Planning McKenzie County's Future: A Look at Capital Improvement Plans

This episode of the Living in McKenzie County Podcast features Watford City Engineer, Justin Smith, and McKenzie County Engineering Director, Grace Demars. They join host, Vawnita Best, to explain how city and county capital improvement plans (CIP) are developed, prioritized, funded, and communicated to the public, including the multi-year planning, design, and right-of-way work required before construction begins. They also take a look ahead at major 2026 construction activity including ND DOT Highway 85 work, county road reconstructions, and projects in Grassy Butte and Keene. 00:00 Welcome 01:07 Meet the Engineers 03:59 Why Capital Improvements Matter 05:38 County CIP Public Input 09:05 Where to Find the CIP 10:00 City CIP Planning Cycle 13:19 Funding and Long Lead Times 19:05 County Roads and Industry Needs 24:21 Preventive Maintenance and Safety 28:23 City Facilities and 2040 Plan 33:04 City County Collaboration 37:30 Shared Water Infrastructure 39:40 Boomtown Growth Pressures 41:24 Replacing Aging Utilities 45:06 Funding Catch Up Projects 46:44 City Work Disruptions 2026 49:01 Highway 85 Construction 50:36 County Roads And Bridges 52:32 Townships Street Upgrades 55:22 Costs And Redevelopment Plans 58:33 County CIP And Public Input 01:07:05 More Projects And Wrap Up   McKenzie County Capital Improvement Plan: https://mckenziecountynd.gov/capital-improvement-plan/ City of Watford City Capital Improvement Plan: https://cityofwatfordcity.gov/2040-infrastructure-master-planning/