The Morton County Commission heard a new pitch for a wind farm at its Oct. 8 meeting.

In 2010, Nextera Energy of Juno Beach, Fla., wants to place 33 wind turbines between west of Mandan and New Salem. Thirty-three will be added for the next project. It expects a total energy output of 100 megawatts.

The company has submitted a letter of intent to the North Dakota Public Service Commission and a permit application to the Morton County Auditor's Office. Pre-easement agreements have been negotiated with affected landowners to secure future sites.

Nextera has sites now operating in Langdon, Valley City, and the Kulm-Edgley area.

Morton County Auditor Paul Trauger said the Morton County Planning and Zoning Commission will hear the proposal at its 5:30 p.m. Oct. 29 meeting at the Morton County Courthouse.

Mandan Trail System

Good news for those who enjoy taking a stroll. The Mandan Park Board agreed to pay $5,000 for a 20-year easement for a vacated dike behind Riverwood RV to build onto its multipurpose trail. The new leg will cross from Burger King on Main Street, go through the underpass on Third Street and link to the dike system. After its completion, the trail system will be able to encircle most of Mandan.

The park district will start construction of the mile-long addition in 2010, thanks to a $284,000 Transportation Enhancement grant.

Mandan Parks and Recreation Director Cole Higlin said it will tie the east, south and north parts of the city together for walkers and cyclists. The park board had considered constructing the trail in front of the RV business, but it would have cost $40,000 more to remove the concrete barriers of the dike. Higlin said city officials oppose removing the dike in the future in case there is a future flood risk.

Retail Rent Subsidy

The Mandan Growth Fund recommended that $60,000 be set aside in 2010 for a Downtown Retail & Restaurant Rent Subsidy Program within the city's downtown core district. It offers a rental subsidy in the form of a forgivable loan for small retail tenants during the first 12 months of operation. The maximum assistance to be provided will be half of the fair market rent for no more than $3 per square foot for retail and no more than $5 per square foot per restaurant.

There is an additional cap of $20,000 per property.

The program will be implemented in lieu of a retail incubator program previously studied by the city. The city had already budgeted $60,000 for the incubator concept. Huber said this is a more direct way of upstarting new businesses.

Mandan Business Development Director Ellen Huber said the program is intended to serve as a catalyst for serving new retail concepts to fill vacant store fronts by providing financial assistance to qualified retail, restaurant and service businesses.

Huber said it could help something like developments at the Iverson building.

Those interested in the program can contact her at 667-3485 or ehuber@cityofmandan.com.

The recommendation must still be approved by the Mandan City Commission. Growth Fund projects are funded through part of the sales tax revenue.

(Reach reporter LeAnn Eckroth at 250-8264 or leann.eckroth@bismarcktribune.com)