Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — Prior to the committee meetings Thursday (Feb 21, 2013) the Jamestown City Council met in Special Session.

 All members were present.

The Council Members approved a Change Order to Sellin Brothers, Inc., for a net increase in the contract price of $125,847.91, and directed Ultieg Engineers to complete and close-out the East Business Loop Reconstruction Project.

The City Council then authorized the City to enter into a pipeline license…an easement to run the sewer line across railroad property, with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company at 3rd Avenue Southwest, 2nd Avenue Southeast, 7th Street Southeast and 10th Street Southeast, for the 2012 Sanitary Sewer, Lift Stations and Force Main Improvements Project.

 

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — After the City Council meeting, committees met Thursday afternoon (Feb 21, 2013) at City Hall.

Police & Fire Committee had no items for discussion at this time.

 

The Public Works committee considered the request from Great River Energy to perform a quality and capacity analysis of the city’s entire wastewater treatment facility, including the mechanical plant and lagoons…and secure a proposal from Apex Engineering to perform the analysis. Mayor Andersen moved that Apex give the city a cost estimate, and based on that, recommend further breakdown in costs between the city and GRE, which was recommended for approval by the committee.

 

The Committee considered a request from Jamestown Regional Medical Center for the city’s assistance with a request to the NDDOT to reduce the speed limit on I-94.

President Todd Hudspeth said, there have been close calls with near accidents with traffic from the JRMC accessing the interstate from Exit 257. Committee member Gumke agreed. City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said the NDDOT is not in favor of the speed reduction. The NDDOT encourages local traffic using the frontage road, instead of the interstate.

Mayor Andersen said the city’s Land Use and Transportation study will likely address that issue as well.

The committee’s consensus is to address the issues, after the release of the Land Use and Transportation Plan in about 18 months.

 

The committee discussed delaying Paving District #13-41, scheduled this summer. City Engineer Schwartzkopf said with other work to be done in the district, with the sanitary sewer project in the area this summer, its better to put off the paving for a year.

The committee recommends rescinding the Resosution of Necessity for the paving district work.

 

Discussion was held regarding the possible districting for the Sanitary Lift Station Improvement project.

City Engineer Schwartzkopf said he was looking for committee input on suggestions on how to special assess the district.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs suggested the lift station projects be lumped together and assessed as a whole.

He said the force main project costs could be paid out of utility user fees.

Mayor Andersen said it would be difficult to outline areas served, to be specially assessed.

She pointed out that a portion of the City Sales Tax is earmarked for infrastructure improvements, and all of that be used, in conjunction with bonding for the project, and adjusting user fees.

Council Member Buchanan asked if the city sales tax dollars would be tied up if other infrastructure projects need funding.

The committee’s consensus is to ask City Administrator Jeff Fuchs to put together numbers for possible options.

 

Then considered was the Citywide instrumentation and control system needs assessment report and proposal letter from AE2S.

City Engineer Schwartzkopf said older equipment will use more dollars put into the system, rather than the option of installing new equipment ….an additional $5,000 of every $10,000 will be put into the older equipment, which is experiences failures.

The estimated project cost is about $600,000 for new equipment.

The committee recommends the staff proceed with repairs, with the AE2S proposal, in the amount of about $15,000.

 

Traffic Engineering proposals were then considered.

Schwartzkopf said one proposal removed traffic counting equipment and instead using cameras.

The committee sent the proposals to the City Council without recommendation.

A bid award recommendation was discussed relating to the Two New Cold Storage Buildings, one for the Sanitation Department and one for the Street Department.

The committee recommends accepting the bid of Schumacher Construction.

 

Discussion then related to three residences buyouts on 17th Ave SW and approximately 2nd St SW.

City Engineer Schwartzkopf indicated in talks with FEMA that a formal request needs to be made to FEMA for a flood map revision. He said during the 2009 flood event, it was not possible to prevent breeches and leaks in dikes in that area.

FEMA said the property damages were caused by ground water issues.

He said two of three residents would receive buyout assistance under the revised map.

The committee recommends filing the information.

The committee recommends approving the 2013 City of Jamestown Standard Specifications. (Copies available in the Engineering office)

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