Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Thursday afternoon at 4-p.m., at City Hall.  Council Member Brubakken was not present.

Discussed was entering into a Construction and Maintenance Agreement for a State Aid Project with the ND Department of Transportation for the Frontier Village Access Road.

Rebuilding the collapsed section at the Frontier Village road, above the amphitheater, previously went out for bids, as unanimous approved by the Frontier Village Association Board.

60 percent of the project costs come from a Special Road Fund of the North Dakota Department of Transportation, with the Jamestown City of Jamestown having approved the contract to start the design and soil investigation before work starts.

A solid, level base will be the foundation, with a large block modular wall to be constructed on top of it.

The City Council voted,  unanimously to approve.

Following that meeting….

Jamestown  (CSi)  The Jamestown City Council’s Police & Fire, and Public Works Committees met Thursday following the Special City Council meeting.  Council Member Brubakken was not present.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Frontier Village Association President, Nellie Degen, expressed concerns about  the public access road at the Frontier Village.

Degen asked the City Council reconsider the public access  (road) to Frontier Village and keep the gates to the village closed, during the off season.

She said in cooperation with the National Buffalo Museum the gates are closed overnight during the tourist season, and left open other times of the year.  The Century Code indicates that any gates be closed overnight.

She said she contacted the State Historical Society which said the property needs to be protected.

She said Jamestown Police patrols the Village when the gates are open, adding the police department has key access to the gates when closed.

She added recorded security camera footage is sent to authorities, when necessary.

Police Chief Edinger said the Village has been vandalized and items stolen in the past and a breach had occurred in the north fence.  He recommended the gates be closed as discussed.

 

She asked the city to request the Village gates be closed during the appropriate times.

Frontier Village Secretary Treasurer Tina Busche said the store owners in the Village have security concerns when the gates are left open, adding vandalism and theft issues, and horses that have been injured.

Village Merchant Tom Mueller said his store has been entered when it was closed and locked three times.  He noted valuable artifacts that are stored in some  buildings. He said an attorney suggested the plat be changed or vacated.

Business owner Charlie Tanata said a “handshake agreement,” was initiated a few years ago between the Village and the National Buffalo Museum that the gates would be opened and closed during the tourism off-season.  He requested the gates be closed and locked when the Museum is not open.

Paul Olson said a letter was sent to the Frontier Village Board, indicating that the gates be left open on a trial basis, for visitor car counting purposes.

Museum Director Ilona Xinos said the gates open and close based on the museum hours.

Mayor Andersen said during the off-season tourists are interested in visiting the Buffalo Monument at all times of year.

Council Member  Buchanan questioned if the gates could be operated electrically.

City Attorney Leo Ryan said the plat indicates the road is dedicated to public access.

Degen and Busche said the Frontier Village insurance carrier has indicted that their policy will be cancelled if the gates can not be closed.

Ryan said the insurance carrier should not be dependent on public road access for insurance purposes.

 

Previously Jamestown City Attorney Leo Ryan issued a memo regarding legal documents concerning the access road through Frontier Village, and it remaining un-gated at all times.

According to Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen  legal documentation  outlines the land lease agreement the city has with Frontier Village.

A February 14, 2018  letter from the city attorneys to the National Buffalo Museum stated that the 2003 plat & lease from the city to Frontier Village, designates Louis L’Amour Lane,  and a maintenance road, as public right of way.

Council Member Gumke said, vacating the road would mean the city would lose federal fund, and suggested looking at options surrounding the gate issues as the Village has unique security concerns.

Ryan said the nature of it being a public access road needs to be researched and Mayor Andersen said the possibility of an automated gate should be looked at.

In other business:

The committee  recommends entering into a Cost Participation, Construction and Maintenance agreement with the ND Department of Transportation for the Jamestown Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Sidewalk Project.

 

The committee moved to  approve the Final Balancing Change Order No. 3, to Swanberg Construction, Inc., on the Automatic Rake Bar Screen Improvements Project to next months Public Works meeting, pending additional information.

 

The committee   recommends to approve, the  Stutsman County request to approve Maintenance and Nonencroachment Agreement between City of Jamestown and ND DOT in order to secure federal funding for project located at Jamestown 29th Street SE (37th Street SE) & County Rd 39.

 

On the topic of recycling Ralph Friebel said virtually all the recycling carts have been distributed, and damaged carts are being addressed.

He said some smaller recycling carts are available.

He said at apartment buildings, the recycling dumpsters are in the process of being delivered, and site issues being addressed.

Recycling collections will be made curb side while garbage is being collected temporarily at the curb, while the city suspends alley collections due to soft alleyways.

Anyone with questions and concerns can call Recycling at 701-320-9218.

 

POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE

No agenda items at this time

The meetings  were shown live on CSi 67, followed by replays.