JDA Board Meeting: June 18, 2024

June 18, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes

Members present: John Carns, Gene Veeder, Tyler Fixen, Clint Wold, Joel Brown, Calli Thorne (virtual), Aaron Pelton, Pete Edis, Matt Beard
Members absent: Rex Korslien, Shilo Chavez
Others present: Daniel Stenberg, John Suter, Katie Walters, Jake Walters, Dr. Jerry Bergman, Vince Neves (virtual), Allan Roden (virtual), Norm Spaeth (virtual), Holly Riggins

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. Beard made a motion to approve the agenda, financial report and meeting minutes as presented, Fixen seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

No members reported a conflict of interest. ||

Dr. Jerry Bergman, with Safflower Technologies International updated the board on the completion of the feasibility study and had the study’s participants Vince Neves, Allan Roden and Norm Spaeth, share as well. The study shows that there is potential but the costs are high. Dr Bergman to meet with SBDC to continue discussing the project’s feasibility in the area. It was also noted that representatives in Minot have expressed interest in seeing the study’s results. Dr Bergman will follow up with Keith Olson first and then release the results to those who ask when Bergman is comfortable. Brown made a motion to approve the release of allocated funds of $8,000 for the completion of the Safflower Technologies International feasibility study and approve sharing the results of the study with others when Bergman is comfortable, Pelton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Jake Walters and Aaron Pelton, on behalf of the Watford City Housing Authority, presented their request to transfer $3,600,000 of funds from the JDA Home Builder Construction Loan Program held at Lewis & Clark Development Group to the Watford City Housing Authority for the Pathway to Purchase Housing Program. The Housing Authority has recently selected three contractors to enter contract negotiations with; and offer three homes to each of the contractors selected—Ascend Building LLC, Branch Construction Services and KLT Enterprises. Fixen made a motion to approve the transfer of $3,600,000 to the Watford City Housing Authority for the Pathway to Purchase Program, Brown seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Following up from last month’s meeting, Stenberg presented a draft concept document for a potential Down Payment Assistance Program. He received feedback from Katie Walters and John Carns and used Dunn County JDA’s program as a guide. The board was asked to review the draft and contact Stenberg with feedback, and the topic will continue to be discussed at future JDA meetings. If the project moves forward there will be plans to have a public meeting to gather feedback on the program, have it finalized by the JDA and approval for funds from County Commission, a meeting with realtors and lenders after the program has been finalized to make sure they understand the program well, and then the program would launch. ||

Gene Veeder presented a request for $10,000 for the Badlands Advisory Group to provide for a gap in funding between its current work and future funding which seems that the Bush Foundation will likely provide later this year. Dunn County has also agreed to help fund the transition time for $10,000. The Badlands Advisory Group seeks to provide a balanced approach to energy development and environmental concerns and it provides McKenzie County a platform at many state level meetings. Beard made a motion to approve funding $10,000 to the Badlands Advisory Group, Pelton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Stenberg presented the request to sponsor $500 for the Women in Business event that will be taking place in Watford City on June 28. Brown made a motion to approve sponsoring $500 for the Women in Business event, Wold seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Stenberg gave an update regarding plans to start a McKenzie County Orientation program. This workforce retention program would bring together new hires in the county to participate in an orientation to familiarize them with the community and to get them more connected with the area. Stenberg has sent out a survey to larger employers in the county to get their feedback. The board will review the draft summary and give Stenberg feedback regarding this idea. If everything goes according to plan, the orientation program plans to launch in September. ||

Stenberg updated the board on a Workforce Development position he would like to see housed in the Economic Development office. This position would work on improving the county’s workforce by promoting and engaging in attraction, retention and training activities around the county and spend a majority of the time at the Bakken Areas Skills Center. Stenberg noted he received approval from the County Commission earlier today to classify the position.

Suter updated the board on the Behavioral Health Summit registrations and noted that he has 8 people who have registered and will be sponsored by the JDA to attend the summit. ||

Suter noted that we met with writers of the Liveability online magazine and gave them insights on our community and why it’s a great place to live. Watford City and McKenzie County will be featured in a Livability article in around a year from now. ||

Suter updated the board that he is leading in the county’s effort to redesign the county website and has received approval from the County Commission to go with ProudCity (website vendor and host) to begin this redesign process. ||

Suter presented the May Technology and Communications report and the June Economy at a Glance and noted that McKenzie County’s K-12 Public School enrollment has risen from 2,590 in Fall 2022 to 2,775 in Fall 2023. ||

Stenberg updated the board on the End of the Rope movie and noted McKenzie County JDA has received its first share from the movie’s earnings, which is in the amount of $975.56 ||

Veeder noted that the Wolf Pup Daycare II project is progressing well and the board is interested in fielding ideas for the best use of the temporary modular units once the students are relocated to the permanent facility—some proposed uses include food pantry, senior citizens center, education, childcare and healthcare.

Board members shared items of interest. ||

Meeting adjourned at 8:11 p.m.

Signed: ____________________ Date: __________