Township Officers Hold Spring Meeting
The Mountrail County Township Officers Association held their spring meeting on Tuesday, Mar. 25 at the Mountrail County South Complex in Stanley. With topics like data centers on the agenda, there was a good turnout.
The meeting opened with updates from the ND Township Officers Association’s Tom Wheeler. He started by reminding members of the resources available including the township officer’s handbook. He said they want to help townships follow state laws and rules. They are there to provide information and help them find what they need. They are also planning workshops again during the winter.
The NDTOA has been following many of the bills in the legislature this season as they apply to townships. That includes infrastructure bills, zoning and local control, taxes, budgets and other items.
There was discussion about the increased gas tax and the original plan for disbursement to just non-oil producing counties. That bill has been amended now to include all counties, with those counties stressing the arguments over the needs and issues faced.
There was also discussion about HB1258, which relates to the siting of energy conversion facilities. While the NDTOA was originally neutral on this bill, they are now opposed to this bill after hearing some of the testimony and hearing more about the concerns of the various levels of local governments about their desire to maintain control over their planning and zoning.
John Shuh of the Public Service Commission was next, talking about data centers in North Dakota. He started with an overview of the duties of the Public Service Commission. Their goal is to look at all of the potential impacts of projects while providing orderly development. They look at applications for impacts, exclusion areas, as well as additional requirements for avoidance areas.
Shuh discussed a tech conference he attended, saying that it provided some evaluation of steps being taken to deal with impacts, including reliable energy for all as data centers continue to grow. They vary in size but each brings their own need for energy to the table.
He said that while these centers bring opportunities, there are also concerns. They provide jobs and economic benefits.
Concerns include whether they are a novelty or if they are here to stay. There are the lifestyle impacts from the noise and visual impacts, especially during construction. There are concerns about the energy impact for not only the centers, but making sure there is reliable energy for all those that live in those areas.
There was discussion about legislative activity this year and how that impacted the PSCs regulatory functions with data centers. Shuh said that they have very little review in that they do not site, rate or regulate them.
Data centers continue to expand as they are used in AI, cloud computing and crypto mining, just to name a few.
Shuh said that they should continue to watch the legislative study on the impacts, what data centers provide, the type of economic development wanted, benefits and regulations.
Questions from those attending included the PSC order in December regarding Summit. That order is being challenged in the courts. Township officers were also concerned about the use of eminent domain, impacts of development and what is acceptable, as well as impacts to township roads.
Planning and Zoning Administrator Melissa Vachal was up next. She spoke about the county’s planning and zoning that has spent months of work on data centers and battery storage facilities. They have sent letters to the township officers and they encourage them to attend these meeting to provide input.
The first two meetings were held in November and February as they work on the initial draft of ordinances regarding them. They have concerns, just like everyone else.
These facilities will be industrial zoned, meaning they need to be next to a highway or rail facility.
As they continue to work on the ordinances, they are asking for the public input. They want to hear the comments and concerns.
The next meeting is set for May 20. Vachal said they are meeting quarterly. They are also working with SRF to get the land development code written.
Mountrail County is also part of a study regarding animal feeding operations. Through Souris Basin, they will create a map based on where there would be good locations for such operations. A presentation on this will be done on April 28.
Vachal reminded the township officers that her office is open for any concerns or comments, noting they are there to work together with them.
She also spoke briefly about deed fraud, urging landowners to be aware. The county has a new system available for landowners that will connect them to the recorder’s virtual vault. This system can provide notifications if any document is recorded on a property so that landowners can be protected.
County Commissioner Trudy Ruland asked townships to provide the agreements that impact their roads. This is a way to use their power through the county to protect their roads.