Eye on Energy: Parshall - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Eye on Energy: Parshall

Boomtown... that is how the town of Parshall has been described for a special television series that focused on the exploding oil industry in the Parshall area.
Planet Green Discovery Channel's Boomtown series focused on the town - shining a national spotlight on the heart of the Bakken region.
Jordan Pederson takes us there in tonight's Eye on Energy.

The oil boom isn't a new topic being discussed over coffee in Parshall North Dakota.
In fact, it has been the topic of discussion for some time.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "A lot of people understand. It is what it is. It is a boom and it is happening."
Parshall is one of several towns in North Dakota sitting atop the Bakken Formation.
Which means more people in and around town lately.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "In 2000 the census was about 980 and ironically this year, or in 2010 they said it had gone down about nine or ten people."
But Parshall is conducting it's own census and expect the numbers to be closer to the 1900 mark.
Which leads to Parshall's biggest challenge.. housing.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "Housing is our number one priority, really short on housing here."
An RV park just opened up on the north side of town with the possibility of a mobile home park in the future.
The city recently adopted a four-year development plan with all city funds going towards infrastructure.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "We are on a four year plan we just started where we are replacing all of the sewers and streets in town and putting in a new lift station and possibly expanding out lagoon because of the people that we currently have in town and what we expect to have in the next few years."
Which is about 2500 residents by the end of 2013.
And these residents are from all over the country.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "People play the game, you know, how many license plates did you see that were not North Dakota."
But business is booming, school enrollment is up and the over all outlook for Parshall is looking pretty good.
(Larry Ziemen, City Auditor, Parshall) "The city's goal is to make it better as far as infrastructure, have a strong and secure sewer and water system, better streets, good school system and just a tight knit community."
In Parshall, Jordan Pederson, KX News.