Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Fire & Police, and Public Works Committees met Thursday evening at City Hall.  Council Member Gumke was not present.

 POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE

No items at this time.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The committee heard from Mandar Nangare, representing Barr Engineering, concerning  information and a short presentation regarding the Jamestown Ice House Dam.

He said a property owner questioned who owns the dam, saying records at the State Water Commission indicates the City of Jamestown owns the dam.

He added that the Ice House Dam was constructed by a private entity primarily for hydro power for a Jamestown flower mill,  with federal funding from the Civilian Conservation Corps.

He said, and inspection last year by the State Water Commission indicated that the dam is in “poor physical condition,’ with erosion affecting the structure’s concrete causing cracks and seepage.

Spillway damage was also noted.

He said options include…do nothing…decide it’s a liability and move it… repair it, or redesign it.

He says the costs of repairs or replacement has a 75 percent cost share by the State Water Commission.

A feasibility study is expected to cost about $40,000.

Another funding source is the State Health Department.

FEMA funding may also be possible.

The State Game and Fish Department may also be involved.

The Stutsman County Water Board is yet to be approached for their participation.

With the funding timetable and project work, it could take five to ten years to accomplish the project in phases.

The project will aid in safety and liability issues.

He pointed out that a similar project on the city dam in Valley City will start in June this year, where the dam will be replaced.

Greg Spenningsby with the Stutsman County Water Resource Board said if the dam is removed there will be no river flow through Nickeus or Klaus Parks.

The committee recommends requests for proposals for a feasibility study.

 

A presentation was made from Darrell Hournbuckle, of  Interstate Engineering, Inc., relative to the Preliminary Engineering Report for the Raker Building Project, at the city’s water treatment facility.

He said the present raker was installed in 1999 and is not longer adequate to handle the large waste material.

He pointed out that the proposal is for and 8 by 8 addition to the structure for electrical controls, and keep the building, alogn with replacing moving parts, and removal of accumulated grit.

He suggests replacing the raker, at the current location, and leave the funding option in place, pending the proposed soybean processing facility.

The committee recommends, proceeding with replacing the raker, and associated equipment and to authorize a loan application with the State Health Department, and authorize a loan application from the North Dakota Public Finance Agency.

The committee recommends a Change Order to Scherbenske, Inc., on the 2016 Water Main Replacement Project.

The committee considered a possible Bike Path Striping on the 5th Street NE Paving Project.

Comments coming from the recent public meeting in Jamestown on the project.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs adds, a bike  path or pedestrian walk needs to be snow free and kept open, such as a sidewalk.

The committee recommends sending the issue to the City Council without recommendation.

At the conclusion of the meeting, Ralph Friebel indicated the need for a change in the residential recycling agreement with the city and Renaissance Recyling  for a five year term, rather than a ten year term, based on financing issues.

Mayor Andersen said the city will meet with his attorney to discuss language changes, to bring before the city council for discussion.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays.