Morton County Commission approves two special-assessment districts, multiple plats and $804,000 gravel-crushing contract

The Morton County Commission on July 10 approved two special-assessment districts, multiple subdivision plats and a county gravel-crushing contract, and authorized a committee to recommend agricultural assessment modifiers.

Chairman Nathan Boehm called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and the commission first approved the agenda, the June 24 minutes and bills and payroll by voice motions that were recorded as "all voting aye." Sara Eastman of Youthworks and Wade Bachmeier of the Morton County Water Board later presented updates and 2026 funding requests; the transcript does not record dollar amounts or final action on either request.

The commission opened and closed a public hearing on the Prairie Ridge Special Assessment District at 6:00 p.m. and then approved the district for "patching overlay with hot mix bituminous pavement" for Prairie Ridge Estates (Project 2589). Commissioner Buckley made the motion and Commissioner Morrell seconded; all five commissioners voted aye.

Later the commission approved two sets of abatements (numbers 7125–7127 and 7128–7130), again recorded as passing with all commissioners voting in favor. The body also voted to authorize the Tax Director to establish a committee of up to five people to work with the director of tax equalization to draft a recommended schedule of modifiers for adjusting agricultural property assessments, including direction on how assessors must apply those modifiers. Commissioner Morrell moved the measure and Chairman Nathan Boehm seconded; the motion carried unanimously.

A second special-assessment district covering Yellow Rose Estates & Howe 'ln Wolf Estates Subdivision (Project 2588) was considered at a brief public hearing opened at 6:16 p.m. and closed at 6:17 p.m.; Commissioners Buckley and Tokach moved and seconded the approval and the vote was unanimous.

The commission approved multiple final plats and related zoning amendments: Pierce Subdivision (short-form; Agricultural to Residential), Burghart Subdivision (short-form; Agricultural to Residential; approximately 13.51 acres in the NW¼ of Section 12, Township 138N, Range 83W), Sturn 5th Subdivision (long-form; approximately 159.07 acres in the SW¼ of Section 24, Township 139N, Range 84W) and Gwyther Fourth Subdivision (long-form; includes a Residential-to-Commercial zoning amendment for Lot 2 and vacation of alleyways). Each plat motion carried with all commissioners voting aye.

The commission accepted a bid from Fisher Sand & Gravel Co. of Dickinson, N.D., for gravel crushing: 40,000 cubic yards at $7.95 per cubic yard ($318,000) for the Kaelberer Pit and 40,000 cubic yards at $7.15 per cubic yard ($286,000) for the Helbling Pit, for a total crushing cost of $604,000. The bid includes royalties of $200,000, bringing the combined contract total to $804,000. Commissioner Tokach moved to accept the bid and Commissioner Morrell seconded; the motion passed unanimously.

Commissioner Buckley moved and Commissioner Morrell seconded approval of the termination of the New Salem Court Services Contract; the motion carried. County Auditor Dawn R. Rhone reported total county expenditures of $1,158,402.71 for the period June 25–July 10, 2025 and noted a detailed check list is available for public inspection at the Auditor’s Office. The commission adjourned at 7:22 p.m.

What happens next: The transcript records approvals and authorizations but does not record follow-up implementation details or dollar amounts for the Youthworks and Water Board requests; those items remain pending further action or budget appropriation.