Submitted Photo A piled row of trees, created by residents cleaning up after a windstorm in Sawyer, will be headed for the landfill with the help of the Ward County Highway Department.

The Ward County Commission approved an emergency declaration for the City of Sawyer and special event permits for alcohol sales during the North Dakota State Fair on Tuesday, June 16.

County Emergency Management Director Kelly Haugan presented Sawyer’s request for an emergency declaration, which releases county funds to assist with cleanup from a June 9 wind storm. The community was hit by 90 mph winds that uprooted and damaged trees. The city declared a wind damage emergency, and residents have been removing tree debris to a joint pile.

The Ward County Commission voted to tap into its emergency fund and activate its highway department to assist with hauling the debris to the landfill. The cost of removing the tree pile is uncertain, but commissioners concluded it will be less expensive than the option of mulching at the location, for which the county received a $21,000 quote. The City of Sawyer has given property owners until June 22 to remove damaged trees to the pile.

The commission also approved special event permits for alcohol sale locations at the State Fair as submitted by M&S Concessions.

Commissioner Miranda Schuler questioned whether wristbands should be required to help in identifying people aged 21 and older, which had been discussed by the commission last month.

After imposing a 10-day license suspension on M&S for underage consumption last year, the commission was prompted to look more closely at its grounds licensing. M&S indicated its interest in the use of ID card scanners at the May meeting, during which pros and cons of wristbands also were debated. M&S has not yet made a decision on whether to use wristbands, according to information provided at Tuesday’s meeting.

“I think it’s worth giving it a shot, especially if it makes things easier for law enforcement,” Schuler said. “I would really like to see it. I don’t like making requirements of businesses, but given previous violations, I think it’s warranted in this instance.”

Schuler’s motion to require wristbands failed 1-4.

“Had the sheriff requested wristbands, I would support the motion,” Commissioner Jason Olson said. “This is really to assist the sheriff’s department in enforcement, and he didn’t require it or ask for it.”

The area of allowed alcohol consumption is the entire fenced area of the fairgrounds, so wristbands, if used by the vendor, would need to be worn throughout the fenced area. Campers in the fairgrounds’ parking lots also can bring in and consume alcohol but would not be subject to wristbands, which would apply only to vendor sales within the fenced area.