Wayne Byers Show – Evening – Dec 17, 2015

CSi Weather…

TONIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. SLIGHT CHANCE OF FLURRIES IN THE
EVENING. LOWS ZERO TO 5 ABOVE. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS AROUND 10. NORTHWEST WINDS 10 TO 15 MPH.
.FRIDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. LOWS NEAR ZERO. SOUTHWEST WINDS
5 TO 10 MPH.
.SATURDAY…PARTLY SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S. SOUTH WINDS
5 TO 15 MPH.
.SATURDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. LOWS AROUND 10.
.SUNDAY…CLOUDY WITH A 30 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW. HIGHS IN THE
LOWER 20S.
.SUNDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
LOWS AROUND 10.
.MONDAY AND MONDAY NIGHT…MOSTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 20S.
LOWS 10 TO 15.
.TUESDAY AND TUESDAY NIGHT…PARTLY CLOUDY. HIGHS IN THE MID 20S.
LOWS AROUND 15.
.WEDNESDAY…MOSTLY CLOUDY WITH A 20 PERCENT CHANCE OF SNOW.
HIGHS IN THE UPPER 20S.

WIND CHILLS WILL FALL TO AROUND 5 BELOW TO 25 BELOW ZERO

OVERNIGHT THURSDAY NIGHT.

WIND CHILLS ARE EXPECTED TO REMAIN NEAR OR BELOW ZERO ON FRIDAY AND BETWEEN 10 BELOW AND 20 BELOW ZERO ON FRIDAY NIGHT.

 A RELATIVELY QUIET PERIOD EARLY THIS WEEKEND BECOMES MORE ACTIVE   LATE THIS WEEKEND AND THROUGH THE CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY WITH THE POTENTIAL FOR ADVERSE WEATHER..

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council’s committees met in joint session on Thursday evening at City Hall.  Council Member Gumke was not present.

PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE:

The committee recommends approval of the creation of the 2016 Seal Coat Patching, Construction and Reconstruction District #16-41.

FINANCE & LEGAL COMMITTEE:

The Committee recommends the approval of an Airport Non-Aeronautical Commercial Land Lease Agreement between the Jamestown Regional Airport Authority and the JSDC, with a sub-lease between the JSDC and UTC. 

The committee recommends approval of an Amendment to Lease and Option between JSDC and Goodrich Corporation, now UTC. An option for UTC to buy the building is in the amended lease.

The Committee recommends recognizing Jakestar, Inc., as an other public spirited organization and to authorize the issuance of a raffle permit, with the drawing to be held January 16, 2016. The dollars used for the Make A Wish Foundation.

The committee continued discussion relative to switching the retirement program for sworn police officers from the NDPERS plan to the NDPERS Law Enforcement plan.

Retirement age and benefits and health insurance provisions were reviewed.

Jamestown Police Chief Scott Edinger said the Police Department has lost personnel to Stutsman County, because of advantages with the County’s benefit package, and salaries. He added that retirements will also be affecting the Police Department. Two officers will be on medical leave in the near future. He’s looking at “leveling the playing field,” with the county.

Nellie Degen the Liason for the James Valley Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge #4, has said implementing the plan for law enforcement will aid in recruitment, and retention.

At Thursday’s meeting she presented additional information concerning other cities, concerning implementation of the PERS Law Enforcement plan, including a survey of Barnes County Personnel, which has had the program a number of years.

She said Barnes County officials like the program, due to the benefit and retirement package.

Mayor Andersen said the city needs to look at the overall situation with the police department, with the PERS package a part of all of the issues, and all city employees.

Council Member Buchanan moved to recommend implementation of the PERS Law Enforcement Plan. The motion was not carried on a two to two vote.

Informational:

A Public Hearing relative to the draft Special Assessment Policy of the City of Jamestown is scheduled for the January 4, 2016, City Council meeting.

Informational: Departmental and financial reports were presented.

 

BUILDING, PLANNING & ZONING COMMITTEE:

Informational:  Planning Commission minutes from December 14, 2015 was presented.

The committee recommends approval of the Dakotah Hills Addition plat, with corrections.

Informational:

The Second Reading of an Ordinance to amend and re-enact a Section of the City Code pertaining to Board of Adjustments, is scheduled for the January 4, 2016, City Council meeting.

CIVIC CENTER AND PROMOTION COMMITTEE:

The committee considered a Banner Lift System proposed by the Jamestown Classic Car Club at the Jamestown Civic Center.

Jack Meickle with the JCC presented a sketch of the lift system, that would be installed under the civic center scoreboard. He said the cost of $500 to $1,000 would be paid for by the car club, and would be donated to the civic center.

Mayor Andersen suggested that the lift system be purchased and installed from a vendor, such as Newman Signs.

Meickle will meet with Newman Signs and come back to the city with more information.

The committee recommends installation of the system, pending finding a vendor for the project.

POLICE AND FIRE COMMITTEE:

No items at this time.

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

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Thursday afternoon, to consider the draft submittal of the 2016 City of Jamestown project list to the NDDOT, to meet the December 31, 2015 submittal deadline.

It was noted that the submittal may be changed in 2016, after further consideration by the City Planning Commission and the City Council, following the Final Draft of the Land Use and Transportation Plan.

The City Council approved the submittal.

The meeting following the committee meetings was also shown on CSi 67 followed by replays.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown Arts Center is planning a Cabin Fever Days display at the Hansen Arts Park in downtown Jamestown.

On Thursday’s Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable 2 Arts Center Director,Cyndi Wish, said, the Park will have colored ice blocks, with community participation. More information closer to Cabin Fever Days, set for February 5-14 in Jamestown.

Ms. Wish said at the Hansen Arts Park, PLAAD LLC. is designing the stage/pavilion with work starting in the spring of 2016.

She said the structure will be made out of wire cables, and overhead cables will also be used as part of the overall design, allowing for flexibility when displaying artwork and shading areas during outdoor functions.The wires are to represent the telephone wires which are a part of the North Dakota landscape.

The sidewalk/walking path, along with lighting, now in place and in the spring it will be planting of flowers and shrubbery.

Also planned at the Park are concerts, a farmers market and artist displays.

 

Jamestown (CSi) The Bunker will be open for sledding beginning on Saturday, December 19, 2015.

Jamestown Parks and Recreation says, sledding hours are from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. Sledding hours are from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Christmas Eve, and there will be no sledding hours on Christmas Day.

There will be a warming house in the basement only on Saturday.

Christmas vacation hours are from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily starting on Wednesday December 23 and ending January 3rd.

 

Jamestown (CSi) This weekend, troopers in Stutsman and Barnes counties will conduct alcohol saturation patrols. Troopers will be on the lookout for impaired drivers and all DUI laws will be strictly enforced.

If you plan to drink, please arrange for a sober ride home. Alcohol-related crashes resulting in injury and death are 100 percent preventable.

 

MINOT, N.D. (AP) – Minot police are investigating the armed robbery of a gas station.
 
     Authorities say two males walked into the Simonson store shortly before 10 p.m. Wednesday, brandished a gun and demanded money.
 
     The suspects fled with an undisclosed amount of cash. No injuries were reported.

 

Update…

 GRAND FORKS, N.D. (AP) – Bond is set at $50,000 for a man accused of torching a Somali restaurant in Grand Forks.
 
   25-year-old Matthew Gust, of East Grand Forks, Minnesota, made his initial court appearance Wednesday on a felony arson charge.
 
     Gust is accused of throwing a 40-ounce beer bottle filled with gasoline through a window at Juba Coffee House on Dec. 7, starting a fire that caused an estimated $90,000 in damage. It happened three days after vandals spray-painted what some have described as a Nazi-like symbol on the business, along with the words “go home.” Authorities didn’t immediately link the fire and the vandalism.
 
     Defense attorney Theodore Sandberg told The Associated Press that Gust maintains his innocence in the fire and denies any involvement with the vandalism.

  FARGO, N.D. (AP) – Potato stocks in North Dakota are up 15 percent from a year ago.
 
     The Agriculture Department says in its latest report that growers, dealers and processors in the state held 1.95 billion pounds of potatoes in storage on December 1. Current stocks represent 72 percent of production, up one percentage point from last year.
 
     In North Dakota, the Russet Burbank variety accounted for 35.6 percent of potato acreage planted, followed by Prospect at 11.8 percent and Umatilla at 10 percent.

 

 BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Agriculture Commissioner Doug Goehring says more than 38,000 shoppers participated in the four Pride of Dakota Holiday Showcases in November and December, setting a new record.
 
     Goehring says the Fargo, Grand Forks and Minot showcases all posted record numbers, and Bismarck was again the largest event with more than 12,200 shoppers
 
     The Pride of Dakota program provides member companies with cooperative marketing and promotional events, such as in-store demonstrations, Pride of Dakota Day and the holiday and harvest showcases.
 
     The program administered by North Dakota Department of Agriculture Marketing and Information Division also provides educational opportunities and representation at regional, national and international marketing expositions.
 
     The program has more than 500 members.

 

 WYNDMERE, N.D. (AP) – Wyndmere Mayor Nathan Brandt says applications are coming to fill city’s hall’s only two full positions, which is welcome news for officials having to pick up some extra tasks.
 
     Vacancies in the auditor and superintendent positions have forced Brandt and Wyndmere’s four city council members to take care of snow removal and other duties.
 
     Brandt says they all have other full time jobs, but they’ve had to pick up the slack in the interim to keep the city of about 425 residents running. He says the situation highlights the importance of these city workers and the functions they perform.

 

In world and national news…

WASHINGTON (AP) – Republicans have pushed through the House more than $600 billion in tax cuts for businesses, investors and families. This, as Congress moves toward completing a year-end budget compromise. The measure extends more than 50 expiring tax cuts. It makes some of them permanent, including tax breaks for businesses that conduct research and for lower-earning families. Congress plans to vote Friday on an accompanying bill financing government agencies in 2016.
 
     NEW ORLEANS (AP) – New Orleans council members have voted in favor of removing prominent Confederate monuments along some of its busiest streets – a sweeping move by a city seeking to break with its Confederate past. The council’s 6-1 vote allows the city to remove four monuments, including a towering statue of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee that has stood at the center of a traffic circle for 131 years.
 
     WASHINGTON (AP) – It was a year ago that the United States and Cuba announced they were going to work toward normalized relations. And marking the anniversary, President Barack Obama said Thursday that it’s a process that will take time. The two former enemies are close to a deal on restoring regularly-scheduled commercial flights. Obama wants Congress to lift the economic embargo on Cuba.
 
     NEW YORK (AP) – A judge is blocking a New York City rule that required preschoolers to get flu shots. Five mothers sued last month. They argued that the rule was invalid because it wasn’t voted on by the Legislature. They also argued they would be excluded from certain types of preschools if they chose not to get their children immunized.
 
     DETROIT (AP) – Volkswagen has hired compensation expert Kenneth Feinberg to handle financial claims from people whose cars are involved in an emissions cheating scandal. The German automaker says Feinberg will develop an independent, fair and quick process for resolving the claims. Volkswagen has admitted to installing software on about 500,000 U.S. vehicles that turned on pollution controls during government tests then shut them off when the cars returned to real roads.