents are questioning the cost of the project.

During the meeting held on Tuesday, January 2, Copenhaver said people are calling him, saying that there are more important things in the county that need repair, such as roads and some of the county shops.

He also said he is concerned about the county running out of money after the renovation is paid for.

Commissioner Alan Scanson explained to Copenhaver why they need to renovate the courthouse basement.

"Seven years ago, when we were all elected, we agreed as a board to maintain the courthouse instead of building a new one," Scanson said.

Commissioner Becky Hagel also explained that the county has money from ARPA and other sources that cannot be spent on roads, so they can use that money on the basement.

Copenhaver said that people are against the project, and will fight it.

(Story by Leasa Lura, The Foster County Independent)

Fessenden VP takes over enforcement duties

The Wells County Sheriff Department’s contract with the city of Fessenden expired on Dec. 31.

Concerning the council’s decision to non-renew the Sheriff's contract, Alderman David Locken reiterated that the county must still respond to 911 emergencies within the city.

“The only thing really changing is our ordinances aren’t being enforced by the Sheriff anymore,” said Locken.

This responsibility would typically fall onto the mayor.

However, both the mayor and council president offices were vacated in 2023, and still remain open, so the enforcement of ordinances is the responsibility of the council vice-president, Jeff Johnson.

Auditor Paula Tweton said a letter was received by Janelle Pepple, office deputy at the sheriff’s department, listing licensed dogs within the city.

The city will resume responsibility for licensing dogs and providing a vaccination clinic each year as they had done in previous years.

(Story by Carrie Opdahl, the Herald-Press)

City approves emergency declaration for ice storm

The Hillsboro City Commission has signed an emergency declaration in response to the ice storm that swept through the region Dec. 25-27.

City Commission President Levi Reese recommended the city approve the declaration, which allows the city to tap into its emergency fund to pay for cleanup costs after the two-day storm left the city littered with fallen tree branches.

Reese said the city’s declaration, following a statewide emergency approved Dec. 29 by Gov. Doug Burgum, could allow the city to be reimbursed for utility repairs or the cost to hire a company to clean up tree branches in town.

City leaders pointed out Tuesday that Hillsboro, which never lost power Dec. 25-27, may have been fortunate compared to other cities in eastern North Dakota.

The two-day ice storm left a buildup of ice ranging between a half-inch to an inch from Grand Forks to Fargo and left more than 20,000 North Dakotans without power.

(Story by Cole Short, Hillsboro Banner)

Record number of actively producing oil wells in North Dakota

In October 2023, the state produced 38,590,557 barrels of oil with a record 18,619 actively producing wells.

“October numbers were pretty strong,” stated North Dakota Department of Mineral Resources Director Lynn Helms, during his monthly Director’s Cut on Dec. 21.

“But it was down 3.7 percent from September, which was entirely due to the storm. The storm lasted about a week and 50-90,000 barrels per day were shut in ... it took a full month to recover.”

Oil production was 13 percent above the revenue forecast with an average of 1,244,857 barrels of oil produced per day.

McKenzie County continues to lead the state with 5,527 active wells that produced 11,685,413 barrels of oil (30.28 percent of the state’s total) and 47,578,142 mcf of natural gas (45.10 percent of the state’s total).

(Story by Patrice Bumstead, McKenzie County Farmer)