We talked to a Williams County, ND Deputy who not only confirmed the accuracy of the data, but told us, “We have a fair number of people from your area working here as well.”

Politicos take note: Your wishes may come true…be careful about what you wish for!
A meeting was held of the ND Sheriff’s & Deputies Association in Bismarck, as part of this meeting we had an opportunity to sit down with Law Enforcement from western ND to discuss what they are going through with oil impact. Here is a summary of 34 points made:
1. Currently there are a total of 84 companies involved in the oil industry in western ND.
2. It takes between 2000 and 2200 semi loads of water per well. Currently there are 258 wells in progress with so many scheduled it is hard to determine the exact amount.
3. Traffic accidents, especially fatal traffic accidents are of very high concern. At one location on Highway 85 south of Williston, a traffic count was conducted in October of 2011. In one 24 hour period of time there where 29,000 vehicle through the intersection looked at with 60% of the traffic being semi’s.
4. Traffic is typically backed up for ½ to ¾ of a mile. One of the guys stated that one day last week he sat at an intersection on Highway 85 for about 30 minutes to get a big enough opening to cross over.
5. They have closed the weigh scale house because it was causing such a traffic jam that it was closing the roadway.
6. Rent in Williston currently is: $ 2000 for a one bedroom to $ 3400 for a three bedroom.
7. They have no more hook ups for campers any where in the area.
8. Williams County allows three campers per farmstead, the farmers almost all have three campers on their property and are charging $ 800 per camper per month for rent.
9. Wal Mart in Williston no longer stocks shelves, they bring out pallets of merchandise at night, and set it in the isles, people then take off the pallets what they want.
10. On 1-1-12, the Williston Wal Mart had 148 campers overnight in their parking lot.
11. Willams County wrecked a pickup and ended up bringing it to Bismarck for repairs because there no available body shops to do the work. Williams County has purchased a trailer and has started to bring vehicles to the Bismarck area for repairs. Willaims County took a pickup in for ball joints and front brakes, the shop charged them $ 2800 for the repairs.
12. Williston and Williams County now produces more taxable sales than any other area in ND.
13. The Williams County jail has increased booking by 150%. With a 100% increase in inmate population. Bonds of $ 5k to $ 10 K are typically paid with cash out of pocket. The Williams County Sheriff stated that a couple of week ago he received a $ 63,000 bond in cash carried into the jail in a plastic Wal Mart bag.
14. Williams County Sheriff’s Department has more than doubled in staff over the last two years, they are now buying trailer houses that come up for sale to rent to newly hired deputies.
15. Williams County new starting salary with the academy is $ 46,000 plus 100% of all benefits paid.
16. They are in a continuous hiring cycle, they have no set budget at this time, the Sheriff has been told to manage his office to the best of his abilities and keep the Commission updated, but do not worry about the budget.
17. The Williston McDonalds just announced that they will pay $ 15 an hour, a $ 500 immediate sign on bonus and a single medical plan paid for.
18. The restaurants are full and with limited staff to work in them they usually just have the drive through open. The restaurants that have inside seating are now an hour wait at all times.
19. Law Enforcement in the Williams County area cannot provide training to staff due to time constraints and no location to hold training.
20. The local Motel 6 in Williston now rents rooms fro $ 129.95 per night.
21. Law Enforcement no longer does any proactive work (school programs, community services, house checks) they do very little traffic related issues as well, they just to from call to call. Bars fights are one of the biggest issues.
22. Other law enforcement issues include the strip clubs. The local clubs have now started what is called “babe buses”. These buses go out to areas and pick up people and bus them back and forth to the strip clubs, the buses have poles on them as well as live entertainment.
23. Drug problems are immense, and they are seeing narcotics that they have never seen in the area before, like black tar heroin.
24. The civil process section of the Sheriff’s Department use to average 1800 paper a year, they are now doing 4500 processes a year.
25. Law Enforcement said that they make as many Driving under the influence arrest at 10 Am as they do at midnight.
26. Illegal aliens have become a huge problem, especially getting the proper authorities do remove them from the Country.
27. The current thought from the oil companies is that the area will continue to grow as it has over the past two years for the next five years and stay for ten years. At the end of the ten years they feel the communities will drop in population somewhat.
28. The current thought is that the oil companies will be drilling wells on every 1280 acres of leased land, this way they have tied up the land and do not have to release the property.
29. The Williston General Motors dealership has now become the number 1 seller of Corvettes in the upper Midwest.
30. The bigger oil companies are doing very well in hiring good people. They run checks and make sure the people they hire are drug free; it is the smaller companies that are having trouble-hiring people that will look the other way on hiring issues.
31. They said they do not know anybody anymore. The Sheriff of Williams County he use to be able to go to Wal Mart and not be walk very far without knowing somebody, now he does not know any of the people in there.
32. Many of the local citizens are taking retirement and moving out of the area.
33. They have an extreme amount of alcohol abuse going on. They have more calls than ever of drunk people trying to get into houses, to find out they are at the wrong place.
34. Minot population has grown by a projected 9000 people since the completion of the census. Minot is expecting to reach a population of 75,000 in the nest five years. Trinity Hospital in Minot has just hired 115 nurses from the Philippines to work at the hospital, as they cannot get enough local nurses to apply.

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In action before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission, Hoku has sought to amend a contract with Idaho Power and prevent the electricity provider from cutting the power. To date Hoku has run up a bill of nearly $4 million.

They wanted to pay the bill from a deposit and later replenish the deposit. Idaho Power countered saying they wanted to take the deposit and then give Hoku a “firm date” to shut off the power.

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The GUARDIAN’s “Chief statistician” has provided us with a spread sheet of the most recent profit and loss statement from the Idaho Dept. of Lands which indicates–at least on the surface–the state doesn’t fare too well in the commercial business world.

(residential is mostly cabin sites and commercial parcels are those located mostly in Boise)

Based on the 2010 annual report–the most recent available on line– Residential cabin lease income has the lowest operating expense at 5.97%, and the highest net income ratio at 92.06%. Commercial real estate has an expense ratio of 121.81% (expenses exceed income by 21.81%) and the lowest net income ratio of -29.38% which as nearly a 30% loss.

The IDL solution seems to be to sell the cabin sites and buy more commercial, high intensive management properties to operate at a loss. Bottom line, managing recreational and grazing leases is not as flashy as management of commercial property. The philosophy is “Sell the cabin sites, double down on commercial and all will be well.” Trust the IDL employees, they are looking out for the school children and following the constitutional mandate to get the best bang for the buck.

With legislation waiting in the wings to be introduced during the current session, the lawmakers will no doubt have some probing questions for the would-be real estate tycoons at the Land Dept.

The issue was made public last year after the State of Idaho purchased Affordable Storage, a self-store facility on Maple Grove Road in Boise. The state also owns multiple commercial buildings in downtown Boise, including one at 9th and Bannock which will be remodeled to accommodate a brew pub. Last time we checked that building was 80% vacant and off the tax rolls.

The state properties are all tax exempt. Had they simply allowed the brew pub to make “tenant improvements,” at least that portion would have been taxable as personal property.

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First it was the Hoku solar panel plant in Pocatello falling on hard times with plummeting stock prices and Idaho Power ready to pull the plug on its electricity. Now the planned AREVA nuke waste processing facility near Idaho Falls is on “hold” and recent industry reports don’t paint a glowing picture for that industry.

The French-owned AREVA continues its design phase because they get money from the citizens of the USA, but this nuke industryREPORT doesn’t bode well for the future of the firm.

The GUARDIAN has read reports from the HOKU home state of Hawaii and their business future doesn’t look very bright either. Both of these firms depend upon public money to survive, but politicos are getting the message during this election year to end subsidies for energy schemes ranging from corn fed ethanol to windmill farms.

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Idaho Power Co. had threatened to shut off electricity after the Honolulu-based polysilicon maker missed a $1.9 million November payment because of “cash problems.” PUC Commishes set a schedule to hear out the dispute, with arguments set for meetings next Tuesday or Wednesday. As long as the case is unresolved, regulators say Idaho Power can’t shut off electricity to Hoku.

Hoku claims that losing power in the middle of a freezing winter could jeopardize just-completed facilities its new $360 million Pocatello plant. On the flip side, Idaho Power says allowing Hoku to continue to receive electricity without paying its bills puts the utility at risk of losing millions in the deal.

The company is obviously in trouble following a dramatic dip in its stock price and considerable negative comments in the financial media. Idaho power has a legitimate concern about getting stuck and the PUC commishes are in the position of being the “power broker” with–no doubt–plenty of political pressure from locals in Pocatello.

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How about simple fixing up existing Greater Boise Auditorium District facilities and make them better–not bigger?

The Wall Street Journal published a story Saturday (Dec. 31) which revealed that cities from “Boston to Austin” are building bigger convention centers at a time when the convention business is totally over built as it is. A Boston Globe writer is quoted as declaring convention center building as “a racket.” The WSJ piece cites Boston, Baltimore, Chicago, Dallas, Phoenix, Austin as places that continue to expand facilities and fail to live up to predictions.

Those cities and many others across the nation all cite surveys with the central message of, “If we build it they will come.” Problem is, they don’t come. Convention business is on the decline and it isn’t just a “bad economy.” In 2010 the industry reported 86 million conventioneers compared to 126 million in 2000.

The GUARDIAN has reported frequently on the need for directional signs for visitors. With at least $11 million in room taxes burning a hole in their pocket, we think directional signs, promotional maps, and more “user friendly” policies like free parking could go a long way toward enhancing the visitor experience and getting repeat customers. More construction and higher overhead aren’t exactly selling points that attract visitors.

We could fix up Table Rock as a “Vista Viewpoint” to view the entire valley, open the Boise Depot to the public daily during summer months and include some free bus shuttles–that way visitors would have a feeling they are getting something for the taxes they pay at hotels.

Mayor Dave Bieter constantly declares, “Boise is the most remote city in America for its size.” He is correct and that is one reason we will never be a destination travel location. Better to attract folks wishing to experience the Payette and Salmon Rivers, Sawtooth Mountains, and great skiing (when we have snow) than to attempt to compete with less remote cities featuring naked dancers, Mickey Mouse, Broadway Shows, or Lake Michigan shoreline dotted with museums.

One of the signs of “worldliness” is knowing one’s place in the world. And Boise’s place is not as a major convention city which has no directional signs and closes it’s best assets to public access.

The WSJ story also noted cities tout expansion of facilities as a sign of local pride and confidence rather than just a way to build more hotel rooms and restaurants.

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Micron holds its “jobs” club over the heads of policy makers and gets all sorts of tax breaks–meanwhile the government pays all the workers who were laid off when jobs went offshore.

The Chamber of Commerce’s “Boise Valley Economic Partnership” is drumming up support for a $5-10 million fund to pay businesses to locate in the area. This, after their previous $5 million scheme to attract “high paying jobs” fell flat. Businesses don’t come here to pay higher wages.

Guv Butch is proposing a fund for local entrepreneur start ups. That’s better than helping the Chinese Communists and out of staters, but still not a good place to spend public money. If the idea and product are good, investors will buy in and profit.

In Twin Falls politicos are tripping over themselves as they pony up public promises of about $29,000,000 for a Chobani yogurt plant–a culture unto itself. That area has a history of attracting–and closing businesses.

Pocatello is about to fall victim to an ill-fated solar panel plant backed by the communist Chinese, but not backed with enough cash to pay their electric bill to Idaho Power. Hoku is teetering on the brink of financial failure despite massive infusions of urban renewal funds diverted from schools, the city and county. They also are beneficiaries of state and federal funds.

A hearing before the Idaho Public Utilities Commission over the proposed shut off of electric service to Hoku will be an interesting indicator regarding whether regulators go with the politicos and the POTENTIAL of “jobs” or rule to allow Idaho Power to cut its losses from a deadbeat customer.

Despite repeated promises, hoopla, and assorted pandering Boise can’t even get a Whole Foods chain store going. No doubt the folks at the Co-Op won’t shed tears over that news. If they have the money and Boise looks like a place to do business, Whole Foods would beat down the door of city hall with fists full of cash.

Citing Boise’s “proximity to west coast ports,” there was a big media push a month ago for a Zonda electric bus factory in Boise. The company had even moved its headquarters here. Don’t stand in line for tickets to ride that coach.

The overall message from we GROWTHOPHOBES is similar to that of former Gov. Cecil Andrus who opposed deal sweeteners: “If you have the money to pay your taxes and a fair wage, we welcome you with open arms. If you are shopping for rubes willing to PAY you to come here, please take your business elsewhere.”

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The company’s stock has plummeted to less than 1/4 its value earlier this year and is in danger of being delisted on the stock exchange where the current price is less than 60 cents a share.

The would-be polysilicon maker said losing power would delay the Pocatello plant’s commissioning and expose infrastructure to freezing as winter sets in. Southeastern Idaho’s hopes that Hoku’s $390 million plant will eventually add hundreds of green-energy jobs to the local economy have been shaken by uncertainty over whether the project will survive.

“If service is terminated, these high value systems may freeze, causing irreparable and material damage to Hoku’s plant assets,” the company’s lawyers told utility regulators in their complaint. “Any damage would need to be repaired, at additional cost, prior to continuing with the commissioning and operation of the plant.”

This failure to pay an existing Idaho utility a contractually agreed amount does little to help the local economy and could be a harbinger of the future for energy schemes dependent on government subsidies. We GROWTHOPHOBES have long welcomed corporations and individuals to our state as long as they can afford to pay the same taxes the rest of us pay and offer decent wages for the jobs they may create. If not, please visit one of the states competing against us.

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If class action is granted, Nampa could have every property owner in the city seeking refunds for a sewer fee that many claim is an illegal tax.

A class-action complaint filed Wednesday seeks to have Nampa’s $3-per-month-per-resident storm­water fee and ordinance declared invalid and all fees collected under the program refunded. The plaintiffs are Ronald W. Van Auker; JBR LLC; RVRV LLC; Hogan LLC; Deere 1 LLP; Par 3; Idaho Industrial Development and “all others similarly situated.” Commercial properties are charged based on square footage.

Republic Storage filed a similar complaint against the city on Dec. 14. The GUARDIAN warned of potential class action at that time.

The Supremes ruled in November the city of Lewiston’s stormwater fee was illegal because the state has not authorized cities to collect a stormwater tax.

The plaintiffs’ attorneys, E. Don Copple and Heather Cunningham of Davidson, Copple, Copple & Copple, say Nampa’s stormwater ordinance and fee is nearly identical to Lewiston’s and should also be declared illegal.

Nampa’s legal team is a private firm that probably advised the city regarding the ordinance that created the fee.

Read more here: http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/22/1926794/class-action-suit-filed-against.html#storylink=latest#storylink=cpy

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However, Mayor-elect Greg Nelson didn’t have much good to say about planning and Zoning Director Steven Hasson and that probably stems from a dispute over $36,000 in fees the city claims it is owed by the new mayor for water and sewer hook-up fees for the Creekside Lounge and Peregrine Steaks and Spirits Restaurant built in 2005/06 by Nelson.

Caldwell GUARDIAN editor Paul Alldredge did the leg work after reading the DAILY PAPER and found the alleged non-payment was discovered in a state DEQ financial audit of Kuna’s city sewer and water records.

Public records include a series of communications, including demand for payment, between Hasson and Nelson beginning in March.

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