Update.. Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News May 21, 2013) — Members of the Stutsman Rural Water District Board of Directors may not attend a proposed joint meeting May 28 of entities proposed by the City of Jamestown.

The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session at 4-p.m. on Monday (May 20, 2013) at City Hall.

The Council then recessed into Executive Session for the purpose of consulting with the City Attorney concerning territorial service claims by Stutsman Rural Water.

Following the Executive Session the open meeting was reconvened.

Mayor Andersen said, a meeting date is being tentatively planned for May 28,  between the City, Stutsman Rural Water District, along with USDA Rural Development officials, and possibly a representative of North Dakota Public Finance Authority.

The negotiation session is pending the availability of all parties.

The joint meeting may not be attended members of the Rural Water Board of Directors.

Geneva Kaiser, manager of Stutsman Rural Water, said, “The board sees it as a public bickering session.”

Mayor Andersen said the meeting would be held no matter who attended.　

At issue is which entity will serve Titan Machinery’s location under construction west of Jamestown, and other parcels in that area, within the one mile extra-territory of Jamestown.

The City of Jamestown has offered to allow SRWD to serve Titan in exchange for the city to serve any new development in the quarter section of land directly south of the entrance to Jamestown Regional Airport.

The quarter includes some areas served by Jamestown and allows the city to extend water lines into the rest of the area.

SRWD wants a long-term agreement to protect users from higher sewer rates if the home received water from Stutsman Rural Water and sewer service from Jamestown.

Also at issue is the boundary line between the utilities. Jamestown is asking to use the city limits as they existed in 2010 when Stutsman Rural Water received federal loans and protection under federal law. The Rural Water District wants to use the 1999 city limits when Rural Water was incorporated as a water district.

The open portion of the May 20, 2013, meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67.

 

Previously…

Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session at 4-p.m. on Monday (May 20, 2013) at City Hall.

The Council then recessed into Executive Session for the purpose of consulting with the City Attorney concerning territorial service claims by Stutsman Rural Water.

At issue is which entity will serve Titan Machinery’s location under construction west of Jamestown, and other parcels in that area, within the one mile extra-territory of Jamestown.

The City of Jamestown has offered to allow SRWD to serve Titan in exchange for the city to serve any new development in the quarter section of land directly south of the entrance to Jamestown Regional Airport.

The quarter includes some areas served by Jamestown and allows the city to extend water lines into the rest of the area.

Those present during Monday’s Executive Session were: Mayor Andersen, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs, City Council Members Kourajian, Gumke Brubakken, and Buchanan. Also present were City Attorney Ken Dalsted, Assistant City Attorney Mary Jensen, Utility Superintendent Steve Suko, City Fire Chief Jim Reuther

On the telephone conference call was Tammy Norgaard from the Vogel Law Firm in Fargo.

Following the Executive Session the open meeting was reconvened.

Mayor Andersen said, a meeting date is being tentatively planned for May 28, 2013, between the City, Stutsman Rural Water District, along with USDA Rural Development officials, and possibly a representative of North Dakota Public Finance.

The negotiation session is pending the availability of all parties.

The open portion of  Monday’s the meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67.