News

Grain facility is primary topic

By Scott Wagar

02/10/2015

Paterson Grain LCC (PGL) was the primary topic during Bottineau’s city council meeting on Feb. 2 with discourse for and against the company that wants to construct a grain handling facility just south of Bottineau.   

The discussion was an informational meeting only with no action taken by the council. 

A large number of individuals attended the council meeting to speak on the Paterson subject, which included members of the Bottineau Farmers Elevator, Souris River Grain, Bottineau County Commissioners and local residents.

The reason behind the discussion is that PGL, which is headquartered out of Winnipeg, Man., wants to construct a grain handling facility just south of Johnson Sport Center on around 200 acres of land. 

PGL’s plan went before the planning commission in January for approval, but it was voted down four to three by the commissioners because PGL’s main entrance to its site comes off of south Brander Street, which isn’t a truck route but a residential street.

The recommendation by the commission to PGL was to find a new route to their site. 

However, PGL stated to the Bottineau Courant in a post meeting e-mail that to find a new route to its site would cost $1 to $2.5 million, which isn’t feasible at this time. 

Souris native, Lance Kjelshus, represented the Bottineau Farmers Elevator and handed out a two page letter requesting that individuals read the letter, which primarily stated that they did not want PGL utilizing Brander Street as one of the main roads to get to their facility.

“The Bottineau Elevator and the city of Bottineau did a good job diverting a large portion of the grain and fertilizer traffic to the outskirts of the city. If Paterson Grain plan would be approved it would go back to the way it was before or worse,” Kjelshus said.

“The truck traffic going to the terminal would all be turning south off of Highway 5 and the empty trucks leaving would be turning east or west onto Highway 5. Before, it was straight through traffic. 

“I am not saying no or yes on this proposal from Paterson Grain but it needs to be thought out very carefully and not just in one or two meetings. Many things need to be discussed and worked out,” Kjelshus added. “Local patrons and business owners have thousands of dollars invested in the co-op. The Bottineau elevator has a huge impact on the city and area around it; the infrastructure of the city and county needs to be considered; and the employees that have been faithful in the past and for the future.”

Bottineau resident, Mike Aasen, who home is located on south Thompson Street, stated that he was against PGL locating a grain facility so close to the neighborhood he lives in.

“My first thing I kind of want to point out with the purposed truck route is that when it comes off Highway 5, there is 13th Street and we got 12th South Thompson Street, there is 38 kids under the age of 14 that live on these two streets,” Aasen said. “So, as far as a truck route I think most residents on that street are severely opposed to it. We don’t have sidewalks on these streets, kids play on these streets and they ride their bikes on these streets from house to house. 

“The residents, especially on the east side of South Thompson Street, when we bought homes, we bought homes with a view,” Aasen continued to say. “Just like a person who buys a home with a view on a lake, we bought a home with a view of a field.

“The way now with the tracks from the Bottineau Elevator, when trains come in at night it is quite noisy, you hear the rumble,” Aasen added. “Imagine if they make the loop (PGL’s track line will be in a shape of a loop) closer to the homes how noisy it is going to be, the air quality is going to decrease and if there are dryers involved there is going to be stuff floating toward the houses.

“My main concern is that there is going to be 38 kids using the streets every day,” Aasen concluded.

A number of local ag producers, along with elevator board members, spoke on the importance of keeping the present truck route where it is at now in Bottineau because a lot of work went into constructing the route and it works well for the community and ag producers. 

Other individuals, including Kjelshus, also discussed support in one way or another with PGL’s project.

“One thought I’ve had in the last week since Paterson Grain met with the planning committee is that the Bottineau Elevator, Paterson Grain and Souris River Grain should meet and see if a joint venture for a shipping terminal would work for the three,” Kjelshus said. “All three companies have been dealing with a shortage of box cars and rail service. Maybe they could have a better chance working with BN (Burlington Northern) as a larger group. Each grain company could have their grain processed before they put it into a shipping silo. The train could pull in, load and leave.” 

“It was brought to the planning commission and kind of dumped in front of us and nobody really knew what it was,” said Clayton Parrill, planning commissioner and Bottineau’s building inspector. “I guess I would like to see it brought back to the planning commission and go over it point by point to see if we can’t work out the difference we have with it so we can make something work for them or whoever we have to make it work with. 

“I think the vote was hastily done on it and there was only about 20 minutes to a half hour on it,” Parrill added. “Since we didn’t see it before, I would like to see it brought back to the planning commission so the difference can be worked out and give us at least a little bit more time to discuss this together.”

Penny Nostdahl, city auditor of Bottineau, made a request during the PGL discussion that the planning commission set new rules down about individual(s) or companies presenting plans to the city.

Nostdahl asked that all plans and information for a project be presented to the commissioners and city leadership one month prior to the planning commission meeting with the individual(s) or companies so these individuals can study the project before they meet. 

By doing so, those involved will know the information before them and have a better understanding and discussion with those who make the requests to the committee. 

No action was taken on Nostdahl’s request.