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Grant County P&Z asks IIG for project map, says buried fiber will need county utility permit
Summary
At its Jan. 9 meeting Grant County Planning & Zoning Director Jason Albert introduced a proposed buried fiber‑optic project by IIG; the board said the project will require a Grant County utility permit, asked staff to obtain a project map from IIG and to check whether NDDOT permits supersede county requirements.
Jason Albert, Grant County’s new floodplain, planning and zoning director and risk manager, told the Grant County Planning & Zoning Board on Jan. 9 that IIG has proposed a buried fiber‑optic telecommunications project. The board said the project will require a county utility permit and asked staff to obtain a detailed map of the proposed route from IIG.
Albert also asked the board to direct staff to contact NDDOT (North Dakota Department of Transportation) to determine whether any NDDOT permits for the work would supersede the county’s permitting requirements. Board members agreed that county staff should verify the state permitting status before the county issues a utility permit or schedules further action.
The project was introduced as new business after routine approvals of the agenda and the December minutes. No formal application from IIG was recorded in the meeting minutes; the board’s immediate steps were limited to requesting the map and checking state permits. The board did not vote to approve or deny any permit at the Jan. 9 meeting.
The board also discussed trying to schedule a separate meeting with Grid United to discuss the North Plains Connector Project; that item was listed under old business and the board instructed staff to attempt to place Grid United on a future agenda.
Next steps recorded in the minutes: county staff will request a map from IIG and contact NDDOT to clarify permit jurisdiction. The Planning & Zoning Board’s next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 13, 2025, at 10:00 a.m. MT.
