North Dakota Air National Guard Sgt. Dave Lipp / Special to the Times-Record
A National Guard Black Hawk helicopter places 1-ton sandbags at Clausen Springs Dam on April 15, where erosion of an earthen spillway threatened the town of Kathryn. The Barnes County Commission voted Tuesday to give $200,000 to fix the dam.

By Jean Schlegel 

Barnes County commissioners went on record Tuesday saying they will support repairs to Clausen Springs Dam near Kathryn to the tune of $200,000.
Commissioner John Froelich motioned to include all Barnes County entities. This is maximum amount Barnes County will commit to repairing the dam damaged by spring flooding. This includes any costs from Tuesday forward.
Commissioner Cindy Schwehr seconded Froelich’s motion, and the board passed the measure 4 to 1. Froelich, Schwehr, Harlan Opdahl and Chairman Rodger Berntson voted yes. Commissioner Rhiny Weber voted no, saying he felt they were moving too fast on the issue.
Berntson said they wanted to show their support of a dam repair and give Sen. Larry Robinson, D-Valley City, something to work with to get the project rolling.
Berntson wants to inform the Barnes County Water Board of their decision to help their delegation. The Water Board and the County Commission are one entity.
“We’re serious and we want to get it done,” Berntson said. “Clausen is sitting in a vulnerable position right now.”
The other entities committed to paying for the dam’s repair are the North Dakota Game and Fish Department, the State Water Commission and the Red River Basin Commission.
The $200,000 will be taken out of the county’s general fund. Barnes County Auditor Ed McGough said the general fund is sitting OK right now. He said he watches so the fund doesn’t get down to $500,000 because the county is committed to other expenses, such as for county highway repairs.