Representatives of North Dakota's 53 counties met in Bismarck this week to discuss county issues, learn about new county developments, network with vendors, and celebrate the successes of the group. The ND Association of Counties held its 2013 Annual Conference and Expo October 6-8 at the Ramkota Hotel.

Among the many agenda items were a welcome message from Governor Jack Dalrymple, Member Association meetings, and a variety of workshops available for county elected officials and employees to expand their knowledge and better their services to the public. McKenzie County Commissioner Roger Chinn, who served the past year as President of the NDACo Board of Directors, and Divide County Commissioner Doug Graupe, who served as President of the ND County Commissioners Association Board of Directors, were honored for their years of service to the organization.

NDAOGPC Executive Director Vicky Steiner and National Association of Counties President Linda Langston visit about the national attitude on hydraulic fracturing.

National Association of Counties President Linda Langston said the NDACO national board will not be issuing a blanket policy on hydraulic fracturing.  She said they provide information and the counties determine their own response to questions on it.  Langston, an Iowa native, said she understands that each state has its own geology and their own experience with the oil industry.  She spoke at the North Dakota Association of Counties annual conference in Bismarck earlier this week.

A workshop on road funding featured ND Senate Majority Leader Rich Wardner and NDDOT Director Grant Levi, who spoke about county roads and how they fit in to the overall state transportation system. Regarding county road funding, Wardner said, "We need to fund our priorities." The state, he said, has done a good job in finding ways to fund its own roads recently, without an over-reliance on federal funding. Transportation is essential to commerce and business attraction to the state will be helped by quality infrastructure and an active diversification of the workforce, he said. Warner closed by saying, "I see a light at the end of the tunnel," in reference to the financial strain being placed on local governments in funding infrastructure projects like roads.

Pictured from left to right are UCTP System Operations Assistant Gayle Mogen, Permit Section Operator Janet Sanford, and Chairman Sheriff Dave Jurgens at the beginning of the Uniform County Truck Permit Advisory Committee meeting.

The Uniform County Truck Permit (UCTP) Advisory Committee, the oversight body of the NDAOGPC's Uniform County Truck Permit System, met on Monday, October 7 during the NDACo Annual Conference. Permit system operator Janet Sanford gave a truck permit financial report, which showed over $6.5 million in fees billed by counties for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2013.

The UCTP Advisory Committee also voted unanimously to give the oil industry more time for an implementation of:  

1. an increase in the permit cost for extremely heavy loads only - over 150,000 lbs.
2. requiring state law on county roads for pilot cars with flashers on moves greater than 14.6 feet, not 14 feet.

The extension recommended by the Advisory Committee extended the implementation date to November 15, 2013. These changes had been discussed last spring and the deadline had been set for October 15, 2013. Through an email vote, the NDAOGPC Executive Committee approved the implementation extension and the 14.6 width change. Questions regarding changes to the system can be directed to permit system operator Janet Sanford. She can be reached at 701-566-5576. The NDAOGPC website will reflect the new changes on the November 15^th deadline. Billings County Sheriff Dave Jurgens is the chairman of the UCTP Advisory Committee. 

David Ramsay, minister of industry, tourism and investment and minister of transportation for the government of the Northwest Territories, toured multiple Bakken sites in an effort to see what the Northwest Territories need to prepare for with its projected oil play.

During the last decade, North Dakota's highways, pipelines, railroads and airports have experienced significant increases in the movement of freight due to the state's rapidly growing oil and gas industry, expanded manufacturing, and a robust agricultural sector.  To meet these challenges and be prepared for the future, the North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has begun the development of a state freight plan.  The plan, which is scheduled to be completed next summer, will identify North Dakota's:

• Primary Freight System
• Freight System Trends, Issues, and Needs
• Major Freight Generators
• Freight Goals, Performance Measures and Investment Strategies

The plan will be used to guide the investment of transportation funding and also make North Dakota eligible for a higher percentage of federal funding for approved freight-related projects.

Stakeholder input is critical to the success of this effort.  Over the next few months, NDDOT will be surveying stakeholders to identify freight trends and issues, freight system needs, and the identification of freight bottlenecks and impediments.  If you would like to participate in the development of this plan or want additional information please contact Jack Olson at 701-328-1029, or email him at: jolson@nd.gov.

WTI Crude: $101.67

Brent Crude: $111.47

Natural Gas: $3.77

ND Rig Count: 185