JDA Board Meeting: May 21, 2024

May 21, 2024 Board Meeting Minutes

Members present: John Carns, Clint Wold, Shilo Chavez, Joel Brown, Calli Thorne, Aaron Pelton, Pete Edis, Matt Beard
Members absent: Rex Korslien, Gene Veeder, Tyler Fixen
Others present: Daniel Stenberg, John Suter, Keith Olson, Katie Walters, Jake Walters, Vawnita Best, Sara Fitzpatrick, Terry Moe, Nick Ybarra, Aaron Gravos

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

No member reported a conflict of interest. ||

Sara Fitzpatrick (RRC) and Terry Moe (KidStop) provided the Rough Rider Center and KidsStop’s financial report for 2023 and gave the board more information regarding their total finances. ||

Nick Ybarra and Aaron Gravos with Save the Maah Daah Hey Foundation presented to the group the successes of the Maah Daah Hey Trail and the need for funding from the JDA to continue maintaining the trail that bring visitors from across the country and world to use the trail. The board was requested to approve releasing the 2024 budgeted funds of $110,000 to Save the Maah Daah Hey Foundation. It was also noted that the Save the Maah Daah Hey Foundation will request $110,000 in 2025 as well. Chavez made a motion to approve the $110,000 funding with Save the Maah Daah Hey Foundation, Pelton seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Jake Walters with the Watford City Housing Authority updated the board regarding the Pathway to Purchase housing program and noted that the program should be ready to receive the funds from Lewis and Clark (via the funds in the JDA Home Builder Construction Loan Program – revolving loan fund) and get developers organized by June 18.

Stenberg asked the board if there is a desire to work towards a down payment incentive program, similar to the Dunn County JDA program. The board expressed it would be a good idea to get some kind of incentive program going for 2025 and planning and talking with developers should begin soon. Stenberg will field input from a variety of sources and bring draft ideas for inclusion to the July JDA meeting. ||

Stenberg discussed the possibility of the JDA to participate as the community match for Bank of North Dakota’s PACE/FLEX-PACE program with the funds the county will receive from the Cerilon interest payments. Stenberg will continue researching and there will be more to discuss at future meetings regarding this topic. ||

Keith Olson updated the board on the proposed workforce development position at the Bakken Area Skills Center (BASC). Olson is currently serving as this liaison with industry and education for the BASC, until a full-time position can be created and filled. The candidate who would take this position will need to have extensive knowledge, experience and background in industry and will mainly be working with industry as a liaison to connect students with industrial trainers and teachers. There will be more discussion on this topic after the June and July meetings. ||

Stenberg presented highlights from the 2025 McKenzie County budget draft. It was noted that $2 million should be included for the potential housing down payment assistance program. Matt Beard noted that he thinks it would be a good idea to pay JDA members which will help get more members to serve on the board in the future and get members to better attend meetings. The proposal would be to pay each member $75 a meeting (members must attend the meeting to receive payments), which would equal to $10,000 a year in payments all together. The board agreed and there was consensus on this proposal. Stenberg will add this to the 2025 budget request. The board also had consensus on lowering KidStop’s funding from $120,000 to $100,000; increasing Long X Arts Foundation support to $55,000; maintaining Save the Maah Daah Hey Foundation at $110,000, Bakken Area Skills Center at $40,000, Small Business Development Center at $60,000, Rough Rider Center at $500,000, JDA annual budget allocation at $20,000, and including a new position for Workforce Development. ||

Suter presented the newly released “Living in McKenzie County” magazine that was printed in early May. Suter noted that they printed 4,500 copies of the magazine and is distributing them around McKenzie County to visitor hotspots and businesses. Suter also presented the April Technology and Communications report. ||

Stenberg updated the board on the group trip to Ponca City, OK and Hobbs, NM and gave a recap of the trip. ||

Board members shared items of interest. ||

Chavez made a motion to adjourn the meeting, Wold seconded. Motion passed unanimously.

Meeting adjourned at 8:22 p.m.

Signed: ____________________ Date: __________