Legislators Meet With County Officials - KXNet - Bismarck/Minot/Williston/Dickinson

Legislators Meet With County Officials

From jail expansion to highway and infrastructure needs, Ward County officials were raising some key issues with local legislators today.

Ward County commissioners hosted several state legislators -

men and women who will be part of the new legislative session beginning next week.

Sheriff Steve Kukowski told the group about the nearly-full county jail - and the regional jails in Rugby and Devils Lake that are in the same position.

He also talked about Williston's three-year-old jail that has become filled because of the oil boom.

One state legislator said there could be some state help justified through oil impact funds.

Jack Nybakken, chairman of the county commission says there are also key infrastructure issues that the county needs the state to address.

(Jack Nybakken, Ward County Commissioner) "I really think that for this part of North Dakota we need to be proactive and look ahead at how we can help out the situation with the infrastructure."

Two of the legislators who attended the meeting said this type of information is key in helping them chart a course for the hectic few months that the legislature is in session.

(Rep. Glen Froseth, District 6) "To get the needs of the county as a whole I think is really good that we get a bit of a perspective on that before we go down to the session so we understand what their problems and needs are for the next two years going forward."

(Rep. Andrew Maragos, District 3) "We have to know what the long-range plans are - sort term and long term - for the county and we need to work on those needs immediately in the legislature to help them achieve their goals."

The 2013 legislative session begins Tuesday with the governor's state of the state address to a joint session of the house and senate.