WATFORD CITY, N.D. (AP) - Officials have broken ground for a $50 million law enforcement center in Watford City.
The facility will house various law agencies and will have space for nearly 130 prisoners. McKenzie County has been sending as many as 70 inmates to other facilities every month, after filling its 12-bed facility adjacent to the courthouse.
County Commission Chairman Ron Anderson says the new facility will be financed through a Bank of North Dakota loan that will be repaid with the county's share of oil tax revenue. He hopes it will be ready by fall 2016.
Tuesday's ground-breaking ceremony marked the start of $8 million in infrastructure upgrades for the center. Bids for the actual structure have yet to be let.