Western ND Officials Meet With State Legislators
Jan 30, 2012
Officials from throughout the
oil and gas producing region of  western North Dakota joined this last
Thursday at the State Capitol to present their concerns over energy sector
growth to state legislators. Members of the interim energy development
committee heard presentations from school district superintendents, county
commissioners, city officials, and township officers. Also joining the group
was a representative of the ND EMS Association who spoke about emergency
services needs.
Housing, crime, lack of employees, strained budgets, stressed emergency services,
traffic, day care shortages, and the need for more schools were among the
topics brought up. At times, emotions ran a bit high with people reflecting on
how much the overall quality of life has negatively changed.
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ND Association of Oil and Gas Producing Counties President Dan Brosz presents before the ND legislative Energy Development and Transmission Committee on the impacts being felt in western North Dakota.
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Despite the effects of oil and gas development throughout the region and the
general inability of political subdivisions to handle the impacts of such
development adequately, the committee meeting made it possible for state
legislators to recognize that there may be more that the state can do to
alleviate the strain.
Committee Chair, Senator Rich Wardner of Dickinson, indicated that state
legislators need to look at revising the gross production tax formula and
sending more money to political subdivisions based on testimony given at the
meeting.
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