fireworksCandleJamestown (CSi) Jamestown Tourism discussed the possibility of seeking an alternate vendor to provide this year’s public 4th of July fireworks display.

Tourism Director Searle Swedlund said in talks with the Canadian vendor who performed the show last year, that due to preparations for a Canadian celebration next year, his availability for this year’s show is limited, in terms of equipment necessary to put on the display. He will not do the display in 2017.  The board decided it would be cost prohibitive to spent another $5,000 to provide the equipment.

Tourism, which funds the fireworks at $10,000, is to inquire with other vendors to replace this one, if possible.

A final decision on the 2016 fireworks display is pending finding a replacement vendor.

In other business, the Grant/Executive Advisory Board on Friday, voted to ask the City of Jamestown for dollars from the Capital Construction Fund, toward costs of refurbishing the World’s Largest Buffalo, at Frontier Village.

Swedlund indicated the contract with Talking Trails project, to start this spring, as been signed, as the board decides additional funding, to possibly come from grants in hand, and possibly using dollars in the City Fund, reserves.

The board also approved applying for a grant through North Dakota Parks and Recreation for recreational trails, and approved providing a 20-percent local match of $2,540, if the remaining 80 percent is approved by the state agency.

The trail enhancement includes a large mower, two message centers, one each at Pipestem Trail and Overlook Trail, signs at all five trails, and a bike repair station at Overlook Trail. The total request is $12,700.

Also at Friday’s meeting, the Grant Request from Dakota Anglers of $1,600 was approved to bring in fishing professional Bob Probst, for a fishing seminar at the Sport & Recreation Show scheduled for February 5,6 & 7 at the Jamestown Civic Center. The amount covers Probst’s motel and fuel costs.

The Show sponsored by Ingstad Family Media, has an estimated economic impact of $100,000 for 1-2 days attendance, with an anticipated attendance of 2,000.

In other business, the board approved adding a “conflict of interest,” statement to the Jamestown Tourism policies, and a board member to abstain from voting if a conflict exists in approving funding requests.

The board also accepted the Jamestown Arts Center, and Stutsman County Museum ‘s county mill level approval for 2015, for additional funding.

The meeting was held at the CSi Technology Center, at Historic Franklin School.