Valley City – On December 27, 2023, Mike Bishop, Vice President of the Board of City Commissioners, acting on behalf of Mayor Dave Carlsrud, declared a winter storm disaster for the City of Valley City as a result of the ice storm that moved through the area on December 25 and 26.  The purpose of the declaration is to mobilize resources and to appropriate and/or obtain necessary funds to aid in the clean-up of debris, maintenance of city services, and restoration of electric and other infrastructure.

A resolution to ratify and extend the emergency declaration will be heard at the regular commission meeting on January 4, 2024.

DECLARATION OF WINTER STORM DISASTER

WHEREAS, the City of Valley City has experienced unseasonal precipitation resulting in significant impacts affecting the entire City; and

WHEREAS, snow and freezing rain began on the evening of December 25, with bands of rain and freezing rain continuing through the evening of December 26, which have created thick layers of ice accumulation covering streets, trees, electric lines and other city infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, the ice accumulations have affected transportation within the City, overwhelmed the provision of City services including garbage pick-up, and resulted in downed trees, power poles and power lines, and loss of power provided by the Valley City Electric Department; and

WHEREAS, the nature of the storm and resulting damage is unprecedented; disaster preparation was not possible; and the costs of disaster mitigation are expected to substantially exceed amounts appropriated by the City for debris clean-up and maintenance and repair of electric infrastructure; and

WHEREAS, Section 19-01-03 of the Valley City Municipal Code authorizes the President of the Board of City Commissioners or Commissioner acting for the President to declare a local disaster or emergency if the President finds the city or any part thereof is suffering or is in imminent danger of suffering a natural or manmade disaster, civil emergency, or utility emergency; and

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED, that Vice President Mike Bishop, Commissioner for the City of Valley City, acting on behalf of the President, hereby finds that the City has suffered a significant ice event, and therefore declares a a winter storm disaster in the City of Valley City.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that local efforts shall be coordinated with appropriate county, state and federal departments, agencies and officials to take all appropriate action to properly and effectively respond to and mitigate the winter storm disaster.

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that exempt employees designated by the City Administrator are eligible for and authorized to receive payment of overtime during the declared winter storm disaster.

This emergency declaration is retroactive to December 25, 2023, and shall remain in effect for 30 days unless extended upon approval of the Board of Commissioners, or otherwise rescinded.

Dated this 27th day of December, 2023.

Brenda Klein, Finance Director Mike Bishop, VP of Board of Commissioners