Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Jamestown City Council met Friday (Jan 25, 2013) with the Stutsman Rural Water District at the SRWD Offices, to discuss water service territories.  NOW SHOWING ON CSi TV 67.

It was an official City Council meeting held at the SRWD office.

Council Member Buchanan was not present, being out of town.

Representing the City were…Mayor Andersen, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs, City Fire Chief Jim Reuther, and City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf, along with Council Members Charlie Kourajian, and Steve Brubakken.

Stutsman Rural Water District Manager Geneva Kaiser spoke along with board members that were on hand. A phone conference call was set up with the Rural Water District Attorney, outside legal counsel, and the outside city legal counsel.

The two entities have been meeting separately the past several weeks discussing proposals presented from each side.

The City and Stutsman Rural Water District are planning another joint meeting  the week of January 28, 2013, , after questions were raised on issues, relative to serving Titan Machinery, at their location west of Jamestown.

The city water pressure is based on having water tower storage, and other means to supply water, and includes a loop delivery system.

 Territorial boundaries are yet to be decided, which would  determine which entity would serve the Titan Machinery, which could be given the option of choosing who provides the business with water.

Water provide by the City of Jamestown Jamestown  would be less per 1,000 gallons, as the city would charge a large special assessment to bring water pipes to Titan.

Stutsman Rural Water District  charges more per 1,000 gallons.  However it currently has working pipes closer to Titan’s new location and would  cost less for the hookup.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs commented that any agreement must contain language that leads to both sides have potential for growth.

Fuchs, agreement, framwork,would extend any agreement to other areas.
 
It divides the territory around Jamestown between the city and Rural Water.
 
Further negotiations would include drawing the map.
 
  Rural Water, designated area would include SRWD building any water infrastructure and providing service to the customers.
  Fuchs said fire protection is a concern of the city.
 
 The water pipe infrastructure, meeting  city requirements relative to water flow and pressure of water necessary for fire-fighting uses,would come under rural water responsibility.
 
Under the proposal Rural Water would  purchase  water sold in those areas from the City of Jamestown at the current agreed rate,  equal to the cost the city charges its own residents.
 
Fuchs said the city would not be a wholesaler of water to Rural Water with  the rate charged  equal to its own retail rate.

The means by which the city and the Rural Water District would supply water, to Titan and other customers for fire protection.

Titan was asked to supply information on the type of water pressure needed for fire protection sprinklers.

Ms. Kaiser pointed out that the Rural Water District would supply the pipeline, at the water usage rate would be based in part on those costs.

The Stutsman Rural Water users engineer will supply information relative to those and other concerns.

City Engineer, Reed Schwartzkopf indicated that the city water lines range form 8 inches to 12 inches.

Fuchs  added, a resolution needs to be reached soon, concerning serving the new Titan Machinery building.

Following the joint meeting with the City Council and Stutsman Rural Water District Friday, the Water District met to discuss topics brought up at the joint meeting.

The Friday meeting was recorded by CSi TV with replays over the weekend on 10 and now showing on CSi 67.

At issue is whether the City of Jamestown, or Stutsman Rural Water District is to serve the area west of Jamestown, in this case, specifically the Titan Machinery building, under construction, across from Jamestown Regional Medical Center.

A city Ordinance outlines that any facility within city limits has to be serviced by the city, with this area previously annexed into Jamestown city limits.

Stutsman Rural Water District contends that a federal code protects rural water companies from cities going into their territory.

The City Of Jamestown and the Rural Water District are negotiating a royalty figure the city would pay and keep the rural water district from filing an injunction.

The City of Jamestown has retained outside legal counsel, and a consulting firm.

Thursday this week, in Bismarck, Mayor Andersen testified against a house bill 1269 in the state legislature, that would provide $9.97 million in funding for Stutsman Rural Water District’s expansion.

The bill was heard by the House Appropriations Committee at the North Dakota Capitol.

The Mayor testified that she opposes the bill because it may affect the territorial dispute between the city of Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water.