– Update: “High Noon” at Frontier Village

Update: Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim Reuther says the City of Jamestown’s classic fire truck that was removed from the Frontier Village “Fire Department,” building has been stored in one of the former Lefevre buildings in Jamestown.

CSiNewsNow exclusive photos

He also says the fire department artifacts that were loaned to Frontier Village have city inventory tags, attached, indicating the items are city property. Those items are being stored in a trailer for safe keeping.

Previously…

It was “High Noon” on Weds Oct 30 when members of the Jamestown Fire Department removed the Fire Truck from the Frontier Village “Fire Dept” display building for safe keeping after learning the FVA may be sending Village items to Minn. Chief Reuther stated all items in the “Fire Dept” belonged to JFD. Later on Weds, the City Council held a Special Meeting to take up two resolutions regarding the future of Frontier Village. The meeting aired live on CSi 67 & 10. Video online.

Jamestown (Jamestown Tourism) In an email news release Tuesday, Tourism Director Searle Swedlund says “. . . items are being removed from Frontier Village”.

He says: “In communication with the City of Jamestown and the City of Perham, Minnesota, items have begun being removed from the Frontier Village. So many items were donated in good faith by members of the Jamestown community. Jamestown Tourism has taken it upon itself to let the public know now is the time to contact the Frontier Village Board of Directors with questions and concerns.”

Jamestown Tourism has prepared a fact sheet along with the contacts of the Frontier Village Board should members of the community have questions or like to request the status of their artifacts.

Fact Sheet
1. The Frontier Village attraction will continue to be part of Jamestown. Under new management it will evolve as a new visitor experience by enhancing the historical/educational opportunities. In question are the artifacts, fixtures and buildings.

2. The Frontier Village Association (FVA), the 9 member volunteer board, has made the decision to give away, sell, and/or dispose the artifacts of Frontier Village.

3. The City has requested RFPs from any interested entity to manage the property. The Frontier Village Association has decided that this is futile and in the most recent communications will not submit a proposal. The National Buffalo Museum has submitted a letter of intent. Other entities can do so as well.

4. The Lease with the City – The land defined as the Frontier Village is owned by the City of Jamestown and the City leases it to the FVA. The buildings, playground equipment, gate, which are considered fixtures, are in dispute and could already belong to the City as part of the property.

5. What does not belong to the Frontier Village Association: J.A. Kirkpatrick Gallery (belongs to the Arts Center), World’s Largest Buffalo, the buffalo herd, and National Buffalo Museum.

6. Artifacts – Many people in the community have loaned items to the Frontier Village Association in good faith. If there is no deed of gift or receipt, you can contact the FVA board of directors to request items be returned. The City of Perham has communicated with the City of Jamestown that many of these items have already been removed and are in their possession. These items are not part of the Lease with the City of Jamestown, and thus individuals should contact the Frontier Village Association board directly.

7. Why Perham? In the October 28, 2019 article of the Perham Focus newspaper states that they were told by the FVA that the City of Jamestown was planning to tear down these buildings. That is not the case.

8. The Lawyer – Who is paying for the lawyer is uncertain. There are no minutes from previous FVA meetings stating, making a motion, or voting to hire an attorney.

9. Jamestown Tourism’s relation to the Frontier Village – Jamestown Tourism helps support activities related to the Jamestown Tourism (JT) mission. The mission being: to coordinate, promote, and support tourism growth and development in Jamestown, N.D. and the surrounding area. At the core of the dilemma with FVA is Jamestown Tourisms desire to see the Frontier Village grow and thrive.

10. Funding – The City of Jamestown through Jamestown Tourism and the City Promotion Capital Construction Fund have provided in good faith $639,441 to the Frontier Village Association from 2010 to 2019.

How can Jamestown citizens save these artifacts?
– If you have provided items to the Frontier Village Association, please direct questions related to those items to the FVA board of directors. Do it soon, as artifacts have already been released by the Frontier Village Association.
– On Thursday, October 24, 2019, the Frontier Village Association voted to sell, convey, mortgage, pledge, lease, exchange, transfer and otherwise dispose of all or any part of its property and assets. The Board voted to delegate that authority to the manager, Nichole Mosolf.

Prepared by Searle Swedlund, Executive Director, Jamestown Tourism on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. Jamestown Tourism. 701 251-9145 – office

www.DiscoverJamestownND.com

Frontier Village fact sheet

Previous CSiNewsNow story, “Future of Frontier Village yet to be decided”

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Frontier Village Board List provided by Jamestown Tourism:

Nichole Mosolf: Executive Director: 701-320-3028

Jay Mickelson Board President: 701-368-1401

Melody Mittledider Vice President: 701-541-3477

Tina Busche Secretary Treasurer: 701-320-2725

Joann Herrick: Board Member 701-252-6645

Jason Holland: Board Member 701-891-8426