Williston commission approves $621,000 landfill budget amendment, backs Care Flight support

The Williston Board of City Commissioners on Feb. 25 approved a budget amendment that adds $621,000 to the landfill enterprise fund to cover permit renewal work and professional services and authorized amended appropriations that formalize the city’s financial support for Williston Care Flight.

Finance Director Hercules Cummings presented Resolution 25‑005, saying the landfill requested the additional funds for Task Order #21 (solid-waste permit renewal with Burns & McDonnell) and Task Order #25 (professional services with Alliance Consulting). Cummings said the landfill enterprise fund had a cash balance of about $4,875,453 as of January 2025 and that the amendment increases the city’s 2025 amended surplus/(deficit) by $621,000 to a new deficit total of ($6,745,735).

The commission also recorded that the city has a guaranteed-support and profit‑sharing agreement with XWA 2024 LLC, which operates as Williston Care Flight, to support fixed‑wing air-ambulance service. Commissioner Tate Cymbaluk asked whether the amendment was intended to anticipate state requirements and to ensure project readiness; staff confirmed the timing was to prepare for landfill capacity needs projected for 2032.

Motion and vote: Commissioner Cymbaluk moved to approve Resolution 25‑005; Commissioner James Bervig seconded. The motion carried 5‑0 (Siemieniewski, Bervig, Cymbaluk, Bekkedahl, Klug).

Why it matters: City staff said the additional landfill funds are intended to keep permit renewal and consulting work on schedule before the landfill approaches full capacity. The decision also formalizes local financial support for regional air‑ambulance services that staff said improve access to out‑of-region medical care.

Next steps: The resolution was adopted; staff will proceed with the specified task orders and implement the budget adjustments per city procedures.