Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) — The Jamestown City Council’s Police, Committee, Fire Committee, and Public Works Committee met Thursday afternoon, (Oct 25, 2012) at City Hall.

With Police Committee business:

Committee members discussed salary increases for supervisors relative to twelve hour scheduling.

Police Chief Scott Edinger said, supervisors came up with the shifts, day and night.

He said doing that will put the staffing short a Sgt. And Lt.

He said the adjustment in shifts means a sgt. Would be assigned Lt. Positions and the and corporals will take on the responsibilty of the sgt.

He request an out of grade pay raise, for those moved up a position.

He said the schedule will be tried for a year, and then reviewed.

Mayor Andersen questioned the viability of twelve hour shifts, concerning fatgue.

The Chief said the change in schedule will be arranged so that the officers will actually be less stressed, and most officers were in favor of the change.

He said there would be five to six officers available on the street, compared to three now.

Supervisors will be on the street, rather than in the dispatch center, which is the case now.

 

The Mayor asked if the officers are aware that they would not be paid overtime, under the plan.

She pointed out that the elimination of overtime will balance the salary structure, and may save the city dollars.

 

She is also concerned about out of grade pay, relative to the positions responsibilities under the restructuring.

Council Member, Ramone Gumke, who is a Stutsman County Sheriff’s deputy, said he personally prefers a twelve hour shift, over a six to seven day stretch.

 

The committee unanimously recommends the plan be tried for a year.

 

Public Works Committee reviewed the cover letter and technical memo from AE2S relating to Water Treatment Plant Improvements.

Chairman Brubakken said the plant is not under compliance for ground water treatment, with the State, following an inspection.

Four options recommended are.. do nothing…abandon recycling water…modifications to the water treatment plant to comply with surface water treatment rules…go to an above ground operation.

City Engineer Reed Schwartzkoph favors a closed system for recycling water, with the water a resource.

He said the State Health Department will work with the city in planning, and implementing the plans.

City Administrator Jeff Fuchs suggested the city and State Health Department meet and consider and implement the options.

He added the city’s debt service is increasing just with projects that are in progress.

Mayor Andersen said the city needs to look at funding.

Mayor Andersen moved to send the issue to the City Council without recommendation, and directed the city to find out from the State Health Department to determine a time line for compliance.

Council Member Buchanan suggested keeping the issue in committee.

The committee recommends sending the issue to the City Council without recommendations.

The committee then reviewed the Concept Alternatives Report from Interstate Engineering, relating to the 2012, Sanitary Sewer Improvements project.

Darrell Hournbuckle gave a presentation on rehabing lift stations 8,9, and 10, along with information about  future northwest stations and force main alternatives.

He pointed out, that lift station eight has associated clay pipes installed about 1900.

He outlined options including replacing lift station 8, 9 and 10, and other possible alternative combinations.

City officials are in favor of replacing lift stations 8, 9, and 10, and changing the flow of the system, through new infrastructure.

Hournbuckle outlined possible routes and the impacts of the project on traffic flow interruptions, and to access to  homes and other structures.

Least pipe vs. least traffic interruption.

He added the improvements, if in place during the 2009 flooding, would have taken the stress off the aging infrastructure, and eliminated the need to pump raw sewage into the river.

 Mayor Andersen said the City Council needs time to digest all the information Hournbuckle related in Thursday’s power point presentation.

Chairman Brubakken agreed that information needs to be in the committee’s hands sooner.

Mayor Andersen said she preferred the installation route of less traffic interruption, with the north route.

Council member Gumke preferred the installation route least affecting homes along the route.

On Thursday, the committee moved the item to the City Council agenda without recommendation.

 

A change order relating to Phase I, Part B, Water Treatment Plant Improvements was recommended for approval, with the exception of a design flaw that needs correction.

 

Discussion concerning curbside recycling at the request of Francis Silbernagel, was tabled until further information and an explanation is available from Silbernagel.

 

The Committee then discussed the Alana Addition alley vacation at the request of Nancy Williams.

City Administrator Fuchs says a pervious council action turned down the request, because a full panel was not present to vote on the original request with a two thirds majority of the panel required, and not just a two thirds of those council members present.

The committee recommends reconsideration of the original request at the City Council meeting.  Mayor Andersen voted against, and Council Member Gumke was not present at Thursday’s meeting when the vote was taken.

 

The request from Leo and Kari Ness, tabled from the October 1, 2012, City Council meeting, regarding interest in purchasing City Lots in Beverly Hills 6th Addition, was discussed

Tim Dabill who previously requested purchasing the lots, at Thursday’s meeting, said he in the interim the Ness offer came in to the City council.

Dabill’s was an offer to purchase, which was approved, pending Dabill’s wish to purchase a fourth lot.

The Ness offer that then came to the committee was conditional.

Kari Ness said their proposal is for multiple housing units, but is uncommitted, and requested a six month stand-still period.

The Dabill plan is committed, with a March 2013 start date.

The committee recommends, recinding the current action, with Dabill, and give the Ness’s the first position to purchase all lots, and Dabill in the second position.

The second motion approved recommends the Ness’s have a stand still provision until April 30, 2013.

And Dabilll has 30 days to execute a purschase offer, after notified of the lots availability.

 

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