Wayne Byers Show – Morning – Jan 17

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Rural Fire Department was called out to a skid steer fire, inside a Quonset hut, about 3:30 p.m. Thursday at 9330 28th Street, Southeast, in Spiritwood. Assistant Fire Chief, Rick Woehl, says the fire was contained to the skid steer, as the Rural Fire Units, extinguished smoke from the structure.

Considerable damage was reported to the skid steer.

The cause is listed as  a heater use to warm up the skid steer to get it started.

Four Rural Fire Units and nine firefighters were on the scene.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Finance & Legal Committee

Building, Planning & Zoning Committee Civic Center & Promotion Committee

Police & Fire Committee and Public Works Committee all met in joint session, Thursday at City Hall.   Council Member Phillips was present by telephone.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

Discussed was the zoning and platting policies and procedures, as requested by the City Planning Commission, specifically concerning lot mergers, and notification of nearby property owners.

The time frame was also noted, speeding it up, cutting costs, and avoid taking those to the Planning Commission.  Planning Commission Chairman, Hillerud made suggestions to streamline the process, administratively.

The committee made no recommendations.

Recommended for approval was introducing the First Reading of an ordinance to amend and re-enact sections of the City Code pertaining to the Building Code and Plumbing Code. Minor changes were noted, and need to be adopted in the new code.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No agenda items.

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

INFORMATIONAL:

Discussion concerned the Jamestown City Fire department’s ladder truck update. Mayor Heinrich said city officials will meet soon with state legislative leaders in the near future.

The committee considered storage fees for impounded vehicles. Police Chief Edinger said the city Ordinance needs to be reworked, concerning fees and impoundment policies.  Mayor Heinrich suggested media announcements in the event of a major snow storm, to move vehicles off Emergency Snow routes in advance. Council Member Buchanan said the Ordinance needs to be addressed on impoundment fees.

The committee recommends moving the issues to the City Council without recommendation.

Considered was the reclassification of police department positions as presented, eliminate two positions in the police department, saving the city $131,000, which would be used to reclassify positions,  and increase the ranges.  Information was presented to the committee from Human Resource Officer, Jay Sveum with the recommendations.  He said recruitment and retention will benefit the position changes along with the range changes.

The committee recommends accepting the reclassification of positions, retroactive to January 1, 2020.

Chief Edinger said the UJ Hockey Team is planning a Hockey Night Fundraiser February 14, with proceeds to be used to replace the SWAT Team robot.

The committee recommends approval of using the proceeds for that purpose.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Discussed was the draft LPA Bridge Inspection Agreement and Bridge Plans.  City Administrator Sarah Helleckson says the NDDOT is opting out of inspections, stemming from budget cuts, with the county’s responsibility of 80 percent of the costs, saying the city does not currently have a bridge inspector.  She said the city has nine bridges.  Mayor Heinrich asked why the city will possibly have to pay a share of the inspection costs, out of the urban road funding.

The committee took no action at this time and moved the item to the February committee meeting.   .

Recommended for approvals were Plans and Specifications for the Civic Center Roof Removal and Replacement (1/4 of roof under this phase).

City Engineer – Public Works Project Updates Memo was presented to the committee.

Razing the former LeFevre Building will be started later this week.

INFORMATIONAL: Snow Removal policy changes have been discussed including rotating the start of snow removal within quadrants of the city.  Overnight parking in city lots prior to a snow storm will only be allowed at the fence area.  Emergency Snow Routes, parking bans would be enforced.  Other parking changes on streets will be made to make snow removal more efficient.

INFORMATIONAL: Recycling collection update. Recycle North Dakota manager Ralph Freibel said collections are inhibited in alley due to restrictions stemming from piles of snow at corners and entrances.

FINANCE AND LEGAL COMMITTEE:

The committee recommends approval the request from DRM Chef LLC doing business as Davoni’s  for an Alcohol Beverage License (On-Sale) at 113 1^st Street West, for the period ending June 30, 2020.

Considered was the re-establishment of suggested sales prices on City owned lots for the year 2020.

City Assessor, Jamison Veil outlined city property not for sale.

Three properties were noted, for sale, that have been on the list for a lengthy period of time, and recommends a sales price of $500. No offers have yet been made on those.

The committee recommends the suggested sales price.

The committee recommends approving the request from the JSDC for reimbursement for 2019 JSDC Real Estate & Special Assessment costs from Economic Development Funds, in the amount $7,291.30, with the City Share to be $6,459.67 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

The committee recommends approving  the request from the JSDC for $250,000 in Flex PACE interest buy down funds for 2020 from the Economic Development Fund with the City Share to be $200,000 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

The committee recommends approving  the request from the JSDC for $5,745.01 from the Economic Development Fund to reimburse Center for Economic Developemtnt building loss for 2019 with the City Share to be 90% or $5,170.51 and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

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

Jamestown   (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Thursday evening at City Hall.

The City Council approved the 2020 Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District.  Included was creating the district, preparation of a preliminary engineering report, approving the preliminary engineering report, and declaring it necessary to construct the district and publish notice of a public hearing.

Discussion was held on a recommendation for the position of Sanitation Foreman.

Council Member Brubakken said five candidates were interviewed and it recommends hiring former city employee Tyler Michael for the position, which was approved by the City Council

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

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Tourism Grant/Executive Board met Thursday at the CSi Technology Center, at Historic Franklin School.

Those present included, Board Members, President Matthew Woods, Taylor Barnes, Tena Lawrence, Frank Balak, and Paulette Ritter.

Tourism Executive Director Searle Swedlund.

At the Grant Board Meeting items considered for funding included:

Staffing for:

The National Buffalo Museum

Fort Seward

The Stutsman County Museum

Frontier Village

All requests were granted at $11 per hour, across the board, for a total tourism expenditure of  $45,528 for 2020.

Also a request for funding was from:

Frontier Village Horse Rides regarding advertising. The Committee tabled the request pending additional information from Karen George, who now owns the horses.  The stage coach is still owned by the City of Jamestown. Searle Swedlund said he will look into advertising costs and sources and bring the information back to the committee.  He estimates the advertising costs may be in area of $8,000.

The James River Figure Skating Club for advertising funding for $1,000 for advertising for the three day Ice Show, with performances Friday through Sunday, March 20-22, 2020, at John L. Wilson Arena in Jamestown.  Lynn Lambrecht said, the full show will feature skaters, from three years old to 18 years old.

Other funding sources, include, $2,000 in ticket sales, Program Advertising $2,500, Family Registrations $1,750.

A total of 741 visitors are expected, with an economic impact of $62,050.

The total advertising budget is $1,080.

The request died for a lack of a second and was denied, as the event offers no new experiences, and generates mostly local people.

North Dakota Youth Archery Tournament for  Advertising/Sponsorship requested $3,000.

Myron Gunderson  said Best of the West, National Archery and Schools Program (NASP) Archery Tournament is planned for April 18 & 19, at the Jamestown Civic Center, with about 400 archers participating from regional states. 350 addition people including family are also expected in Jamestown.

Other funding comes from sponsor ads, at $3,000, apparel sales of $6,000, entry fees, $4,000, admission

sales $2,500.  The total income is expected to be about $18,500.

The economic impact is estimated at $31,875.

The Grant Board approved allocating the full request of $3,000.

At the Executive Board Meeting

No Conflict of Interest was declared.

The Financial Report was given and accepted and approved from Taylor Barnes.

Tourism Report was given by  Searle Swedlund, who gave an update on Tourism’s management of Frontier Village.

Under New Business:

A Report was given on the Credit Card Cash Back, indicating points accrued amounts to $15,969.

Searle reported on the Stutsman County Mill Levy Expenditures for Tourism Entities.  He said the entities funded will report how the dollars were spent.

Searle gave a report that generated discussion on Event Grant Guidelines.  He suggested that future guidelines may be based on Tourism in the City of Dickinson, regarding annual commitments, and budgeting events.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown Arts Center will host a Wine and Cheese event, on January 18, 2020,  from 7-p.m., to 9-p.m.,  at Sabir’s Buffalo Grill in Downtown Jamestown, with proceeds going to the Arts After School program’s Scholarships.

Advance reservations are required by calling the Arts Center, at 701-251-2496.

Tickets are $35 each.

Join your friends for a fun social gathering and enjoy a taste of Spain and Portugal. Tickets are $35 and available at The Arts Center, Cork & Barrel Liquors, from any Board Member or by clicking this link.

The Jamestown Arts Center, offers another Open Mic Night on Thursday January 23, 2020, from 7-p.m., to 9-p.m.

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2, Arts Center Director, Mindi Schmitz said, poets, writers, musicians, comedians, solos, duos, and any and all performers are welcome to share your talent with the community at our monthly open mic night. There will be a sign up sheet at the door. Please limit a piece to 10 minutes. A P.A. system, bass amp, guitar amp and music stands will be provided and facilitated by local musician Steve Kuykendall

The next exhibit at the Arts Center will be, “Gas Bubble in Eye” by Roxi Mathis
January 23 – March 7, 2020

Roxi Mathis is a watercolor artist living and working in Minot, North Dakota. Her current work is based on the experiences she had during three eye surgeries and the recovery that followed. Dealing with a detached retina caused light distortions and patterns in her vision, so she combined these manifestations with real and imagined inspiration.  In discussing her art she says, “I like to work in detail with a lot of color and bold contrast, forming loose patterns based on the visual anomalies that I see. While much of my work includes North Dakota scenery, I also work with figurative elements. I try to tell stories that lead the viewer to find their own narrative in the work.”

Her work pairs real world subject matter like landscapes, animals and figures with the unreal visual anomalies that she experienced after having her multiple eye surgeries. The resulting artwork is a juxtaposition of soft watercolor landscapes, many of badlands-like buttes, with hard-edged, mostly abstract ink drawings. While each style isn’t unusual alone, the combination of the two makes Mathis’ work unusual and compelling–it challenges the norm.  The ink drawings seemingly have no relationship to the landscapes, however the more one looks, narratives begin to emerge. Someone might see Native American dancers, gateways to alternative universes, microscopic minerals, birds in flight and severe storms.  Each piece could be an illustration for a story and not surprisingly Mathis has combined her graphic work and artwork to create several illustrated books.  You can find examples of her work at facebook.com/RoxiMathisArt.

The Arts Center Gallery is open
Weekdays: 9:00 am – 5:00 pm
Saturdays: 10:00 am – 2:00 pm
Admission is always free.

Meet the Artist Lunch
Join us and the artist for a homemade lunch
Wednesday, February 12th starting at 12:00 pm at The Arts Center.
Please RSVP by February 10th if you would like to enjoy the lunch. Cost $5.

Upcoming Classes Include:

COLOR THEORY: Jan 21 – 31 with Kathleen Roehm

In the visual arts, color theory is a body of practical guidance to color mixing and the visual effects of a specific color combination. During this session, we will be diving into the history of color theory, learning how to mix colors, and how different colors are used to portray different emotions. This fun and creative session will also tie in with our gallery artist, Roxi Mathis, as we will be discussing her use of color that she incorporates into her artwork.

MAGAZINE COLLAGE: Feb 3 – 6 with DIna Laskowski
Do you have some old magazines lying around? Have your child bring them to this fun Arts After School class where they will use cardboard, glue, and magazine clippings to make their very own collages with Dina Laskowski! 

Call the Arts Center for additional information, and to register at 701-251-2496.

Sunday’s in February the Arts Center hosts Acrylic Painting, and adult course from 2-4-p.m.,

Registration is required by calling the Arts Center at 701-251-2496.

Valley City  (CSi)  North Dakota State Senator Larry Robinson, from District 24, Valley City, has announced hiscandicacy to seek re-election to the North Dakota Senate.

Robinson was first elected to the Senate in 1988. He is the senior member of the Senate Appropriations Committee.

The news release from his office, says,  “It has been an honor and a privilege serving the Citizens of District 24 in the North Dakota Senate. I intend to work hard to win re-election to continue to work on their behalf.” District 24 includes all of Barnes County, northern Ransom County and southwest Cass County.

Robinson, says, “We have ongoing challenges in Health Care, Property Tax Relief, Behavioral Health and Addiction issues, the care for our Veterans and Senior Citizens, maintenance of our roads and bridges, educational funding, & corrections. We also have important decisions to make on where to invest the earnings from the Legacy Fund. Finally, there will be a Re-districting Committee appointed during the 2021 session to re-draw the legislative district lines for the next 10 years. I want to be there representing District 24 so we have a voice on these and other important issues.”

He pointed out that “During the 2019 session, I served as a co-sponsor of the Capital Construction bill which resulted in a $32,000,000 Center for the Arts Building at Valley City State University and the funding of a critically important $50,000,000 agricultural research facility at NDSU. I was also co-sponsor of the Prairie Dog bill which will bring millions of dollars of important infrastructure funding from oil tax dollars to our townships, cities and counties across the state of North Dakota. Securing funding for a host of water projects across the state, including funding for permanent flood protection in Valley City and Lisbon, and support for Rural and Municipal Water projects statewide, has been a top priority for Robinson. “I pride myself in my ability to work with both political parties,” said Robinson. “I have also made it a high priority to participate in legislative forums and other local meetings, so I am in touch with the needs and concerns of all constituents in District 24.”

Robinson and his wife Mary Lee, reside in Valley City. They have two sons and three grand sons.

Robinson is in his 45th year on the administrative staff of Valley City State University. He received his B.S. Degree in Education from VCSU and his Masters Degree in Educational Administration from North Dakota State University. Robinson grew up on a family farm in Kidder County North Dakota.

(AP)  A Fargo woman has been charged with felony child neglect after she was accused of leaving six children with the body of an acquaintance who overdosed. Amber Barrett is also charged with a misdemeanor count of failing to report a death. Documents filed in Cass County District Court say police were called on Nov. 16 to a home on a report of an unresponsive man. Officers were let into the home by six minor children who directed them to the man lying on the living room floor. Efforts to revive him were unsuccessful. Authorities say Barrett knew the man had died when she left for work.

Thursday

High School Hockey

BOY’S HOCKEY

Ciara Duffy scored 20 points on 7-of-11 shooting and grabbed eight rebounds to help No. 25 South Dakota beat North Dakota 80-36. Monica Arens added 18 points, making all seven of her shots including four 3-pointers. Hannah Sjerven chipped in 14 points. South Dakota (16-2, 5-0 Summit League) led 72-20 after the third quarter and held the Bison to a season-best defensively for the game. Ryan Cobbins led North Dakota State (3-13, 0-4) with 15 points.