Dakota Beacon

U.S. CENSUS population estimates for 2018 have been released covering the eight years following the 2010 census.  ND’s population grew 13% during that period, despite population loss in over half of its 53 counties.  The Oil Patch counties provided the push with McKenzie (Watford City) growing 114%, Williams (Williston) 58% and Stark (Dickinson) 29%.  Mighty Cass (Fargo) grew a surprising 21% and its absolute population increase of 31,000 exceeded the three Oil Patch counties combined.  Williams was the fastest growing county in the nation among counties with populations over 20,000.

THE FIVE LARGEST ND COUNTIES  After Cass County (above), Burleigh (Bismarck) was no slouch with 17% growth.  Ward (Minot) 10% and Grand Forks 6% showed moderate gains.  Ward peaked at 70,000 residents in 2015 and declined each year since, as its boost from the Oil Patch diminishes.  Williams (above) passed Morton (Mandan) in population and is now the fifth largest county.  The five counties with the greatest percentage losses were all rural and had population losses in the 7-8% range.

MINOT STRUGGLES  An editorial in the Minot Daily News confronted the obvious — the city is struggling.  Generally, ND’s larger cities are prospering, or at least, holding even.  Minot’s infrastructure supported the early stages of the oil boom, but, as western cities like Williston became more self-sufficient, Minot’s population declined from its peak.  Minot over-expanded — hospitality and retailing are suffering most, but contraction is noticeable in other sectors.

WEATHER required the contractor for Minot’s Trinity Hospital to use 24 1,000 gallon propane tanks as a heat source to cure concrete during freezing weather.  Weather intervened again when the ground thawed causing the tanks to shift and break a connection.  The escaping propane exploded and burned for several hours.  The largest construction project in

city history is closed while inspections continue.

RURAL HEALTH CARE in ND is tenuous.  There are 36 critical-access (receiving federal aid) hospitals in the state, mostly in rural areas, and 19 are operating at a loss.  These hospitals are often the No. 1 or 2 employer in their area and are important to the viability of their communities.  It is difficult to staff rural hospitals — ND’s population is evenly split between urban and rural, yet 70% of doctors are in urban areas, as are a similar proportion of nurses

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TEACHER PAY  An average ND teacher is paid $53,000 a year, but there is an unusual twist, many small schools pay as much or more than larger urban schools.  Tioga is an example, it pays an average of $61,000, while Grand Forks has an average of $55,000.  The explanation — higher salaries are required to draw teachers to rural areas.

WHAT ARE THEY WAITING FOR?  “Inexcusably, the state still lacks a road map for the Legacy Fund nine years after its creation.” — A Forum editorial warns that if the Legislature doesn’t come up with a plan for fund earnings, they may be hijacked by voters.

NOT A LOT TO CHOOSE FROM  After the Notre Dame fire, the Forum asked community leaders what F-M landmarks would be most missed.  The Fargo Theatre was a top choice, while Moorhead preferred its Norwegian Stave Church.  The nominations demonstrated F-M is not architecturally deep.

A MINORITY VOICE emerged in defense of UND President Mark Kennedy, who has been the target of widespread criticism since he announced his tentative election as president of the U. of Colorado.  In a letter to the GF Herald, Scott Waldman said “Kennedy made tough decisions when tough decisions had to be made.”  He said Kennedy made and executed a plan for the university.  As for philanthropist and Kennedy critic Kris Engelstad McGarry, Waldman said she pulls funds for personal grievances and “basks in the novelty of it.”  He said, “I think time will be kind to his (Kennedy) legacy at the University of North Dakota.”

UNCERTAINTY IN HIGHER ED  In a rambling column, Mike Jacobs touched a number of issues related to higher education in ND.  First, he addressed UND President Mark Kennedy — Jacobs thinks he will get the Colorado job, but, if he doesn’t, he won’t be welcomed back.  Jacobs says UND should choose a strong interim president, someone who knows the issues and players, and keep that person for two years while the state higher ed board conducts a slow, deliberate search.  He also noted there will be a change in board leadership and also the design of the board could be changed by the Legislature.

TRACTOR MONOPOLY  Modern farm tractors have sophisticated electronics which require special diagnostic tools.  These tools are restricted to manufacturer dealerships leaving independent repair shops and individual farmers in the cold.  Twenty states are considering legislation to break the monopoly — Minnesota hopes to be the first to pass a “Fair Repair” bill.

MINNESOTA NICE — Is it real, and if so, where did it originate?  The Star Tribune thought it was real and offered three possibilities for its origin: It’s Scandinavian, it’s the result of rural backgrounds, or the product of myth makers like Garrison Keillor.  Scandinavian social norms are the most popular theory — like, don’t think you are special, subordinate yourself to the group.  Another possibility, most Minnesotans or their parents have rural backgrounds and have inherited a spirit of rural cooperation.  Lastly, there is a minority theory — it’s all a facade as portrayed in the movie “Fargo” — behind the facade is something dark and aloof.

 

“LITTLE WOODS” is the name of new movie set in ND near the Canadian border.  The movie deals with the grim reality of two low-income sisters with troubled backgrounds.  The movie may be a little dark.

DAKTOIDS:  Hunter Hanson (21), the infamous roving ND grain trader, has fraud claims of $11.5 million against his business . . . The GF Herald rebuilt it offices after the 1997 flood — the offices have been sold to the city for $2.75 million — GFH remains a tenant . . . Sanford will invest $100 million to make the Roger Maris Cancer Center in Fargo a regional destination, drawing patients from as far as E. Montana.