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Morton County Commission approves licenses, plats and appointments; denies rezoning request
Summary
At its Dec. 30, 2025 meeting the Morton County Commission authorized a cybersecurity grant application and construction engineering contract, approved liquor and subdivision actions, approved multiple board appointments and grants, and denied a rezoning/SUP request citing land-use, safety and licensing violations.
Mandan, N.D. — The Morton County Commission on Dec. 30, 2025 approved a slate of routine county business including a motion to authorize the Office of Emergency Management to submit a cybersecurity grant application and the selection of Brosz Engineering for construction engineering on project BRC-3027(056) PCN 23735, and it denied a request to rezone a residential lot for commercial use.
Chairman Nathan Boehm called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and commissioners unanimously approved the agenda and prior meeting minutes. Commissioner Buckley moved to authorize the cybersecurity grant application; the board approved the motion. The commission also approved a contract with Brosz Engineering to provide construction engineering services for a bridge/structure replacement project (BRC-3027(056) PCN 23735).
The commission approved routine permits and land-use items, including renewal of the 2026 liquor license for Huff Hills in Mandan and final plats and zoning changes converting two short-form subdivisions — Prairie Homestead Subdivision and Breien Fourth Subdivision — from Agricultural to Residential after finding they conform to Article 7 of the Morton County Land Use Code and the county’s 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Monte’s Ranchero’s Sixth Subdivision was returned to Planning & Zoning for further consideration of an easement adjustment.
In a contested land-use action, the commission denied a rezoning and/or special use permit request for Lot 1, Block 1, River Place Fifth Subdivision. Commissioners cited multiple factors in the denial: the requested commercial zoning conflicts with the 2045 Comprehensive Plan future land use component; it would change the residential character of the neighborhood; the road serving the property is a subdivision road not intended for increased commercial traffic; a semicircular driveway with two approaches was constructed in violation of a Morton County approach permit issued in May 2022; alcoholic beverages were offered as part of business or rental services without evidence of obtaining a Morton County or North Dakota Attorney General liquor license; there was no evidence the septic system could accommodate the business; and the kitchen did not meet commercial food or health standards. The commissioners referenced North Dakota Century Code sections 11-33.01 and 11-33.0202 and cited NDCC 23-09-16 regarding the unauthorized offering of food or alcohol within the property.
The commission approved a Court Facilities Improvement Grant application to cover wall covering on the courthouse’s second floor, and it provided letters of support for the City of New Salem’s Rural Catalyst Grant and for Hoof It Forward’s Rural Resiliency Grant application.
The board also confirmed several appointments: Haley Lang to the City of Mandan Planning & Zoning (term to 12/31/2030); DeNae Kautzman and Rory Anderson to the Morton County Housing Board (terms to 12/31/2030); Bill Robinson and Mitch Bitz to the Lower Heart Water Board (terms to 12/31/2028); Dan Schelske to an unexpired Morton County Park Board term (to 6/30/2026); Steve Tomac to the Morton County Road Commission (to 12/31/2029); and Dan Ulmer to the Western Plains Health Board (to 12/31/2030). All motions reported in the minutes carried with “all voting aye.” Commissioner Morrell was listed as absent in the meeting attendance.
During the statutorily required public comment period (NDCC 44-04-20.1) the commission opened the floor at 6:37 p.m.; no members of the public spoke and the period closed at 6:38 p.m. The county reported expenditures totaling $1,882,721.52 for Dec. 12–30, 2025 and noted the detailed check list is available for public inspection at the Morton County Auditor’s Office during regular business hours. Chairman Boehm adjourned the meeting at 6:38 p.m.
What’s next: the minutes as approved are the official record; items returned to Planning & Zoning (Monte’s Ranchero’s Sixth Subdivision) will be reconsidered by that board, and the cybersecurity grant application will proceed only if submitted and later approved by the granting authority.
