Two statewide measures on North Dakota’s upcoming ballot offer residents a chance to make a difference in the future of the state — one is based on new economics, the other on new social norms and courtesies.

Measure 1 seeks to make changes to how the state Constitution defines institutions in Grafton, Devils Lake and Jamestown. Measure 3 seeks to decrease the funding that can be expended from the Legacy Fund during a single biennium.

Here’s a look at each:

Although a simple majority vote in the Legislature is required to place a proposed constitutional amendment before the voters, Senate Concurrent Resolution 4001 passed without a single “no” vote during the last legislative session.

The real surprise isn’t that the proposal was unanimously passed, but rather that it’s taken this long. Specifically, the measure seeks to change the official name of the state institutions to be more in line with societal evolution that has taken place over the decades. It would change the State School for the Deaf and Dumb in Devils Lake to the State School for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing; the State Hospital for the Insane in Jamestown to the State Hospital for Individuals With Mental Illness; and the Institution for the Feeble Minded in Grafton to a “facility for individuals with developmental disabilities.” The latter already has been called the Life Skills and Transition Center, but Measure 1 will make it official.

We urge a “yes” vote on Measure 1, and may this be the last time those phrases are used in print.

A statewide vote in 2010 established the Legacy Fund, a piggy bank for the people that collects 30% of tax revenue from oil and natural gas extraction in the state. In its first 13 years, the fund grew past $9 billion.

Now, a constitutional amendment seeks to decrease the amount of principal available for spending each biennium, from 15% to 5% of the total. The amendment would provide for distribution from the Legacy Fund to a Legacy earnings fund, rather than have the accrued earnings be sent to the state’s general fund, as currently happens.

We don’t like the proposal. Why put constraints on future spending, especially if some sort of tragedy or emergency occurs?

And what about the next great idea — one we cannot fathom today but one that might require a large and expedient expenditure to push it to fruition?

Measure 3 seems like an idea not to spend money. We believe North Dakotans should embrace the state’s prosperity. The Legacy Fund was established to provide a better future for the state, and it’s time to start thinking about what that future will look like.

Vote no on Measure 3.

This Forum Communications Co. editorial represents the views of Forum Communications Co., this newspaper’s parent company. It was written by the FCC Editorial Advisory Board.

GRAND FORKS, N.D. (KFYR) – A grant of nearly $4.5 million from the National Park Service is giving the City of Grand Forks a chance to begin one of its projects that will create more recreational activities in the area.

Thanks to the funding the state received from this grant, the City of Grand Forks is being provided with $3,489,750 to cover phase one of a three-phased masterplan to enhance the Grand Forks Downtown Gateway and Greenway.

“This funding was available, and we met with the North Dakota Parks and Recreation, with Char, and said ‘Is there any chance at all that our project would qualify for funding?’” said Kim Greendahl, Greenway specialist for the city of Grand Forks.

This is the first time the state of North Dakota has qualified for this grant since the beginning of the Outdoor Recreation Legacy Partnership Program in 2014.

This year, the program awarded the largest grant investment in its history, giving nearly $254 million in 24 states. To qualify, communities needed to have populations of 30,000 or more.

“Before, the requirements were more stringent; populations of 50,000, so a lot of the cities in North Dakota didn’t qualify, but this year it was opened up to multiple cities,” said Char Langehaug, grants coordinator for the North Dakota Parks and Recreation Department.

Residents and visitors of Grand Forks can expect phase one to bring a playground area and outdoor learning space, a picnic shelter and a nature promenade. Phase two and three will bring people closer to the water and the addition of a pedestrian bridge.

“The community has really gotten behind this project and it’s exciting, lots of outdoor recreation whilst still being in a flood plain,” said Greendahl.

The City of Grand Forks says it predicts the construction of phase one will officially begin in 2026.

One million dollars of the funds given to North Dakota will be used to enhance the Turtle Mountain Family Recreation Area.

Copyright 2024 KFYR. All rights reserved.

BISMARCK, N.D. (KFYR) – A New Salem veteran got a long overdue welcome home Friday afternoon.

Randy Christian served in the U.S. Army from 1969-71. He was stationed in Germany and Vietnam. Christian was one of more than 100 veterans from western North Dakota who traveled to Washington, D.C. on the Western North Dakota Honor Flight earlier this week.

He had a medical emergency while in D.C. and ended up in the hospital. He was discharged from the hospital on Thursday and arrived home to cheers and applause from people gathered at the airport.

“It was unbelievable, and when this did happen, the two people that were with me, I will never forget them. They were honest, they did everything for me. They wouldn’t let me do a thing,” said Christian.

Jody Kerzman was on the Honor Flight and for the next several weeks she will share a number of the veterans’ stories, including Christian’s.

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