[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6568080,"mediaKeyId","3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0","parentId",3215652,"title","Votes at a glance: Mercer County Commission approvals and motions, May meeting","audioSeconds",8261,"startMs",139000,"endMs",8400000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0&start=139&end=8400","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0/thumbnail_139000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6568080/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Mercer-County-Commission-approvals-and-motions-May-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568080-050faca37f36c607d2d7f68bcf323fbd/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724813&Signature=jrodQjQiqKz5QCAjw-~kCv85BfNeMeGowc-8kbx9FNQNW1Srmv5Y1E4lTCAba08DyfrnSOycm0BJSCBhpB1CQZq9sGfZQGiM4VvIbSoY9UDBcAEqeX5xauH4TaAtsUzi3iGXuAt2HBcBf9fFXVU2HUmIVpeV0PHYixeGmSVMsYKKEznvJ1TjDY06aU96HAO-d7diwhJ~f-3UjP7P~aHffuQeMMO4f6VoWJtMvEhiHcd1iQjrFtbhOpMwneiSM8QVVm0I0pCgV~GoEf-sZNTKh6Wi9luHZblwBT7qQiqVlxJdmnuJnOhGNfRcciPAYukamxPEhqF-ZjVyHG6upy1h~A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Mercer County, KS","date","2025-05-07T17:40:27.88Z","article","At its regular meeting, the Mercer County Commission approved routine procedural items and a series of permits and agreements. Most votes were unanimous; the commission took no appropriation action regarding a request from the Beulah Chamber to support the county’s motor vehicle branch.

Key outcomes recorded in the meeting minutes:

- Agenda and minutes: The commission approved the meeting agenda as presented and approved the minutes of the prior meeting by roll call (all ayes recorded: Casey, Rick, Mark, Jamie, Jean).

- Zoning and planning actions: The commission approved zoning case 250401 (Allen and Shana Gerbing) — a conditional use for a non-farm residence in an agricultural zone — and renewed a temporary-use permit (Temp Use Permit 655) and a temporary asphalt plant permit for Bechtold Paving (renewal of an existing permit last opened in 2022).

- Highway/utility permits: The commission approved several permits including Rough Rider Electric permit 1768 and three bore-under-road permits (numbers 68, 609 and 70) related to the same project; they were approved together after a site inspection report was presented.

- Engineering agreement: The commission accepted an engineering services agreement (governance-level contract establishing terms for future task orders). The county attorney had reviewed the agreement; commissioners approved proceeding with the agreement so that future task orders can be issued as needed.

- County offices and licenses: The commission recorded and approved monthly recorder revenues, approved a liquor license for Dakota Waters, and approved a state gaming-site application for Hazen Winter Sports Association (the golf course gaming-site application was mentioned in the packet).

- Trust/mobile-home abatements: The county treasurer presented a state tax-commissioner list of properties under review for $500 tax-credit abatements; the commission approved certifying abatable properties that qualify based on the treasurer and staff review. Staff noted several entries on the initial list were duplicates or properties that did not meet requirements and that those items were identified and resolved before certification.

- Vouchers: The commission approved the claims/vouchers as presented by roll call (all ayes recorded: Casey, Jamie, Mark, Rick, Jean).

Votes were typically recorded in the transcript as unanimous (five ayes) unless otherwise noted. Multiple routine permit approvals and ministerial votes were completed with no extended debate recorded in the transcript.

No appropriation was made at the meeting in response to the Beulah Chamber’s request for short‑term support for the motor vehicle branch; commissioners asked the county attorney to investigate legal options and funding routes and encouraged the Chamber to continue immediate hiring efforts.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Mercer County Commission Meeting 05/07/2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Mercer County Commission approved routine agenda items, zoning permits, engineering agreement, multiple utility and road permits, liquor and gaming site approvals, a list of trust/abated properties to be certified, and vouchers. No county appropriation was made for the Beulah Motor Vehicle request.","taxTitle","Mercer County, North Dakota","taxId",73543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568086,"Beulah Chamber urges Mercer County help to keep motor vehicle office open as staff resignations threaten contract",2164,4131000,6295000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0&start=4131&end=6295","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0/thumbnail_4131000.jpg","/articles/6568086/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Beulah-Chamber-urges-Mercer-County-help-to-keep-motor-vehicle-office-open-as-staff-resignations-threaten-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568086-6621dbabfd4985213042c1ae4a3d7f65/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724813&Signature=fuOQhrdMKvUjnxxT25mcWcZtBMIzeHVtYF7EWZ0zZLmKn2UaH956lRuZiFbHO1GlIl-mmuSDrA4CbpDHf2sGYH~BZZra7weuTfe3fFZ4AX8mB3JCu3FQKQHhiXsT7oLjhTUvEu80Np4ydXR29DJuQtd7uuEvdw9Q6kCopuGgwiToDbbojvvWsMzoz9BHdnwm38hBpeVg4oqE7dmzmSxUKqXtXL8NSh5pmDYgFLokiZr80R44vYSJTpai36KP1TPe6s08qWzNjjaurmne5Qmxd46dfbtXv47ApcjJZrN7oLjy5NVQcQdVdzX3E7-wyi83e0HCuGC-ebLAcF6Yz-P~bA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Beulah Chamber of Commerce told Mercer County commissioners their local motor vehicle office faces imminent loss of its state contract unless two employees begin state-required training on Monday. The Chamber said volunteer board members have carried management responsibilities and that branch fees no longer cover wages or benefits needed to recruit and retain staff.

Erin Laviger, Beulah Chamber board president, and Dionne Gerke, a long-time Chamber volunteer who led the hiring committee, briefed commissioners on a month‑long hiring effort. Laviger said the branch serves the full county and nearby communities and that daily transactions average 20 to 30 visits, rising at renewal season. She described a hiring pipeline of applicants: about 30 resumes, roughly 10 interviews and four offers extended; the Chamber said one candidate had accepted and was scheduled to start, and a second candidate remained undecided as of the meeting.

The central short-term problem, the Chamber said, is state Motor Vehicle Department policy: the state requires two staff to attend three weeks of training in Bismarck and to demonstrate a period of on‑the‑job accuracy before renewing or continuing a county contract. Chamber leaders said two promising candidates turned down earlier offers because the position paid about $20 per hour, without benefits and without the certainty of future hours. The Chamber asked the commission to consider one-time financial support to cover the next month’s costs for two full-time hires and mileage for training (Chamber representatives estimated roughly $6,000 for the immediate need) and to explore longer-term options, including a county-supported staffing or enterprise model.

Commissioners called the request urgent but said they could not make a legally binding appropriation on the spot without consulting the county attorney and reviewing budget authority. Several commissioners queried whether Mercer County could accept the state contract directly (several counties run remote branches out of the auditor’s office), but staff said the state had told the Chamber the contract was not transferable; the county would have to meet state requirements if it sought to assume operations.

Commissioners discussed options including short-term stipend or grant routing through local economic development or MacEd (Mercer County Economic Development), conditional one-time county support with documentation of how funds would be spent, and asking the Chamber to pursue community donations or CVB/municipal contributions. Commissioners emphasized the need for a plan showing sustainability rather than repeated short-term requests. The commission asked staff and the Chamber to gather figures and legal options quickly; the commission’s state’s attorney said he would research the legality of a county appropriation to a nonprofit-managed branch and return with guidance.

No county funds were approved at the meeting. Commissioners said they would not vote today without attorney review; they encouraged the Chamber to resolve hires immediately and said they would explore potential avenues in the coming days. The Chamber representatives reiterated that the state’s timeline is firm and that, if two staff were not placed in training soon, the state could withdraw Mercer County’s motor vehicle contract.","The Beulah Chamber of Commerce asked Mercer County commissioners for short-term financial help and longer-term partnership options to keep the county's contracted Motor Vehicle branch operating after staff resignations left the office unable to meet the state's training requirement to retain the contract.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6568090,"Mercer County begins rewrite of zoning ordinance, flags wind and solar rules for change",1606,540000,2146000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0&start=540&end=2146","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3215652-1e46c5ed67bfbb8fafe361027e164bf0/thumbnail_540000.jpg","/articles/6568090/Mercer-County/North-Dakota/Mercer-County-begins-rewrite-of-zoning-ordinance-flags-wind-and-solar-rules-for-change","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6568090-3bbc0f7e5ed532a1862cf6d16f214df5/orig.mp4?Expires=1770724813&Signature=iqiERhuw2nhAjbKc6Fqdq-2wWRqgf1qKk6GYCnXwdXlngkTKSPD0c60~0PbITBMi17LjrvyozWZFiOUHX4b8F4Xx-jUqV90WxVDQp7LcBdFLfHASqSbvz~xXgyhLy4hBszsukyqNdlh85xjl9XWxo0kjUux5tnB9yRCH80eWqqi5drqN81pv-OYRuOUJbvGvMrNVv1LYliEkU38jA7I0BIhbbYkjhypY~LQ2QU3iNGhdM7D0ycOQeHcqxb~SgYke~u7y2mb9eZStlDyorYwWTuUEDX9AQ9BoJJqJp9DsrfIwHH0Vqg5XHQSB4ZxplBIXsYBtYlhjvNjiNh8z8Jtzqg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Mercer County commissioners heard a multi-hour presentation and discussion about a planned rewrite of the county zoning ordinance, focusing on energy-related uses, temporary-use permits, and a new building-permit regime. Planning staff said the county wants clearer, more workable rules that let affected landowners and the public provide input while preserving the board’s discretion for conditions and enforcement.

The proposal stems from multiple meetings with the planning and zoning commission, a public town hall and reviews of neighboring counties’ ordinances. Planning staff reported that much of the public interest and written comment they received focused on the county’s rules for wind towers and, to a lesser extent, solar installations. Staff said the existing ordinance does not ban wind energy but contains provisions — notably a 5-year permit renewal term — that effectively prevent wind developers from financing projects, because federal production tax credits rely on a 10-year monetization window.

Why it matters: Commissioners and staff said the rewrite would affect how major energy projects, medium-scale industrial uses and long-running temporary uses are permitted and enforced across the county. Changes could alter whether developers can obtain financing for projects and how residents can participate in public hearings.

Planning staff said they had begun drafting revisions and asked the commission for direction on a few key issues, including whether to lengthen the wind-permit renewal term from five years to 10 years so developers can package production tax credits, and whether to adopt exclusion zones similar to McLean County’s ordinance to protect high‑value lakefront properties. Commissioners expressed a range of views but repeatedly said they wanted affected landowners’ views to be central to any decision on allowing or limiting wind installations in the county.

Several other topics were raised as parts of the same rewrite: the county’s land-use map and comprehensive plan (which staff said dates to 1985 and has not been kept current), adding a basic building-permit system with an application checklist, reorganizing mobile home/RV/campground rules so each use is easier to find, and tightening enforcement and review mechanisms so conditions attached to permits are actually checked.

On temporary uses, staff asked whether the county should impose clear time limits instead of the current annual renewal system. Commissioners agreed many long-running “temporary” permits should be converted to conditional use permits and that a review mechanism is needed; staff said they would return with recommended time-limit thresholds and an inventory of existing temporary permits for the board to review.

Staff recommended a “medium-broad” approach to new energy- and industrial-use language: include minimum protections and definitions while keeping conditional-use authority so site-specific conditions can be applied. Commissioners asked staff to incorporate elements from McLean County’s ordinance and to prepare draft language for the board’s review; several commissioners also asked staff to prepare cost estimates for the additional out-of-scope items (comprehensive plan update, mapping/GIS work and expanded ordinance rewrites).

Commission direction and next steps: Commissioners asked staff to (1) draft language changing the wind-permit renewal term (staff suggested 10 years as an option), (2) prepare a recommended approach to exclusion zones and public-notice procedures, (3) add a simple building-permit framework (fees to be developed later), and (4) assemble a list of existing temporary permits for the commission to consider converting to conditional uses or imposing time limits. Staff said they would return with draft ordinance language, examples from McLean County, and preliminary cost estimates for items outside the current scope.

No formal ordinance change was adopted during the meeting; staff will return with draft text and numbers for further action.","County commissioners directed staff to proceed with a rewrite of the Mercer County zoning ordinance to clarify conditional and temporary uses, add building permits, and revisit provisions that make wind and solar development financially impractical.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Mercer County Commission approvals and motions, May meeting

Beulah Chamber urges Mercer County help to keep motor vehicle office open as staff resignations threaten contract

Mercer County begins rewrite of zoning ordinance, flags wind and solar rules for change