Bottom line....Sleeping in your car in Williston w/ winter coming (Bismarck: for sale, income)

[JaxTeller]

Originally Posted by RedJacket

Living in a car during a long cold winter is a pipe dream.

Lifelong residents of the area having to leave because of out-of-control rent prices is a shame.

Greed is never good.

I agree that living in a car for a long term is not a good idea.

But maybe a couple weeks until you find a job is something doable. There's people already doing that. My respect to all of them. I will do the same thing by the end of the year. For a short term until I find housing.

Peace, Jax.

[3-Oaks]

So far this hasn't hardly even been a teensy taste of winter....we often have this sort of weather already in October.

Originally Posted by JaxTeller

I agree that living in a car for a long term is not a good idea.

But maybe a couple weeks until you find a job is something doable. There's people already doing that. >>>>>

[flyingcat2k]

My advice to Bren is that she read the boards on the housing issue. There is a moratorium in the three main oil production counties and McKenzie County is considering county wide zoning and likely a moratorium immediately to follow. The issue is an overwhelming number of people with maybe one year of property tax to fund services. These people are not anti-business but they are against the attitude of "Welp, I'm here to bring jobs to the community for a couple of years and when you bust out, I'm going to leave a mess but you should enjoy my taxes for a few years.". The companies that are going to stay are going to be the ones that have their act together and work with the current system.

If you are bringing permanent jobs like a Menards or are a doctor/nurse/teacher/non-oil supply business, they are happy to have you. Too many people showing up now in the patch think having a pulse qualifies them to make 100k a year, supplied housing, a heated outdoor well pad to work from and a free bus to work every day.

I'm sorry to be negative but I've seen and met too many people here that couldn't have given two cents for North Dakota in 2007, before the boom. That probably means I need to go on R&R for a day or two.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by flyingcat2k

My advice to Bren is that she read the boards on the housing issue. There is a moratorium in the three main oil production counties and McKenzie County is considering county wide zoning and likely a moratorium immediately to follow. The issue is an overwhelming number of people with maybe one year of property tax to fund services. These people are not anti-business but they are against the attitude of "Welp, I'm here to bring jobs to the community for a couple of years and when you bust out, I'm going to leave a mess but you should enjoy my taxes for a few years.". The companies that are going to stay are going to be the ones that have their act together and work with the current system.

If you are bringing permanent jobs like a Menards or are a doctor/nurse/teacher/non-oil supply business, they are happy to have you. Too many people showing up now in the patch think having a pulse qualifies them to make 100k a year, supplied housing, a heated outdoor well pad to work from and a free bus to work every day.

I'm sorry to be negative but I've seen and met too many people here that couldn't have given two cents for North Dakota in 2007, before the boom. That probably means I need to go on R&R for a day or two.

There is alot of truth in what you said. I personally pay taxes there, there isn't much a small town can do w/ this kind of explosion in the short term. And the 80's left a bad taste in the area of doing this type planning on the fly. The companies will do more, and are doing more than folks know. Everyone that goes there is not going to get a job, the competition is stiff.
And I am proud to be among the locals that aren't gouging, and the there are many investors in housing that aren't local. I have had the same renter last four yrs.

[JanND]

Originally Posted by Bren456

This is something I've been thinking about a lot, especially since my husband and I are on our way there next Saturday.

Lot's of people on the boards are asking job seekers if they have housing lined up. Fair and honest question.

But what I wonder is - why aren't they asking the companies advertising the jobs if THEY have housing lined up for their employees?

I just think that people can't be so niave as to imagine that the sudden news hype over jobs can't be attributed to the companies... and the desire to have hundreds, if not thousands, of people flocking to the area in order to create supply/demand issues and bring wages down.

There is no way you can convince me that if the companies really were concerned about housing, they'd fix it... and fast. But they don't care.

And I'm beyond caring. I'll take what I can get and then I'm out. But that doesn't mean I don't see what's happening.

As to the locals raising rents on the elderly... There's just no descriptor for that kind of suckage. And that's all on the local folks who are doing it.

Seeing such negativity coming from someone bent on relocating among the very folks you're demeaning, does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Somehow it makes why the locals feel they way they do about many, not all, but many of these migrating masses understandable. I sure hope if you do find employment, that the kind ppl you meet there will help change your attitude.

[Bren456]

Originally Posted by JanND

Seeing such negativity coming from someone bent on relocating among the very folks you're demeaning, does not make me feel all warm and fuzzy. Somehow it makes why the locals feel they way they do about many, not all, but many of these migrating masses understandable. I sure hope if you do find employment, that the kind ppl you meet there will help change your attitude.

I don't feel like I'm being negative. Just realistic. My apologies if that comes across in a negative way.

And I am not demeaning anyone at all. No way! In particular I can't think of anyone - not one person - on these boards who I think poorly of - even tho I may not always agree with opinions, at least they are trying to do their best, for their livilihoods and/or their communities.

I am not the one raising the rents on the elderly in the community. I am not sitting on any committees doing city/town planning. I am not the one hiring people by the hundreds knowing full well there is no housing for them, even tho I may have millions, if not billions of profits, at my disposal to do so.

I just want a job.

Look, I don't want to make this a political discussion. My bad if I offended.

The people from the area I've talked to ... wow, they've all been so nice. Truly... kind, helpful and concerned. I appreciate that. Just because I'm very aware of that doesn't mean that I don't see ... the other side of the story, I guess is what you could call it. What can I say? I'm old and jaded and in no way am I going into any situation with my eyes closed if I can help it.

I've done my research on the housing situation. As soon as I delved into this forum I felt I needed to do that before I could allow myself to post here.

So, thanks to those of you who recommend I do that. I have. And will continue to do so. The list of things that we need to do before we leave and after we get there continues to grow, thanks to the people on this board.

We are excited, and nervous, and determined, and worried, and planning, and thinking about that cold weather, and ... well.. that's just about it.

[Bren456]

Interview question:

So tell me, what are your weaknesses?

Um, I can be a little too blunt, not explain myself fully ... sometimes... okay, maybe all the time.

[Mt-7]

I live in Eastern Montana, not much difference from the Wiliston area. I came from the coastal range of Oregon.
Please believe people when they tell you that you cannot survive the elements out here, this is killing cold.
Please consider holding off until May or June, then maybe you could do it. I understand your need for a job, hey we left Oregon seven years ago because we no longer desired to pay the ever increasing taxes.
Do you know I can drive in either direction from where we live and not see another vehicle for say 40 or 50 miles? And this is on Hwy 2, the major road up here? What if I go into a ditch and in minutes the snow drifts over my rig? This is more than a "do not come here" speech. This is life and death. From what I hear and read the jobs are here for the duration. Plan, prepare and live ok?
We want live neighbors And remember if their is money to be made there are spammers and folks who will separate you from it. Good Luck!

[JanND]

Originally Posted by Bren456

Interview question:

So tell me, what are your weaknesses?

Um, I can be a little too blunt, not explain myself fully ... sometimes... okay, maybe all the time.

No problem....I am just so very worried about all the folks that will get to Williston, spend money trying to find a job, without housing, then get stuck there, with no money, no job, and at times the roads back may be impassable safely. I have been accused of not being supportive of these folks, like yourself coming against all odds to find a job. I truly do respect, and understand what being unemployed is like. I also understand both sides of this situation. My focus is non-political. I am hoping the ppl that heed the weather warnings, will utilize this forum, and the resources many of us are trying to post here to their benefit. The last post on this thread this am, from MT7, puts it very well. This is not "do not come here" speech. This is please be safe, our weather can kill you. Peace friend, from one jaded old gal to another, I wish you well.

[Norsk/Deutsch/Polska]

Originally Posted by 3-Oaks

People freeze to death too often up here, even in towns. And that's North Dakota people who should have known better than to be out when it's that cold and/or windy.

I doubt there are many similarities between Chicago blizzards & here in ND. I bet there they don't close all the roads (interstate highways, included), sometimes for several days because of blizzards. It gets pretty scary out there when you cannot see the next white line on the highway, or you have to crank down your window & stick your head out to try to see the line on the road at all because you cannot see the end of the hood of your car in front of you.

Another tip about driving in conditions like 3-Oaks mentions: If you are driving and you cannot see beyond your nose on a highway, whatever you do, DON'T just STOP on the highway. Look for an approach or a side road that you can pull off on. If you stop on the highway, you will most likely be rear ended from another vehicle that didn't see you stopped.