Williams County Development Services reported an increase in planning and building activity to the commission and flagged topics the office expects to address later this year, including zoning updates for battery energy storage and solar projects.

"In 2024, we had 76 projects," the department director Cameron said, and added, "So far to date in 02/2005, we're at 65 projects." Cameron told the commission the department has seen an uptick in 2025 that could soon surpass 2024 levels, and that proposed zoning ordinance amendments (battery energy storage systems, solar farms and minor corrections) may come to the boards by the end of the year depending on staffing and workload.

On building permits, Cameron reported 133 permits in 2024 with a total project valuation of just over $38,000,000 (105 residential, 22 commercial, 6 demolition). To date in 2025 he said the office had issued 92 building permits with a total valuation near $42,000,000 (73 residential, 18 commercial, 1 demolition).

Cameron said preliminary interest in data centers initially increased but has slowed because prospective applicants have not been able to provide the required power purchase agreements under the county’s data center ordinance. "Power purchase agreements are a requirement of the data center ordinance," he said. The department is monitoring whether that slowdown persists.

Large projects and permits: Cameron noted recent activity including a certificate of occupancy for Basin Electric’s Pioneer Generation Station addition, a site grading permit issued in July for the Bison Generation Station, permits for Williams County Parks at Blacktel, a small data crypto mining facility (GoGo Tech) with temporary certificates of occupancy for some containers, a two‑story addition for the Trenton Volunteer Fire Department, and MET towers proposed by Apex Energy that will require a future board approval.

Why it matters: Rising planning and permitting activity affects county review workloads, staffing needs and long‑term land‑use decisions. County staff later asked the commission’s permission to advertise and fill a planning technician position by repurposing a budgeted position to meet increased planning demands.

Ending: The commission approved filling the planning technician vacancy by motion and roll call. Development Services said it expects continued demand for permits and zoning requests and thanked other county departments for support.