By Stan Stelter
Watford City, ND – The issue of Montana-Dakota Utilities Company's franchise for providing electric service to the city of Watford City remains unresolved.
The city council last night tabled its proposed ordinance that would cut MDU's franchise from 20 years to three years. This is City Administrator David Johnson: "It was just tabled because we didn't have all the pieces. It wasn't any kind of political manuever or anything like that. We didn't have the pieces and MDU is considering some of the things we talked about in our committee meeting. When they come back to us on a response to that, then we'll make a decision."
Johnson says a city franchise committee has proposed a five-year agreement. But an MDU spokesman says the company is seeking a franchise of at least 10 years.
A proposal for the city to acquire the utility's electric service in Watford City came up earlier this year. But, in a vote on Aug. 14, residents chose to remain with MDU.