Williams County might have made a royal legal error in leasing its minerals

​Williams County has been ordered by a district court to refund $1.3 million in oil and gas lease revenues.

According to the Williston Herald, June 20, 2018:

In his decision, Northwest District Judge Benjamen Johnson wrote that because the county didn’t properly advertise a request for bids for mineral leases, the leases are void and the county must pay back the money it received in bonus payments.

Under state law, before any mineral lease on public land is issued, the entity that owns the land must advertise a request for bids. Williams County did not do so, and in the suit claimed that the land in question fell under an exemption in the law.

Johnson, however, disagreed.

​​See the full article, "County will appeal ruling on mineral lease dispute," by Jamie Kelly, Williston Herald, June 20, 2018.