The Williston City Commission is writing a letter of support for Vector Control to try to get grant funds and also approved the purchase of mineral acres back from the Sewer Enterprise Fund during its regular meeting this pastTuesday.

Jackie Stenehjem, an assistant professor who teaches GIS classes at Williston State College, explained the reasons for the proposed letter of support to the commissioners. Stenehjem said Vector Control is seeking grant funds to bring in a plane using Light Detection and Ranging (LIDAR) technology to map areas along the Missouri River.

"We want to use it for mosquito control," said Stenehjem.

LIDAR technology is a remote sensing system used to collect topographic data. Scientists from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) and NASA use it to document topographic changes along shorelines.

Using aircraft-mounted lasers, an aircraft flies low over the shoreline and the laser pulses record elevation measurements. Raw data is later converted into a detailed map of elevation of the mapped area. She said Vector Control states there are areas that are tough to get to that it wants to map. Using this technology allows Vector Controlto collect topographic data it can use to map where to spray for mosquitoes next year.

Between the map and keeping an eye on river levels, Vector Control should have a better idea of which areas need to be sprayed and when.

"We're hoping this will give us a good baseline for the next 10, 15 years to work with," said Stenehjem.

Stenehjem was asked by the commission about the project's cost, which are between $60,000 and $100,000. This covers bringing in the LIDAR equipment and the plane and pilots who need to fly and map the area.

She is currently receiving training on how to process the raw data into topographic data, which should save the cost of hiring someone.

"Are you going to approach McKenzie County on this? We partner with them," said Commissioner Brent Bogar regarding collaboration on spraying efforts.

Stenehjem said she hadn't but certainly would. She added the letter of support and grant proposal needed to be submitted to Sen. Byron Dorgan's office by early December.

After further discussion, the commission unanimously approved the request for a letter of support.

In an unrelated matter, the commission also voted to approve the sale of mineral acres to the city that are currently owned by the city's Sewer Enterprise Fund.

Commissioner Brad Bekkedahl said there is a well in the southeast corner of the city owned by Brigham Exploration that the Sewer Enterprise Fund owns the mineral rights and receives royalties. Bekkedahl said about 20 percent of the royalties go to the General Fund and the rest go to the Sewer Enterprise Fund.

He said the issue is the portion of the money in the Sewer Enterprise Fund can only be used for sewer department needs.

After some recent discussions with the city auditor and an independent auditor, Bekkedahl said they agreed it is a good idea to buy back those acres, so the city has full access to all of the royalties from the well.

"If it's in the sewer fund, we don't really have access to it. If we own those acres, it gives us that flexibility to use it for other purposes such as tax reduction," said Bekkedahl.

He added that some of the dollars could still be budgeted for the Sewer Enterprise Fund.

The proposal was to purchase up to 100 acres at 20 percent of the original purchase of the acres.

"Is that a fair amount?," asked Commissioner Howard Klug.

Bogar said after doing some checking, he determined it was.