Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) – The Jamestown City Council met Thursday morning (Dec 13,2012) at 9-a.m., at City Hall, in Special Session and then entered into Executive Session.

During the open session, the City Council approved the following:

A Resolution was approved for payment to Interstate Engineering, Inc., for engineering services on the following:

Payment on 2012 Water Tower & Distribution System Improvements, in the amount of $7,135.00.

Payment on 2012 Water Tower & Distribution System Improvements, in the amount of $3,898.00.

Payment for Survey & Design for 13th Avenue & 13th Street SW, in the amount of $857.50.

Payment on 2012 Lift Station and Sewer System Improvements, in the amount of $15,800.00.

Payment on 2012 Lift Station and Sewer System Improvements, in the amount of $8,325.00.

Payment on Water & Sewer District 12-61 & 12-31 (Titan Addition), in the amount of $14,291.00.

Payment on Water & Sewer District 12-61 & 12-31 (Titan Addition), in the amount of $8,773.50.

Payment on the Plant Influent Piping at Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the amount of $3,722.10.

Payment on the Plant Influent Piping at Wastewater Treatment Plant, in the amount of $12,147.40.

Payment on Phase II, Water System Improvements, Water Treatment Plant Improvements, DWSRF Project No. 4700498-03, in the amount of $632.55.

Mayor Andersen said the bills being paid were unpaid for August and September of 2012.

Mayor Andersen said the bill paying process will be improved to eliminate future clerical errors, of bills being overlooked for payment.

　

Another topic discussed at Thursday’s Council meeting, in Executive Session, was negotiations between the City and Stutsman Rural Water District.

Representatives from the City of Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water District met privately on December 10, 2012 to further discuss issues and concerns, relative to territorial service claims by Stutsman Rural Water District, including the area of Jamestown Regional Medical Center, and the Titan Machinery building under construction in that area.

At that meeting were: Mayor Andersen, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs, and City Attorney, Ken Dalsted, representing the City of Jamestown.

Representing Stutsman Rural Water Users were, board members Joel Lees, Ron Wanzek, and Roger Florhaug, along with Manager Geneva Kaiser, along with Council Scott Sandness, and Co-Council Steven Harris joining on the phone with a conference call from Oklahoma.

At the meeting, Rural Water proposed the city pay it a royalty of $1.50 per 1,000 gallons and the city suggested a royalty of about 6 cents per 1,000 gallons.

The city proposed an additional two a percent payment on any development on sections 2,3 and 4.

Rural Water Manager, Geneva Kaiser, says the two parties were far apart but hoped a compromise could be reached.

　

At Thursday’s City Council meeting, Council Member Charlie Kourajian asked Mayor Andersen if the meeting she attended this week with representatives from Stutsman Rural Water Users, to discuss issues, was open to the public.

The Mayor said it was not officially announced as open, as she was not acting at the meeting by direction of the City Council. No other City Council members were in attendance at that meeting.

Mayor Andersen said future meetings between any city representative and the Stutsman Rural Water District will be announced, in the media.

The Mayor added that the Stutsman Rural Water District met Wednesday, and sent to the city, information discussed at their meeting, in response to the city’s proposal, which the City Council was to discuss at Thursday’s Executive Session meeting.

The Rural Water Users were expected to respond to a city proposal of an additional two a percent payment on any development on sections 2,3 and 4.

　

The City Council then entered into closed Executive Session for the purpose of consulting with the City Attorney relative to territorial service claims by Stutsman Rural Water District.

Those present were: Mayor Andersen, City Attorney Ken Dalsted, City Council Members Kourajian, Gumke and Brubakken, and Jamestown City Fire Chief, Jim Reuther, along with Jamestown Deputy Auditor, Jay Sveum.

　

Following the closed Executive Session at Thursday’s City Council meeting, the Special Session was reconvened, with no further discussion, and no action announced by the Mayor, stemming from the Executive Session.

The City Council meeting was then adjourned.

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