JDA Board Meeting: April 16, 2024

April 16, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes

Members present: John Carns, Clint Wold, Gene Veeder, Rex Korslien, Shilo Chavez, Tyler Fixen, Joel Brown, Calli Thorne, Aaron Pelton, Pete Edis, Matt Beard (virtual)
Members absent:
Others present: Daniel Stenberg, John Suter, Keith Olson, Katie Walters, Jake Walters, Vawnita Best, Sara Fitzpatrick, Josh Nollmeyer, Terry Moe, Carie Boster (virtual), Jessica Claiborn

Chair John Carns called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. with quorum having been achieved.
The meeting was at the Missouri Room of the McKenzie County Courthouse and available remotely via zoom. Brown made a motion to approve the agenda, financial report and meeting minutes as presented, Korslien seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

No member reported a conflict of interest. ||

Sara Fitzpatrick (RRC) and Josh Nollmeyer (RRC) presented the Rough Rider Center and Parks and Rec’s annual report and the success they had in 2023 and their plans for 2024. The board was requested to approve the Rough Rider Center and JDA operating budget request of $500,000 that was included in the 2024 county budget. Fixen made a motion to approve releasing the $500,000 in budgeted funds for the Rough Rider Center, Veeder seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Terry Moe and Jessica Claiborn updated the board on the KidStop program and its growth and success in 2023. They requested the release of $120,000 in 2024 budgeted funds for continuing the program. Board members requested financial statements with future funding requests from entities such as KidStop and Rough Rider Center. Chavez made a motion to approve the $120,000 funding with KidStop, Wold seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Vawnita Best updated the board on the community planning survey to gauge the public’s thoughts on the redevelopment vision for Watford City. The survey encourages participation from the community on what to do with redevelopment areas. ||

Dunn County JDA Director Carie Boster presented on Dunn County’s down payment assistance housing program titled “The Make it Home Down Payment Incentive Program” which helped build 15 homes in Dunn County and supported the sale of 35 existing homes. The program is designed to support sustainable, long-term homeownership for qualified buyers by providing the down payment assistance needed to make Dunn County their home. ||

Jake Walters on behalf of the Watford City Housing Authority proposed a program where the Watford City Housing Authority would build 9 rent-to-own houses on lots that the city of Watford City would donate to the Watford City Housing Authority who manage the program. They are in talks with builders on the specifics and the willingness of the builders to participate, but it is currently expected to be about a $3.5 million project. It was noted that there is about that amount in unspent funds in the JDA Home Builder Construction Loan Program that is set to expire at the end of this year. It was questioned what the implications this program would have on the private market. It was agreed that efforts would be made to reach out to area players to get their take on the program’s impact. It was also noted that the builders could likely have the houses mostly done by Oct 2024 if this program would be authorized soon. Chavez made a motion to support a request for funds to the McKenzie County Commission for this Watford City Housing Authority’s rent to own proposal. Korslien seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Stenberg updated the board on the upcoming milestone for the Shovel Ready Lot Program noting that neither developer is set to meet the milestone set for June 2024. Pelton made a motion to provide a one-year extension of all remaining milestones for both of the participants in the JDA Shovel Ready Program, Veeder seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Calli Thorne gave an update regarding the ND Stockman’s Association Spring Roundup event happening in June in McKenzie County and requested $500 for the JDA’s sponsorship. Wold made a motion to approve the $500 sponsorship for the ND Stockman’s Association Spring Roundup, Pelton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Stenberg presented a Williston Research Extension Center 2024 Field Day sponsorship request letter and noted that the board had approved sponsoring $200 for the event in the past. Brown made a motion to approve sponsoring $200 for the Williston Research Extension Center Field Day, Fixen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Suter gave an update regarding the registrations for the Behavioral Health Summit and noted that 5 individuals have shown interest for this sponsorship. Suter will continue to find interest from the community and get up to 20 more individuals registered for the summit. ||

Suter presented the March Technology and Communications report and the April Economy at a Glance. ||

Stenberg updated the board on the group trip to Ponca City, OK and Hobbs, NM and noted that there will be a more in-depth update of the trip at the next County Commission meeting in May. ||

Stenberg noted that the Alexander Day Care project has now chosen a builder. ||

Stenberg updated the board on the Bakken Area Skills Center ribbon cutting event that happened earlier in the day. ||

Stenberg gave an update regarding the Cerilon project and it was noted the project will not pursue fertilizer production at this time. ||

Board members shared items of interest. ||

Korslien made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Fixen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:24 p.m.

Signed: ____________________ Date: __________