# Morton County Commission 2026-10-08

The Morton County Commission’s regular meeting on October 8, 2026, included approval of bills and payroll, without amounts stated in the transcript. The commission approved the updated Fringe Area Roadmaster Plan, which guides development-related roadway connections but does not commit the county to build projects or provide funding. It also unanimously approved the Flat Rock wind project’s special use permit and rezoned approximately 708 acres for Ruff Rider Energy’s proposed ethanol facility. Ruff Rider described the project as an approximately $800 million private investment, with ICM as equipment provider and Fagen as construction contractor; the county’s approval included conditions concerning traffic review, construction, and the project’s revised substation location. No county contract award or procurement decision for either project was identified.

The commission approved amendments to the land use code’s energy-conversion-facility standards, including a 115 kV threshold for substations, a policy change relevant to future development applications. A public hearing was held on lifting the moratorium on data centers and cryptocurrency-mining facilities after adoption of new use standards, but the commission said a second reading and vote would occur at its next meeting. The commission voted to maintain the countywide burn ban. In a closing update, a commissioner reported that the Warren County Council on Aging had signed a contract with an architect; no contract value or firm name was given. No other specific procurement awards or spending amounts were reported.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Energy & Utilities, Construction & Infrastructure
**Topics:** Physical Infrastructure, Policy
**Published:** October 11, 2026

### Sources
- [Morton County Commission 2026-10-08](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oWSOHFdsXDU) - Dakota Media Access