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Seasons Greetings!
The elected and appointed officials with the City of Dickinson would like to wish you health, comfort, and prosperity this holiday season. Thank you for your continued interest in the success of our community. Season's Greetings. |
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When a boomtown goes bust: 'Sudden desertion'
For the past few years, the northwestern corner of North Dakota has been viewed as a rare pocket of opportunity in an otherwise dismal national economy: oil is flowing and jobs are plentiful
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Governor outlines spending plan on Western N.D. infrastructure
Just five months into the new biennium, North Dakota has already pumped $312 million into the oil patch for infrastructure, water and housing development.
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Poverty rising in SW North Dakota
The number of children living in poverty in southwestern North Dakota spiked last year, a recently released U.S. Census Bureau report states, even though many southwest counties reported a dip in the number of people living in poverty in 2009. Local agencies said applications for assistance continue to climb this year. "A lot of people are moving into our area and they don't have any income when they get here, so they definitely fall under the poverty guidelines," said Michelle Orton, client services director at Community Action Partnership. Marcy Decker, eligibility supervisor at Stark County Social Services, agreed. "We've seen a lot of people that have probably taken all the money that they had and spent that to get here and before they can find employment, they have no money," Decker said. Most clients Orton sees are employed and many are not new to the area. "I bet every individual we're working with, there's at least one person in the household that's working," she said. Decker said most people who apply for assistance have children. "We're seeing a lot of pregnant women," she added. Orton said a program that helps with security deposits for housing has seen the biggest increase in applications. Finding housing for people is the biggest issue for both agencies, Decker and Orton said. "We don't have a place for these people to go and rent is absolutely ridiculous," Decker said. "We have to turn them away ... we need a homeless shelter." The climate in southwest North Dakota is making it difficult for people who don't make energy industry income to keep their heads above water, Orton said. "We've seen a lot of individuals or households that are falling between the cracks because they finally were able to get some type of employment and the job pays well, but rent is high and gas is high," Orton said. She attributes the dip in poverty rates in 2009 to available housing. "They weren't needing the assistance then and then in 2010 is when we really started seeing the rental increases," she said. "Gradually everything has been increasing, so I think that's possibly why more and more individuals are falling below the guidelines."
Source: The Dickinson Press |
Dickinson airport security in question
The Dickinson Theodore Roosevelt Regional Airport will soon lose its armed security guards, said manager Matthew Remynse on Tuesday during the Stark County Commission meeting in the Stark County Courthouse. Local law enforcement is also unable to act as armed security, he said. "We can't force you guys to do this," Remynse said to commissioners. "However, we would like to have you guys out there." Remynse is trying to work out how who will respond to an incident at the airport. The Transportation Security Administration requires officers to respond within 20 minutes, he said. Because that's not always possible for the Stark County Sheriff's Office, the Dickinson Police Department would have to respond in their absence, officials said. "In emergency situations, they've always been the secondary responders if the sheriff's office can't make it," Stark County Sheriff Clarence Tuhy said. Dickinson Police Capt. Joe Cianni, speaking after the meeting, agreed. Officers would not get paid to respond, Remynse said. "If they were out there every day, yes we do have reimbursement from the TSA," Remynse said. "But if we went to a situation where it's a 20-minute response time, it's no different than somebody having a domestic dispute and officers arriving." Stark County State's Attorney Tom Henning told Remynse the issue will be between law enforcement agencies and is not something the commission can decide. After the meeting, Remynse said TSA will have to approve a new security plan. "Security and safety are still the airport's No. 1 priority and we will have measures in place that would assure the safety of the flying public," he said. However, he would not say what the measures are. Darcy Fossum, owner of Alpha 6, which is providing airport security, said the company will discontinue its services after Dec. 31. "A major reason is because we have to deal with reimbursement from TSA," Fossum said. "So instead of the airport paying us, we have to wait to get reimbursed from TSA." Pay is another factor, he added. "Our rates for doing wedding dances and stuff like that is $10 to $15 (an hour) higher than what we're doing at the airport, where we have to carry a weapon," Fossum said. "That's a more high-profile job and we're making less there than we are doing security for a wedding dance unarmed." The company has provided security for the airport since 2003, he said. "We're sad that we had to make this choice, but when they don't keep up with current rates and what's going on, I guess it's time to move on," Fossum said. Much of Alpha 6's business is in the Williston area with energy companies, he said. In an email, TSA Regional Public Affairs Manager Carrie Harmon said she could not discuss airport security plans. "But there are some requirements that can be met by either a private contractor or in partnership with local law enforcement," she wrote in the email. "Either way, TSA works closely with airports to ensure that all security requirements are met." Remynse said unarmed TSA agents will continue to have a presence at the airport.
Source: The Dickinson Press
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Highway 22 expansion planned
Three lanes of Highway 22 just aren't enough to handle its increasing traffic. That's why the North Dakota Department of Transportation has prepared a $9.5 million expansion project, officials said Wednesday evening at a meeting in Dickinson City Hall. Construction for the busy roadway is planned from 30th Street Southwest south to the Dunn County line, said Chad Frisinger, a DOT design division transportation engineer. The project will turn 5 miles of Highway 22 into a five-lane road with less congestion and a higher capacity for vehicles. The DOT will begin bidding the project in March. Pending funding and contractor specifications, the highway is expected to be completed by the end of October. "It seems like we are doing it in the nick of time," Frisinger said. "By next summer, I'm sure you will see quite an expanded amount of traffic compared to what is out there now." Following construction, the highway will feature a center lane for left turns. "We had so many turn-lane requests," Frisinger said. "It was easier to turn it into a five-lane project." An oil boom in western North Dakota has brought more traffic to the area. A 2010 DOT study revealed that approximately 3,600 vehicles travel on the highway each day. Garrett Hartl, a DOT design division transportation engineer, said that number could increase to 5,100 by 2030, but he added those numbers were low. "When we did that count, we didn't know the oil boom would impact this area like it currently is," he said. The DOT will take another count in two weeks, Hartl said. "We know the traffic has changed a lot in the last year and a half," he said. "We are going to be able to supply a lot more vehicles on the highway." The bridge crossing Green River will also be replaced, Hartl said. "We want to match the structure to meet the needs of the highway," he said, adding a temporary bypass bridge will be used for traffic during the construction. During construction, speeds will be reduced to 45 mph from the 55 mph speed limit. Speeds will be reduced again to 25 mph at the bridge bypass. Residents who live on Highway 22 north of Dickinson, like Jeff Loh, are ready for construction to begin. Loh has had a few "close calls" on the busy road. "I had a guy come out in front of me once," he said. "They wait and get impatient, so they will take off sooner than they should and not wait for you to go by." Loh said he didn't see any problems with the plans proposed at the meeting. He added that construction is necessary for the flow of traffic. "My neighbor said it took him 18 minutes to get on the highway," he said. "It should alleviate a lot of the problems for turning and getting on and off the highway." Thomas McMurtry, a Dickinson-based Kadrmas, Lee and Jackson planner, said it is progressive for the DOT to reconstruct the highway. "The traffic is growing, and it is going to get worse before it gets better," McMurtry said. "It should allow for decent progression throughout the corridor."
Source: The Dickinson Press |
Housing crunch help on the way
Funds for affordable housing could help balance supply and demand for lodging in western North Dakota, officials said Thursday. The North Dakota Housing Finance Agency is offering $15 million in dollar-for-dollar tax credits to be used to construct or rehabilitate multi-family units, Executive Director Michael Anderson said. The HFA has allocated $25,000 in tax credits.
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DOT studying areas for Dickinson bypass
The first stage of building a truck bypass around Dickinson is under way, officials said Friday, which could help alleviate some of the traffic troubles in town. "(The bypass) will make it less congested in town, make it safer for the traveling public," Project Manager Richard Stoppelmoor said.
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