CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…Partly cloudy. Scattered snow showers possibly mixed with rain showers in the evening. Lows in the upper 20s. West winds 15 to 20 mph. Chance of precipitation 30 percent in the evening in the Jamestown area 50 percent in the Valley City area.

.TUESDAY…Sunny. A 30 percent chance of snow possibly mixed with

rain in the afternoon and evening. Highs in the upper 30s. West winds 10 to

20 mph.

.TUESDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. A 20 percent chance of snow in

the evening in the Jamestown area, 30 percent in the Valley City area. Lows in the mid 20s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

.WEDNESDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s. Southwest

winds 10 to 15 mph.

.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy with a 20 percent chance of rain

possibly mixed with snow in the evening, then partly cloudy after

midnight. Lows around 30.

.THURSDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the upper 30s.

.THURSDAY NIGHT…Mostly clear. Lows 15 to 20.

.FRIDAY…Sunny. Highs in the mid 30s.

.FRIDAY NIGHT…Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.SATURDAY…Mostly sunny. Highs in the lower 40s.

.SATURDAY NIGHT…Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 20s.

.SUNDAY…Cloudy with a 20 percent chance of snow. Highs in the

upper 30s.

 

Gusty southwest winds Monday gusting to 40 mph are expected along

with the chance for light snow and rain. Snow accumulation is

expected to be around 1 inches in northwest and west-central

Minnesota.

Multiple chances for light snow and a wintry mix of rain and snow

are forecast Tuesday through Thursday possibly leading to minor

travel impacts. Windy conditions are expected Thursday with gusts

possibly as high as 50 mph, possibly leading to patchy blowing and

drifting snow.

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session Monday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

HEARING FROM THE AUDIENCE: (Individuals may address the City Council about any item not contained on the agenda. A maximum of 15 minutes is allotted for the hearing. If the full 15 minutes are not needed, the City Council will continue with the agenda. The City Council will take no official action on items discussed at the hearing, with the exception of referral to staff or Committee.)

Tom Tracy questioned an Ordinance pertaining to regulating sexually oriented isssues.

He said it is a comprehensive Ordinances. He said even though, he said it does not cover non-alcoholic premises, with performers scantily clothed which he said occurred, this past weekend. He suggested amending the city Ordinance to address more restrictions.

Pastor Tom Eckstein said he would like to see more stringent ordinances in place as well.

Another individual addressed the proposal of no curbside citywide clean up this year, and asked for a continuance of the action, so unwanted items can be shared.   Mayor Heinrich said the rules have not been strictly followed in the past, and may be reviewed for the future.

CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS  DISCUSSED SEPARATELY:

To provide more time to discuss controversial or disputed issues, the Council will consider the items on the consent agenda together at the beginning of the public meeting. These items are considered to be routine and will be enacted by one motion. If a member of the City Council or public requests to be heard on one of these items, the Council will remove the item from the consent agenda and consider that item individually.

Among Resolutions approved on the Consent Agenda:

  • Leases with Frontier Village tenants.
  • The Frontier Village stagecoach agreement
  • Approved changing the 2020 Citywide Residential Curbside Clean Up to a Residential Drop Off at the Baler Facility.

Council Member Buchanan asked to remove for discussion Item E, to approved, in principle, the action plan to replace the State of North Dakota ladder truck at the Jamestown Fire Department. He asked for benchmarks being addressed on the fundraiser.

Mayor Heinrich reviewed the situation surrounding the need for a new truck, and that the State will no longer finance the truck, and how to raise funds for a new truck.  He pointed out the need for contributions, in conjunction with business and industry donations, and city and state contributions.

Following the discussion, the Council vote unanimously to approve.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS:

The City Council approved and authorized the issuance of improvement warrants and exchange Refunding Improvement Bonds of 2020, Series AC, and award the sale of Refunding Improvement Bonds to First Bank Securities at an average annual net interest rate of 1.32 %, with a seven year maturity.

A PUBLIC HEARING was held: Concerning Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #20-41 protests and the sufficiency thereof. No One Spoke.

It was then determined that the protests have been found to be insufficient to bar proceeding with Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #20-41.

Council Members authorized the City Engineer to develop detailed plans, specifications and estimates for Seal Coat, Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #20-41.

A  PUBLIC HEARING was held: Concerning the failure to comply with the notice of dangerous building condition at 202 Business Loop West.   City Building Inspector Tom Blackmore explained that last winter heavy snow collapsed the canopy, at which time Blackmore deemed the structure unsafe.  In January this the roof collapsed on the same building from the weight of more snow.  That portion of the building was determined as not inhabitable. This year, the owner was advised to provide the city with a plan of corrections, which Blackmore said he did not do. He advised the owner of Monday’s City Council Hearing to address the issue.

Base on the rooflines, Blackmore said there may be more than one building involved. The two adjacent structures are of similar construction. Blackmore said a structural analysis needs to be performed, concerning the Salvation Thrift Store, structure, and whether it should remain standing.

He said a report indicated that to repair the building it would cost more than demolition, and determined there are two separate structures, and the building east of the Salvation is not safe to inhabit. The west building analysis has not been conducted.

The building owner Russ Melland, spoke and said the building was constructed in 1957.

He said an engineer reported that the destroyed east section is cost prohibitive to repair. He added that the Melland family has determined it is not prudent to repair the structure, and that the west side, the Salvation Army building may not be safe for continued occupancy, pending additional evaluation, and bringing it up to the current building code. Contractor Jim Schmacher said that upon his inspection roof, the east building is not constructed to withstand a heavy snow load, and the same for the west building.

Salvation Army Major Judy Lowder said the Salvation Army thrift store is seeking another location, which has not yet been found.

The City Council then approved to take such action as deemed necessary on the property at 202 Business Loop West and declared the east portion of the building to be unsafe.

The City Council then approved an order to demolish the building, by May 1st, 2020.

The City Council considered a draft Resolution for an emergency protection policy for the City of Jamestown.

Mayor Heinrich said any policy needs to be addressed during a non-flood event time period, to stay consistent with flood mitigation actions taken last fall, specifically on private property.

Stutsman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist said, FEMA requires a city protection policy to be in place for federal assistance. The Corps of Engineers will not reimburse costs for mitigation on private property.

City Engineer, Travis Dillman suggested a committee review the policy and direction, and make a recommendation to the City Council.

The City Council on Monday, concluded to table the item and bring the information to the Public Works Committee meeting this month, or possible call for a Special City Council meeting.

Approved was  awarding the bid for the Jamestown Civic Center Roofing Removal and Replacement, ‘Area C’, Project to A & R Roofing in the amount of $118,267.

Other bids received were rejected on procedure.

Approved was the request from ND Buffalo Foundation for a site authorization to conduct gaming at the Jamestown Civic Center on June 17, 2020.

 

ORDINANCES:

A FIRST READINGS Were approved: Concerning the following ordinances:

 

  • 1)An ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 21-02-10 of the City Code pertaining to Classification and Disposition of Traffic Offenses; Fees; Duties of halting officer

 

  • 2) An ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 21-04-06 of the City Code pertaining to Persons Under the Influence of Intoxicating Liquor or Any Other Drugs or Substances Not to Operate Vehicle; Penalt
  • 3) An ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 21-08-01 of the City Code pertaining to Immediate Notice of Accident; Penalty.
  • 4) An ordinance to repeal Section 21-10-01 of the City Code pertaining to Leaving Motor Vehicles Unattended.
  • 5) An ordinance to amend and re-enact Section 22-15.1 of the City Code pertaining to Firearms Loaded in Vehicle.
  • 6) An ordinance to enact Section 22-53 of the City Code pertaining to Service Animal – Misrepresentation; Penalty.
  • A SECOND READING of an Ordinance was  approved, to amend and re-enact Sections of the City Code pertaining to the Building Code and Plumbing Code
  • APPOINTMENTS:
  • Appointed was Kilzer to serve as a member of the Board of Adjustment for a three year term to January 2023.
  • Appointed Emmy Rhorda to serve as a city member of the James River Valley Library System Board for a three year term to March 2023.
  • Appointed LeRoy Gross to serve as the City employee representative and Dan Buchanan as the City Council representative on the Pension Committee for one year terms to March 2021.

MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBER’S REPORT:

Dan Buchanan said he was saddened at the passing of Leonard Palmer a former Jamestown Police Officer.

Mayor Heinrich said the NAIA National Women’s Wrestling is returning to Jamestown this month.

Pam Phillips reminded, the 2020 Census will be taken soon, and encourages participation.

OTHER BUSINESS:

Approval of the requests for street closings and/or permits to allow alcoholic beverages in fenced areas for the St. Patrick’s Day Run, on March 21, 2020, for the following:

All Vets Club;

Buffalo Lanes, Inc.;

Corner Bar;

Cork and Barrel, Inc.(Elk’s location);

Middles LLC d/b/a Fred’s Den;

Frontier Fort Bar & Grill;

Jonny B’s Brickhouse;

Knights of Columbus;

Office Bar & Lounge;

Shady’s; and

Wonder Bar Sports Bar.

Approved the request to recognize the Stutsman County Wildlife Federation as an other public spirited organization and authorize the issuance of a raffle permit.

The City Council voted to recognize the District 5NE Lions as an other public spirited organization and authorize the issuance of a raffle permit.

Approved was the request from Jamestown Country Club dba Elks Lodge for an On-Sale alcoholic beverage license at 324 2nd Ave SW, Jamestown, ND, for the period April 1, 2020, through June 30, 2020.

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

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says, the city is keeping up to date with weekly meetings with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, concerning the spring snow melt and releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams.

On Monday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 the mayor said the James River has had flows of 600 cfs, through the winter, as the two dam releases, have lessened the amount of ice cover, and the chance of ice jams.   He pointed out that several unknown factors still exist on a potential flood in Jamestown, including the rate of snow melt, especially north of Jamestown coming into the reservoirs and snow melt in the city, as the storm sewer system passes the water into the river.

Also to be considered it the amount of later winter snow water content and the amount of spring rain that is coming.

Mayor Heinrich added that the city has sandbags in storage, from last fall’s placement, that can be filled, if needed, and placed at locations in the city for flood mitigation.  Officials are hoping that no more sandbags will be needed than what were place in Jamestown last fall.

(See Feb 28, 2020 news release from the Corps. of Engineers)

On another topic, Mayor Heinrich said, the Jamestown City Elections will be held in June, along with the Jamestown City Park Board and Jamestown School Board elections.

The deadline to file petitions to run for the city elections including three City Council Elections up for election is April 6 2020, as are two City Park Board positions.  These are the final city elections, and NOT a nomination process. Petition forms are available at City Hall.

City Administrator Sarah Hellekson suggests that the petitions be drawn up by the city, so as to contain the proper wording, and number of signatures needed.

Jamestown  (JRMC)   —  Jamestown Regional Medical Center is pleased to welcome Holli Marquart, APRN, CNP to the JRMC Wound & Hyperbaric Center team.

Originally from Steele, N.D., Marquart received her Master in Science of Nursing Family Nurse Practitioner from the University of North Dakota in Grand Forks, N.D. She became a nurse in 2002 because of her passion for helping people. She also enjoys the geriatric population and has worked with them for 12 years.

Marquart says“I am thrilled to join the wound clinic and great JRMC specialty team. I am excited to serve the Jamestown and surrounding areas as a specialty provider.  My goal is to not only help patients with wound healing, but to get to know them on a personal level.”

JRMC Chief Nursing Officer, Trisha Jungels, says, “JRMC is excited for Holli to join our wound team. Holli is enthusiastic and committed to providing the best care to patients and our community.”

The JRMC Wound & Hyperbaric Center team includes Family Nurse Practitioner Amanda Lausch, Dr. Kayla Emter and Healogics Program Director Lesli Scharbrough. Onboarding Marquart means the wound center will have a provider on-site daily and will increase patient capacity.

JRMC Clinic Manager, Patty Kline, adds, “We welcome Holli to our Wound & Hyperbaric Center team. We are excited for this opportunity to provide additional patients with legendary healthcare.”

When Marquart is not working, she enjoys spending time gardening, traveling, fishing and enjoying the outdoors with her two children and husband, Derik.

JRMC was the first hospital in North Dakota to offer hyperbaric oxygen therapy.

To learn more about the Wound & Hyperbaric Center, call (701) 952-4878 or visit www.jrmcnd.com/wound.

About Jamestown Regional Medical Center

Jamestown Regional Medical Center is located at 2422 20th St. SW, Jamestown, N.D., and serves approximately 55,000 people in nine counties. In 2019, it was named a “Top 100 Critical Access Hospital” as well as a “Best Places to Work in Healthcare.” For more information, visit www.jrmcnd.com or call (701) 952-1050.

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The Jamestown City  Planning Commission meeting scheduled for March 9, 2020 has been cancelled as there are no items of business. The next regularly scheduled Planning Commission meeting will be April 13, 2020 at 8:00 a.m.

Jamestown  (CSi)  Jamestown Public Schools will have no school on Thursday, March 12, 2020 and Friday, March 13, 2020 for spring break.  School will resume at the regular time on Monday, March 16, 2020.  Buses will run at the regular scheduled times.

OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — Worries about a new virus that’s infected tens of thousands of people globally are making a mark on the economy of a nine-state region in the Midwest and Plains. A new survey report says the Mid-American Business Conditions Index sank in February to 52.8 from 57.2 in January. Creighton University economist Ernie Goss oversees the survey, and he says the softer reading and the economic harm from the virus should concern policymakers. Survey organizers say any score above 50 suggests growth. A score below suggests decline. The survey covers Arkansas, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oklahoma and South Dakota.

BISMARCK, N.D. (Bismarck Tribune) — Community leaders in North Dakota’s oil patch communities are ramping up efforts to encourage census involvement, noting that population totals have a decade long impact on federal funding. The Bismarck Tribune reports that county officials are hoping the next census, which begins this month, accurately reflects their population size. Since the shale oil boom in places like Williston and Watford City, the population increase has not matched their official census counts.

In sports…

Valley City  (VCSU)  Valley City State University sophomore Riley Perryman has been named the NSAA Softball Player of the Week, the conference office announced Monday.

North Star Athletic Association Softball Player-of-the-Week
Riley Perryman – Valley City State (N.D.) – 5’5″ – Sophomore – Outfielder – Cottage Grove, Minn. – Perryman hit .667 for the week as Valley City State (N.D.) went 1-3 record in the Minot State (N.D.) tournament.  She recorded at least a hit in all four games, including three multi-hit games.  She smashed a home run, drew three walks and drove in four runs in Vikings’ 21-4 rout over Providence (Mont.).  For the week, Perryman was 8-of-12 at the plate with five runs scored.  She collected six RBIs and reached on base by a walk five times.  She registered a slugging percentage of .917 in the tournament.

In world and national news…

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — The death toll from the coronavirus in the U.S. has climbed to six, and the disease has spread to ever more countries and world capitals, even as new cases in China have dropped to their lowest level in six weeks. A shift in the crisis appeared to be underway: Hundreds patients have been released from hospitals in China, and the World Health Organization says nine times more cases have reported outside China than inside it over the past 24 hours.

 

(AP)  Amy Klobuchar is ending her Democratic presidential campaign and is set to endorse Joe Biden. Her campaign says she is flying to Dallas and plans to join Biden at his rally Monday night. The Minnesota senator is the third presidential candidate to drop out of the race in less than 48 hours, following Pete Buttigieg’s departure on Sunday and Tom Steyer’s exit on Saturday. Their decisions reflect an urgent push among moderates to consolidate behind Biden as a counter to progressive rival Bernie Sanders. Klobuchar outlasted several better-known and better-funded Democrats, thanks to a better-than-expected third-place finish in in New Hampshire. But she couldn’t turn that into success elsewhere.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Pete Buttigieg is endorsing his former Democratic rival Joe Biden for president. Two people familiar with Buttigieg’s decision say the former South Bend, Indiana, mayor will appear with Biden at a rally in Dallas on Monday night, a day after he dropped his own White House bid. They were not authorized to speak publicly and spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity. Buttigieg is the second 2020 candidate to exit the race and put his backing behind Biden. Earlier Monday, Minnesota Sen. Amy Klobuchar decided to end her campaign, and she plans to appear with Biden at the rally, as well.

 

Stocks are rising sharply on Wall Street Monday as the market claws back a small part of the losses it took in a seven-day rout brought on by worries that the coronavirus outbreak will stunt the global economy. Technology stocks are leading the gains. U.S. stocks are coming off their worst weekly drop since the financial crisis of 2008. Gloomy forecasts for the world economy have hurt sentiment. The Dow climbed 723 points, or 2.9%, to 26,132 as of 2 p.m. Eastern time. The S&P 500 index and Nasdaq rose 2.3%. Bond prices rose again, sending yields lower.

 

MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin has submitted a slew of proposed amendments to the country’s constitution that include a mention of God and describe marriage as a heterosexual union. Putin has argued that the changes are needed to broaden the powers of parliament and bolster democracy, while Kremlin foes have described them as part of Putin’s efforts to extend his rule. On Monday, Putin presented additional amendments, including an article that pledges homage to “our ancestors who bequeathed to us their ideals and a belief in God.” Another amendment describes marriage as a “union of a man and a woman,” a wording in sync with Putin’s long-stated opposition to same-sex marriages.

 

WASHINGTON (AP) — Defense Secretary Mark Esper says he has given the top U.S. commander in Afghanistan the go-ahead to begin the initial withdrawal of U.S. troops. Esper said he was not sure whether it began Monday but said Gen. Scott Miller in Kabul has the authority to begin now. Speaking alongside Esper at the Pentagon Monday, the U.S. military’s top general said there’s no expectation that violence in Afghanistan will “go to zero” quickly, following the U.S.-Taliban peace agreement announced on Saturday. Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it would be unrealistic to think that violence would stop immediately.