Dunn County comprehensive plan eyes energy impacts; residents voice concerns
MANNING — About 35 people came to listen and voice concerns during a public hearing to address the proposed adoption of a new Dunn County comprehensive plan at the county courthouse on Thursday evening.
- Meeting
MANNING — About 35 people came to listen and voice concerns during a public hearing to address the proposed adoption of a new Dunn County comprehensive plan at the county courthouse on Thursday evening.
Joel Quanbeck of Ulteig Engineering, which has been working with the Dunn County Planning Commission, outlined the direction county officials want to go with a new comprehensive plan.
“In a nutshell it’s a text, usually with maps, that explains a strategy for the development of a county, city or township,” Quanbeck said of a comprehensive plan.
The new proposed plan looks into how to deal with energy impacts in the area, which is where many of those who attended based their concerns.
Wayne Wing of Killdeer asked if production water such as saltwater could be used for dust control on county roads.
“That would be cheap and I know it works,” Wing said.
Dunn County Emergency Manager Denise Brew said testing is being done to see if saltwater, which is normally disposed of, could be used.
“H2S, your gas which is in a lot of the wells, strychnine and arsenic, are too high of levels in the Bakken wells that are in this area,” said Dunn County Commission Chairman Daryl Dukart. “As of last week there were six wells that were tested and all failed.”
Quanbeck said use of magnesium chloride may be a solution, but said it’s very expensive, wears out fast and doesn’t work on all unpaved roads.
Finding funding to cover the cost of oil impact is another area the county is looking toward, Quanbeck said.
Planning and Zoning Commissioner Casey Fredericks said the amount of money from oil that comes back to the county is a “puny” percentage.
Others were concerned about emergency services that can’t keep up with the increased activity.
“Maybe we shouldn’t allow anymore growth or development until those people are in place,” Manning resident John LeMieux said.
There is an emergency services position open that hasn’t been filled, said Planning Commissioner Sarah Duttenhefner.
Brew said 1,700 to 2,200 people come into Dunn County on a daily basis to work.
“Those people don’t live here, but we have to provide the services for them,” Brew said.
After the commission gathers input from residents, they plan to adopt the proposed comprehensive plan.
Tags: dunn county, planning and zoning, comprehensive plan, news
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