CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Chance of rain showers and slight chance of thunderstorms in the evening, then slight chance of rain after midnight. Lows in the lower 30s. North winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 40 percent in the Jamestown area, 50 percent in the Valley City area.

.WEDNESDAY…Decreasing clouds. Highs in the upper 40s. North

winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the upper 20s. North

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.THURSDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 50s. Northeast winds around

5 mph shifting to the southeast in the afternoon.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the lower 30s. South

winds 5 to 10 mph.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 60s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower

40s. Highs in the mid 60s to lower 70s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of rain after

midnight. Lows in the mid 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 40 percent chance of rain. Highs

in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…Mostly cloudy with a 30 percent chance

of rain. Lows in the mid 30s. Highs in the mid 40s to lower 60s.

.MONDAY NIGHT AND TUESDAY…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of

rain and snow. Lows in the mid 20s. Highs in the mid 40s.

Isolated thunderstorms can be expected this afternoon into early
evening. Thunderstorms will remain non-severe.

 

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

Mayor Carlsrud issued the City Government Week Proclamation being observed April 3-7, 2017, followed by recognition of Mayor For A Day.

City Government Week is a special time for city leaders and staff to enhance public awareness of the role local government plays in the lives of citizen’s every day.

The City of Valley City invited third grade students to participate in “Mayor for a Day” contest. The winner, Colin Hoff, helped conduct the April 4 City Commission meeting at City Hall.  Brenna Storly was selected as runner-up and  joined Colin and the Mayor including  a tour of City Hall. Their entries are posted in City Hall and Public Works hallways.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.

Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $1,812,598.79

A License for Tree Trimming & Removal Service for Mike’s Construction & Repair, Ground to Sky

An Application to Block off Street on 4th Street NW from Central Ave. to 2nd Ave. NW for VCHS Prom on April 22, 2017

An  Application to Block off Street on 100 block E. Main, N Central Ave from Main Street to 3rd Street for Bridge City Cruiser Rally in the Valley 2017 Car Show on June 17, 2017

An Raffle Permits for Valley City High School DECA, Disabled American Veteran, Valley City Chamber of Commerce.

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.

No personal attacks to persons present or not

No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform

5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair

Thank you for participating in City Government.

RESOLUTIONS:

Approved a permanent flood protection Phase Two  bid for $11,888,009.71 to Reiner Contracting from western Minnesota.

There were 11 bids submitted.

80 percent of the funding f comes from the State Water Commission of North Dakota. The Valley City share is $2.36 million.

A flood wall will protect the downtown district from future spring flooding in Valley City.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved the Permanent Flood Protection buyout purchase of 538 East Main Street for the appraised value of $125,000.

City Commissioners considered a letter of request from former Police Lt., David Swenson, for the city to pay for legal fees, that was unanimously defeated.

Approved was a Construction Engineering Agreement for Paving Improvement District No. 113 (2017 Hot Mix Asphalt Mill & Overlay and Patch, Level & Seal Coat) in an amount not to exceed $185,500.

The City Commission approved accepting the bid for 500KMIL primary cable from DSG in the amount of $61,618.60.  City Administrator Schelkoph said the 5,700 feet of cable are for three city projects, adding this is already budget dollars.

 

The City Commission approved  a Special Alcohol Permit for City Lights Supper Club at the VCSU Student Union Building for the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce, Barnes County Development Annual Meeting April 20, 2017.

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT

David Schelhoph said the Mill Dam site will be open for collection of grass only starting Apirl 17, 2017.

He added City Wide Clean up week is the first week of May, 2017.

He said the flow from Bald Hill Dam through the Sheyenne River in Valley City at 1,400 cfs, adding the high river level is fast moving and urges caution.

He pointed out that with street projects starting soon, that there will be much work for motorists to be aware of and to use caution while traveling.

 

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS

City Auditor Avis Richter said absentee ballots are  available at City Hall,  for the May 23, 2017 Special City Commissioner, election.

It was noted that Valley City has a stiff fine for animal owners that don’t clean up waste left behind by their pets.

Mayor Carlsrud said in the past month, electricity was on 99.9 percent of the time.

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

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Fire Department and Jamestown Police Department were called Tuesday morning, to a complaint concerning a structure at 924 4th Avenue, Southeast, in Jamestown

Jamestown City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said a complaint was lodged by an individual under the city’s Exterior Substandard Complaint Policy. The city officials then follow up and investigate the condition of the building, such as broken windows, and other items on the exterior.

He adds, following the complaint investigation, the information is passed along to the city if irregularities are found, for corrective action, or if the report turned up no items that need attention, and the report is provided to the person filing the complaint.

Reuther said this is the second call of this type this year, which occur infrequently.

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The North Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate  a motorcycle crash that occurred on Saturday about 3-p.m., westbound on I-94 near mile marker 290 west of Valley City.

The Highway Patrol reports that 59 year old Byron Botner of Mapleton  failed to control his motorcycle, and was forced to lay it down on the roadway where he became separated from the bike. He came to rest on the roadway with non-life threatening injuries.

He was transported to Mercy Hospital in Valley City, by Barnes County Ambulance.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The National Buffalo Museum will officially  unveil the project that has marked remodeling efforts, and the new orientation video, on May 1st.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said since January this year the Museum has undergone the interior changes, with about 85 percent of the Museum, and includes a re-arranging of displays.

Brand new is the Orientation Video available to visitors to watch in a theater setting.

Also this year White Cloud the albino buffalo who recently died, and a part of the buffalo herd for several years, has been preserved and will be in a display case inside the museum.

Searle pointed out that the Two Rivers Activity Center (TRAC) building under construction in Jamestown has tours each Friday at 3-p.m.

Contact Amy at Jamestown Parks and Recreation to set up specific tours.

He added that the updated restoration of the 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse is completed, and set to be open this year from Memorial Day, through Labor Day.

He pointed out that funding from the State Historical Society may be in jeopardy to open the courthouse in 2018 stemming from budget cuts in state funding.

He added that Jamestown Tourism has funded $15,000 toward the new dugouts at Jack Brown Stadium.

On June 24, 2017 at 11-a.m., a ribbon cutting will be held at Jack Brown Stadium for the project, followed by a Jamestown Legion Post 14 Alumni Baseball game.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  Jamestown’s very own, Steve Kuykendahl and the Jamestown Arts Center will present, a live solo concert by Steve, “For Love of Guitar, on Thursday April 27, 2017 at 7-p.m.

Steve will present ‘finger-style,’ renderings of classic favorites, original compositions, Blues, and solo vocal songs from a variety of genres.

During the 90 minute concert, Steve will carry the audience with the beauty of simplicity  and exciting technical intensity as he blends well loved melodies and the excitement of the unexpected, into an intimate and captivating guitar journey.

Contact the Jamestown Arts Center for more information.

Tickets  $15 / $10 for Arts Center Members & Students

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s House has approved a comprehensive measure that regulates the state’s voter-approved medical marijuana initiative.

Representatives on Tuesday got the needed two-thirds majority to amend the citizen initiative. The Senate did the same earlier.

The House vote does not settle the debate on medical marijuana. The bill now returns to the Senate, and it likely will go to a conference committee, where three senators and three House members will negotiate its final details.

The measure, called the 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 debilitating illnesses.

The voter-approved version allowed far more freedom for citizens to grow and smoke the plant. Lawmakers removed provisions for growing it.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Ten North Dakota cabinet-level agencies are asking employees to take voluntary buyouts to help balance the state budget.

The letter sent to some 3,600 employees Tuesday comes as legislators continue struggling to adopt a balanced budget for the next two-year budget cycle. The most recent estimates are that revenues will fall nearly $500 million short of the state’s proposed $4.3 billion spending plan.

Mike Nowatzki, a spokesman for Gov. Doug Burgum, says the governor met with the appointed heads of 17 agencies to discuss the buyouts. He says 10 agencies opted to offer the buyouts.

Nowatzki says there is no target for the number of employees who may wish to leave.

The letter says the buyouts may limit the need for layoffs.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Legislature has approved a measure that would allow an elected official to carry a hidden firearm in a government building or at a public gathering.

Representatives endorsed the measure 86-5 on Tuesday. The Senate approved it 44-2 in January.

The bill now goes to Gov. Doug Burgum for his signature.

Qualified elected officials would have to maintain the same firearm competency requirements as law enforcement officers. They would join municipal and district court judges, retired law enforcement officers and members of the attorney general’s staff as those allowed to pack hidden guns at a publicly owned or operated building.

North Dakota law defines a “public gathering” as an athletic or sporting event, a school or school function.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Senate has approved $1 million for repairs meant to stop erosion at a historical site where thousands of American Indians once gathered to trade along the Missouri River.

The  money for Double Ditch Historical Site must also be approved by the House.

In February, the House voted to withdraw backing for a $1.25 million loan authorized last session for restoration work at the Mandan Indian village north of Bismarck.

If approved, funding for the project would be moved from the Parks and Recreation budget to the historical society budget. Both budgets were approved by the Senate on Monday.

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The North Dakota Legislature has passed a measure that prohibits the use of campaign contributions for personal use by politicians.

The House passed the bill 75-16 on Tuesday. The Senate passed it 41-4 in February.

The measure also requires politicians to report all expenditures.

The bill comes after House Republicans two years ago rejected a similar bipartisan proposal. That action drew criticism from proponents and was even lampooned by HBO comedian John Oliver. He took aim in 2015 at North Dakota’s oil industry, its allegedly lax regulations and its political system.

Republicans and Democrats both say that they don’t know of anyone using campaign funds for personal use.

A violation of the law would be a misdemeanor, punishable by up to a year in prison and a $3,000 fine.

 

Update…

Belcourt  —  High School students in Belcourt have been allowed to go back to class after a Tuesday morning lock down.  Students sent  text messages, saying the student body was moved to the school gym after another student was allegedly  found with a gun in his possession.

The students say the person with the gun was taken into police custody.

The Belcourt Police Department would not confirm if the schools were on lock down.

 

CASSELTON, N.D. (AP) — Five people are facing charges as a result of a drug investigation in Casselton. The Cass County Sherriff’s Office executed search warrants Monday at four locations in the community just west of Fargo. The operation included local drug and street crimes officers and federal marshals. Four men and a woman were arrested on various misdemeanor and felony drug charges. Three of the suspects also are accused of child endangerment.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — The assistant administrator and operations chief for Montana State Parks is the new leader of North Dakota’s Parks and Recreation Department.

North Dakota Gov. Doug Burgum announced the appointment of Melissa Baker on Tuesday. She’ll begin her duties April 24.

Baker currently leads regional park managers and all field-level parks staff within the 55-unit Montana State Parks system. She also oversees various programs within the system and directed the development of a statewide Heritage Resources Strategic Plan.

In North Dakota, she’ll oversee the management of 14 state parks and eight state recreation areas.

Baker was born in California and grew up in Tennessee. She previously worked for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources and also has taught at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point and the University of Maine.

 

In sports…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Former longtime University of North Dakota football coach and athletic director and current University of Mary AD Roger Thomas has announced his retirement, effective the end of June. Thomas helped Mary make the transition from the NAIA to NCAA Division II. Before that, he was UND’s head football coach and its AD. He’s the winningest football coach in UND history. Thomas also once served as commissioner of the now-defunct North Central Conference.

 

In world and national news..

WASHINGTON (AP) — A Republican congressman who’s emerged as Russia’s top defender on Capitol Hill will meet with President Donald Trump at the White House Tuesday. Rep. Dana Rohrabacher of California complained earlier Tuesday that a “brouhaha over nothing” is preventing the U.S. from having good relations with Russia. Federal law enforcement authorities and bipartisan congressional investigators are looking into Russian meddling in the U.S. election and potential ties between Trump’s campaign and Russia.

ST. PETERSBURG, Russia (AP) — Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo says the Eiffel Tower will remain dark overnight to honor the victims of the St. Petersburg subway bombing. Hidalgo said the lights on the famous monument will be switched off at midnight in Paris, when it will be 1 a.m. Wednesday in St. Petersburg

WASHINGTON (AP) — Debate on President Donald Trump’s Supreme Court nominee is under way, and Republican and Democratic leaders are casting blame. Democrats have secured the votes to block the nomination, but Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell is poised to change longstanding Senate rules to confirm Neil Gorsuch. McConnell says a partisan filibuster is unprecedented. But Democrats note that the GOP blocked former President Barack Obama’s nominee for the court last year by not giving him a hearing.

BEIRUT (AP) — The United States says if a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria is what it appears to be, it is “clearly a war crime.” That’s according to a senior U.S. State Department official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Veterans Affairs insists it is well on its way to fixing problems with its suicide hotline. It is also largely brushing aside the worst criticisms in an internal watchdog report released two weeks ago. A March 20 audit by the VA inspector general had found that nearly a third of calls to the Veterans Crisis Line as recently as November were bounced to backup centers. Pressed by lawmakers, the VA acknowledges it was still working to make improvements promised by last September.