Interviews: Alan Walter, Ward County Commissioner
When looking at the city of Minot from a 5000-foot perspective, it is an interesting city. Much like Dickinson, it offers an urban environment in a very rural based economy. Acting almost as a fulcrum for the eastern agriculture and western oil, Minot has positioned itself for a prosperous future.
They have both oil and ag in the magic city. The close proximity to the the North Dakota oil fields have shown enough promise for companies like Hess and Enbridge to set up offices there. Plus the emerging PULSE crops, like lentils and chickpeas, could outshine energy next year. Highway 2 has established infrastructure and is used to traffic beyond combines and tractors. Not to mention the Minot Air Force Base has shown the fruits of a federal infused economy.
So I decided to call Alan Walter for an update on Minot and Ward county. Walter is on the Board of Ward County Commissioners and is very familiar with the ins and outs of the city of Minot and Ward county. In fact, I remember Walter’s strong work ethic from the disastrous flood in Minot. In 2011, I assisted the Minot media with their flood coverage and spent some time every day with Walter. His knowledge on the city and county had depth and levels of understanding.
“The last five years Minot has seen pretty good growth,” Walter said. “Population is over 50,000, although I know we have lost some citizens in the last year to year and a half, but still over 50,000. At the peak we had over $300 million in city building permits.”
Walter said the 50,000 is an important number because that is when the experts say a town and economy should be able to self perpetuate. He wonders if the recent drop in oil prices will challenge that trend since they are teetering around that magic number.
“The city’s building permits are at $117,000, which is a substantial downturn a few years ago,” Walter said.
Walter said there are more change agents and trend indicators throughout the county. From traffic to hotels, signs are being seen and felt by everyone.
“Right now we are seeing the impact of the reduced oil activity and loss of oil jobs are impacting the hotels in Minot,” Walter said. “Last survey was 32% rate of use of hotels. The prices have dropped to down around $84 a night instead of $149. So it’s having an effect.”
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