The Williston City Commission approved a series of motions involving efforts by the city to open up a small number of Cimarron Heights Trailer Court lots for use this winter during its meeting Tuesday evening.

Mayor Ward Koeser updated the commission on efforts being made since their previous regular meeting two weeks ago to get some Cimarron Heights lots ready for public use this winter. Koeser said that the Public Works Department "went above and beyond their usual duties" to do some quick work to get water lines ready for a small section of lots in the front row on the east end of the court. He said a week from Monday, Montana-Dakota Utilities will start work on utility lines so that at least 20 lots will be available for this winter, possibly more if decent weather lasts beyond completing the 20 lots.

A cost estimate from MDU put the price for putting in utilities for the initial 20 spots would be $67,620, or $3,381 per trailer spot.

Koeser also said this is only a short-term situation and that the city doesn't want to be in the business of operating housing, nor should it.

"As we discussed in committee on this, we realize that if we want to do anything in the short-term this winter, even something as small as this, we're going to have to do it ourselves," said Koeser. Three motions found their way in front of the commission. The first was a memorandum of understanding between the city and Rick Nice, who manages F-M Parkway mobile home park in Williston.

The agreement states that Nice would operate the Cimarron Heights lots that are being used, operating under the rules in place at F-M Parkway. Nice would be responsible for placing the trailers as they come in and oversee setup. Rent at lots with a trailer on them would be $165 per month.

The commission voted unanimously to approve the memorandum of understanding by a five votes to none margin.

The city, according to Koeser, will be retaining 112 of the 338 lots on the east side of Cimarron Heights to speed up the opening process and having active utilities isolated to that section for the time being.

The other two motions in front of the commission centered around options for selling the remaining lots.

Koeser said they were contacted recently by Battlement Mesa Partners, LLC, of Colorado in regards to possibly purchasing the remaining 226 lots. He said Battlement Mesa had tried to work out a deal for purchasing lots in the past, but the deal had fallen through. The company gotten back in contact with the city after a recent deal by other developers had also fallen through.

A motion was put forward to give Battlement Mesa 30 days or until Dec. 11 to purchase the remaining 226 lots at a previously-approved price from their original deal at $1,750 per lot.

This second motion also passed unanimously.

A third motion was made, stating that if they were unable to complete the purchase in 30 days, the city would then advertise the whole portion under a request for proposal (RFP) process. This would be with the goal of attracting a buyer who would buy and open the trailer court by next spring. Also in the motion was if Battlement Mesa fails to close on the 226 lots and it goes to the RFP process, they would then be given the option to purchase the other 112 lots the city is retaining instead. They would have until May 1, 2010 and a price would have to be negotiated.

The third motion was also passed unanimously.

Koeser also informed the rest of the commissioners that with these 20 lots operating over the winter the city was going to lose money.

"The more important thing is that we're providing at least some housing relief short-term," said Koeser.

While all this planning was going on, Koeser said a waiting list was already beginning to take shape. Now that the motions were approved, people on the list will be contacted and lots should be available for hookup by the end of the month.

Anyone interested in putting their name on a waiting list for possible placement in the spots open can speak with City Auditor John Kautzman by calling 577-8100.