Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Advisory Board met in Regular Session on Thursday November 21, at 11:30 a.m. at the CSi Technology Center, at Historic Franklin School.

Members Present:  Board President, Matthew Wood, Paulette Ritter, and Frank Balak.

GRANT REQUESTS INCLUDED FROM:

Stutsman County Fair Board – Wayfinding Sign

NAIA Women’s Wrestling Invitational

Buffalo City Tournament Association – Pool Tournament

 

A request for funds from the Stutsman County Fair Board was for a Wayfinding Sign, was for $800, with the sign to be placed at 5th Street Northwest, at the Tennis Courts.

The Grant was approved  in the full amount of $800.

The NAIA Women’s Wrestling Tournament request was for $10,000 for marketing the tournament to be held at the University of Jamestown, March 13 and 14, 2020.

336 student athletes are expected to participate, with the tournament a U.S. Olympic qualifying event.

Sean Johnson said this second year of the tournament in Jamestown is the first year of the two year extension, at UJ.

The economic impact of the two day tournament is estimated at $200,000.

The Board approved granting the full amount requested.

 

The Buffalo City  Tournament Association was represented by Rory Hoffmann.

Requested was $1,000 for the Buffalo City Shootout, Pool Tournament to be held January 24, 25, 2020  in Jamestown.  The Shootout is postponed until April of 2020 due to a conflict in scheduling the tournament at a local hotel.   However, he said a “Downtowner,” tournament will still be held on January 24, and 25, 2020 at various bars, and the Gladstone Inn & Suites.  The April event will be held at the Quality Inn in Jamestown.

Other funding sources included sponsor tables, at $2,000, and $400 for a raffle during the tournament.

The economic impact is estimated at $29,750.

The Grant/Excutive Board approved the $1,000 request.

Fort Seward Wagon Train Marketing  request on the agenda was delayed until next month, pending additional information.

 

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING:

Declaration of Conflict of Interest…none stated

Financial Report – was given by Searle Swedlund.  He said the third quarter Hospital Taxes received were in line with what was anticipated.

The Tourism Report was given by Searle Swedlund.  He said the Jamestown Rural Fishing Tourney was cancelled due to unsafe ice conditions this winter on the reservoirs.  He added the Rural Fire Department has indicated that it would still like to use the previously allocated tourism grant, when it has plans developed.   The fire department will return to a tourism meeting with more information.

It was pointed out that other events are still planned including raffle drawings.

Searle also said the Louis L’Amour video project is still be planned, and the Trail Builders is on track.

Ex-Officio Report:

Pam Phillips representing the Jamestown City Council gave informational updates on the Frontier Village, City of Jamestown negotiations, and the “Road Diet,” downtown traffic pattern changes.

She noted that there will be designated pedestrian crossings as part of the plan.

Executive Director Review was held with board approving of Searle Swedlund’s work, and voted to grant a salary increase of three percent, and to accelerate his leave time by one year, effective in 2020.

The board approved Annual Bonus for Staff, with Swedlund receiving $1200, and Manager Allison Limke receiving a $500 bonus.