Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Sept 14

CSi Weather…

.REST OF TODAY…Mostly cloudy. A 30 percent chance of showers in the Jamestown area.

High in the upper 60s. North winds 5 to 10 mph.

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 40 percent chance of rain showers after midnight in the Jamestown area, 20 percent in the Valley City area. Lows in the lower 50s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph.

.FRIDAY…Rain showers likely in the morning, then rain showers

and slight chance of thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the

mid 50s. Northeast winds 10 to 15 mph with gusts to around

30 mph.  Chance of rain 80 percent.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Rain showers likely in the evening, then

chance of rain showers after midnight. Lows in the mid 40s. North

winds 10 to 15 mph. Gusts up to 30 mph in the evening. Chance of

showers 70 percent.

.SATURDAY…Cloudy with a 30 percent chance of rain showers.

Highs in the mid 50s. North winds around 10 mph.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of rain

showers in the evening. Lows in the lower 40s.

.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 60s.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Decreasing clouds. A 30 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the upper 40s.

.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Highs in the lower 70s.

Lows near 50.

.TUESDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers in

the afternoon. Highs in the mid 70s.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Increasing clouds. A 40 percent chance of rain

showers. Lows in the lower 50s.

.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s.

 

Scattered thunderstorms this afternoon, in the southern James River Valley. A few thunderstorms may be strong with small hail and dangerous lightning.

 

 

Valley City (CSi)  A Valley City man was arrested Wednesday afternoon, following the lockdown implementation procedure at  Valley City High School.

A news release from VCPS Superintendent Josh Johnson, School Resource Officer, Sean Hagan, and the Valley City Police Department, said the lock down was in effect, for a short time beginning at 1:04-p.m., after the unidentified man entered the high school building after trying to attend a college career day in the Hi-Liner Activity Center.  He was told the event was not open to the public, with the School Resource Officer notifing on duty Valley City police officers of the situation and shortly after, officers observed the man entering the school through a different door.

Police reported that the individual was located quickly in the building and arrested and the lockdown was then lifted, with the normal school day continuing..

Police Chief Phil Hatcher’s news release continued that police identified the man, 20 year-old Lucas Bergenheier of Valley City.

Hatcher says are charges pending for Criminal Trespass and Disorderly Conduct.

Hatcher said the Valley City High School staff acted appropriately during the event, activating a lock down procedure to ensure the safety of all students and staff.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met Wednesday afternoon at City Hall, to continue budgeting for the 2018 calendar year.  All members were present.

At the September 5, 2017 City Council meeting the Council approved the FIRST READING  of an ordinance pertaining to the appropriation of the Revenue and Special Funds for the fiscal year January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2018.

After that reading, the budget can be reduced but not increased during subsequent meetings. The budget must be finalized at the October 2, 2017, City Council meeting.

The mill rate will remain the same with a 4 percent increase in all residential property values and a 5 percent increase to commercial property values

An increase in the property tax stems from of the elimination of a state program that reduced property taxes.

The proposed budget includes a 5 percent increase to utility costs for water, sewer and solid waste disposal.

The City Council is looking for about $1 million in spending cuts or revenue increases in its general fund to meet its reserve fund goal of 25 percent at the end of 2018.

The city, county and school district levy property taxes, all facing a decrease in outside revenues.

 

Highlights at Wednesday’s meeting, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs said since the last meeting revisions were made.

He said additional transfers to the General Fund will be made, from the debt service, fund.

He also readjusted to two percent, the cost of living increase for employees, and eliminated new equipment and replacement equipment purchases.  He said the Fire Department and Police Department radio purchases will stay in the budget.

Each department line items in the budget will be reduced to the previous three year average.

The net result is the city will deficit spend $206,000, with a surplus of a 24 percent ending balance in the General Fund projected at $7,416,150.

He said city department heads, employees and the public need to buy into the cuts.

He indicated that there will be about a six percent increase in city property taxes, with the mill levy virtually the same as this year, as the property values have been increased.

The reserve fund goal is 25 percent at the end of 2018.

With Departments…

The Fire Department budget includes $36,500 for the purchase of new radios.  (City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said the department is four people short of volunteers, and some employers are not letting employees leave for a fire call, which has stressed the department with problems in recruitment.  He outlined extensive training required for fire fighters.  He said there needs to be dollars for repairs to trucks to keep them active.)

The Police Department budget includes the cost of $55,000 for new radios.

The Muncipal Court budget will remain the same, Central Valley Health District’s budget is based on the three year average.

Engineering ..the proposed budget is reduced by $25,000 in consulting costs.

Finance and Assessment and Inspection Department budgets remain the same.

Forestry…a $5,000 reduction in tree removal costs.

Civic Center…utilities cost estimated to decrease by $4,400.

City Hall…no changes…

City Administration…no changes…

City staffing under provisions of Marsy’s Law, amounts to $48,315.

Community Service…Mayor Andersen encouraged Municipal Court to implement the $25 fee for those appearing in court, or to establish a contract to hire community service additional staff.

The council voted to establish a Community Service line item for up to $5,000 at $4 per hour for services under a contract.

Council Member Pam Phillips is opposed to not funding the Jamestown Art Center and City Beautification Committee, which adds to the “quality of life, in Jamestown.”  She suggested the city council members not take a salary to find additional dollars in budget requests in some area.

Council Member Gumke asked where the additional funds would come from under the proposed austere budget.

Administrator Fuchs said the Beautification Committee is an arm of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, and questioned the city’s obligations to organizations, to keep adequate funding to other departments.

$750 was appropriated to the Prairie Rose Garden Club for maintenance.

Approved was no funds earmarked for City Beautification, with Phillips voting opposed.

Approved was the Jamestown Fine Arts Association (Arts Center) line item reduced to zero, with Phillips voting opposed, wanting to keep funding at $10,000.

Street Department dollars will be available under equipment replacement funding.  The contract is eliminated with an outside business to do the street striping, to be performed in house.

Equipment Replacement Fund …

Police Department….$121,000 was budgeted to purchase four new police units.

Street Department…Equipment replacements approved.

Water Department …Approved was purchasing 3.5 ton dump truck, and a half ton pickup truck.

Requested items for the Waste Water Department was delayed for one year.

Sanitation Department…rolloff trucks…approved was purchases.

City Fire Department ….approved was $36,000 for a vehicle to replace the current van.

Other funding expenditures include…the city’s share of Special Assessments, Convention, Promotion Fund, Visitors Capital Construction fund, and Public Building Site Fund.

Water Utility….dollars are approved transferring $3.2 million from the replacement and depreciation fund, with $350,000 expended for repainting the University of Jamestown’s water storage tank, owned by the city.

Demolition projects are budgeted for.

Sewer Utility, waste water…a lift station lining at a cost of $100,000, along with other lift station pump replacements, and coating of a wet well, along with work at the master lift station and manhole lining work, along with other building maintenance and upgrade work.

Solid Waste projects…computer equipment, closing landfill cells, rebuild and expand the grass waste disposal site, and baler equipment to be removed.

The Second Reading of the Budget Ordinance will be at the October 2, 2017 City Council meeting.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 67.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  Southeast District Court  Judge Cherie Clark will have her investiture Friday at 3-p.m., at the Stutsman County Courthouse.

The ceremony is open to the public, but seating is limited.

Governor Doug Burgum appointed Clark to the court this year, following being a prosecutor in Fargo since 2006.  She worked as an Assistant County Attorney in Otter Tail County, Minnesota.

Judge Clark was nominated following the retirement of Judge John Greenwood.

 

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown Public Schools Music Boosters, presents, Music Through the Ages, on Sunday September 17, 2017 at 7-p.m., at the Jamestown High School Theater.

On Wednesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Music Boosters President, Michelle Weatherly pointed out that the program will feature local artists including:  Jamestown High School students and Directors, University of Jamestown Faculty and Alumni, the Jamestown Choralaires Father-Daughter Group, and other Jamestown community members.

At last report at least 12 performers will be entertaining.

Tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for students, and $25 for a family ticket.

On Facebook: www.facebook.com/jpsmusicboosters

She said proceeds from the program will help the Music Booster support Jamestown Public Schools music students, including purchasing instruments, providing scholarships to the International Music Camp, along with beginning band supplies, music stands, and backdrops, and other areas.

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)   The University of Jamestown has again received the highest ranking of all North Dakota institutions in any category of U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges 2018” edition, released Sept. 12. For the eleventh consecutive year, the University is ranked in the top tier of Best Regional Colleges.

President Robert S. Badal commented on this new ranking, saying, “The University of Jamestown is happy to be recognized as an educational leader in North Dakota.  The top ND ranking reflects our focus on student success.”

U.S. News and World Report’s “Best Colleges” is the most recognized and popular of all college rankings. The report evaluates colleges and universities annually by assessing criteria such as peer assessment, graduation rate, student/faculty ratios, class size, alumni giving, and student testing scores. Categories are Regional Colleges, Regional Universities, National Universities, and National Liberal Arts Colleges.

Established in 1883, the University of Jamestown is a private, liberal arts university granting Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science and Science in Nursing degrees, as well as Master’s Degrees in Education and Leadership, and a Fargo-based Doctor of Physical Therapy degree. The University of Jamestown offers more than 40 areas of study, integrating the liberal arts with sound professional programs. With the Jamestown Journey to Success, emphasis is placed not only on preparing students academically in their chosen areas of study, but also on preparing them through a student-centered experience.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  A free will fundraiser to support the Ft. Seward Wagon Train will be held on September 30,2017 at the Boondocks South of Jamestown.

The event will include food, dancing and a silent auction.

For more information, visit covered-wagon-train.com.

 

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The compost site for grass clippings near the Old Mill Dam located at 4th Avenue and 4th Street Southeast in Valley City closes on Friday, September 15, 2017.

As pointed out at the Valley City Commission meeting, the city transfer station will be open 24 hours a day seven days a week starting Friday, September 15.

Valley City residents can bring tree branches, wood, grass clippings and leaves to the north end of the transfer station (11490 35th St SE). This site will have 24 hour access.

 

Bismarck  (CSi)  The Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over campaign was held from August 18th through September 4th and many law enforcement agencies statewide participated.

The North Dakota Department of Transportation, reports, the enforcement was set to deter motorists from driving impaired.

“A total of 689 citations were attributed to the added enforcement patrols. Of the total citations, 57 were alcohol-related with 49 driving under the influence (DUI) arrests.  There were another 52 arrests or citations for other alcohol-related violations such as minor in consumption or open container and 34 drug-related arrests.”

Impaired driving is 100 percent preventable and stopping it can prevent tragedies on North Dakota’s roads. Over the past five years in North Dakota, more than 300 people have died in an alcohol-related crash.

Funding for additional traffic safety enforcement is provided by federal grant money distributed through the NDDOT. High-visibility enforcement for traffic safety is one element of a collaborative effort to eliminate motor vehicle deaths in North Dakota.

The Jamestown Police Department, Stutsman County Sheriff’s Department and many others participated in the campaign.

 

FARGO, N.D. (AP) — The Civil Service Commission will not reinstate a former Fargo police officer who was fired in August.

But, the commission Wednesday night could not decide whether Officer David Boelke, a 15-year veteran of the force, was dishonest about responding to some police calls disputed by officials. Commission member Jane Pettinger says there was insufficient evidence to support a claim of dishonesty.

Boelke appealed his termination in order to clear his name. His attorney Mark Friese says Boelke was falsely “branded a liar,” which has future implications for him.

 

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