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N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The House has narrowly passed the budget for the state Department of Transportation.

Many of the “no” votes came because of DOT’s proposal to close eight maintenance sites around the state. Those scheduled to be closed include New England, Fessenden, Starkweather, Courtney, Gackle, Litchville, Finley and Mayville. The plan is to offer the shops and the snowplows with them to counties, cities or townships. DOT would lease the buildings, and give the snowplows to local governments.

Valley City Republican Representative Dwight Kiefert didn’t like that plan.

His concerns were echoed by Kathryn Republican representative Daniel Johnston (johns’-ton)

Edgeley Republican Representative Mike Brandenburg chairs the Government Operations subcommittee of House Appropriations. He says DOT already has the authority to close the shops – and this is a way to try and alleviate some of the problems.

The DOT budget bill passed 52 to 38. It will likely end up in a House-Senate conference committee.