Grand Forks infrastructure on the minds of new District 17 lawmakers

Dec. 27—Two new lawmakers in North Dakota's legislative District 17 say the biggest concern for Grand Forks in the upcoming session is to push for improvements to local infrastructure.

Sen. Jonathan Sickler and Rep. Landon Bahl both will soon begin their first session representing District 17, which includes Grand Forks' southern end and regions to the south. Both were unopposed in the November election, as was incumbent Rep. Mark Sanford. All three are Republicans from Grand Forks.

The 2023 session of the North Dakota Legislature begins Jan. 3.

In response to a questionnaire from the Grand Forks Herald, Sickler said he believes infrastructure improvements in the community will improve quality of life in the community. That adds to the importance of, say, a proposed underpass under the railroad tracks at the corner of 42nd Street and DeMers Avenue, as well as a possible new 47th Avenue interchange along Interstate 29.

"People are more mobile than perhaps at any time in recent history. With the expansion of remote work, urban residents from around the country are realistically considering what it would be like to live in places just like Grand Forks," Sickler said.

He believes Grand Forks has an array of quality-of-life offerings — among them UND, health care, the school system, parks and recreation opportunities, and fine arts.

What's that leave? Infrastructure upgrades.

Both of the aforementioned infrastructure projects — the underpass and the interchange — have been discussed for years and, in recent months, have been designated as top priorities by representatives of local government, including the City Council.

In early November, for instance, the council declared legislative priorities for the coming session are infrastructure and transportation funding, water project support and public safety. The underpass and the interchange were specifically mentioned.

"In the upcoming session, the Legislature should support those civic institutions and investments that make Grand Forks an attractive place to live. Infrastructure projects like the 47th Avenue interchange will allow our city to continue to grow via expanded housing and commercial developments," Sickler said. "The 42nd Street underpass has long been a quality-of-life and safety matter that should be a priority in 2023."

Further, Sickler suggested, a proposed children's museum in Grand Forks "is a great initiative that would expand educational and recreational activities for children in the whole region."

Bahl also said infrastructure projects should be front-burner initiatives for local lawmakers. He believes the vision among the city's legislative delegates is clear and united.

"Our concerns should be local infrastructure funding assistance (for an interchange and the underpass), education support, Grand Sky/UAS general support and workforce retention strategies," he said. "This will ensure and help our city continue to be able to recruit new companies, provide great-paying jobs, and make Grand Forks a very strong community that is open for business and open to people building a life and raising a family in our city."

Sanford, a veteran of the Legislature and a former school superintendent, said he believes workforce issues are a common concern, both locally and at the state level. He has chaired the Higher Education Interim Committee for a decade and said "many of my bill introductions have represented the recommendations of that committee."

And, he said, "that will be the case again."

Specifically, he said, proposals likely will include efforts to attract and retain students to fields of study that align with the state's workforce needs. Options might include enhanced needs-based grants, forgivable loans based on "post training services in our state" and tuition waivers.

All of Sanford's suggestions mirror concerns that have been voiced in Grand Forks about a lack of available workers to staff a growing number of jobs — especially jobs in locally important sectors, such as UAS.

Grand Forks County unemployment has dipped to 1.5%, the Herald reported in early November. The statewide unemployment rate at the time was 1.7%.

"We just don't have enough people to fill these jobs in our workforce any longer," Phil Davis, workforce services director for North Dakota Job Service, told the Herald at the time. "If you read, most economists say a healthy economy has an unemployment rate of 4 to 5 percent."

The District 17 delegates' full answers

to the Herald's questionnaires will archived on the Herald's website.