Commission approves funding for Exit 56 bypass

The Dickinson City Commission approved funding Monday evening for the construction of a bypass that will connect Interstate 94 to Highway 22 west of the city.

Commission President Dennis Johnson and commissioners agreed to spend $5 million on the Exit 56 expansion project.

“With the recent oil boom, we are moving a lot of traffic through the city of Dickinson,” Johnson said.

City administrator Shawn Kessel agreed funding the project would be a good commitment for the city.

He said a large percentage of funds for bypass work is being covered by the state.

With multiple transportation projects combined, the state will have invested around $100 million into the city of Dickinson in recent years.

“When you lump them together, $5 million is not a bad deal for us,” Kessel said.

Right-of-way acquisitions

Board members motioned to approve a series of 13 right-of-way acquisitions from various Dickinson landowners.

Included in the motion are State Avenue, 21st Street West and 40th Street West.

The board moved through each of the acquisitions swiftly, motioning to pass each one brought to the table.

Kessel said while the board passed each of the matters quickly, staff members poured a lot of time into piecing each agreement together. He said meetings with some of the landowners involved in the eminent domain process became emotional and obtaining the land was more difficult than the meeting made it look.

City land sale deferred

City Attorney Matt Kolling proposed the commission defer approval of a land purchase agreement until its next meeting later this month.

Kolling said concerns with storm-water drainage, along with various access issues, were recently brought to his attention and have slowed the purchase agreement between the city and buyer Adam Ballesteros.  

“I am proposing that we take a couple of weeks, review the issues and come to an acceptable resolution," Kolling said. "We want to have a chance to track down all of the issues."

Members of the commission agreed to defer the decision until their next meeting.  

West Dickinson Area Plan approved

Commissioners approved the West Dickinson Area Plan after a second reading Monday.

The plan provides a guideline for the kind of infrastructure and development that will be needed as the city’s population continues its expansion into the west side of Dickinson.

It is an addendum to the previous comprehensive plan, “Dickinson 2035: Roadmap to the Future,” which the city drafted in 2012.