N.D. Cent. Code § 24-05-18
Whenever any board of county commissioners of any county decides that any county road or roads in such county must be improved or constructed in cooperation with the department, such board shall make written application to the director for the improvement and construction thereof. If the director approves such application, the director, in writing, shall notify the said board of such approval, and at the same time shall submit to the said board an estimate of the cost of such improvement, including the cost of engineering, the purchase or acquirement of right of way, and all other expenses, and the share or portion thereof which such county shall bear. However, the director may not require any county to pay for the cost or expense of acquiring right of way for the state highway system. Whenever the board of county commissioners aforesaid shall elect to proceed with such improvement, the said board shall adopt a resolution signifying such election and in such resolution must set aside out of such funds as are or may become available the amount necessary to pay the county's share of the cost of such improvement. Upon written demand of the director, the board of county commissioners shall instruct and direct the county auditor by resolution to draw a warrant or warrants on the county treasurer in favor of the contractor, or of the department, for the county's share of such amount or amounts as may become due during the progress of such improvement. The county shall also draw additional warrants in favor of the department as may be necessary to reimburse it for the county's share of the cost of engineering and the acquisition of right of way. Such warrants must be drawn by the county treasurer upon the certificate of the director.
N.D.C.C. § 24-05-18