Man Camp Moratorium Extended | Video

Evan Kruegel | 9/14/2012

In a close vote, the Williams County Commission has decided to extend the temporary housing moratorium, meaning no additional man camps can be built in the next six months. While no new camps can be built, but thanks to an interesting inclusion in the moratorium, more temporary units might still be on the way.

There are more than 10,000 beds in man-camps throughout Williams County, and for County Commissioner Wayne Aberle, that`s enough.

"I really don`t see any reason why we should increase the man camps, they are temporary housing but some of them have been in place for two years."

Earlier this week, the commission voted 3-2 to extend the moratorium, but there is an interesting catch. No new camps can be built, but any existing facility with over 200 beds, is allowed to expand as much as they`d like."

This didn`t sit well with Commissioner Aberle, who voted against extending the moratorium because of this inclusion. He thinks the smaller man camps are working just as well as the large ones, and to exclude them from expansion options seems unjust.

"Some of the commissioners felt that we should let some expansion in the county because there`s a need for it, and me and another commissioner felt that if any of them can expand then everybody should be able to expand."

While the man camps have been an effective way to accommodate the influx of workers, Aberle would like to see developers make a firm, long-term, commitment to the community.

"I think that we should be focusing on other alternatives, they could be building apartments or houses or something. They all say they want to invest in the community but these man camps are very temporary."

The moratorium will expire in March, and commissioners will once again decide whether another extension is necessary.

Aberle estimates that there are well over 1,000 vacant man-camp beds in Williams County.

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