Several large and difficult challenges face the city of Williston and they won't be solved overnight.

Mayor Ward Koeser said the main issues facing the city today must be solved with hard work over a period of time. He hopes to do as much as possible to address them before his fourth and final term as mayor ends in June.

Koeser said the city has seen its share of serious problems over the years, but the problems facing the community today are not impossible to overcome.

"I really think we've approached these problems with a good plan. We've had a pretty stable and committed city commission and that's made my job a whole lot easier. You have to have leaders with a yes, we can do that, we can achieve these things kind of attitude," said Koeser.

Koeser said the problems the city faces today are large and are going to be difficult to solve. But if the right solutions are found, the city will benefit immensely in the long run. The issue of housing was already becoming a serious problem before recent talk started of a potentially large increase in oil activity in 2010. With an influx of oil industry work, the housing shortage is further complicated.

"We've pushed hard to to get some things started. The next step is finding people willing to invest in housing here in Williston," said Koeser.

Working to get developers, investors and banks together to provide housing has been a tireless effort for the city for some time, and Koeser said the city is doing everything it can.

He cited the recent approval by the commission of a no-interest loan to a developer to build two 36-unit apartment complexes. Koeser said foundation work has begun on both buildings and they're likely to be finished in July.

"Without that loan, I don't think we'd have this housing going up. Those 72 units will help," said Koeser.

Koeser also referred to the work city workers did to install water and sewer lines in the former Cimarron Heights Trailer Park for the units they plan on opening for the winter.

"We've got a lot of people who work so hard to make this city a better place. That's not part of their job description; they knew how important it was to do that and the impact it'll have," said Koeser.

Koeser said these things don't fix the housing situation overnight.

He added the next mayor has a lot on his or her plate, including what he feels is an even bigger long-term issue to address.

"Bottom line is, diversifying the economy is, I think, the most important issue this city faces in the long term. If we can become a community that has a more diverse economy, even if the oil goes away, things will still be going strong," said Koeser.

Koeser said that is one of the reasons why he throws his support behind some of the projects that he does, such as bringing United Pulse Trading to Williston. He said companies such as that are a strong start, but attracting more would be even better.

Koeser said there are also other issues such as maintaining roads, continuing to provide good schools and fulfilling resident's wishes in getting more restaurants and retail stores in town.

He said these are all important to consider along with housing, because more population requires more infrastructure and options for residents.

"Based on the possible influx of jobs, it's very possible we could grow 10 percent in a year. We're working hard behind the scenes. Although people might not see the results in the media with ribbon cuttings and buildings opening, we're working as hard as we can," said Koeser.

Koeser said communities are always going to face short-term and long-term problems, as it's a continuous process.

"When you take a snapshot of 15 years ago and compare it to today, it's very fulfilling to me," Koeser.

When he first ran for mayor in 1994, he went door to door and the main concern, especially from the older generation, was a desire to be proud of being from Williston again. He said after the boom and bust of the 1980s, long-time residents were in a down mood and were hoping for things to get better.

"I like to think a lot has been accomplished. I think we've made a large stride in the right direction," said Koeser.

During the final months of his term, he hopes to continue working toward improving the housing situation and diversifying the local economy. He said hopefully, he can continue going strong until his successor is elected.

"I really hope we can find someone from the younger generation to take over," said Koeser, adding he feels some younger leadership might spark further progress. "Younger people just tend to have that excitement and energy. I'd just encourage the voters, when they consider who'll be mayor, if it's someone that'll have that can-do spirit and attitude we need," said Koeser.

Koeser said he'll continue to work and talk with anyone interested in helping solve the city's problems until the day his term is up. He hopes his successor wants to continue what he, commission members and everyone in City Hall have been working to achieve.

"Hopefully they'll promote good ideas and new ideas. Possibly even better ones," he said.