Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Jan 20

CSi Weather…

.TONIGHT…A 50 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE EVENING…THEN SNOW
LIKELY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

SNOW ACCUMULATION UP TO 1 INCH. STORM
TOTAL 1 TO 2 INCHES IN THE JAMESTOWN AREA.

 LOWS AROUND
20. NORTH WINDS 5 TO 10 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY…CLOUDY. A 40 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING.
HIGHS IN THE MID 20S. NORTH WINDS AROUND 10 MPH.
.WEDNESDAY NIGHT…DECREASING CLOUDS. LOWS AROUND 15. WEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.THURSDAY…MOSTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE MID 30S. SOUTHWEST WINDS
10 TO 20 MPH.
.THURSDAY NIGHT THROUGH FRIDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS IN THE
MID 20S. HIGHS IN THE UPPER 30S.
.SATURDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF SNOW IN THE MORNING…
THEN SLIGHT CHANCE OF RAIN AND SNOW IN THE AFTERNOON. HIGHS IN
THE MID 30S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 20 PERCENT.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. CHANCE OF SNOW POSSIBLY MIXED
WITH RAIN IN THE EVENING…THEN CHANCE OF SNOW AFTER MIDNIGHT.
LOWS IN THE MID 20S. CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION 40 PERCENT.
.SUNDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS
IN THE LOWER 30S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT AND MONDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS 15 TO 20. HIGHS IN
THE LOWER 30S.

 ANOTHER DISTURBANCE APPROACHING THE REGION WILL BRING UP TO AN ADDITIONAL TWO INCHES OF SNOW TUESDAY NIGHT INTO EARLY WEDNESDAY MORNING.

ANOTHER SYSTEM WILL PROVIDE FOR A CHANCE OF RAIN/SNOW SATURDAY TURNING TO ALL SNOW SATURDAY NIGHT INTO SUNDAY. SNOW AMOUNTS SHOULD REMAIN LIGHT. GUSTY NORTHWEST WINDS ARE ALSO EXPECTED. 
 

Jamestown (CSi) Jamestown Police on Tuesday was  reporting traffic accidents, with slippery driving conditions on city streets.

Four to five accidents were reported between 7 a.m. and 9 a.m., Tuesday. No injuries were reported in any of the accidents.

A few scattered accidents were reported into the afternoon as the freezing rain turned to wet slushy snow.

Sanding trucks were called out about 8:30-a.m., to a number of locations, as vehicles were reported sliding through intersections.

New  snow accumulations of 1 to 2 inches in the forecast for the rest of Tuesday.

Snow will again spread over the area Tuesday night from northwest to southeast, and gradually end Wednesday afternoon.

Expect total snowfall amounts through Wednesday afternoon of up to around three inches.

http://www.dot.nd.gov/travel-info-v2/

 

Jamestown (CSi)  The North Dakota Highway Patrol reports, several Jamestown men and an Aberdeen woman were injured in a vehicle crash Tuesday morning,  about nine miles West of Casselton.

Harrison Smith, James Smith, and Dwight Fennem of Jamestown were traveling on Interstate 94 when a jeep driven by 25 year-old Heather Cincurak of Aberdeen lost control and struck their vehicle head-on. The collision caused the jeep to roll and come to rest on its wheel’s in the ditch.

The pickup driven by Harrison Smith came to rest on it’s wheels, blocking the left eastbound lane. Traffic was blocked for approximately 48 minutes. All occupants were injured and transported to Fargo by ambulance.

The North Dakota Highway Patrol reported that seat belt usage played a significant factor in preventing more serious injury.

 

Valley City (CSi) A former Barnes County Auditor’s employee is questioning the legality of college student addresses used to cast votes in the November 2014 general election.

Karen Christenson asked Barnes County officials Tuesday to conduct a full investigation as to how votes from students living in dorm rooms were recorded in precincts 3 and 4.

She says became concerned about using Dorm names and room numbers as a street address because this didn’t appear to be a complete mailing address as specified under North Dakota Century Code.

Christenson says one of the student ID Certificates had only a PO Box number and many had dorm names and room numbers only, which is not acceptable according to the 2014 Election Official manual.

Christenson says student certificates did not prevent voter fraud as it was intended to do, but rather it appears they created a potential for voter fraud under North Dakota Century Code.

 

Jamestown (CSi) All Jamestown City Council committees met in joint session Tuesday evening at City Hall. All members were present.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE

Recommends approving the request from the South Central Regional Homeless Coalition for a letter of support regarding the coalition’s Revised 10 Year plan.

Considered the request from Jamestown Row Homes at the former Essentia Clinic site, a 24 unit complex, for a Flex PACE Affordable Housing of up to $81,013 in Economic Development Funds with the City Share to be up to $81,013, and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund….meeting the definition of affordable housing under the Jamestown criteria, per unit. Mayor Andersen explained the request was late in coming in for approval, and she said the request was approved by the JSDC Board of Directors. The committee approved recommending the request with Council Members Brubakken and Buchanan voting opposed.

The committee recommends approving the request from the JSDC for approval of Flex PACE program criteria.

Approved recommending the request from JSDC for $250,000 to fund the Flex PACE Program for 2015 with the City Share to be $250,000, and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund.

Recommends approving the request from Allen Enterprises for Flex PACE loan, in the amount of $43,000, with the City Share to be $43,000, and paid from the City Sales Tax Fund. (Project in the I-94 Business Park.)

The committee approved the request from Allen Enterprises to purchase Lot 1 and the South Half of Lot 2, Block 3, I-94 Business Park Addition, in the amount of $123,710.

Then the committee recommended approving the request from Allen Enterprises for the first right of refusal on Lot 7, Block 1, I-94 Business Park Addition, at $1.00 / sq. ft.

The committee recommends approving the request from JSDC of the advertised rental price of $12.50 / sq. ft. for the Center for Economic Development building. With that the committee recommends approval of the JSDC Secretarial Solutions lease agreement at that location.

The committee recommends approval subject to the city attorney reviewing the agreement, of the acceptance of a Warrenty Deed from JSDC for the remaining I-94 Business Park Addition Lots (Lots 1-6, Block 1 and Lot 5, Block 4).

The committee recommends approving the request for Sabir’s II, LLC (Nam Sabir) to assume the CGBG $220,400 equipment loan of BCG Jamestown, LLC (James and Sherry Heyer) as part of the purchase of the restaurant business , Buffalo City Rotisserie Grille, located at 103 First Avenue South, subject to approval from the ND Division of Community Service.

The committee also recommends approving the Heyer’s $100,000 loan remain as it exists.

The committee reviewed the City Attorney’s memorandum regarding the Menard’s Agreement and consider the request from Newman signs to lease space for two (2) sign structures on Outlots A & B, Menards Addition. The committee recommends moving the item to the City Council without recommendation pending further review by the City Attorney.

Considered entering into a CORS Host Agreement with Butler Machinery Company d/b/a MidStates VRS to attach a CORS Station at the Water Treatment Plant. The committee recommends the item be moved to the City Council without recommendation.

The committee considered authorizing and determining a funding source for Storm Water Master Plan Study in the immediate vicinity of the City of Jamestown.

The committee recommends the funding come from 50-percent of the one percent the city sales tax earmarked for infrastructure.

The committee recommends approving the suggested selling price for City owned vacant lots for 2015.

The First Reading of an ordinance will be held to amend and re-enact Article IV of Chapter 15 of the City Code pertaining to fireworks, as approved by voters.

Informational

: Departmental and financial reports.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

The committee recommends approving authorizing a special use permit to Stutsman County in order to allow the property on Lots 133- 138, Jones & Venuum Addition (502 10th Ave SE) to continue to be used as governmental office space. The building formerly housed the James River Senior Center, and currently the Stutsman County Library. The space has been earmarked by Stutsman County, for the NDSU Extension Service office.

The committee recommends approving Amendment No. 2 to the Planning and Zoning Technical Services Contract with SRF Consulting.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

The committee recommends approving a revised Catering Agreement for Alcohol Beverage Sales at the Jamestown Civic Center to include a revision of the fees.

The committee recommends approving the request from Rod Wilhelm relative to a wall plate listing donors of original Civic Center seating.

The committee recommends approving the sale of the existing basketball floor and backstops with an offer of $18.000, to Tom Tracy, contingent on the purchase and installation of a new floor. The closing date for the sale to be determined, to allow the purchaser to inspect and remove the floor.

Approved recommending the request from the North Dakota Patriot Guard to place a ‘fallen soldier’ statue on Civic Center property, with personalized plaques planned, attached to the statue, of soldiers fallen in the line of duty.

The outside location will be reviewed by the city so as not to interfere with access and water drainage.

A fundraiser to raise the necessary $5,000 will be held by the Patriot Guard.

POLICE & FIRE COMMITTEE

Considered new Boat/Motor/Trailer 2015 replacement for the Fire Department.

The committee recommends awarding the bid to the low bidder, Gun-N-Reel of Jamestown in the amount of $35,700.

　

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Consider recommending the following Resolutions pertaining to 2015 Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter District#15-11:

The committee recommends awarding the bid to the low bidder, Gun-N-Reel of Jamestown in the amount of $35,700.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

Approved recommending the following Resolutions pertaining to 2015 Sidewalk, Curb & Gutter District#15-11:

To set up and establish the district.

To direct the City Engineer to prepare plans and specifications for the construction of the district.

To accept and approve the plans and specifications, as prepared by the City Engineer, for the construction of the District.

To direct the City Administrator to advertise for bids for the construction of the district.

Recommends approval of the Revised Urban Limits Plan for the NDDOT.

INFORMATIONAL:

City Staff and Park District Staff are working with the City Attorney to prepare a draft joint powers agreement for City Council and Park Board consideration that would provide for the City Forester assisting park district personnel with tree concerns and plantings in the parks in exchange for the Park District funding a portion of the Forestry Budget.

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

 Valley City (CSi) The Valley City Commission met in Regular Session Tuesday evening at City Hall.  All members were present.

A Proclamation was read by Mayor Werkhovem proclaiming Catholic Schools Week, January 25-31, 2015.

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA

A new electric license for Pete’s Electric LLC and new heater installation license for Anderson Refrigeration & Heating.

A Game of Chance Raffle Permit for VCSU EBC Fraternity and Valley City Lion’s Club, and the Valley City Area Chamber of Commerce.

 

PUBLIC FORUM No one spoke

ORDINANCES

Approved the second and final reading of Ordinance No. 983, an ordinance increasing the commission salaries by $1,000 effective January 1, 2015.

Commissioner Nielson voted in opposition saying the item was not fully discussed by commissioners.

Commissioner Luke said she would not accept the the raise, and did not last year.

From the audience Lloyd Nelson said any commissioner raises should come from the City Administrator’s salary.

RESOLUTIONS

Approved a Resolution creating Sanitary Sewer Improvement District No. 61, North Central Avenue from 12th Street NW to 15th Street NW.

Approved a Resolution approving final plans and Specifications on Paving Improvement District No. 108, 8 ½ Avenue NW from 7th Street to 9th Street, and authorize advertisement for bids.

Approved a Resolution approving final plans and Specifications for Paving Improvement District No. 109, North Central Avenue from 12th Street to 15th Street, and authorize advertisement for bids.

Approved a Resolution approving final plans and Specifications for Sanitary Sewer Improvement District No. 61, North Central Avenue from 12th Street NW to 15th Street NW. and authorize advertisement for bids.

 

NEW BUSINESS

Approved a modifications to the 2015 VC Infrastructure Plan.

Approved an Urban Roads & Urban Regional project requests for 2016-2019.

By the request of Commissioner Luke, the City Commission consider an Open Gov program contract for financial transparency in the annual amount of $9,000.

She explained that OpenGov.com is a software program that would keep track of expenses in nearly every city department, available to the public on line.

City commissioners voted to approve based on the contract offered, reviewed by and approved by the City Commission.

Commissioners Nielson and Pedersen voted no.

City Commissioners discussed the Valley Development Group request for $500,000 in economic development funds for the VC Health, Wellness & Physical Education Center. Jennifer Feist/VC-BC Development Corporation said approval is one piece to make the Center, a reality. She also sited the Wellness Center’s job creation, and diversity of the area’s economy.

She said all funds need to be in place including another three and half million dollars for implementation of plans from private sector funds.

Earlier, Tuesday a request to transfer $250,000 from the economic development fund to help finance the construction of the proposed Wellness Center in Valley City was denied by the Barnes County Commission on a 4 to one vote.

Mayor Werkhoven pointed out that the City Commission upheld the voter advisory vote to approve the Wellness Center funding in the amount of $3-million dollars.

After listening to testimony from the audience, the City Commission voted to continue at 8:30-a.m. on Wednesday to consider the $500,000 request.

Information on the Homeless Coalition was presented.

The City Commission heard information and updates on the Police Department’s policy and procedure manual, from Police Chief Fred Thompson.

CITY ADMINISTRATORS REPORTDavid Schelkoph said he will testifiy at the state legislature concerning VCSU and flood permanant flood protection.

He also said he has information on the cost of the installation of street lighting in the area of 7^th Street, and the new Industrial Park.

 

CITY UPDATE & COMMISSION REPORTS

Commissioner Nielson said she’s heard from several younger people in the community about their support of the Wellness Center.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 68 followed by replays.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The first-time Denim and Diamonds Gala, last Saturday, at the Quality Inn & Suites in Jamestown, netted almost $21,000.

157 tickets were sold.

Jakestar and the North Dakota Make-A-Wish Foundation, benefited with the proceeds divided 50-50 between the organizations.

Jakestar was organized in 2012, when Jacob Shockman passed away in an ATV accident.

Jakestar was created to help honor his legacy and raise awareness for others in the community.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A West Fargo man accused of attacking his neighbor with a tomahawk has entered a plea for attempted murder.
 
     Authorities say 30-year-old Kokouvi Afidegnon attacked a woman in April of 2014 while she was walking to her car. Officers found a tomahawk lodged into the side of a nearby apartment building.
 
Afidegnon also entered Alford pleas Tuesday morning for reckless endangerment and simple assault.
 
     His previous charges of reckless endangerment, criminal mischief and aggravated assault were dismissed.
 
     A call from Afidegnon’s court-assigned attorney was not immediately returned Tuesday afternoon.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A spokesman for the union that represents more than 11,000 public employees in North Dakota says they would feel less safe if elected public officials are allowed to carry firearms at the state Capitol and other public buildings.
 
     North Dakota United spokesman Stuart Savelkoul told members of the House Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that his group opposes a bill that would allow elected public officials to pack a gun in a public building.
 
     The measure is sponsored by 12 Republican lawmakers.
 
     Rep. Ben Koppelman of West Fargo is the bill’s primary sponsor. He says the bill is a better and less-expensive option than installing metal detectors and boosting the number of armed security personnel at public buildings.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Larimore couple who helped care for injured students in the moments after a school bus collided with a freight train earlier this month are U.S. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp’s guests for President Barack Obama’s State of the Union Address.
 
     The North Dakota Democrat invited Richard and Susan Lunski to Washington for the Tuesday night speech. Each senator gets one ticket for a guest, and Minnesota Rep. Collin Peterson gave Heitkamp his ticket so she could invite both husband and wife.
 
     They live near the scene of the Jan. 5 crash and helped care for students until emergency crews arrived.
 
     The crash killed the 62-year-old bus driver, Max Danner, and 17-year-old student Cassidy Sandstrom. Twelve more students were injured. The cause is still being investigated.

 

 FARGO, N.D. (AP) – A federal judge in North Dakota has put a lawsuit challenging the state’s ban on same-sex marriage on hold pending a decision by the U.S. Supreme Court.
 
     U.S. District Chief Judge Ralph Erickson filed an order Tuesday staying the case brought by seven same-sex couples in June. The lawsuit challenges both North Dakota’s ban on gay marriage and its refusal to recognize the marriages of same-sex couples who legally wed in other states.
 
     Last week the Supreme Court announced that it will decide whether same-sex couples have a right to marry everywhere in America under the Constitution.
 
     The justices will take up gay-rights cases that ask them to overturn bans in four states. The cases will be argued in April, and a decision is expected by late June.

 

  BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – A Minot lawmaker is pushing a measure that would give state income tax breaks to low-wage earners in North Dakota.
 
     Republican Sen. David Houge says single people earning less than $36,250 would pay no state income tax under his proposal. A married couple filing jointly would pay no income tax if their wages are less than $62,600.
 
     Houge told the Senate Finance and Taxation Committee on Tuesday that the income tax cut would help people with low incomes and force lawmakers to control spending.
 
     Houge says the measure would cost the state an estimated $151 million annually in lost revenues.
 
     The state Tax Department estimates there are about 435,000 North Dakotans who file state income taxes. Houge’s proposed legislation would affect about 170,000 low-wage earners.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – One of the films at this year’s Sundance Film Festival is a documentary done by two New York filmmakers about white supremacist Craig Cobb’s attempt to take over the North Dakota town of Leith.
 
     The 86-minute documentary by Michael Nichols and Christopher Walker is called “Welcome to Leith.” The festival’s senior programmer says its underpinning is “how we wrestle with our democratic principles when they’re pushed to the limit.”
 
     Cobb’s effort to turn Leith into an Aryan enclave failed. He’s now serving probation for menacing and terrorizing.
 
     Nichols says he and Walker were fascinated by the turmoil in Leith. Their film uses footage of what happened and interviews with people to drive the narrative.
 
     The film premieres Monday. Leith’s mayor will attend, and Cobb will Skype in to answer questions.

 

In sports…

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – The University of North Dakota men’s hockey team is now ranked second in both national polls.
 
     UND maintained its spot in this week’s USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll and moved up one spot in the USCHO.com poll.
 
     The team swept Niagara over the weekend, moving to 16-5-2 on the year. UND hosts unranked Colorado College this coming weekend.
 
     Minnesota State remained in the top spot in both rankings. Boston, Harvard and Massachusetts-Lowell rounded out the Top Five in both polls.

 

In world and national news…

 WASHINGTON (AP) – The White House says President Barack Obama is determined to do all he can to improve the lives of middle-class Americans, and that message will come through in his State of the Union address Tuesday night. Chief of staff Denis McDonough tells “CBS This Morning” Obama will not hesitate to veto legislation that doesn’t improve the lot of the middle class. Meanwhile, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell isn’t impressed with Obama’s proposal to increase taxes on the wealthy, dismissing it as an attempt to excite Democrats ahead of the next presidential election.
 
     GLENDIVE, Mont. (AP) – Some residents of an eastern Montana farm community are criticizing officials for taking more than two days to notify them that their drinking water is contaminated with a cancer-causing chemical. Elevated levels of benzene were found in water samples taken from a treatment plant that serves about 6,000 people in the agricultural community of Glendive near the North Dakota border. The contamination followed a 50,000 gallon oil spill that found its way from a break in a 12-inch pipeline into the Yellowstone River.
 
     CINCINNATI (AP) – Ohio transportation officials say the southbound lanes of the major north-sound artery through Cincinnati could be closed for three days, as crews work to remove hundreds of tons of concrete and steel from the roadway. Monday  night, an overpass collapsed as it was being demolished, killing a construction worker. A tractor-trailer driver escaped with minor injuries when his rig ran into the collapsed section.
 
     SANAA, Yemen (AP) – The leader of the Shiite rebels who control Yemen’s capital and seized the presidential palace Tuesday is warning of a further escalation. In a lengthy speech aired by the group’s TV network, he says the escalation will have “no ceiling” if the president does not “speed up” implementation of a U.N.-brokered peace deal. The deal would grant the Shiite rebels greater power and shake up a committee tasked with drafting a new constitution.
 
     PARIS (AP) – The Muslim employee of a kosher supermarket who saved lives in a terrorist attack earlier this month is now a French citizen. France’s interior minister praised Lassana Bathily for his “courage” and “heroism” during a ceremony in Paris Tuesday. The 24-year-old hid a group of shoppers inside the store’s underground stockroom before escaping and helping police free 15 hostages and kill the attacker. Four other people died in attack.