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CSi Weather…
.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy with chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms in the evening, then mostly cloudy with rain
showers and thunderstorms likely after midnight. Lows in the
upper 50s. North winds around 5 mph. Chance of precipitation
70 percent.
.WEDNESDAY…Partly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers
and thunderstorms in the morning. Highs in the lower 70s. North
winds 5 to 10 mph increasing to northwest 15 to 20 mph in the
afternoon.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph. Gusts up to 25 mph in the evening.
.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 70s. Northwest winds
around 15 mph.
.THURSDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the lower 50s.
.FRIDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 70s.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the mid 50s.
.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. A 20 percent chance of rain showers and
thunderstorms in the afternoon. Highs in the upper 70s.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 50s.
.SUNDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs around 80.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows around 60.
.MONDAY…Sunny. Highs in the lower 80s.
Storms are likely this evening and tonight. A few
storms may become severe, mostly across central and southern parts
of the state. Damaging wind to 60 mph is the primary threat, with
some large hail to quarter size possible. Locally heavy rain may
occur if multiple storms move over the same area.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council, as the city budget committee met for the third time on Tuesday afternoon, at City Hall.
All members were present.
City Administrator Sarah Hellekson presented Draft Three.
She said three utility funds amounts have been transferred into the General Fund in the amount of $900,000.
There is a 5.9 percent increase in the mill rate due to increased property valuations.
Proposed is 15-20 percent in most licenses including initial and renewal contractor licenses.
With the Civic Center revenue, it was stated that the National Guard Armory will remain the same.
Additional dollars are proposed for an additional city fire fighter, plus benefits.
City Fire Chief Jim Reuther said the department is short by eight fire fighters, and additional retirements are in the offing.
He said fire fighter safety gear continues to be needed.
Equipment depreciation was noted, not including fire trucks, not allowed under state law.
Police Chief Edinger suggests repairing radios instead of purchasing if replacement parts are available, to hold down costs.
Municipal Court budget will not be adjusted.
The Central Valley Health District budget will not be adjusted.
Other preliminary budgets discussed were: Engineering, including consulting engineering costs.
Inspections Department, Forestry Department, City Hall, General Administration.
With Street Department budget, discussion was held on clearing snow after a four inch snow fall, instead of the current policy of after a two inch snowfall, to save expenditures, however no changes were made.
Ms. Hellekson said the present 2019 deficit is at $530,000. An increase of 11 mills is needed to offset the deficit.
With city employee salary increases, Deputy City Auditor, Jay Sveum said there has been extensive turnovers, which in the long haul costs the city money, with training costs.
He noted the high costs of recruitment.
Mayor Heinrich said to help offset the General Fund deficit, the budget may need to include an increase in the mill levy.
Council Members Steele, and Phillips said the city will receive $500,000 less in state funds.
Due to a new state law which requires submittal by August 10th, earlier than past years. The budget can be decreased but not increased from the submittal.
The budget then needs to be approved by the August 6, 2019 City Council meeting, to meet the August 10th deadline.
A copy of the entire Preliminary Budget Draft is available at City Hall.
Tuesday’s meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67.
Jamestown, (CSi) The Jamestown City Council’s Finance & Legal, Building, Planning & Zoning, and Civic Center & Promotion Committee met Tuesday evening at City Hall. All members were present.
The Finance Committee considered the preliminary draft budget figures, including deficit spending cost cutting, and increasing the mill levy to offset the $530,000 deficit.
The committee recommends an 11 mill increase in the 2019, which was approved unanimously.
The committee recommends an 11 mill increase in the 2019, which was approved unanimously an increase of 14 percent in the Jamestown general fund tax.
An 11-mill increase on a residential home owners city property tax bill would be an increase of $49.50 on a home appraised at $100.000, a 4.5 percent increase in the total property tax bill.
Considered was the State of North Dakota Office of State Court Administrator’s request to recommend approval of the Amended Contract for Transfer of Municipal Court Cases to District Court – Transfer for Jury Trial Only.
The committee recommends approval.
The committee recommends approval of the authorization for the sale and conveyance of Lots 6 & 7 of Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition to Jamestown, to BT OH, LLC of Atlanta, GA for $137,650.00 and to authorize the Mayor and City Administrator to execute all necessary instruments regarding the sale and conveyance including the sales agreement and Business Incentive Agreement between the City, UPS, Inc., and BT OH, LLC.
INFORMATIONAL: A Public Hearing on August 6, 2018, to consider authorization of a City Certification of Significant Community Support for the submission of a Community Facilities application on behalf of the Jamestown Rural Fire District to the USDA-Rural Development for construction of a New Fire Hall.
James River Library System Director Joe Rector said the Alfred Dickey Public foundation has been repaired, in the renovation process.
The concrete floor in the lower level has been re-poured, along with repairs to the roof, new LED lighting, new front doors, updated drainage tile, new signs, along with painting, and recarpeting.
He added the renovation costs have increased from $500,000 to $600,000, with the project to be completed by August this year.
Funding has come from a 15% USDA grant, along the local contributions, savings, funds from the Jamestown Community Fund, Friends of the Library, and on-going local fundraising.
BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE BUSINESS
Considered was approving the special use permit application and fee for Compassion Care Centers operating as Dispensaries and/or Manufacturing facilities. Zoning Administrator, Jamison Veil recommends a $4,000 application fee to cover administrative costs.
Jamestown’s application process will open in January in 2019, with a dispensary open in June of 2019.
He pointed out staff needed to prepare paperwork to present to the city council.
The committee recommends approving as written, on a 4-1 vote.
Informational: Application for appointment to serve as a member of the Planning Commission has been received from Delores Rath for a five year term to expire August 2023.
CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE BUSINESS:
No agenda items at this time.
Jamestown Tourism Director Searle Swedlund presented the committee with 2019 budget information, approved by the tourism board.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 67 followed by replays.
Bismarck (CSi) The North Dakota Department of Transportation (NDDOT) has selected six cities to receive transportation funding through a new Urban Grant Program (UGP). The cities selected to receive the urban grant include: Jamestown, West Fargo, Mandan, Valley City, Dickinson and Bismarck.
A total of $9.3 million will be awarded to the six cities for projects in 2019 and 2020. The program focuses on transportation improvements to directly support a community’s urban core and central business district. It is also intended to compliment other programs administered by other state agencies.
The recipients have until Aug. 15 to accept the grant. A total of 17 projects were submitted for the program, and recipients were selected by an advisory committee which consisted of representatives from the NDDOT, Department of Commerce, Bank of North Dakota, League of Cities and Metropolitan Planning Organization. If any of the cities turn down the grant, those funds will then be offered to another city.
Urban Grant Program objectives include: preserving existing assets; ensuring safety of all users of the transportation system; improvement of multi-modal transportation options such as walking, bicycling and public transit; supporting economically sustainable growth; lessening the need for outward expansion of community transportation infrastructure; and enhancing the economic vitality of the area by providing transportation assets.
Urban projects selected to receive grant funding include:
- Jamestown – $2.4 million project to include road diet, traffic signals, bulb-outs, sidewalk, bike racks, benches, landscaping and storm drain work on 1st Ave (8th St S to 5th St N) and 5th St (1st Ave to 8th Ave W).
- West Fargo – $2.3 million project to include road diet, bulb-outs, sidewalk, access revisions, parking, streetscape, etc. Sheyenne St (Main Ave to 7th Ave)
- Mandan – $600,000 project to include road diet, bulb-outs, parking, and decorative lighting on Main St (6th Ave NW to Collins Ave).
- Valley City – $1.5 million project to include decorative lighting, traffic signals, sidewalk, ADA ramps, benches on Main St (2nd Ave W to 3rd Ave E), Central Ave (Main St to 4th St), and City Park.
- Dickinson – $1.5 million project to include lighting and traffic signal work on Villard St (State Ave to 10th Ave E).
- Bismarck – $700,000 project to include road diet, bulb-outs, pavement markings, traffic signals and ADA ramps on Main Ave (1000’ west of Washington St to 7th St).
Jamestown (CSi) The groundbreaking for the Jamestown Airport Business Park is rescheduled for Thursday July 26, at 2-p.m.
The staging area is on Hwy 20 and 17th Street.
Where the large equipment is located.
2-p.m. Welcome
2:10-p.m. JSDC President
2:25-p.m. Jamestown Regional Airport
2:35-p.m. Groundbreaking
Valley City (CSi) The U.S. Navy Band will perform in Valley City on Wednesday, July 25th in the City Park Bandshell.
In case of inclement weather the performance will move inside the Vangstad auditorium instead.
Bring a lawn chair.
Ice cream will be served courtesy of Mid-West Dairy Association.
Jamestown (CSi) A private wedding ceremony this Saturday will be the first in since 1982 at the Historic 1883 Stutsman County Courthouse.
Site Supervisor Steve Reidburn dropped by our CSi studios on Monday and said the community space is available at the 1883 courthouse for rental.
He hopes the wedding will lead to additional events held at the renovated building.
He said the Jr. Sheriff program, for youngsters involving a scavenger hunt at the courthouse has proven successful this summer.
Steve will be a returning guest on The Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 at 8:35 a.m. weekdays.
Bismarck (CSi) The public is invited as the North Dakota State Water Commission will hold an Upper Red River Basin meeting on Wednesday, July 25th in Valley City at 10-a.m., at the Gaukler Family Wellness Center, in room 207.
Board member Matt Pedersen will moderate the meeting, when the commission considers plans for flood protection from government entities.
Jamestown (NDFU) – North Dakota Farmers Union (NDFU) welcomed the Trump administration’s announcement Tuesday of $12 billion in emergency aid to farmers affected by recently imposed trade tariffs. The relief plan will include direct assistance, a food purchase and distribution program, and a trade promotion program, according to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Purdue.
NDFU President Mark Watne says, “We are pleased that the administration heard our voices at the Rally for Agriculture. The trade war we are engaged in has had a profound impact on producers’ bottom lines.”
Watne said nationwide estimates show farmers lost more than $13 billion last month alone due to trade disruptions.
Perdue said USDA will tap into Commodity Credit Corporation funds to provide the emergency relief, and that congressional approval isn’t required for the disbursement.
Watne adds, “We are, however, far from breathing a sigh of relief. Emergency aid will never replace good market prices. This doesn’t solve the trade war, it just provides temporary relief to batten down the hatches.”
Watne said efforts to lower the benchmarks for ethanol production and the trade war bring urgency to passing a farm bill with higher reference prices that reflect the cost of production.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) — House Speaker Paul Ryan dismissed President Donald Trump’s plan to revoke security clearances from top former national security officials as just a mild form of “trolling,” rather than a serious attack on dissent.
The GOP leader shrugged off the White House plan Tuesday, saying, “I think he’s trolling people, honestly.”
Ryan said the issue of who is able to access security clearances falls within the purview of the executive branch, rather than Congress. He seemed intent on leaving it to the White House to decide. Ryan says, “It’s not really in our purview.”
He dismissed Trump’s threat to revoke the clearances of top former national security officials as simply the president’s way of needling his opponents.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — President Donald Trump says Iran “is not the same country” since he withdrew from the Iran nuclear deal and he’s ready to deal.
The president says at the national convention of the Veterans of Foreign Wars in Kansas City, Missouri that he’s “ready to make a real deal” with Iran, not like the nuclear deal agreed to during the Obama administration.
Trump’s words on Iran come after his explosive Twitter threat to Iran’s leader late Sunday.
Trump tweeted Sunday that if Iran threatened the U.S. it would “SUFFER CONSEQUENCES THE LIKES OF WHICH FEW THROUGHOUT HISTORY HAVE EVER SUFFERED BEFORE.”
It’s less than two weeks before the administration expects to begin re-imposing sanctions on Iran that had been lifted under the 2015 nuclear deal.
WASHINGTON (AP) — Two key senators are joining forces on bipartisan legislation to protect NATO and impose new sanctions on Russia after President Donald Trump’s recent foreign trip, which included a summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Sen. Bob Menendez, the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, and GOP Sen. Lindsey Graham issued a joint statement Tuesday as Congress struggles to respond to Trump’s shifting views on Russian interference in U.S. elections.
The senators said the U.S. “must make it abundantly clear that we will defend our nation.”
The bill would slap new sanctions on Russia and require a Senate vote for any proposal to withdraw the U.S. from NATO. It’s being crafted after related proposals were blocked last week. GOP leaders called for hearings instead. Hearings are set to begin this week.
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