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Feature Stories (Vol. 110 No. 11--3/12/2008)

Oil, water, prisons among topics of informational meetings in the area

By Caroline Downs

The topics ranged from drinking water and oil activity to decisions about the state penitentiary when District 6 Senator David O’Connell held informational meetings in Kenmare and Berthold March 1st.

O’Connell, a member of the Democratic-NPL party and the minority leader in the North Dakota Senate, spent his time both asking and answering questions with a handful of individuals in each community. He also shared greetings from District 6 Representative Bob Hunskor of Newburg, who had missed the sessions because of illness.

The future of North Dakota’s state prison weighed on O’Connell’s mind, and he discussed recent meetings as part of an interim committee established to study the situation and make a recommendation before the next legislative session in January 2009. "To me, this is the biggest issue we’re facing right now," said O’Connell, "whether we’re going to build a new prison or not. I know it’s one of the toughest decisions I’ve had to make."

He reminded the groups that $41 million was set aside by the legislature to remodel the existing facility. However, the penitentiary sits on choice real estate in Bismarck, and arguments have been made for selling that property and building a completely new facility elsewhere.

O’Connell has made a few visits with the committee to see the buildings firsthand. "There are problems with the east cell block," he said, noting issues with visibility for the guards and ventilation. "My biggest concern is we’ve got 400 people down there who will never see daylight again. Basically, we need a nursing home behind bars."

During the meetings, individuals asked O’Connell questions about federal compliance issues for remodeling the prison, employee safety, and the reasons behind the increase in North Dakota’s prison population. "Our expenses are getting so high," O’Connell said. "And health care is an issue. Right now, they’re telling us it costs $63 a day to keep a prisoner behind bars."

He also noted a sharp increase in the number of female prisoners and explained the mandatory sentences for drug use led to a rise in the number of men and women entering the state’s prison system. "One of the things we’re looking at is alternatives to incarceration," he said. "The committee is looking at building a 1000-bed prison. Right now, there are 517 beds at the state pen, but one concern is if you build the beds, you’re going to fill them. What I’m hearing from across the state is there is no compassion at all for sentences. If you do the crime, you do the time."

Both groups also discussed the increased oil activity in the area with O’Connell, who said several legislators would like to see more oil impact money available in a shorter time frame for the state’s 16 oil-producing counties. "The tax revenue comes in 18 months after the impact hits here," he said, noting that extensive and costly road damage could take place within a few days. "That’s hard on local governments." He said he also favored increasing the amount of money paid by the oil companies for the tax. Currently, the Oil Impact fund has about $6 million to be distributed.

In Kenmare, one of the morning’s issues addressed progress of the Northwest Area Water Supply (NAWS). Mayor Roger Ness briefed O’Connell about Kenmare’s involvement in the plan and the new design of the water system that would include pipeline from Berthold to Kenmare.

O’Connell asked about the proposed diversion of some NAWS sales tax money collected in Minot for the purpose of building a Community Bowl. "What they’re telling us is that it would add three years to the collection of that sales tax," Ness answered. "It’s not a new tax, but it would become a longer tax."

The question about the percentage of that sales tax paid by non-Minot residents had been put to O’Connell several times recently, and he asked Ness for clarification. "I don’t have any figures on that," Ness said. "I don’t know if that could even be done. All I know is that here in Kenmare, the Magic Fund in Minot has been very good to us. Several businesses in town have benefited over the years."

At Berthold, funding for the state’s public schools came up as a concern. Mike Lautenschlager, who serves on the Lewis & Clark District school board, asked O’Connell about potential changes in the state’s plan to fund schools.

"I agree the formula is not fair," O’Connell said. "But we’re finding very little sympathy for the smaller schools. The movement is to close schools, and the schools that consolidated may be penalized because of their large land masses and small enrollments."

He continued by saying he favored putting more money into transportation for schools and into salaries to attract teachers to work in rural schools in critical subject areas such as science and math. Then he looked at Lautenschlager with a grin. "We wish more school board members would run for office," he said. "We need more people with their experience down there. We would like to hear from more school board members and teachers, not just the superintendents."

Lautenschlager declined to commit himself, but at both meetings O’Connell briefly discussed the need for another candidate from District 6 to run for the state house of representatives. He also reminded the groups that the state senate needed three more Democrats elected in order to hold the majority, while the state house needed 16 more Democrats for the majority. "It’s feasible," he said. "People are looking for a change right now."

At both sessions, O’Connell expressed his appreciation for the comments and input he receives from residents of District 6 regarding the state legislature’s activities. "I’m trying to get an idea of how people really feel," he said, "and what we should be doing down there."