CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the lower 50s. Northwest winds 15 to 20 mph.

.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 60s. Northwest winds

around 20 mph with gusts to around 35 mph.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. Lows in the upper 40s.

Northwest winds 5 to 15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.SATURDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the lower 60s. Northwest winds around

15 mph with gusts to around 30 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT AND SUNDAY…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 40s.

Highs in the 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT THROUGH MONDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows in the

lower 50s. Highs in the 60s to upper 70s.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with chance of showers and slight

chance of thunderstorms. Lows around 60. Chance of precipitation

50 percent.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Chance of showers in the morning, then

slight chance of showers and thunderstorms in the afternoon.

Highs in the upper 70s. Chance of precipitation 40 percent.

 

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

The committee considered approval of the Police Department Lexipol Policy Manual.

Police Chief Scott Edinger said, the statewide program outlines policies for police departments which can be modified locally.  He said officers are kept up to date on policies and laws and case law.

The Police Department subscribes to the manual.

The committee recommends the policy manual subscription be renewed, and is budgeted for.

Also brought up at the meeting was RVs and vehicles parking on the wrong side of the street.

Edinger said the RV parking is not being enforced due to access to the RV being preferred  on the boulevard side.  Line of sight blockage is also an issue, from the public.

The committee will look at the Ordinance at next month’s meeting.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The committee considered a Change Order to Border States Paving, Inc., on the JRMC/Menards Roadway construction to allow placement of the final lift of pavement in the spring of 2018.  The lift will be done after the soil settles. The first two lifts will be installed this summer, and striped for usage.

The committee recommends approving the change order.

The committee recommends  a water main replacement in the 1300 Block of 4th Street NE in front of Rock of Ages, and that quotes be taken.

The main has broken and repaired there.

Street work is being done in that area, and it was suggested by Interstate Engineering to perform the work at this time.

The committee considered water and possibly sewer issues at the Frontier Village site and conflicts with the lease agreement relative to usage and fees.

Frontier Village Association President Nellie Degen said the Village had its water service shutoff, the line used to water the horses.

She appeared for clarification concerning policy.   She feels the city is responsible for the water service.

She said city water officials checked the area.

City Administrator, Jeff Fuchs said the issue in question stems from low water pressure in the line.

He pointed out that city crews indicated possible violations of the plumbing and health codes.

He said a solution is to install a high pressure water line, which would allow a different water meter be installed to indicate water usage.  City Water plant Superintendent Steve Suko says the Village is not being billed for water usage, even though a water meter has been installed.  He said a high pressure water line exists to the fire hydrants, and could be tied into, at the Village’s cost….about $1,600 plus asphalt replacement.

Fuchs pointed out the Frontier Village and its tenants have their own lease agreements.

Fuchs said the city is working with Frontier Village to remedy the problems.

Mayor Andersen pointed out that all sub-leases need to be approved by the City Council.

The committee recommends approval of  the Transportation Alternatives Safe Routes to Schools Project grant, to a maximum amount of $276,953, for construction of sidewalks in the Jamestown High School, Gussner School and TRAC areas.

The committee recommends  directing  the City Administrator to enter into negotiations with Interstate Engineering to provide engineering services for the Transportation Alternatives Safe Routes to Schools Project.  A grant is provided to cover a portion of the costs, with the balance to be Special Assessed to property owners.

The committee recommends approving the request from the Arts Center to close 2nd St SW from 1st Avenue west to the alley from Friday, August 25th through Saturday August 26th, midnight.

Businesses have indicated the extended period may be inconvenient concerning parking.

The Arts Center will contact the businesses indicating the time frame.

The committee considered additional information and pricing relative to waste carts as submitted by SSI Schafer.

that  wants to be considered now as well.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs said no formal commitment has been made on purchasing carts.

The committee recommends to continue working with the business with the original offer.

The committee recommends  establishing the following collection rates effective October 1, 2017:

Monthly Rates

Current Rate Proposed Rate

Residential 35 Gallon Cart

$ 13.75 $ 13.60

65 Gallon Cart

$ 13.75 $ 15.70

95 Gallon Cart

$ 13.75 $ 17.80

Multi-units

Each

$ 12.55 $ 14.70

Mobile Homes Each

$ 13.00 $ 16.45

The committee recommends establishing the following disposal rates at the Inert and Municipal Solid Waste Landfills effective August 1, 2017:

Current Rate Proposed Rate

Lime $ 29.50 $ 35.00

Inert Waste $ 43.00 $ 48.00

Mixed Waste $107.20 $127.00

Informational…

The Second Reading of an Ordinance to amend and reenact Chapter 16 of the City Code pertaining to solid waste management, is scheduled for the July 5, 2017 City Council meeting.

 

Discussion was held regarding Sanitation Department personnel with a reduction in staff, with the change to the Pay As You Throw Program  (Recycling Progran), and a change from the current garbage trucks, to the automated trucks and reduction of personnel.

The new trucks are equipped with hydraulic arms to empty containers.  City Administrator Jeff Fuchs said the city will have two trucks each with a single operator. It may also retain one additional person as a backup driver.

The layoffs could displace six or seven people.

Options are to reduce the staff numbers, or transfer to another departments.

Mayor Andersen said that to make the numbers work under the recycling program, the positions would need to be eliminated.

Deputy City Auditor Jay Sveum agreed, saying that no other positions are currently available in the city for the employees to transferred to.

 

 

The committee recommends entering into an agreement with Mark Goehner relative to the 5th Street NE (12th to 27th Ave NE), Roadway Construction Project #16-42.  The agreement is  an exchange of land to allow for storm water storage

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

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council will be holding a public hearing on Wednesday July 5, 2017 at 5-p.m., at City Hall, to receive input on the request from the James River Valley Library System, for a “certification of Significant Community Support.”

The library is filing a Community Facilities Grant Application, to USDA-Rural Development, in the amount of $86,392.50 for renovations to the Alfred Dickey Public Library.  The grant would fund 15% of the cost with the other 85% coming from the library’s operating funds, and donations.

The application requests a “Certificate of Significant Community Support” from affected local governmental bodies.

Comments relative to such request may be made with the Jamestown City Council at the Public Hearing, or filing in writing prior to the public hearing at:

The Office of the City Administrator

102 3rd Avenue, Southeast

Jamestown, ND  58401

E-Mail:

jfuchs@daktel.com

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The 2017 rain and wind shortened Stutsman County Relay for Life raised $58,000 with additional donations to be added.

The 21st Annual event was $27,000 short of its goal of $85,000 for the June 9, 2017 event. The final $25,000 was raised on the night of the event.

The goal was based on the 2016 total raised of $83,000.

Leader, Chelsie Francis, says bank deposits  continue to come in with the final deposit expected by by July 18.

High winds at the event site of the University of Jamestown’s Taylor Stadium the night of  June 9th forced the closing of the outdoor silent auction at Taylor Stadium. Lightning and rain forced the event to shut down at 8-p.m., well before the planned midnight end.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  In conjunction with the North Dakota Geocaching Association, a Camping & Caching event in Jamestown, on Saturday June 24, 2017.

The event at is  Klaus Park, from 9-a.m., to 7:30-p.m., free and open to the public.

Geocaching, is a recreational activity of hunting and finding hidden objects by means of GPS

Frank Balak  a member of the North Dakota Geocaching Association, says that in a 10 mile radius of Jamestown there are about 90 geocaches. About 50 in an area of 240 miles.

The Saturday event will feature several new geocached and when found, will give a code to unlock certain prizes from the area.

Balak says this is a first time event for Jamestown and about 60 people from various states plan to attend.

For more on the event, visit geocaching.com and search for Jamestown or email Frank Balak at ndgca@ndgsa.org.

 

 

Valley City  (VCSU)  Valley City State University President Tisa Mason presented Jeff Nathan with the Valley City State University Distinguished Service Award at a meeting of the VCSU Foundation Board in the Student Center Skoal Room on Monday, June 12, 2017.

Mason cited Nathan’s longstanding commitment to Valley City State University. A founding member of the VCSU Foundation Board, this fall will mark his 21st year of service with the board. Nathan currently serves the board as treasurer and a member of the finance committee. He has also served on VCSU’s V-500 Board.

The university’s highest honor, the VCSU Distinguished Service Award is given at the discretion of the president in recognition of exceptional contribution to the university’s vision. Since its 1975 inception, the award has been given to a total of 25 individuals and organizations, including Nathan the owner of Oliver-Nathan Funeral Chapel in Valley City.

Nathan is also a member of the Valley City Kiwanis Club, Optimist Club, Eagles Club, and Our Savior’s Lutheran Church.

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — Drought conditions have worsened dramatically in North Dakota over the past week.

The latest U.S. Drought Monitor map shows about 8 percent of the state in extreme drought. None of the state was in that category a week ago.

The areas of extreme drought are in the southwest, central and northwest.

Another 32 percent of the state is severe drought and 27 percent is in moderate drought. The rest of the state is rated abnormally dry.

The drought conditions are harming crops and also have prompted many ranchers to sell off cattle.

Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring is hosting a drought meeting at the Farm Credit Services building in Mandan from 2-4 p.m. on Tuesday.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  – Gov. Doug Burgum has directed all government agencies to fly the United States and North Dakota flags at half-staff from sunrise to sunset on Saturday, June 24, 2107, in observance of the interment of fallen Gunners Mate 1st Class Arthur C. Neuenschwander.

Neuenschwander, who joined the Navy in February 1927, will be buried next to his parents in his hometown of Fessenden, N.D. He died 75 years ago in the attack on Pearl Harbor.

Neuenschwander was stationed aboard the USS Oklahoma when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor the morning of Dec. 7, 1941. The Oklahoma was one of the first ships in Battleship Row to be hit by Japanese torpedoes. The damage was so extensive that the Oklahoma capsized at its berth in less than 15 minutes, trapping many of the sailors inside. A rescue party worked for nearly 40 hours to free 32 trapped sailors, but Neuenschwander, who was 33 years old, was one of 429 casualties on the ship. According to the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency, no single vessel at Pearl Harbor, with the exception of the USS Arizona, suffered as many fatalities. From December 1941 to June 1944, Navy personnel recovered the remains of the deceased crew, which were subsequently buried in mass graves on the island.

Efforts by the Navy in 1947 to recover and identify fallen U.S. personnel in the Pacific Theater resulted in identification of 35 men from the USS Oklahoma; however, it was not until recent months that military specialists were able to identify Neuenschwander’s remains through DNA testing from surviving family members.

Neuenschwander was the eldest of seven children born to Otto and Lillian Neuenschwander of Fessenden. His nephew, Ross Johnson, who was originally contacted by the Navy in 2010 or 2011 in their efforts to locate family members of unidentified service members, served in Vietnam with the U.S. Army and in 1969 was decorated with the Silver Star for gallantry in action on the battlefield.

“We are filled with gratitude for all those who serve and who have made the ultimate sacrifice to secure our freedoms,” Burgum said. “We join the family of Gunners Mate 1st Class Arthur C. Neuenschwander, and the community of Fessenden, in honoring his memory and welcoming home our hero.”

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — President Donald Trump says he “did not make” and doesn’t have any recordings of his private conversations with James Comey, his fired FBI director. Trump tweets that he has “no idea” whether other “tapes” or recordings exist. Trump has disputed Comey’s assertion that Trump asked Comey for a pledge of loyalty during a dinner meeting. When news of Comey’s account broke, Trump tweeted that Comey “better hope that there are no ‘tapes’ of our conversations before he starts leaking to the press!”

WASHINGTON (AP) — Four Republican senators say they are not ready to vote for the GOP health care bill, putting the measure in jeopardy. The four say there are provisions in the bill that are an improvement to the current health care system. But they add that the measure as written fails to accomplish what they have promised to their constituents, “to repeal Obamacare and lower their health care costs.”

WASHINGTON (AP) — House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi says she’s confident she has the support in her caucus despite finger-pointing and frustration after Democrats lost a Georgia special election. Democrats invested millions in the costliest House race, but Republican Karen Handel beat Jon Ossoff on Tuesday. That drew criticism of Pelosi from fellow Democrats. Speaking to reporters Thursday, Pelosi said Democrats are proud of the race they ran and she dispelled a question about stepping down.

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — The National Weather Service in Birmingham, Alabama, has issued two tornado warnings in the state. Photographs on social media showed what appeared to be a funnel cloud in the air in the Birmingham area but authorities had no immediate confirmation. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey says the threat of severe weather hasn’t let up as remnants of a former tropical storm continue to push inland Thursday.

ATLANTA (AP) — A survey by the Pew Research Center shows that Americans have grown more divided over gun issues. The survey of adults shows that about half favor gun-control measures while about half support preserving gun rights. The results are evidence of the divide in the United States along political, racial, gender and geographic lines.