– City reaches sandbagging goal, thanks volunteers

Jamestown (CSi) The City of Jamestown issued a news release Saturday afternoon, saying the goal of filling and placing sandbags was met. The news release stated:

“Today, Saturday, October 19, 2019, the City of Jamestown has reached its goal with sandbags and placement of sandbags. Sandbag Central will be closed tomorrow (Sunday) and will not re-open until further notice.

The City of Jamestown would like to sincerely thank the volunteers for all the hard work and effort it took to reach our goal!”

CSiNewsNow.com Photos Friday Oct 17, 2019

The sandbag placement was a race before the rain is forecasted to start Sunday ans continue most of Monday.

Also the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers said the water releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Reservoirs will be ramped up next week on an incremental basis until the combined releases reached 2400 by Saturday October 26, 2019.

The city previously said 60,000 sandbags was the goal for filling and more bags are to be made for reserve purposes if more are needed. The Weds public meeting is airing on CSi TV 10 & CSi 67.

The areas identified for sandbagging are the area near the Townhomes near Taco Bell, the area north of Dairy Queen, and homes along 17^th Avenue Southwest. 40,000 sandbags will be needed in those areas, and about 20,000 more to be used for quick response mitigation purposes.

The City of Fargo is providing 40,000 more sandbags.

He said about 200 volunteers were needed for sandbag placement, on Friday morning, and continued on Saturday.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says the sandbags are at no cost to the City of Jamestown, however, the City of Jamestown will pay the transportation costs, at $7,000. Hofmann Trucking of Jamestown will haul the sandbags from Fargo to Jamestown at $350 per load. He said, at this time the flood fighting costs are being paid for by Jamestown residents. If a Presidential Disaster Declaration is made, that would allow local entities to apply for funding and reimbursements.

Previously Reported Friday Oct 18: The City of Jamestown is asking for volunteers to assist with filling and/or placing sandbags starting at 9:30 a.m. Saturday, October 19, 2019. Volunteers are asked to report during this period to the west side parking lot of the Jamestown Civic Center. If City property owners have concerns or questions, please contact City Hall at 701-252-5900 or email at info@jamestownnd.gov . On Friday, sandbag placement began along 2nd Av SW behind Taco Bell, and in the area north of Dairy Queen near the Ice House Dam.

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session, Thursday afternoon, for the purpose of considering policies and procedures in relation to flood planning and flood control. Council Member Buchanan was not present.

Travis Dillman of Interstate Engineering said as of Thursday afternoon, 8,000 sandbags have been filled, and more volunteers are needed. City contractors will NOT be used. 60,000 sandbags are earmarked for filling and more bags are to be made for reserve purposes if more are needed.

Volunteer filling bags – CSi Photos

He said the City of Fargo is providing 40,000 more sandbags with a Memorandum of Understanding to be drawn up by the City Attorney between Jamestown and Fargo.

Darrell Hournbuckle from Interstate Engineering said sandbaggers are also coming from outside of Jamestown.

He said about 200 volunteers will be needed for sandbag placement, on Friday morning.

Volunteers should be at the Civic Center by 9:30-a.m., Friday, and they will be bused to the sandbag placement sites.

Sandbags will be filled on a continuous basis when the goal is made.

Council Members voted unanimously to approve continuing the current flood fighting policies in place, and using city funds for flood fighting purposes.

Anyone needing officials to look at flooding on their property for sandbags should call City Hall during business hours at 252-5900 or after hours at 252-1000 at the LEC Dispatch.

The meeting was shown live on CSi 67.