Voters can choose between three candidates to fill two Burleigh County Commission seats Nov. 4.

Contractor Brian Bitner of Bitco has lived most of his life in Burleigh County. He serves as the governor's designee on the Advisory Commission on Inter-governmental Relations, is the Apple Creek Township road supervisor, serves on the Bismarck Planning and Zoning Commission and is a member of the Capital Electric Cooperative Advisory Committee.

"I think my experience would be helpful to the county. I looked at it as a civil responsibility," he said.

Marlan "Hawk" Haakenson has been a commissioner for 16 years. He served one term as Bismarck's mayor and was a city commissioner for two years. He is a retired businessman, best known for operating Hawk's Pit Stop.

"It's the satisfaction I get from assisting people who don't have answers to problems," Haakenson said, when asked why he was seeking another four years in office. "If I don't have the answer, I find it for them."

Incumbent Jerry Woodcox chairs the Burleigh County Commission. He has served on the board for eight years. He owns Arrowhead Cleaners.

"My passion is the commission. … I've done a good job in the last eight years. I enjoy it. I think they need a business person to manage the finances and oversee the operation," he said.

The candidates were asked about the county's comprehensive plan for how best to grow the county, what issues are most important to the county in the next term and whether fairground property should be sold.

What elements are necessary to complete a successful comprehensive plan for Burleigh County? What should the plan accomplish?

"Orderly growth is the thing that will benefit all of our people - all of the county residents and all of the city residents. I think we have to be able to extend our emergency lines - fire protection, sheriff's protection," said Haakenson.

"I think it's important that all of our citizens have input on concerns on how their land will be treated. The comprehensive plan is framework. … There are no ordinances inside that framework that takes away anybody's property rights. I will guard against that for everyone."

Haakenson said his voting on future ordinances based upon the comprehensive plan will be considered on a case by case instance.

"I think the comprehensive plan that is currently written represents the interests of the city more than it does the county," Bitner said. "I am concerned when I hear from citizens that they will lose property rights the way it is currently written."

Bitner said the county needs to focus on responsible growth management.

"I've heard people say the comprehensive plan for the county represents a no-growth plan for the county. I don't think that's growth management. I think we can do better," he said.

Woodcox said the matter will go before the commission again in January after recent concerns are reviewed. "We're going to direct development for the next 20 years in Burleigh County, so that the plan protects not only the property rights, but protects the rights to sell their land if they want to or not, or to keep it agricultural if they want," Woodcox said. "It will allow development to continue in the proper manner so it is compatible with Bismarck and their expansion with the services they need … so we can direct the development to keep the cost of all those down."

What do you envision as priorities for the county in the next four years?

Haakenson said property taxation was a concern. He would like to see more flexible social services rules that would allow senior citizens to remain and be cared for in their own homes longer.

"We are going to look at expanding our jail - whether we have that at our current location or not," Woodcox said. "We have to dust off our master plan. One of the first things will be done is an indoor arena (at the fairgrounds). After that, we've got infrastructure."

Bitner repeated the comprehensive plan was one of the biggest issues for the county. "Responsible growth management is something we have to focus on," he said.

"We have to be concerned about all the infrastructure being in place to accommodate growth - roads, water sewer. We have to look at the types of services available to the people out there such as fire, sewer, law enforcement," he said.

Should Burleigh County continue to sell and develop property around the fairgrounds?

"I think we have to continue to sell some in order to gain revenue for the necessary construction and development of the fairgrounds," Bitner said. "The fairgrounds have laid there without development for far too long. We've got money tied up into it, and there's more that we can do with that."

"Only the property we will not have use for in the future," Haakenson said. "As this land gets sold, I don't think all of it should go to the fairgrounds. In my opinion, we have way too much money to build what we need … We should make it discretionary for commissioners to reduce taxes."

"Definitely," said Woodcox. "We have made a commitment to take the profits from that land and reinvest it into the fairgrounds which will be at no cost to the citizens." He said sale of unuseful property allows the county to continue development of the fairgrounds with little cost to the public.