CSi Weather…

…WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 6 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM  CST THURSDAY…INCLUDES THE VALLEY CITY AREA…

..WINTER WEATHER ADVISORY IN EFFECT FROM 3 AM WEDNESDAY TO 6 AM CST THURSDAY…INCLUDES THE JAMESTOWN AREA….

.TONIGHT…Mostly cloudy. A 60 percent chance of light snow after

midnight. Lows 10 to 15. East winds 5 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Light snow. Patchy blowing and drifting snow in the

afternoon. Snow accumulation of 1 to 3 inches. Highs 15 to 20.

East winds 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 80 percent in the Valley City area, 60 percent in the Jamestown area.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Cloudy. Light snow in the evening, then a

chance of light snow after midnight. Patchy blowing and drifting

snow. Lows zero to 5 above. Chance of snow 80 percent in the Valley City area, 70 percent in the Jamestown area.

.THURSDAY…Partly sunny in the morning then clearing. Highs 5 to

10.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows zero to 5 below.

.FRIDAY…Partly sunny in the morning then cloudy. A chance of

light snow. Highs 15 to 20.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows zero to 5 above.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs 10 to 15.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 below.

.SUNDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs zero to 5 above.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15 below.

.CHRISTMAS DAY…Partly sunny. Highs zero to 5 below.

 

 

Widespread snow is expected to spread across much of North Dakota

late Tuesday night into Wednesday.

The greatest snow amounts of 5 to 8 inches are possible over portions of northwest and north central North Dakota generally along and north of Highway 200 and west of Highway 3.

Surrounding areas including Wing, Tuttle, Dunseith, Rugby, Harvey, Carrington, and Jamestown may see 3 to 6 inches of snow. Those with travel plans should continue to monitor the latest forecast and road conditions.

If you do travel, be sure to have a winter survival kit and alert others of your travel plans.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s FINANCE & LEGAL, BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION, POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE, and PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEES met is joint session Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.  Council member Gumke was not present.

 

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE

An Update and discussion was held  on the City Administrator search. Mayor Andersen said the hiring committee reached out to a candidate that previously withdrew her application, Sarah Helleckson, solid waste coordinator for the city of Plymouth, Minnesota, who said she still has interest in the position.

She may be interviewed for the first time by the committee.

 

Retiring City Administrator Jeff Fuchs and the city have agreed to use unused vacation time to work part time past the December 31, 2017, the previously agreed to retire date,  through March 2018, plus a wage increase.

A contract is yet to be drawn up.

The committee recommends updating the AE2S contract and move it to the January City Council Agenda to continue as a member of the hiring committee.

 

Ralph Friebel updated the committee on recycling.  He said  the bank loan approval has been delayed.

He said the recycling carts have been purchased and will be distributed the week of January 15, 2018 through February 1st, when residential recycling will start.  The recycling will start that week on the garbage collection day, and then every other week on that day.

He said when the SBA loan is approved to purchase the former Coke plant the recycling center will move to that location.

The amendment to the agreement is yet to be formalized.

With the subsidy, that was voted on previously to not continue past December 31st  2018,  thus closing the recycling center, the council members who voted in opposition previously, Phillips. Brubakken and Buchanan were offered the opportunity to reconsider and re-vote.

The item was moved to the January City Council meeting without recommendation, but failed for lack of a second.

 

The committee recommends approving  the request from the JSDC for an additional $345,000 in FlexPACE interest buy down funds from the Economic Development Fund with the City Share to be $276,000, and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

 

The committee recommends accepting the proposal from SRF Consulting for Planning and Zoning Technical Services for 2018 in an amount not to exceed $60,000.

 

The committee moved to the City Council without recommends  agreement with the Jamestown Community Correction Program to provide community service and restitution program services for a fee of $3.00 per hour.

 

The committee recommends that the County Commission approve the request from Elaine LeFevre for a property tax abatement for 2017, on the Replat of the South 90’ of Lot 1, Block 1, Residence Park 2nd Addition, by reducing the True and Full value from $259,792 to $175, 200. There was an error corrected in the square footage.  The recommendation then comes before the City Council Meeting.

The committee recommends  the re-establishment of suggested sales prices on City owned lots for the year 2018.

 

 

Informational: The Second Reading of an Ordinance granting a franchise to Northern Plains Electric Cooperative is scheduled for the January 2, 2018, City Council meeting.

Informational: Departmental and financial reports were presented.

 

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

 

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

 

POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE

The committee discussed adjusting security fees for off duty police officers.

City Police Chief Scott Edinger explained that 2003 was the last time the fee was increased.

He said officers surveyed indicate an hourly rate of $42 per hour.

Stutsman County Special Deputies are presently being paid $30 per hour.

The committee on Tuesday made no decision.

 

There was a review of the 2017 ISO Survey Results concerning fire insurance rates.

City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said the city fire rating classification has gone down, a positive feature, which will save the city money.  He reviewed the report, and Reuther indicated the need for an additional city fire fighter.

 

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

 

An update was given on the Urban Grant Program funding program with information and solicitation for Urbanized Areas, concerning the Land Use and Transportation Plan.

Travis Dillman from Interstate Engineering said February 23, 2018 is the deadline for filing the application, and noted an expansion of the corridor in the area map defining downtown.

Public Input meetings will be held in the Future.

 

General discussion was held on the Downtown Improvement Road Diet Project on the flow of traffic and traffic lanes.

 

The committee recommends entering into an engineering services agreement with Interstate Engineering, Inc. for the Frontier Village Retaining Wall Project

 

The committee recommends approving of Plans and Specifications and advertisement for bids on the Water Plant Re-roofing project

The committee recommends  a Change Order to Swanberg Construction for construction on the Automatic Rake Bar Screen Improvements, at the Waster Water Treatment Plant, for a net increase in the contract price of $6,870.00.

Also approved was other improvements to bring the Change Order to $16, 532.

The committee recommends approving of the 2018 Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District No. 18-41 including:

  1. To create the district.
  2. To direct the preparation of an Engineer’s Report concerning the district.
  3. To approve the City Engineer’s report on the district.
  4. To declare it necessary to construct the district and direct the City Administrator to publish notice of a public hearing concerning the district
  5. A District will be set up for the Safe Routes to Schools program.

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

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The City of Jamestown is currently accepting applications for the following:

One opening on the Fire Code Board of Appeals—3 year term to November 2020.

Anyone interested in serving on the above committees/boards should complete an “Application for Appointment”. The application may be obtained in person at City Hall, 102 3rd Ave SE, Jamestown, ND, by calling 701-252-5900 or online at jamestownnd.org and select government tab/city committees to download the form.

The application should be returned by January 19, 2018, to:

City of Jamestown

Attn: Appointments

102 3rd Avenue SE

Jamestown, ND 58401-4205

 

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

All members were present.

 

The City Commission moved to enter an Executive Session as authorized by the North Dakota Century Code sections 44-04­ 17.1 subsection 4 and in conformance with section 44-04-19.2 (1).

 

The purpose of the Executive Session was to enter into confidential discussions with legal counsel regarding negotiations in Lindberg Bros., Inc. v. Valley City and (2) to limit the executive session to Commission members, City Administrator, City Auditor, City Attorney, and retained legal counsel.

 

Following the Executive Session, the City Commission reconvened into Open Session.

 

Commissioners moved to grant authority to retained legal counsel to proceed with negotiations as directed in Executive Session and authorized under 44-04-19.2 subsection 2e.

 

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

  1. Approve raffle permit for Sharp Shooter Showdown
  2. Approve renewal applications for liquor and/or beer licenses for the following businesses:
  3. Dakota Silver
  4. Hi-Line Hospitality, LLC
  5. Jimmy’s Pizza
  6. RND Inc.
  7. VFW
  8. Approve all license renewals received on/before December 29, 2017 that are approved by Fire Chief and Police Chief.

 

  1. Approve renewal applications for permit to sell L.P. gas for the following businesses:
  2. Dakota Plains Ag
  3. Vining Oil & Gas, LLC

 

  1. Approve renewal applications for mobile home parks for the following businesses:
  2. Plecity Mobile Home Park
  3. Richard Plecity Trailer Court
  4. Rockwater, LLC

 

  1. Approve renewal application for pawn shop license for the following businesses:
  2. Northwestern Industries
  3. Approve renewal application for taxi license for the following business:
  4. South Central Adult Services
  5. Approve renewal applications for tree trimming and removal service for the following businesses:
  6. Belling Tree Service
  7. Ground to Sky
  8. Ross’ Tree Service

 

  1. Approve all license renewals received on/before December 29, 2017

PUBLIC COMMENTS  No One Spoke

 

 

RESOLUTION

Approve a Resolution determining sufficiency of protest for Paving Improvement District No. 115.

City Auditor Richter said protest were minimal.

Approved a Resolution as a Participating Municipality of Red River Corridor Fund.

Valley City/Barnes County Development CEO, Jennifer Feist explained the funding process, and that two projects in Valley City Have participated in the program.

 

Approved a Resolution Approving the Preliminary Engineer’s Report and Directing Preparation of detailed plans, specifications & estimates of probable cost for Paving Improvement District No. 117.

KLJ will be able to go ahead with the chip seal and mill and overlay including a portion of Old Number 10.

NEW BUSINESS

 

Approved a Valley City Barnes County Development Corporation request in the amount of $316,160

from sales tax for economic development to assist with location of Preventice Solutions.

Valley City/Barnes County Development CEO, Jennifer Feist said the company is a heart monitoring equipment software manufacturer, to be located in the Valley City Regional Technology Center.  She said the company plans to initially employ 10 employees.  She said if the company decides not to locate in Valley City, the funds released contains a claw back provision returning a percentage of the sales tax dollars.

 

Approved the Barnes County Commission’s designation of voting places for each precinct for 2018 election.

Vote by mail will be activated in the June 2018 elections along with one polling place at the Barnes County Courthouse.

Approved the 2018 Public Works Budget.  City Administrator Schelkoph said, the 2018 General Fund budget is $11- million – 99 thousand lower than each of the past two years.  He said a major factor in the decline is a 12-to15 percent cut in power  costs from the Western Area Power Authority.

Approved the Final Design Engineering Agreement for Paving Improvement District No. 115 with KLJ in an amount not to exceed $37,500.

Approved the Preliminary & Design Engineering Agreement for Permanent Flood Protection Phase III

– Master Lift Station with KLJ in an amount not to exceed $140,000.  KLJ said the Master Lift Station will be protected by this phase of the project.  

Approved the appointment of Mike Bishop to Barnes County Planning & Zoning; Valley City Planning & Zoning Commission.

Approved the  renewal applications for mobile home parks for the Viking Drive Estates. City Fire Chief Retterath said the water supply issue has been corrected and approved.  The Commission approve the renewal pending a certificate of insurance of liability.

 

City Administrator Schelkoph said three liquor establishments have not complied with trained liquor servers.

Police Chief Hatcher said a final class will be held for any delinquent liquor establishment to send servers for training on December 27, 2017.

Commissioner Bishop moved that a $200 fee for the establishments in attendance due to non compliance, outside the normal complementary training held quarterly, with the those costs coming from a grant.

The Commissioners voted unanimously to approve.

 

A License Qualifications violation resolution was also reviewed concerning serving training compliance, and renewals of liquor licenses, specifically delaying the license renewal, or suspension.

Chief Hatcher prefers more lienience  in the resolution.

The Commissioners discussed a motion to delay issuance of license renewal of those establishments not in compliance of server training by a date before December 29, 2018.

Mayor Carlsrud said monitoring should continue.

 

City Administrator’s Report was given, along with the City Updates and Commission Reports.

David Schelkoph said, about 50 people attended the last Comprehensive Transportation plan.

 

He repeated that it is unlawful to place snow into the streets.

 

City Updates and Commission Reports:

City Fire Chief Retterath reminds residence to service such items as furnace and other fuel burning applicances.

He added that ice on bodies of water is still not safe to be on.

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

 

 

INTERNATIONAL FALLS, Minn. (AP) — A massive fire in northern Minnesota has destroyed a heating oil and fuel company near the Canadian border.

Rainy Lake Oil Co. erupted in huge plumes of fire, fueled by eight or nine tanks inside the company’s warehouse Monday night near International Falls.

The local fire department says the cause of the fire is under investigation.

The company’s office manager, Janelle Heem, says a warehouse, office and gas station were destroyed. She says the company was talking with suppliers Tuesday in order to get the business back on track.

The company distributes in northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota.

Heem says the company has set up a temporary office and is making fuel deliveries with four trucks spared in the fire.

Several fire departments assisted after the blaze erupted around 7 p.m.

 

LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) — A Nebraska commission that approved a route for the Keystone XL pipeline through the state is declining requests to amend its decision.

The Nebraska Public Service Commission on Tuesday denied motions by pipeline developer TransCanada and leading opponents of the project. The decision to approve a route through the state is expected to be appealed in court.

Opponents have said the commission overstepped its jurisdiction and denied due process to affected landowners when it approved a different route than what TransCanada had preferred. They say the alternative pathway will affect landowners who weren’t along the company’s preferred route and didn’t have a chance to speak against it.

TransCanada had asked the commission to let it file an amended application to thwart an appeal on those grounds.

 

MANDAN, N.D. (AP) — A former Beulah police officer accused of sexual contact with a teenage girl wants evidence thrown out from an interview with state Bureau of Criminal Investigation agents.

Thirty-six-year-old Dustin Pekas is scheduled for trial on Jan. 4 on a charge of felony sexual assault. He was fired from the police force in mid-September.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that Pekas testified during a motion hearing Monday that he thought he would have been fired if didn’t cooperate with BCI agents. The state countered that Pekas was told he didn’t have to talk to investigators and Pekas said he understood his rights.

Special prosecutor Ladd Erickson agreed to toss evidence from a phone call Pekas made to his wife from jail and statements after he asked for an attorney.

 

 

 

BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s second-most populous county won’t change how people can vote on Election Day.

The Bismarck Tribune reports that the Burleigh County wanted to eliminate roughly half of its polling sites in favor of 12 universal Election Day vote centers.

But Burleigh County State’s Attorney Conor Kennelly says the city of Bismarck has the jurisdiction to draw the precinct lines within city limits.

He says the city has not given the county authority to change the number of precincts, or the boundaries of the precincts.

The County Commission voted Monday night to drop the universal vote center idea.

 

BROOKINGS, S.D. (AP) — Lawmakers in several states this year have brushed aside voter measures, with some working to hamper citizens’ ability to pass future ballot questions.

Legislators in at least 10 states have tried to clamp down on citizens’ initiatives since the 2016 election. In 2018 and beyond, states including Ohio, Maine, Missouri, and the Dakotas could tussle over the states’ ballot question systems.

The power struggle between the people and politicians is particularly stark in South Dakota, where supporters of new constitutional protections for ballot measures are competing against lawmakers who would curtail them.

Republican lawmakers in several states have branded new offensives in the conflict as necessary to stop out-of-state special interest groups from meddling with local laws.

Ballot measure supporters have criticized lawmakers as ignoring the people’s will.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) — The House has passed the most sweeping rewrite of the nation’s tax laws in more than three decades. The bill now goes to the Senate for an expected vote Tuesday evening. The House approved the bill by a mostly party line vote of 227-203. The bill represents the first major legislative victory for President Donald Trump. The $1.5 trillion package would provide steep tax cuts for businesses and the wealthy and more modest cuts for middle- and low-income families.

DUPONT, Wash. (AP) — A relative says a rail advocate is one of the three people killed in the deadly Amtrak derailment in Washington state. Rachel Topper said Tuesday that she has been notified of the death of her uncle Jim Hamre in Monday’s crash. Lloyd Flem of rail advocacy organization All Aboard Washington says Hamre retired a few years ago as a civil engineer at the Washington Transportation Department.

WASHINGTON (AP) — North Korea is being accused of another cyberattack. The Trump administration is blaming North Korea for a ransomware attack that infected hundreds of thousands of computers around the world in May. In a Wall Street Journal op-ed, White House homeland security adviser Tom Bossert says North Korea’s “malicious behavior is growing more egregious.” The United States and South Korea have accused North Korea of launching a series of cyberattacks in recent years. The North has denied it.

BUCHAREST, Romania (AP) — Once infamous for its bleak, Communist-era orphanages, Romania is now emptying them, reuniting abandoned children with their families or placing them in foster homes. The orphanage population has dwindled from more than 100,000 to about 7,000. Several other eastern European countries are embracing similar reforms; so has China. Rwanda seeks to become the first African nation to close all its orphanages. It’s a global movement, inspired by a belief that institutionalization is bad for kids.

MENLO PARK, Calif. (AP) — Facebook is rolling out a new face recognition service that identifies people in photos, even those who aren’t tagged by the poster. The innovation is meant to help blind people learn more about photos and tip off people who want to know when they are in photos but haven’t been tagged. It will also crack down on impersonators who use other people’s faces in their own profile photos.