Williston denies Menard, Inc. request to reduce 2023 property valuation

The Williston Board of City Commissioners voted 5–0 on Nov. 25 to deny Menard, Inc.'s request for a tax abatement on the company's 2023 property valuation.

Kristi Gutierrez, the City commercial assessor, summarized the application and the city's review, saying the company sought to reduce the 2023 assessment from $29,801,430 to a proposed $20,885,000. Gutierrez said the only material backup provided by the applicant was a Marshall & Swift cost analysis and that the city found a roughly 38,000-square-foot discrepancy in the submitted valuation. "Based on the data that we’ve been able to review, we request that this abatement be denied," Gutierrez told the commission.

President Howard Klug opened and closed the public hearing after asking three times for public comment; none was offered. Commissioner Bervig moved to deny the application; Commissioner Bekkedahl seconded. The motion carried with votes from Commissioners Siemieniewski, Bervig, Gjovig, Bekkedahl and Klug.

Why it matters: The decision leaves the 2023 assessed valuation in place for tax-roll purposes and preserves the city's valuation for that tax year while staff indicated the measurement discrepancy would be corrected in 2026. The commission did not direct further study or referral; the hearing record shows a straight denial based on the assessor's review.

The denial was a final vote of the commission at the Nov. 25 meeting; no further action on this application was recorded that night.