Morton County’s highway department won approval on Thursday to execute a gravel-pit lease on the Vern K property, located south and west of Fort Rice, to supply rock for next year’s county crushing work.

Road staff told the commission that exploration indicates an estimated 60,000 cubic yards of crushable material at the site and recommended a lease commencing Jan. 1, 2026 and running through Dec. 31, 2027. The lease includes a royalty of $2.50 per cubic yard and a crop-damage rate of $65 per acre. The county described the location as less than ideal geographically but said available gravel sources are limited.

Commissioners discussed quantities and logistics; road staff said the county expects to move the material once and stockpile roughly 60,000 cubic yards for next year’s work and could extend operations if additional material is uncovered. The lease and associated costs were presented as budgeted items in the highway department’s gravel program.

The commission voted to authorize the highway department to execute the lease.