It's A FONSI -- August 25, 2015; How About An Amazon Fulfillment Center In Williston With Current Runways For Unmanned Drones?

The things I learn from the blog. A FONSI?

The Best of The Fonz?
From The Williston Wire:

First article:

It's full steam ahead for Williston's new 250 million dollar international airport about five miles northwest of the current airport, having cleared a long awaited and crucial Federal government hurdle this past week.  Mayor Howard Klug said that the City of Williston received a positive "FONSI" or Finding of no significant impact report from the FAA. 

Second article:

A new state of the art airport will put Williston on the map. The City is planning to build a $250 million airport to accommodate the growing needs of the residents in northeastern Montana and northwestern North Dakota. The executive director of Williston Economic Development says the new Williston Basin International Airport (WBIA) will be a beacon for a mix of economic development projects. "Transportation infrastructure has always been a key component for sound economic growth. I am willing to bet we are going to see some unique business development inquiries as a result of this," said Shawn Wenko.

Third article:

The City of Williston is working with the Cardon Group of Phoenix on developing the land under the current airport once the airport shuts down and moves to the new facility in 2018. Sean Wenko executive director of the Williston Development department tells news radio, that like the new airport and the ARC, the 900 acres that comprise Sloulin Field will be transformed into another jewel in Williston's crown, with a focus on high tech.

"Technology is a big driver in the oil and gas industry and technology can be a big driver for other things as well so we think we can add this into the redevelopment project of the airport property," Wenko said.

Wenko says length and breadth of the project will command public input as well, but in the end it will be a project the community will be proud of. " We want to see something with that property that when you come over the hill on Hwy 2 and you kind of see that corner and just go 'Wow, we're in Williston'," Wenko says.

Maybe an Amazon fulfillment center? High-tech. About the right size. Leave the runway for Fedex planes. Or better yet for the unmanned drones that are being built and tested in Grand Forks. See also this link.

Now, that's a thought.

Memo to self: get Jeff Bezos phone number.

Which reminds me: in 2007 I wrote a letter to Menards corporate offices about a possible new location in Williston. I was still on active duty at the time. My dad put me up to it. He had the deal all worked out. In his mind. Some days later, some VP from Menards phoned me -- at my government office. We had a nice discussion. He said Williston was not on Menards' radar scope. That was in 2007. I think Menards opened in Williston last year, or maybe in 2013. I lose track of time. Global warming has that effect on my mind. It is interesting that the rise in Alzheimer's cases tend to parallel the global warming hockey stick. Now that global warming has plateaued for the past 19 years, maybe the rate of growth in Alzheimer's diagnoses will also plateau.

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Watford City Growth

From The Williston Wire:

For the past three years, the growth in the school district's enrollment numbers has been fueled by the large number of new students in the elementary school. However this year, the number of students in every grade is beginning to level off. For the first time, we will have over 100 students in every grade with the exception of grades 11 and 12," states Holen. "But the largest classes are still in the elementary school."