WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) - Some Williams County commissioners say they’re worried that plans for a new airport in Williston could lead to a messy eminent domain process if landowners aren’t willing to sell.
The Bismarck Tribune reports (https://bit.ly/1qI3yZ8) that city officials have begun acquiring land for the $265 million project. Williston’s airport saw a 10-fold increase in passengers from 2008 to 2014, due in large part to record oil activity.
Williams County Commissioner Martin Hanson has long opposed the project, saying the current facility is adequate if runway upgrades are made to meet Federal Aviation Administration requirements. The commission recently passed a motion opposing the city’s efforts to acquire county land.
Commissioner Dan Kalil says eminent domain “is two words you never want to use in North Dakota, especially in western North Dakota.”
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Information from: Bismarck Tribune, https://www.bismarcktribune.com
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