GF County fishing for new revenue stream

The Grand Forks County Commission plans to seek legislative approval to allow counties to levy franchise fees on utilities.

County Administrator Tom Ford told the board on Tuesday that current century code only allows cities to collect the fees.  Ford says franchise fees netted the city of Grand Forks over $3.3 million dollars in 2022. Ford says the next step is to work with legislators and the North Dakota Association of Counties to amend the current code.

Commissioner Mark Rustad says it’s worth pursuing as another source of revenue.  “I anticipate if this is something the association and Grand Forks County pursues that there might be a rather robust pushback against us from utility companies and their lobbyists.  There might be a moment to drop the gloves.”

No one spoke out against the idea.

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Ford also informed the commission that repairs to the leaky courthouse dome may be less extensive than initial reports based on a new round of tests and inspections.  Temporary repairs will be made before this winter.  The budget for the entire project was originally set at five-million dollars.