“High fives and hugs” for Watford City: Commissioners greenlight $24.52 million in project funding
By M.K. French
Farmer Staff Writer
“People want to see a completion of a project,” declared Watford City Mayor Phil Riely, underscoring the city’s focus on tangible progress as he presented a budget request to the McKenzie County Board of Commissioners at their meeting on May 6th. His appeal for continued financial support resonated with the board, culminating in the approval of a significant funding commitment to bring key infrastructure and development projects to fruition.
Mayor Riely explained that additional funding was essential to address the increasing demands placed on the city’s infrastructure and services due to its significant population growth and economic expansion in recent years. He emphasized that these factors have created exciting developments, but also considerable challenges, in maintaining and developing the necessary resources to support the burgeoning community. Riley also cited a dip in the Gross Production Tax (GPT) as being a primary cause of budget shortfalls, resulting in a strain on the city’s budget: “…we’re digging into cash on hand to cover already allocated funds.” He expressed a concern that if additional funding wasn’t received, some projects may have to be put on the backburner, or worse, be eliminated altogether.
Riely’s presentation emphasized the importance of seeing projects through from start to finish, particularly when utilizing taxpayer money. “Sometimes those little projects have to come to fruition so we can get a completion, we can get a mark on the board,” he explained, painting a picture of community satisfaction with “high fives and hugs all around” upon their completion.
The commissioners were presented with a hefty document to accompany the presentation - approximately 108 pages. As commissioners sifted through the proposal, which outlined the specific projects for which Mayor Riely aimed to secure funding, the issue of transparency was raised. Riley alluded to recent requests for public records and a rise in “citizen journalism”: we want to be not only completely transparent to the county but to the general public that might ask for our records…and for those listening online…Philip Riely, Mayor of Watford City, my email address is phil_riely@yahoo.com.”
Ultimately, the commissioners expressed their support for Watford City’s initiatives. Commissioner Joel Brown made a motion “to commit through JPA and fund the support of Watford City for the amount of 3.065 million dollars per quarter starting in Q3 of 2025 through the end of 2026.” This substantial commitment, totaling $24.52 million over the specified period, signals the county’s willingness to invest in Watford City’s growth and development. The motion was swiftly seconded by Commissioner Kathy Skarda, and with a unanimous “aye” vote, the funding was approved. This significant financial backing will likely enable Watford City to move forward with various projects aimed at enhancing infrastructure, services, and the overall quality of life for its residents.
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