Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News Nov 16, 2012) — The Buffalo City Tourism Foundation, Executive Board met in monthly session, on Friday, and reviewed issues concerning the soon to expire contract with the City of Jamestown.

Board representatives will attend Tuesday’s (Nov 20, 2012) Jamestown City Council Civic Center and Promotion Committee meeting, where the committee will discuss with the board, the upcoming contract, any recommend any changes in a new contract.

City Attorney Ken Dalsted is drafting language in the proposed agreement.

At Friday’s BCTF Executive Board meeting, the panel reviewed the existing contract, and received information from Jamestown City Attorney Ken Dalsted, from Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen.

In his opinion, Dalsted recommends the city not appoint Foundation Board members, as a requirement in a new contract.

The opinion stated in part that, “If a city does not have a specific power granted to it by the legislature, that power does not exist.”

Research of opinions by the North Dakota Attorney General and case law from other jurisdictions suggests that it is not appropriate for a city to do indirectly what it may not be able to do directly – control a corporation through the control of the appointment of its board of directors.

Dalsted’s opinion is, that because Buffalo City Tourism is an independent corportation, it is recommended that the entity be allowed to elect its own directors, as provided by law.

The BCTF may, under the city’s Enterprise Ordinance, make application to the city, making a request to perform services on behalf of the city.

Under the Ordinance the city can provide funding to independent entities that essentially perform certain services that would otherwise be appropriate for a city to perform.

The proposed changes are a  way to make the BCTF a independent entity run on tax dollars.

The major proposed change would  eliminate the $75,000 the Jamestown Stutsman Development Corp. pays annually and replacing with funds from city lodging and restaurant taxes.

BCTF could still apply to JSDC for the funds on an annual basis if the proposed changes take place.

Currently BCTF receives 100 percent of the city’s motel tax, 40 percent of the net city restaurant tax and nearly $200,000 annually in combined JSDC operating revenue and grant funds.

In other business, the BCTF Grant Advisory Board met and received funding requests.

Jamestown College Athletic Director, Lawrie Paulson requested $10,000 in tourism funds to support the college hosting the National All Men’s and Women’s Basketball Tournament in Jamestown, February 21,25, 2013, in connection with A.I.I basketball conference.

The event is expected to bring ten teams to play at the Jamestown Civic Center, with travel parties of 15-20 individuals plus fans, with teams requiring 6-10 motel rooms per night.

Paulson said, projected expenses are almost $25,000, with the projected revenue, from gate receipts sponsorships and booklet sales at $15,600.

Jamestown College has pledged $8,000.

Following the presentation, the Grant Advisory Board voted unanimously to authorize up to $10,000 to pay the cost of officials and advertising.

The Jamestown Rural Fire Department requested $3,000 to hold a fishing derby early in 2013. Other funding sources would come from raffle sales.

Representative Travis Lemieux said the dollars would be used to advertise the event with billboards in Fargo and Devils Lake, along with advertisements in on line and print publications along with local media.

The board voted to table the request, until it has more information including an itemized list of expenditures.

The panel also reviewed the Stutsman County Memorial Museum 2012 season, visitor count.

The total for the year was 1,861, with 1,266 visitors from Jamestown, with a total North Dakota count of 1,459.  Visitors came from 36 states.

Internationally there were 11 visitors from Canada, 2 from Denmark, 1 from Australia, 1 from Bosnia, and one from Thailand.

The total amounted to 1,758 visitors.