Williston commissioners discuss proposed well‑pad policy to address road impacts and special assessments

Williston city officials reviewed a proposed Oil and Gas Well‑Site Policy at a Feb. 3 special meeting focused on how to allocate costs for road improvements when oil well pads generate heavy truck traffic. City Attorney Jordon Everett and Planning and Zoning Director Donald Kress told the commission that several recent well pads are adjacent to dedicated public roads and that the committee convened by the Planning Commission drafted scenarios to create a uniform approach for road improvement agreements.

The proposed policy, included in the commission packet, identifies three recurring circumstances staff has seen when well sites adjoin city streets. Everett described two examples: a road south of the North Star development that was not originally planned to a “105‑5” standard and a proposed redesign of the RAC road that the city intends to build to the 105‑5 standard. He said one option discussed is requiring an oil company to pay the difference to bring a road up to the higher standard when the company’s activity would otherwise trigger seasonal load restrictions or expose surface owners to large special assessments.

Planning staff and the city attorney emphasized a legal constraint: under the Century Code, special assessments can be levied only against surface property owners. City Auditor John Kautzman and City Engineer Bob Hanson said any formula for allocating cost shares should account for initial construction, ongoing maintenance, reconstruction and overweight impacts, and that each situation’s road location and history mean solutions will vary.

Commissioner Deanette Piesik asked whether existing well pads would be grandfathered; Everett said the proposed policy would apply moving forward and that expansion of an existing pad would trigger a special use permit (SPU) review under the new policy. Sam Paxel, representing Stat Oil, said the company seeks a predictable policy it can rely on when planning operations.

The commission did not take formal action on the draft policy. Staff and committee members will take the issue under advisement and invited additional comments from oil companies; the minutes record a 30‑day comment window with replies to be directed to Planning staff or to City Attorney Jordon Everett. The meeting adjourned following a unanimous voice vote on a motion by Commissioner Chris Brostuen, seconded by Commissioner Deanette Piesik.

The commission is expected to revisit the proposed Oil and Gas Well‑Site Policy after the comment period; staff and the city attorney will provide recommended language or options that reflect engineering considerations and Century Code limits.