Rural Water funding bill passes House

Talk about it

Partial funding for a $14 million water system expansion for Stutsman Rural Water District took a step forward Friday. The North Dakota House of Representatives passed House Bill 1269, providing $9.97 million in grants for an expansion that brings water to about 750 residences in an area including Woodworth and Streeter. The rest of the funds would be borrowed from U.S. Department of Agriculture Rural Development.

The bill passed 85-3. The measure now moves to the Senate where it has been fast-tracked and may see action in about two weeks.

“Those of us that represent Stutsman County and these rural residents are excited,” said Rep. Chet Pollert, R-Carrington. “I’ve talked to Sen. (Terry) Wanzek (R-Jamestown) and now he has to do his job.”

The measure was contested in the House Appropriations Committee when Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen testified she could not support the bill unless it included wording that would facilitate the transfer of territory from rural water districts to municipalities.

The city of Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water District have been embroiled in a territorial dispute concerning who provides service to the area near Jamestown Regional Medical Center including the new location for Titan Machinery, which is under construction.

Rep. Mike Brandenburg, R-Edgeley, testified in favor of the bill before the House Appropriations Committee and on the floor of the House of Representatives.

“I pointed out a little history,” he said. “The city of Jamestown annexed in Cavendish which probably should have been Rural Water’s but the city is making $3 per day on it. The hospital came along and the city put in water and Rural Water allowed it. Then came Titan which is where Rural Water drew a line in the sand and said that is enough.”

Brandenburg said he stressed that the conflict needs to be resolved at a local level.

“This needs to resolved in Jamestown so they can all benefit,” he said. “It is pretty selfish for Jamestown to try to stop a project in a rural area when the people that would benefit are the people who come to town to buy groceries and farm equipment. It is pretty selfish to deny water to rural people just so you can have a better legal position in a conflict.”

The 85-3 majority exceeds the two-thirds necessary for the bill’s emergency clause. If the Senate passes the bill by at least a two-thirds margin, and the governor signs the bill, the funding would be available immediately. This would allow Stutsman Rural Water District to seek bids for the project early this spring for construction this summer.

“We are thrilled about it,” said Geneva Kaiser, manager of Stutsman Rural Water. “But we still have to get it through the Senate.”

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, water