cityhall-488Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council’s committee’s met in joint session Wednesday evening at City Hall.  Council Member Gumke was not present.

 

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE BUSINESS:

The committee recommends approval of a request from JSDC for a Resolution to indicate the city’s participation in the Red River Valley Water Supply Pipeline, study. CEO Connie Ova said Missouri River water would be brought to this part of the state. The project will start in 2019. The water will be treated before entering the pipeline. The Garrison Diversion Conservancy District is supplying information on the project. Council Member Buchanan said he needs more information before endorsing the plan, and voted opposed.

(See related story at the bottom of the page.)

The committee recommends approval of the request from Alice Bietz for Renaissance Zone incentives by providing 5years of property tax exemption and to request the ND State Tax Department to grant 5 years of State income tax exemption for the purchase of a residence on Lot 6, Block 1, Lindberg Addition.

Committee members voted to recommend approval of the offer from Joel L. Anderson to purchase an approximately 4,248 sq. ft. of City property adjacent to the Southside Fire Station for $1,900.00, plus legal platting, zoning and closing costs.

Considered was the cost estimate and proposed assessment district to construct paving and needed utilities on 5th Street NE from 12th Ave NE to 27th Ave NE. The project cost is estimated at $2.47 million with the city providing 25 percent of the costs. The remaining 75 percent to be Special Assessed.  No action was taken by the committee.

The committee recommends the acceptance of the 2014 City of Jamestown Audit Report as prepared by Schauer & Associates, PC.

Departmental and financial reports were presented.

Appointments to Fire Code Board of Appeals, James River Valley Library Board,

Regional Airport Authority and Shade Tree Committee will be made at the November City Council meeting.

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE

Planning Commission minutes from October 12, 2015 was presented

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE

No items at this time.

 

POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE

It was noted that the second reading of an Ordinance to amend and re-enact Sections of the City Code pertaining to regulations for the use of utility-task vehicles in the City of Jamestown, is scheduled for November 2, 2015.  Council Member Kourajian said he’s received E-Mails and other comments concerning the safety of UTV’s on city streets.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE

The committee recommends approval of the direct purchase of a 4 Wheel Drive Mower and Accessories from Valley Plains Equipment in the amount of $40,672.00 with trade as there were no qualified bids received. Bid specs did not conform with policy, so the direct proposals were accepted, rather than re-bidding, with Valley Plains Equipment the lowest amount.

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

 

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp discussed the importance of making sure North Dakota has a reliable water infrastructure during a meeting with leaders of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District.

Heitkamp, who has long promoted long-term collaborative flood protection and water solutions across North Dakota, spoke with members of the Garrison Diversion about moving forward locally with plans to advance the Red River Valley Water Supply project that would transfer water from the Missouri River to the eastern part of the state in times of drought. Heitkamp has continually met with Garrison Diversion leaders on the project and has been steadfast in her efforts to implement lasting strategies to address the water needs in the Red River Valley. 

“Paving a path forward for our communities means building infrastructure that is built to last,” said Heitkamp. “That’s exactly the kind of long-term planning we need locally to secure eastern North Dakota’s water supply, and it’s the kind of strategy I discussed with leaders of the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District. We can protect the flow of water throughout eastern North Dakota for generations to come by making sure we have a plan that is robust enough to ensure these areas have water in the event of a drought, and I’ll continue to support this effort by working with our local and partners, and against any the potential roadblocks.”

Heitkamp, a ranking member of the U.S. Senate Agriculture Subcommittee on Jobs, Rural Economic Growth and Energy Innovation, has been pressing for investments for North Dakota’s water supply, particularly in rural areas. In February, she helped secure $10.3 million in additional federal funding to help expand and improve water supply infrastructure in rural communities throughout the state. The funding, made possible by the U.S. Department of the Interior (DOI), directly followed Heitkamp’s meeting with DOI Deputy Secretary Mike Connor on the need for such investments in North Dakota.

In June, the Senate unanimously passed her bipartisan Grassroots Rural and Small Community Water Systems Assistance Act to make sure small towns and rural areas have the technical assistance and training they need to help protect and improve their water supplies. Heitkamp’s bill would address difficulties small and rural towns often face in complying with federal drinking water rules – as they often lack the resources for the latest technology or access to the technical assistance to do so – by providing $15 million in annual technical assistance and training to help small towns and rural areas provide their residents and businesses with safe, clean drinking water.