January 4, 2022

City will take it easy heading into 2022

By Ashleigh Plemper
Farmer Staff Writer

While McKenzie County and Watford City have experienced an exponential population increase over the last 10 years, the city has continued to meet the demands that have come with that growth. But according to Curt Moen, Watford City city administrator, the city’s ability to attract people and keep them here remains a challenge.
“Our economy is still in recovery, digging itself out of this, like everyone else and we’re trying to attract people up here,” Moen says.
As oil production has picked back up, Moen says many tend to take it as an incentive to rush back in. But the risk of volatility is still too high.
“Do we keep making advancements, building more houses to attract the next big commercial thing? Or do we sit back and wait a minute to make sure we’re okay,” he says.
When you consider the hit Watford City took in 2014 and the harder hit it took in 2020 when oil prices slumped, Moen says maybe it’s just getting punched in the face enough to learn your lesson.

For the full story, subscribe to the McKenzie County Farmer

 

WATFORD CITY WEATHER