CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows 15 to 20. East winds 10 to

15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Cloudy. Chance of snow in the morning, then chance

of snow possibly mixed with rain in the afternoon. Highs in the

mid 30s. Southeast winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation

20 percent.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s. South

winds 10 to 20 mph.

.THURSDAY…Cloudy. Chance of rain and freezing rain in the

morning, then chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in the mid

40s. South winds 5 to 15 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent in the Jamestown area, 40 percent in the Valley City area.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 30s.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT THROUGH SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the

upper 20s. Highs in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain possibly

mixed with snow in the evening, then chance of snow after

midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. Chance of precipitation

30 percent.

.MONDAY…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain and snow in the

morning, then slight chance of rain in the afternoon. Highs in

the upper 40s. Chance of precipitation 20 percent.

 

 

Update….

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown Public Works reports repairs were made to a water main break on Tuesday morning.

The break and area affected was 11th St NE through 13th St NE between 4th & 5th Ave NE

Water Department Superintendent Steve Suko says again the break was repaired by banding the pipe.

The work was completed about 1-p.m. Tuesday

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council Finance & Legal, Building Planning & Zoning, and Civic Center and Promotion Committees met on Tuesday at  City Hall.  All members were present.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

The committee recommends approving  the request from JSDC for Economic Development Funds to reimburse expense for (Klose) Spiritwood property, in the amount of $1,350, with the City Share to be $1,215 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC for Economic Development Funds to reimburse Economic Development Building loss, in the amount of $8,264.25, with the City Share to be $7,437.83 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.  The request stems from improvements to the building when there was lack of a tenant in part of the building.  A small portion is still vacant.

The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC for Economic Development Funds for the UJ Entrepreneurship Center USDA Grant, in the amount up to $50,000 per year for three years, with the City Share to be up to $40,000 per year for three years and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.  The Entrepreneurship Center, will act as a catalyst to support start up small businesses. Funds to be dispersed after the entity is established.

The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC for Economic Development Funds for the Magnum LTL FlexPACE Amendment, for an additional $13,000, with the City Share to be an additional $10,400 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC for approval of the Unmanned Aerial System Incentive Program.

The committee considered the request from the Buffalo Mall for public assistance for their renovation and remodeling costs for the

Dunham’s Sports project. Mayor Andersen said a portion of the financial information from Dunham’s is confidential.

She described the footprint the store will have at the Mall, 40,000 square feet, and the options the city has to offer such as Tax Increment Financing.

The Mayor said  the city will consider options, and request a copy of the lease and if it has a “bailout,” provision, if they decide not to locate in Jamestown.

Council Member Brubakken said, five stores were displaced from their locations, some because of  Dunham’s space needs, and questions whether the city should offer incentives to Dunham’s.  Mayor Andersen said those stores were offered other locations in the mall.

Mayor Andersen said Dunham’s will provide tax dollars to the city.

A building permit has been issued for construction.

Council Member Phillips has concerns about issuing TIF financing, based on issues from past requests.  She added that she is employed at a Buffalo Mall store, if shee needs to declare a conflict of interest.

The committee on Tuesday took the information under advisement, for future discussion.

Informational: A Public Hearing and Second Reading of Ordinance No. 1492, introduced by Council Member Buchanan,

to annex the following properties is scheduled for the April 3, 2017, City Council meeting:All property owned by John and Brenda Corell in the north half of Section 3, Township 139 North, Range 64 West, which has not previously been annexed

All property within the Anne Carlson Center 2nd Subdivision

Considered approval of the updated plans and policies:

  1. Title VI Plan
  2. Title VI Non-Discrimination Policy Statement
  3. Title VI Public Participation Plan
  4. Limited English Proficiency Plan
  5. Statement of Non-Discrimination Plaque
  6. Transit Title VI Complaint Form

The committee recommends approval

The committee recommends recognizing the Order of Eastern Star as an other public spirited organization and to authorize the issuance of a

raffle permit with the drawing to be held June 2, 2018.

Informational: Departmental and financial reports.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

The committee recommends  approval of a Land Use Plan Amendment for a portion of the NW¼ and NE¼ of Section 3, T139N, R64W, from

Business Park/Light Industrial, Park/Open Space/Recreation, Low Density Residential, Medium Density Residential, Civic/Institutional, and Commercial to Commercial.

The committee recommends introducing the First Reading of an ordinance to amend and re-enact Ordinance No. 329 of the City Code to change the zoning of a portion of the NW¼ and NE¼ of Section 3, T139N, R64W, from C-2 (General Commercial District) and A-1 (Agricultural District ) to C-2 (General Commercial District).

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No items at this time.

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

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session, Tuesday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS:

Approve Renewal of Electrician, Plumber and/or Mechanical Contractor License(s) for:

a. Arneson, Inc.

b. Bakkegard & Schell

c. C.J. Mechanical

d. Dakota Electric Construction Co., Inc.

e. Enterprise Electric, Inc.

f. Fehr Electric

g. Grotberg Electric, Inc.

h. Grotberg Electric, Inc. DBA Titon Mechanical

i. Hi-Line Electric, Inc.

j. Home Heating, Plumbing & Air Conditioning

k. Hope Electric, Inc.

l. John’s Refrigeration & Electric, Inc.

m. Keith’s Air Conditioning, Refrigeration & Heating, Inc.

n. Kohn Electric, LLC

o. Manning Mechanical, Inc.

p. Moorhead Electric, Inc.

q. Overn Electric, Inc.

r. Pete’s Electric, LLC

s. Peterson Mechanical, Inc.

t. Red River Electric, Inc.

u. RJ’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

v. Ryan Mechanical, Inc.

w. S.A. Mechanical

x. Scott’s Electric

y. Sheyenne Mechanical, Inc.

z. Tyler’s Electric, LLC

aa. Valley Electric Service

bb. Wrigley Mechanical, Inc.

Approved Initial Electrician, Plumber and/or Mechanical Contractor License(s) for All American Plumbing & Heating , DJ’s Plumbing & Heating, Inc.

Approved Renewal of House Movers License for Carrington House Moving; Liechty Homes, Inc.

Approved Application to Block of Street for Spring Blast 5K on April 2, 2017.

Approved  Application for Raffle Permit from Native American Cultural Club, Sheyenne Valley Friends of Animals

And all license renewals received before April 1, 2017.

PUBLIC COMMENTS  No One Spoke

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

ü No personal attacks to persons present or not

ü No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

ü 5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

ü Thank you for participating in City Government.

RESOLUTION

Approved a Resolution Accepting Bids and Awarding Contract for 2017 City Parking Lots Improvement District, with the base bid and alternate at $524,343.  The project was estimated to cost $721,966.

NEW BUSINESS

Bright Energy Solutions Annual Report:   City Administrator Schelkoph said  $100,000 in rebates were given to businesses, schools, churches, and residential.  He said the city’s web site has more information on participating in the energy and dollar savings program.

Valley City Fire Department Annual Report was given by Fire Chief Retterath for 2016.

It included one civilian fire death.

The report included the number of calls responded to in various categories of fires.

Activity was higher in 2016 than the past three years.

The report including other community activities  the fire department was involved in.

He added that Valley City will host the State Fire Fighters Convention later this year.

The Safe Drinking Water Act Certificate of Achievement Award for Valley City was noted. City Administrator Schelkoph said the award was given by the North Dakota State Health Department which recognized the staff.

The City Commission, approved  the Permanent Flood Protection buyout purchase of 890 East Main Street for the appraised value of $125,000.

The Commissioners approved  the Permanent Flood Protection buyout purchase of 137 5th Ave SW for the appraised value of $114,000.

Commissioner Pedersen declared a conflict of interest being part owner of the property.  The Commission voted, with Pedersen abstaining, to approve.

The City Commission approved a Conditional Use Permit for the  Park District of Valley City to construct a storage building Part of NE ¼ 2.80 Acres Metes & Bounds.  The goal is to keep all equipment inside the building.

The City Commission Approved the City Forester’s Contract.    City Administrator Schelkoph said the salary is $6,987.84 for City Forester Wager, from May 15 -September 15, 2017.

Commissioners approved the 2018 Infrastructure Improvement Projects.

The total is $6.5 million, with $1.4 million funded through NDDOT.  Valey City each year received $500,000 in Urban Road Funds, which will go toward the project.

The City Commission approved the NDDOT award of $29,000 for signing improvement, with the city’s share at $138.51.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:

No information this time.

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS:

City Attorney Russell Myhre said the process of recodification is continuing.

He added that his office will be working with the City Administrator in his last few months as City Attorney before his retirement, on continuing projects.

KLJ reported that street paving will be starting in April. Bids will be let next week for the second phase of the Permanent Flood Control project and the paving improvement project.

Mayor Carlsrud said the city will conduct a  ‘Dry Run’ on installing the city’s flood walls, in the event that they may be needed.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 68, followed by replays.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Eventide, Jamestown, will hold a Benefit Auction, on Friday April 7, 2017, at 6-p.m., at Quality Inn & Suites in Jamestown.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Eventide Jamestown’s Executive Director, Doug Panchot said, the proceeds will go to continued technology improvements including the Music and Memory Program for residents.

He says in addition to the silent auctions there will be an hors d’oeuvres buffet.

It will be an evening of music and entertainment, featuring entertainment by Fun Pianos! By 176 Keys.  Tickets are $50 each, and to purchase, contact Tammy at 701-952-3411, or tguzman@eventide.org

Doug noted that the Eventide Jamestown Assisted Living Unit, opened on January 16, 2017.

He added for more information, about openings  call  Eventide Jamestown at 701-952-3411.

The nursing home portion of Eventide Jamestown is getting some updates including fresh painting and new flooring in addition to technology updates.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Backers of a successful North Dakota citizen initiative to allow marijuana to be used as medicine are contesting new rules written by the Legislature to oversee its use.

The so-called North Dakota Compassionate Care Act won 65 percent voter approval in November. It allows the use of marijuana as medicine for people who suffer from one of several debilitating illnesses.

A bipartisan bill removed provisions that would have allowed growing marijuana as medicine and only allows patients to smoke it if a physician finds that no other form of marijuana would help.

Fargo financial planner Rilie Ray Morgan headed the initiative campaign and believes lawmakers have changed the intent of the measure against voters’ will. He says a lawsuit or another citizen initiative is possible if the current bill stands.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – Authorities in a second state have confirmed an incident of vandalism against the Dakota Access pipeline.

Mahaska County Sheriff Russell Van Renterghem in Iowa says it appears someone used a torch to cut a hole in the empty pipeline at an above-ground safety valve site southeast of Des Moines. He says it appears the culprit maneuvered under a fence around the facility.

The incident was discovered March 13. A similar incident was discovered Friday in southeastern South Dakota.

Pipeline developer Energy Transfer Partners said in court documents Monday that there have been “coordinated physical attacks” along the $3.8 billion pipeline that will carry oil from North Dakota to Illinois, but company officials didn’t provide further details.

State officials in North Dakota and Illinois say they aren’t immediately aware of any incidents in their states.

The South Dakota attorney general’s office confirmed one incident of what it called “felony vandalism” southeast of Sioux Falls.

Lincoln County Sheriff’s Deputy Chad Brown says someone burned a hole in the pipe at an above-ground valve site Friday. He says the site had no fencing or other security.

No injuries were reported. Brown says no suspects were immediately identified. Local and state officials are investigating and have notified the FBI.

ETP plans to have oil flowing this week.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP)  An annual police report shows violent crimes were up in Fargo last year.

The Fargo Police Department report says homicides, sex crimes, robbery and assault in 2016 jumped 12 percent from 2015.

Overall, crime was up 3 percent in Fargo from the previous year.

The  Narcotics Division saw a rise in the use of opioids. Detectives investigated 66 overdoses involving opioids last year. Thirteen resulted in deaths and of those, 15 people were indicted.

DUI arrests were down 19 percent. Police also cited more than 250 people for texting while driving and cited 101 truck drivers for weight violations, netting more than $93,000 in fines.

Fargo reported 69 robberies last year, up from 53 the year before.

 

 

In sports…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A state senator from Fargo says the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund will not pay a claim from the founder of a former horse racing betting company whose conviction for illegal gambling was overturned.

A judge has ruled that Susan Bala (BAH’-lah) is owed more than $13 million in taxes the state collected after she was convicted in 2005 of 12 felony charges. She spent 17 months in federal prison before the conviction was overturned.

Democratic Sen. Tim Mathern, a member of the appropriations committee, says when interest is figured into the payment, the state will owe “millions of dollars” beyond the original $13 million figure.

Mathern says the source of the funding will probably be determined near the end of the session.

 

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have finalized their contract extension with wide receiver Adam Thielen, the former undrafted practice squad player who led the team with 967 yards receiving last season.

The three-year deal that keeps Thielen under team control through 2020 is worth as much as $27 million with $11 million guaranteed. Thielen signed it on Tuesday after agreeing to terms last week. He was a restricted free agent who received a qualifying offer for the 2017 season for about $2.75 million.

The 26-year-old wide receiver made the team in 2013 out of a rookie minicamp. He played at Minnesota State, the NCAA Division II university in Mankato where the Vikings hold training camp. Thielen had a breakout season in 2016 with 69 catches and five touchdowns.

 

In world and national news….

WASHINGTON (AP) — Supreme Court nominee Neil Gorsuch says President Donald Trump didn’t ask him to overturn the landmark abortion ruling Roe v. Wade when he interviewed him before his nomination. At his confirmation hearing Tuesday, Gorsuch added that he “would have walked out the door” if Trump had asked him that. Gorsuch has strong support from conservative groups who support overturning the abortion ruling. But the appeals court judge hasn’t ruled directly on abortion, and he said earlier that he wouldn’t weigh in with his personal views on that case or any other Supreme Court decision during his confirmation hearing.

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — A law enforcement official says the FBI and IRS will announce corruption charges Tuesday against embattled Philadelphia District Attorney Seth Williams. The charges come after a lengthy investigation into $160,000 in gifts that Williams failed to report, including a new roof and luxury vacations. Williams, the city’s first black district attorney, announced last month he would not run for re-election this year. The 50-year-old Democrat said he showed poor judgment and regretted “mistakes in my personal life and in my personal financial life.”

CHARLESTON, S.C. (AP) — The only person with whom Dylann Roof shared his plans to massacre worshippers at a South Carolina church has been sentenced to 27 months in prison for failing to report a crime and lying to the FBI. Joey Meek apologized Tuesday at sentencing in connection with Roof’s plans for a shooting attack that killed nine worshippers in June 2015 at Emanuel AME Church in Charleston. The judge said he wanted Meek to spend time in prison as a deterrent for anyone in the future who knows about something so serious and fails to report it.

WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) — Grammy-winning musician Wyclef Jean (WY’-klef zhahn) says he was unfairly detained by authorities in Los Angeles County after being mistaken for a robbery suspect. He’s posted a video Tuesday showing himself in handcuffs leaned over a patrol car. Jean said he was stopped by Los Angeles police, but he was actually detained by sheriff’s deputies in neighboring West Hollywood. A sheriff’s spokeswoman says Jean’s clothing and vehicle matched the description of a suspect in an armed robbery. She says he was detained for a “short time” and then released. The suspects were later arrested.

NEW YORK (AP) — You might have expected the Trump Organization to tap the brakes on expansion plans given all the criticism over potential conflicts of interest while its owner sits in the Oval Office. It’s hitting the accelerator instead. The company owned by President Donald Trump is launching a chain of new hotels with plans to open in cities large and small across the country.