Wayne Byers Show Weekdays on CSi 2

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Decreasing clouds. Lows in the mid 30s. North winds

5 to 10 mph shifting to the west after midnight.

.TUESDAY…Partly sunny. Scattered rain showers and isolated

thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. West

winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of precipitation 20 percent

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Scattered rain showers in the

evening. Lows in the upper 30s. West winds 5 to 10 mph. Chance of

showers 20 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny with a 20 percent chance of rain

showers. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT THROUGH THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows

around 40. Highs in the mid 60s.

.FRIDAY THROUGH SUNDAY…Mostly clear. Highs in the upper 60s.

Lows in the lower 40s.

 

Warmer and drier conditions commence Wednesday through Sunday.

Expect plenty of sunshine through the period with high temperatures rising through the 60s Wed/Thu, then into the 70s Friday through Sunday.

Thunderstorms returning Monday.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session, Monday evening at City Hall. All members were present.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS APPROVED INCLUDED….

A Resolution to approve the request from JSDC for possible Economic Development Funds for ND Soy Processors, in the amount of $282,137, with the City’s 90-percent share to be $253,923 and paid for from the City Sales Tax Fund.

Council Member Buchanan asked that Item “I” be discussed, a Resolution to approve the plat of Jamestown Southwest Addition.  He asked where the area was located, and Mayor Andersen said it’s the area between Menards and JRMC.

The Council then approved the Resolution.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

University of Jamestown students  presented a survey report conducted on behalf of the Mayor’s Committee on Disabilities.

Two presentations were made on behalf of persons with disabilities, and another on behalf of employers.

The purpose of surveys is positive and negative reactions to persons with disabilities.

40 surveys were returned by employers.

With those with disabilities…24 surveys were returned.

In Applying for employment 11 said yes, 11 said no.

Challenges in applying for jobs included, filling out applications, the application process, having a job coach.

Those individuals noted the need for more handicapped accessibility, siting the U.S. Post Office, and the Alfed Dickey Public Library. Needs include more curb cuts, better parking accomodations, and more automatic opening doors.

Employers requested more education on hiring those with disabiliites, education on tax credits for those hiring those with disabilities, and financial support to address accessibility issues.

The study indicated the need for a review of the issue every few years.

The City Council approved a Resolution authorizing the issuance and sale of $4,800,000 Solid Waste Disposal Revenue Bond, Series 2017.

The City Council approved  awarding the bid for construction of 20th St SW roadway – JRMC to Menards as follows:

General Construction (Sections 1, 2 & 3) to Border States Paving, Inc., in the amount of $1,956,851.30.

Electrical Construction (Section 4) to Strata Corporation, in the amount of $157,373.00.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Mayor Andersen said the work is to start this spring, and weather permitting be finished by this fall.

Also   approved was  awarding the bid for construction of 5th St NE (12th to 27th Avenue) Paving Improvements District 16-42, to Border States Paving, Inc., in the amount of $1,795,498.37.

Mayor Andersen said work is slated to start this spring, and weather permitting be completed by the opening of the Jamestown Two Rivers Activity Center, (TRAC) in August this year.

Approved awarding the bid for the Cell 4A Liner and Phase 2/3 Partial Final Cover Project at the

Jamestown MSW Landfill, the bid for the 2017 Seal Coat, Patching, Construction & Reconstruction

District awarding the bid for a New Single Axle Truck (Cab & Chassis) for the Street

Department, awarding the bid for the 2017 Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter District.

The bid for a New Extra Heavy Duty, Hopper-Type, Self-Unloading Spreader Box for the Street Department was flawed, according to City Attorney Leo Ryan.  After conducting research the City has not adopted policy concerning a notary not being used.  He said the bid bond is okay, and with information provided the bidder provided the bid will be acceptable.

The City Council then, voted to approve opening the bid.

The Council then approved the low bid, contingent upon review of the specifications.

The City Council then moved to committee the bid for a Two (2) Stage Snow Blower for the Street Department, to check the specifications.

The Council considered approving the request from Ascendum Machinery to withdraw their bid on the new loader awarded to them by the City Council due to their misinterpretation of the bid specifications, to take no action against their bid bond and; to award the bid for purchase to the next lowest bid meeting the specifications, RDO Equipment Co., in the amount of $183,250, with $75,000 guaranteed buyback, with guaranteed maximum repairs 7500 hours or 6 years, and less the $70,000 on the trade-in unit, and rescinded the April 3, 2017, City Council Resolution.

The bidder Ascendum Machinery questioned the specifications called for in the bid request.

The City Council voted to reject the Ascendum Machinery bid, and  cancel all bids and rebid the new loader award.

ORDINANCES:

A FIRST READING was held Concerning an ordinance to amend and re-enact an Ordinance to change the zoning of a portion north of a line extended from the intersection of the south boundary line of 9th Street with the east boundary line westward to the middle of the James River at right angles with the east boundary line of said lot, consisting of 8.4 acres, from P-O-C (Park/Open Space/Recreation District) to R-1A (Single Family or Duplex Residential District). The property is located at 901 4th Ave NW, the former Beulah Bible Camp.

The protests amounted to 25-percent which means the City Council needs to approve by a two-thirds vote of majority, present.

A PUBLIC HEARING was held,  concerning an ordinance to amend and re-enact an Ordinance 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).

Following the Public Hearing a  SECOND READING: of an Ordinance  to amend  was approved.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE:

The Council heard from Greg Spenningsby, concerning more transparency in issuing zoning variances in the city and allow forming a building committee, to discuss issues city-wide, in notifications.

He said the discussion stems from a building being constructed in the Island Park development concerning building a garage on a lot.

The topic will be moved to committee to address it further.

APPOINTMENTS:

Mayor Andersen said due to a vacancy on the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority board, an appointment will be foreth-coming to fill the position.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:

Council Member Phillips outline various meetings she attended.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Approved  the request from the Corner Bar for a permit to conduct a street dance on 2nd Street

Southwest, on Saturday, June 10, 2017; and a special permit for the outdoor sale and consumption of alcoholic beverages on 2nd Street SW on Friday, June 16, 2017.

The City Council  rescinded the Resolution of April 3, 2017, to sell Lot 4, Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition, to Allen Enterprises, and to approve the sale of Lot 4, Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition, to JK Holding, LLC, in the amount of $68,389.00, contingent upon a tenant signing a business lease.

An update was given by the developer, that the project is going forward but has been slowed by international laws and policies.

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

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown AAUW Used Bookstore opened Monday, May 1, 2017, and is sharing a new location with the Dakota Store and Jamestown Volunteer Center.

The new site is at 601 1st Avenue, South.

Store hours are 10am – 5pm Monday through Friday and selected Saturdays.

AAUW Jamestown Branch, and Bookstore Coordinator, Kelly Krein says, “With the excellent visibility on first avenue it is hoped that many people will discover us and stop to see what we have to offer”

She adds, that the  Grand Opening dates are set for May 11-13, 2017.

The new phone number for the store is 701- 952-5018 and the e-mail address is volunteers@daktel.com

 

Valley  City  (CSi )   Valley City Public Works reports that on Tuesday May 2, 2017,  it will shut down the Master Lift Station for force main repairs   at 7-p.m. until 6-am on Wednesday, May 3rd.

Residents are asked to  reduce water usage and to postpone washing clothes, dishes, bathing or showering during this time.

Motorists are requested to avoid driving on or parking along 6th Avenue Southwest from 5th Street Southwest to Viking Drive Southwest  and Viking Drive Southwest due to  several trucks  on the route.

City officials add, the work is required to permanently repair the forcemain that was temporarily fixed last year.

Questions regarding the work, contact KLJ at 845-4980.

 

Valley City (CSi)  The Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce will host a Meet and Greet for Valley City Commission candidate Ross Powell on Tuesday, May 16, 2017 6:30p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at the Hi-Liner Activity Center.

Powell is the only candidate on the May 23, 2017 special election ballot.

He plans to present a personal statement, address questions from the Chamber, and answer questions from the audience.

The public is encouraged to attend.

Valley City Auditor Avis Richter reminds voters that absentee ballots are available at City Hall, until election day.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Republican Doug Burgum was elected North Dakota’s governor by running as an outsider and vowing to “reinvent state government.”

But the wealthy former computer software executive took charge against the backdrop of an unprecedented state revenue shortfall. He also had to deal with the contentious protest over the Dakota Access oil pipeline.

Burgum tells The Associated Press it was “full-blown crisis management” when he took over in December.

The Legislature adjourned last week. Burgum says almost all his time during the first half of the session was dedicated to reacting to pipeline protests that lasted until late February.

Burgum still gives himself a B-plus grade for his first Legislative session. He says the state was able to deal with a $1.7 billion revenue shortage.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s governor is asking President Donald Trump for federal reimbursement of $38 million in state law enforcement bills related to months of protests over construction of the Dakota Access pipeline.

Gov. Doug Burgum emailed Trump on Saturday seeking a presidential disaster declaration to pave the way for federal aid. White House officials didn’t immediately comment Monday.

The North Dakota Legislature and Burgum recently approved borrowing money to pay protest-related costs, but that money will have to be repaid by state taxpayers.

Separately, U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp says a $1 trillion spending bill Congress is considering includes money for a Justice Department program that could help with North Dakota’s bills. But any reimbursement through the Emergency Federal Law Enforcement Assistance Program is likely to make only a small dent.

 

Update…

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — A North Dakota motorcyclist died in a crash near the same spot where he was caught going 140 mph last year.

Police identified him Monday as 24-year old Tanner Beighley. Police say his motorcycle collided with a car coming off an Interstate 94 exit ramp Sunday. Police say the car had the green light.

The Star Tribune reports that on Feb. 26, 2016, Beighley was driving a motorcycle west on I-94 near the same exit when authorities were alerted to a motorcycle going much faster than the 75 mph speed limit. The Highway Patrol says a trooper soon registered him on radar at 140 mph.

A Fargo police statement did not say how fast Beighley was driving when he crashed, and that no further information would be released for now.

 

MEDORA, N.D. (AP) — A Houston-based company that wants to build an oil refinery near Theodore Roosevelt National Park in western North Dakota has amended its state air quality permit application with a new design it believes will lower emission rates and construction cost.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Meridian Energy Group’s new permit application has its refinery emitting less than 100 tons annually of each criteria pollutant, such as sulfur and nitrous oxide. It would also emit less than 25 tons annually of hazardous air pollutants, including cyanide and arsenic.

Air quality environmental engineer Craig Thorstenson says the State Health Department’s Air Quality Division review process will take between six months to a year.

The company hopes the project will go live in 2018, though construction has not yet begun.

 

In sports…

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s annual paddlefish snagging season is open.

The season began Monday and is scheduled to run through the month of May, but the state Game and Fish Department can close it early if the 1,000-fish cap is reached, and that usually happens. Last year marked the 13th time in 15 years that the season was closed early.

Snagging is legal in all areas of the Yellowstone River in northwestern North Dakota, and in most of the Missouri River west of the U.S. Highway 85 bridge to the Montana border. A paddlefish tag and a valid fishing license are required.

Paddlefish snagged on Sundays, Mondays and Thursdays must be released. Paddlefish snagged on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays must be harvested.

 

In world and national news…

BRUNSWICK, Maine (AP) — An Associated Press analysis of federal crime data reveals that _ contrary to public perception _ sexual assaults of students by peers are far more common than those by teachers. For every adult-on-child sexual attack reported on school property, there were seven assaults by students over a two-year period. The analysis comes amid a yearlong AP investigation into sexual assaults by U.S. students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

UNDATED (AP) — Unlike colleges and universities, there are no national requirements for U.S. elementary and secondary schools to track student sexual assaults. But a yearlong investigation by The Associated Press found that 32 states and the District of Columbia do maintain information, though it is inconsistent and sometimes incomplete.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The White House and House Speaker Paul Ryan are endorsing a new $1 trillion spending bill that could be voted on as early as Wednesday. The 1,665-page bill is the product of weeks of negotiations. It would avert a government shutdown by funding the government through the end of September. While losing on funding for the wall along the U.S.-Mexico border, Trump won a $15 billion down payment on his request to strengthen the military.

NEW YORK (AP) — Andrew Jackson and the Civil War have sparked some odd comments by President Donald Trump. In an interview with The Washington Examiner, Trump claims that Jackson “was really angry that he saw what was happening in regard to the Civil War.” But Jackson died in 1845, and the Civil War didn’t begin until 16 years later, in 1861.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Schools won’t have to cut the salt in kids’ meals just yet. And they can skip the whole grains and replace the non-fat milk with 1 percent. That’s the word from the Trump administration on Monday. Agriculture Secretary Sonny Perdue traveled to a school in Leesburg, Virginia, to announce that the administration was rolling back some nutrition standards for federally subsidized school meals. Former first lady Michelle Obama had pushed for healthier choices at schools, but some schools complained.