Bakken Briefs

Israel Weinberger, a partner in Coltown Properties, said construction has already begun on Madison Heights Apartments, a $45 million project that will consist of seven, three to four-story apartment buildings with a total of 325 apartments.

Three of the apartment buildings are under construction, with the first one to open in September.

But it is Coltown’s plan for two, three- to six-story office/retail buildings on Main Street, that has City Planner Curt Moen excited.

“We want to keep Watford City’s downtown as a destination,” Moen said.

“While we are going to see retail expand into other areas of the city, we want to see the professional businesses, dining and boutique shops located downtown, which is what you see in other larger communities.”

The first phase of that project will break ground on the east side of Main Street this year.

McKenzie County Farmer, Watford City

Tioga landfill plan 

opposed

About 50 people stood up against a landfill proposed for southeast of Tioga when Pleasant Valley Township held a public hearing on the matter recently.

Following a lively discussion, the township board voted against the project, but it’s only one step in a lengthy process and township officials do not have the final say.

IHD Environmental submitted a conditional use permit to Williams County and is holding public hearings as part of the permitting process.

Prior to the township board’s vote, Chris Kreger, manager for IHD, provided a presentation on the proposed facility and answered questions from an often-hostile audience.

“If there is some constructive criticism, we will add that to our plans,” Kreger said.

The township board’s decision now goes to the Williams County Planning and Zoning Board for consideration in their hearing on the permit. The county commission will then consider the recommendations of the county board before giving the final approval or denial of the permit. Without county approval, the state will not issue a permit for the landfill.

Tioga Tribune

State ramps up oil field rules

Following a spate of environmental and safety issues in the Bakken oil fields, the state of North Dakota has ramped up its regulatory presence.

“Forty-one new rules have been put into place since April 1,” said Lynn Helms, the state’s director of mineral resourced.

“The biggest is the filter sock disposal.”

Helms made his remarks in Kenmare at the North Dakota Petroleum Council’s Bakken Rocks Cookfest.

He said filter socks, which were found improperly stored this year at several northwest North Dakota locations, are made of nylon and are used to filter fracking sand or anything other than water coming back out of the drilling process.

The socks often have low levels of radiation and were being discarded in a random careless manner.

Helms said new rules require each well to have a filter sock disposal canister on site, and failure to use it can result in a daily fine of up to $12,000.

Kenmare News

Grenora school project OK’d

Help is on the way for the crowded Grenora School after a bond issue to fund a building expansion passed last week, with 64.8 percent support.

The issue originally went to voters three months ago, with only 55.3 percent voting yes. A 60 percent approval was necessary to pass the issue.

Superintendent Troy Walters said the district reduced the construction price this time, from $9.95 million down to $8.3 million, but decided to still bond for $9.95 million due to the possibility construction companies could increase their costs, as has happened continually during the oil boom.

“With construction, we just don’t know what’s going to happen,” he said. “Construction prices are nuts.”

Walters cited the Tioga School District’s construction bids earlier this year as an example.

Tioga’s school board budgeted for a price of $260 per square foot, but bids came in at around $325 per square foot -- a 25 percent increase.

Grenora’s pursuit of additional classrooms, offices and storage is attributable not only to oil-related enrollment increases but also to recent state requirements to provide more accommodations for special education and other programs.

The Journal, Crosby

U.S. 85 4-laning progresses

Phase One of the project to four-lane U.S. 85 from Watford City to Williston is expected to be complete this fall.

Katie Pizza, a spokeswoman in the Williston District office of the State Transportation Department, said the first phase stretches from Watford City to a county roads intersection about two miles north of Alexander.

The highway now runs through the middle of both Watford City and Alexander, but bypasses now under construction will send traffic around those communities.

Phase Two of the project, from County Road 16 to Williston, including the Lewis & Clark Bridge, was put out for bid July 15. The highway portion of Phase Two is scheduled for completion in 2015. But the Lewis & Clark Bridge isn’t slated for completion until 2016.

Pizza said the Transportation Department’s $800 million construction program this year is a record, with $500 million being bid in western North Dakota’s oil patch.

McKenzie County Farmer, Watford City

Openings soon at Tioga mall

Cash Wise Foods and Cash Wise Liquor are now in business in a new Tioga strip mall, but the  mall’s other occupants will take a bit more time to open.

China Express and Anytime Fitness have had to wait on mechanics and equipment.

Jeff Lam, owner and operator of the proposed China Express, said a delay will soon be over.

“Right now, we’re waiting for the mechanical guy to come in one more week,” Lam said.

Lam said once the mechanic installs air conditioning and extra wiring, the store will be nearly complete.

“I think we’re starting open in middle of August or end of August,” he said.

And to assuage the guilt of eating too much delicious Chinese food, the Anytime Fitness next door is also opening soon, but will take slightly longer than the restaurant.

Sherry Mclaughlin, owner of the fitness location, said the opening date will be in late summer or early fall.

-- Tioga Tribune