Jamestown (CSi)  The City Council’s committees met is joint session Tues 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.