Central ND News

The Oliver County Commission is scheduled to hold its regular meeting on August 12, 2025. The meeting will begin at 1:00 PM with a call to order, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and approval of the agenda, minutes, and bills.

Representatives from several organizations are expected to provide updates during the meeting. Brent Eckstrom from Lewis & Clark Regional Development will speak at 1:15 PM. Jonathan Fortner of the Lignite Energy Council is scheduled for 1:30 PM. At 2:00 PM, there will be a Park Board Meeting, followed by an update from Allison Ritter of the Western Dakota Energy Association at 2:15 PM.

The commission will also discuss matters related to BNI-37th Ave Overpass at 2:30 PM and hear from Road Superintendent Kenny Rude at 2:45 PM regarding highway utility permits involving Roughrider and WRT, as well as other road concerns such as repair projects on 21st Street and the corner of 49th Ave and 21st Street. Additional topics include a letter from NDDEQ, Janice Isaak’s road concerns, NextEra’s post-construction inventory for its Road Use & Maintenance Agreement, and further road maintenance issues.

Planning and zoning updates are set for discussion starting at 3:30 PM. This segment includes consideration of building permit #1070 for Kirk & Linda Maize, updates on ordinance drafts, and discussions about ordinance penalties.

Other business items on the agenda include portfolio reports and updates from the Sheriff’s Department covering rabies vaccines, a Youthworks agreement, city/county police service agreements, limits for sheriff/deputy credit cards (CC), election updates including joint powers agreements with city and schools (JPAs), Rud Oil & Gas P-Cards, potential changes to October meeting dates in connection with the Western Dakota Energy Association Annual Meeting scheduled for October 8-9 (https://www.ndenergy.org/events/annual-meeting), server back-up quotes for the county auditor/treasurer office, distribution of an audit report handout, opioid settlement discussion materials, and a presentation by Mickie McNulty-Eide regarding NDIRN.

The commission meeting is open to members of the public who wish to attend or follow local government proceedings.