CSi Weather…

Areas of fog, possibly dense, along with patchy freezing drizzle Tuesday  evening and expanding west overnight.

Areas of fog and patchy freezing drizzle will continue through Wednesday morning.

Forecast

TONIGHT…Cloudy. Not as cold. Lows around 15. Northeast winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the lower 20s. Southeast

winds around 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 15 to 20. Southeast winds

around 10 mph.

.THANKSGIVING DAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the mid 30s. South

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the mid 20s.

.FRIDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the lower 20s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly cloudy. Highs in the upper 20s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows 10 to 15.

.SUNDAY…Partly sunny. Highs 15 to 20.

.SUNDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows 5 to 10 above.

.MONDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs 15 to 20.

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council committees met jointly on Tuesday afternoon at City Hall.  Council Member Phillips was not present.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

Considered was the transfer of the municipal court checking account and two savings accounts from one financial institution to another institution. The committee recommends moving to Dakota Bank.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE:

The committee recommends,  the approval of the plat of Berndt Addition, Lot 1, Block 1, a tract of land located within the SE ¼ of Section 26, T140N, R64W of the Fifth Principal meridian, being with the City of Jamestown, Stutsman County, North Dakota.

 

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

 

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time.

 

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE:

The committee discussed the garbage and recycling collection updates.

The committee then considered modifying the garbage and recycling collection program in specific areas as identified by the City Administrator Sarah Helleckson.

She said at the Open House on the issue, residents on the list to have alley collection moved to curbside, were informed that some of the locations will be able to keep alley collection.  A new modified map was issued and may be remodified after further review, and two additional blocks were added to move from alley to curbside collection.

She added a four day, rather than a five day collection is being purposed to save money, and wear and tear on the equipment and alleys.

The committee recommends delaying a decision until the maps on changes are finalized and residents informed,  and moved to next month’s  Public Works committee meeting.

The committee discussed the STIP State Transportation Improvement Plan, list and identify priorities to forward to the NDDOT.  Travis Dillman from Interstate Engineering explained the previous priority list.

He then outlined possible improvement areas brought to his attention..

One area is Highway 20 along Hospital Hill, with a new overpass at fifth Avenue over the railroad tracks.

Another is an overpass at 7th Avenue over the tracks.

Another is an overpass at 12th Avenue Southeast and 3rd Street.

Dillman said once the city has made a decision, the information will be discussed with the NDDOT.

No action was taken by the committee on reprioritization.

The committee considered foregoing  bids and enter into an agreement for the purchase of hydrocarbons for 2019 for the City of Jamestown Operational Programs and the Jamestown Park Districts Operational Programs, or vote to reject all quotes and advertise for bids.

The committee recommends sending the item to the December City Council meeting for approval, that would have to be approved by 75 percent of the Council Members.

Considered was a vote to forgo bids and enter into an agreement to establish the specific market prices for chemicals for the water, sewer and wastewater departments during the 2019 calendar year, or vote to reject all quotes and advertise for bids.

The committee recommends accepting the agreement and send the recommendation to the December City Council Meeting, that would also require a 75 percent approval by Council Members.

Considered was a request from On The Level to suspend the Landfill Closure Project until spring at which time the cover material will be finished, and the final cleanup completed. Then the soil cap will be scarified and re-compacted at the contractor’s expense prior to turf restoration and seeding, which was planned for spring 2019.

The committee recommends approving the request as recommended by Interstate Engineering, not affecting the completion date, June of 2019.

INFORMATIONAL: Project updates.

Highlights included…completed was… the Frontier Village project on the roadway and retaining wall replacement.

Northwest water main project.

Finishing items with the road from Menards to JRMC.

The 2018 Paving Project.

The 5th Street Northeast street project near TRAC.

INFORMATIONAL: New Phase Energy conducts feasibility studies to determine ability to recover the methane gas from wastewater treatment plants as an energy revenue source and ensure the project is economical. The cost of the 60-day feasibility study is $65,000.

Currently the gas is being flared and would be captured and piped and sold.

The process is estimated to cost about $5-million.

The committee recommends moving the issue to the next committee after further review.

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

 

Valley City  (CSi)  The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session, Tuesday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS INCLUDED:

A Special Alcohol Event Permit for Valley City Eagles 2192 at North Dakota Winter Show Event Center for North Star Classic on November 28 through December 1, 2018

PUBLIC COMMENTS …No one spoke.

PUBLIC HEARING

An Open public hearing was held for a Class E Restaurant/Lounge Alcoholic Beverage License to sell on-sale beer for Sky Lanes at 2379 Elm Street.  The business owner explained the plans that would include the on-sale, that would be implemented in the future if the license is approved.

Following the Public Hearing, commissioners,  took no action.

 

ORDINANCE

The City Commission approved an Ordinance Recodifying the Revised Ordinances of the City of Valley City and Repealing & Re-enacting Title 1, General Provisions.  City Attorney Schoenack explained the revisions.

Approved was an Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Valley City Municipal Code (V.C.M.C.)

City Attorney Schoenack said some of the sections were combined, while explaining the amendments.

 

RESOLUTION

The City Commission approved a Resolution Authorizing the Issuance of Improvement Warrants and Exchanging them for $1,975,000 Refunding Improvement Bonds of 2018.

Representative Mike Manstrom said Valley City has an A-1 Rating from Moody’s.

Northland Securities bid was approve at a 3.53 rate.  A Special Assessment will be issued in January, to pay the Improvement Bonds and make the Special Assessments at four and a half percent, the same rate as 2017.

 

Approved was a Resolution Authorizing the City of Valley City to Purchase Directly from Vendors Awarded GSA Schedule Contracts.

City Administrator, Schelkoph said the GSA process breaks down the bidding process, and the vendors on the GSA list are vetted, and approved, as along as the project cost is under $100,000.

NEW BUSINESS

Commissioners accepted Valley City Fire Chief Gary Retterath’s retirement as of December 31, 2018.

The City Commission previously approved the appointment of Scott Magnuson as the City Fire Chief.

Administrator Schelkoph said Retterath’s resignation letter was accepted, after 43 years of service to the city.

Approved was Holiday Schedule for Monday, December 24, 2018.

The City government will be closed that day, and have commercial garbage collected on the 24th, and residential garbage collected on the 26th.  No charge will be made for additional cans that week.

Approved was the FEMA 50-50 Rule.  City Administrator Schelkoph said, the rule benefits downtown development, as structures in the flood plan will be eligible for an option to determine the cash value of property in the flood plain.

The City Commission approved a Cost Participation and Maintenance Agreement for Main Street, Central Avenue, City Park (Streetscape II Project)

Approved was a Change Order for Permanent Flood Protection Phase II to include additional cost for concrete paving and to Demolish Power House, in the amount of $144,093.71

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT:

Last week David Schelkoph  attended a League of Cities meeting, including state money available for infrastructure projects, the Bill will come before the state legislature in January.  Valley City is in line for about $3.4 million.  If approved it would be on going dollars available.

 

CITY UPDATES & COMMISSION REPORTS:

Fire Chief Gary Retterath pointed out that ice on bodies of water is not safe, and to observe fire safety, including heating equipment especially during the holiday season.

The new fire chief is ‘shadowing’ Retterath the next few weeks.

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

 

 

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Rotary Club on Tuesday, placed a Christmas Tree at the Jamestown Arts Park, in Downtown Jamestown.

Rotary Club member, Emily Bivens says, the tree will be decorated with lights.

She says the Rotary Club for several years decorated the trees along Mill Hill in Jamestown, however the trees became too large to manage putting the lights on, and the Arts Park Christmas tree will serve to succeed the Mill Hill tree lights.

Jamestown  (CSi)  A plan is being formulated.” in a fun Christmas spirit, to gather at the Arts Park this Friday, the 23rd to sing Christmas carols, before the Jamestown Dazzle Parade.

Those interested in singing will meet at 6:15-p.m., and sing until 7-p.m., when the parade starts.

It will be a celebration of the Christmas season, the Arts Park, the Rotary Christmas tree and the Jamestown Downtown Association Holiday parade.

The music and words will be projected on the wall and Mark Reeves will be leading the singinf on his keyboard.

It’s hope that this will be  a new tradition in Jamestown.

Jamestown (CSi) – The 28th Annual, Community Thanksgiving Dinner will be at Concordia Lutheran Church at 502 First Avenue North in Jamestown, on Thursday November 22.

On Tuesday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Pastor, Tom Eckstein said the Thanksgiving Service is at 10-a.m. Dinner will be served from 11-a.m., to 1-p.m., Thanksgiving Day, in the church basement, handicapped accessible.  Use the west door.

He added that drivers will deliver meals, or give a ride to the church, for services and the meal.

Those wishing to have a ride or meals delivered may call the church at 252-2819.

The meal is free to anyone, and consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, gravy, corn, and dessert.

He said that nearly 30 turkeys will be served, and baked at through the support of the  University of Jamestown kitchen, and brought to the church for serving.

The meal consists of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn and dessert, and a beverage.

He said last year 650 meals were served at the church, and around 300 meals were home delivered.

He pointed out that volunteers throughout the community make the meal possible, adding that the food is donated, by local businesses, or purchased through charitable donations.

The Thanksgiving meal was first offered by Fritz Buegle, who owned and operated the Pantry Café at that time, when 40 individuals were served.  Over the years the event grew and for space accommodations it’s been served the past several years  at Concordia Lutheran Church in Jamestown.

Pastor Eckstein added that the regular church services are Sundays at 8-a.m. and 10:30-a.m., and the service is repeated Wednesday evenings at 7-p.m.

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown Holiday Dazzle on Main Parade is set for Friday November 23, in Downtown Jamestown.  The parade Grand Marshals are, Barb Lang and Art Todd, being honored for volunteerism with the Jamestown Foundation, the 1883 Courthouse Committee and the North Dakota State Historical Society.

The Jamestown Downtown Association is taking float entries at: www.jamestowndowntown.org

or message at Facebook.

 

Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce Executive, Emily Bivens says, the parade entries have been assigned their numbers and will form in McElroy Park at 6:30-p.m. (Use the east entrance.)

Float judging will then take place.

The parade leaves McElroy Park at 7-p.m., and heads north on Second Avenue East to 8th Street and then over to First Avenue to First street where it turns east back to Second Avenue East and South back to McElroy Park.

The After Parade Party is at the Gladstone Inn & Suites where the trophies will be presented, and Christmas goodies will be available, along with entertainment by the Jamestown Choralaires.

First United Methodist Church, just east of the Alfred Dickey Library @ 115 3rd ST SE  Jamestown,  is once again inviting all 2018 Holiday Dazzle on Main parade goers to come and enjoy free popcorn, hot chocolate and other refreshments in the church’s basement.

Prior to the start of the Friday night parade, Nov 23, doors will be open at 6:00 pm to come in and enjoy food and fellowship in a warm and friendly atmosphere with the First United Methodist Church’s family.  We will then all go our to enjoy the Holiday Dazzle.

 

Jamestown   (CSi)  The elder sister of Louis L’Amour, Edna LaMoore Waldo is being recognized with the East Room of the Alfred Dickey Public Library in Downtown Jamestown being named in her honor.  (Louis L’Amour, changed the spelling of his last name later in life.)

The James River Valley Public Library System Board voted unanimously, to approve at this month’s meeting.

Library Director, Joe Rector pointed out that Ms. Waldo was born in Jamestown, and she was a graduate of Jamestown College (as it was known then).   She passed away in 1999.

She was a journalist, author and teacher , having at one time serving as a librarian at Jamestown Public Library, Jamestown College Library and Bismarck Public Library. She also published writings about Dakota Territory, prior to statehood.

Rector added that there plans to be a plaque and photo of Waldo prior to the library’s centennial celebration in February, of 2019.

In other business the James River Valley Library board approved three percent raises for the entire library staff in 2019, along with an additional one percent raise to four individuals who were promoted to supervisory positions.

Rector said the raises stay within the approved $398,000 budget.

The next Friends of the Library meeting will be at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 11, at the Arts Center.

 

STANLEY, N.D. (AP) — A Fargo man faces a manslaughter charge in the death of his girlfriend’s 6-month-old son in Stanley. Authorities allege 24-year-old Cody Faltersack was alone with the child early Friday when emergency crews responded to a report of an unresponsive child. The boy later died at a Minot hospital of brain trauma. The felony charge against Faltersack carries a maximum punishment of 10 years in prison. He could enter a plea at a Feb. 2 hearing.

 

BISMARCK, N.D., Nov. 20, 2018 /PRNewswire/ — MDU Resources Group, Inc. (NYSE: MDU) Tuesday announced its capital investment plan for 2019 through 2023. For the five-year period, the company expects to make capital investments totaling $2.6 billion.

“We have identified and expect to continue to execute on significant growth projects,” said David L. Goodin, president and CEO of MDU Resources. “This five-year plan includes line-of-sight opportunities at all of our businesses, including substantial growth at our regulated operations and higher capital expenditures at our construction businesses.”

Acquisitions would be incremental to the company’s 2019-2023 capital investment plan. MDU Resources will provide updates as opportunities outside the capital investment plan are identified.

 

In sports…

Valley City (VCSUVikings.com) – Valley City State University sophomore Logan Nelson has been chosen as the North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

North Star Athletic Association Men’s Basketball Player-of-the-Week
Logan Nelson – Valley City State (N.D.) – 6’3″ – Sophomore – guard – Hunter, N.D. – Nelson averaged 21.5 points per game for the week and had a double-double to lead Valley City State (N.D.) to a 1-1 record.  He scored 20 points on his 8-of-16 field goal shooting, including 4-of-8 from the 3-point line despite an 83-75 home defeat to Jamestown (N.D.).  He followed up with a double-double of 23 points and 10 rebounds in 95-67 victory over Oak Hills Christian (Minn.).  For the week, Nelson poured in 43 points and grabbed 12 rebounds (6.0 rebounds per game).  He also averaged 2.5 assists per game.  He was 16-of-35 from the field (45.7 percent) and 8-of-20 from the 3-point arc (40 percent).

VALLEY CITY (Mark Potts) – The bracket for the 74th annual Barnes County Girls Basketball Tournament has been set.

Eight teams will converge on Valley City State University for the annual tournament in early December. The quarterfinals of the tournament will be played on Tuesday, Dec. 4. The semifinals are on Thursday, Dec. 6, and the tournament concludes with the championship and placing games on Saturday, Dec. 8.

All 12 games will be played at Valley City State University’s W.E. Osmon Fieldhouse.  Tournament history, records and past results can be found at www.vcsuvikings.com/bct

Enderlin High School has been named the top seed for this year’s tournament and will open with the 3 p.m. game against Griggs County Central on Dec. 4. Milnor-North Sargent is the No. 4 seed and plays No. 5 Barnes County North at 4:30 p.m.

Three-time defending champion LaMoure/Litchville-Marion is the No. 2 seed and takes on No. 7 Maple Valley at 6 p.m. in the first round. No. 3 seed Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page will play No. 6 seed Sargent Central at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 4.

Games on Dec. 6 begin at 3 p.m., and Saturday’s games will start at noon.

LaMoure/Litchville-Marion has defeated Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page is each of the last three championship games.

Major tournament sponsors include the Valley City Convention and Visitors Bureau, the Valley City Chamber of Commerce, Valley City State University and VCSU Athletics.

 

Tuesday, Dec. 4

(1) Enderlin vs. (8) Griggs County Central, 3 p.m.

(4) Milnor/North Sargent vs. (5) Barnes County North, 4:30 p.m.

(2) LaMoure/Litchville-Marion vs. (7) Maple Valley, 6 p.m.

(3) Finley-Sharon/Hope-Page vs. (6) Sargent Central, 7:30 p.m.

 

Thursday, Dec. 6

3:00/4:30 p.m.: Consolation semifinals

6:00/7:30 p.m.: Championship semifinals

 

Saturday, Dec. 8

12 p.m. – 7th Place

1:30 p.m. – 5th Place

3 p.m. – 3rd Place

4:30 p.m. – Championship

 

In world and national news..

WASHINGTON (AP) — Lawyers for President Donald Trump say they’ve provided the special counsel’s office with written responses to questions on Russian election interference.

The answers are an important milestone in Robert Mueller’s probe, marking the first time the president is known to have described to investigators his knowledge of key moments under scrutiny by the special counsel’s office. Trump told reporters last week that he was answering the questions himself.

Jay Sekulow, a lawyer for Trump, said in a statement that the answers were provided Tuesday.

It is not clear what other information Mueller’s office will seek.

This round of questioning was limited to the general topic of whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Russia. But Mueller’s team has also wanted to question Trump about whether he committed obstruction of justice.

WASHINGTON (AP) — Republican Sen. Rand Paul says it’s a “mistake” for President Donald Trump to continue supporting arms sales to Saudi Arabia after the death of Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi.

Paul tells The Associated Press “it’s a sign of weakness not to stand up to Saudi Arabia.”

The Kentucky senator has been trying to convince Trump to halt $100 billion in arms sales. Paul says the Trump’s position signals that Saudi Arabia can “just behead anybody that protests against the kingdom.”

Trump has praised Saudi Arabia as an important ally and said he’s not convinced Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was directly responsible for Khashoggi’s death.

Paul says selling arms is not a “jobs program,” and the U.S. should not reward Saudi Arabia’s “bad behavior.” He says he has the votes in the Senate to block it.

 

NEW YORK (AP) — U.S. health officials are telling people to avoid eating romaine lettuce because of an E. coli outbreak that has sickened 32 people in 11 states.The Food and Drug Administration says it’s working with officials in Canada, where people are also being warned to stay away from romaine lettuce. The strain identified is different than the one linked to romaine earlier this year, but it appears similar to one linked to leafy greens last year.

FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb says the agency doesn’t yet have enough information to request suppliers issue a recall. But he says suppliers can help by withdrawing romaine products until the contamination can be identified.

No deaths have been reported. The last illness was reported on Oct. 31.

Most E. coli bacteria are not harmful, but some produce toxins that can cause severe illness.

SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — President Donald Trump is railing against courts in a western U.S. region that have ruled against his administration.

Trump was asked Tuesday about a judge’s ruling from San Francisco that temporarily blocked his administration’s effort to deny asylum to migrants who enter the U.S. illegally.

The government has not said whether it would appeal, but if it did, the appeal would be filed with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 9th Circuit. It includes Alaska, Arizona, California and Hawaii.

Trump called the circuit a “disgrace” and judges “very unfair.” He says: “Every suit that gets filed in the 9th Circuit, we get beaten.”

Judges in the region have also said administration may not detain families indefinitely and ordered a strict timeline to reunify migrant families that had been separated. But earlier this month, a judge ruled in favor of the Trump administration in a lawsuit over a California law meant to stop land sales.

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) — Authorities are using a rapid DNA test that produces results in just two hours to help identify the scores of people killed by the Northern California wildfire.

The company ANDE is donating the technology. Relatives of missing people can provide DNA samples via cheek swabs. But not enough people have been coming forward — only about 60 at last count.

Company spokeswoman Annette Mattern says hundreds of samples are needed.

The death toll nearly two weeks after the inferno stands at 79, with about 700 people unaccounted for.