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.MONDAY…SUNNY. HIGHS IN THE LOWER 80S.
Jamestown (CSi) The Jamestown City Council met in Regular Session Monday evening at City Hall. All members were present.
Consent Agenda Items discussed separately:
Items K and L were removed by Council Member Buchanan to allow time for individual recognition..
Item K To adopt a Resolution of recognition and condolences for the passing of Deputy Fire Chief Gerald (‘Jerry”) Kainz.
Item L. To adopt a Resolution of recognition and condolences for the passing of Water Treatment Plant Operator Randy Sarbaum.
On the Regular Agenda:
A Public Hearing was held
concerning the application of Buffalo Holdings, LLC, for a five year 100 percent, property tax relief, for a hotel project to be located at 2400 10th Avenue Southwest, behind the Buffalo Mall.
Plans have been moving ahead on a new 108 Fairfield Inn, by Marriot, hotel in Southwest Jamestown, and now construction may begin shortly on the new hotel.
The hotel is a joint venture of Paces Lodging Corporation of Fargo, and Clarice Liechty of Jamestown.
Paces Lodging’s Developer, Darren Trudeau says the location of the hotel is planned directly west of the Buffalo Mall, adjacent to the road leading to the planned Menard’s.
Trudeau said the application for property tax relief is based on the costs of building, and explained the amenities of a Marriott Hotel, including Fairfield Inns, planned for Jamestown, which he said is somewhat different than the clientele presently being served by Jamestown hotels, and offers reward points. He added that the Marriot will have a water slide not presently available in the area.
Clarice Liechty a 50 percent owner, said additional lodging will allow additional sports tournaments, and conventions, and enhance Jamestown as a destination. She said a hotel is a “risk,” but it is an investment in Jamestown.
She said the new hotel will be a competing business in Jamestown.
The total taxable valuation eligible for tax relief is $486,000, which amounts to $178,000 per year.
No one from the audience spoke, and no one from Jamestown Public Schools appeared, however letters of opposition have been received by the Quality Inn, and Gladstone Inn and Suites in Jamestown.
Following the hearing the City Council table to a future time the request pending negotiations between the city and the hotel, concerning the percentage of the property tax relief.
The City Council approved a Change Order to Swanberg Construction, Inc., for the Pump Stations Improvement Project, for an increase in the contract price of $8,825.60. Mayor Andersen voted opposed.
Approved was a Resolution to approve Payment No. 1, to Swanberg Construction, Inc., for construction on Pump Station Improvements, in the amount of $449,100.00.
The City Council then tabled again a previously tabled item from the Council meeting of July 24th, concerning any decisions pending providing additional clay materials, beyond those which may be exchanged for topsoil, with information from the City Attorney relative to sale of city commodities and determination of market rates for clay. Information was not available from the City Engineer, or City Attorney, as the City Engineer was not recently available.
Mayor Andersen says a direct exchange of certain clay amounts is one aspect.
Additional clay needed by Menards may be purchased from the city.
Committee Reports:
The City Council voted to approve an irregularity of a bid and opened bids for the replacement of permanent seating in the upper concourse of the Civic Center.
The Council then tabled the awarding of bids, pending consulting with the architect concerning the specifications.
Ordinances:
A Second Reading of an Ordinance to enact a section of the City Code,
pertaining to temporary special alcohol permits was approved.
A public Hearing was held to amend an Ordinance amending the
District Map to change the zoning of Lot 2, Block 1, Hammer Addition; Lots 5-11, Block 1, Homestead III Addition; Lots 1 & 2, Block 2, Homestead III and Lots 7, 8, 9, Block 6, Homestead Addition, from R-1 (One Family Residential District) to P-O-C (Public, Open Development and Conservation District).
A Second Reading of the Ordinance was approved, in compliance with the State Historical Socitety in regard to historical artifacts.
Hearing from the audience: No one spoke
Appointments:
Approved the appointment of Donald Frye, and Michael Rhinehart and to serve as members of the Planning Commission for five (5) year terms, to expire August 2019.
One Opening Remains.
Mayor and Council Member Reports:
Council Member Kourajian noted that Jamestown’s celebration of the North Dakota 125th Anniversary is this weekend.
Other Business:
Approved the request from ND 125th Celebration for a street dance permit to be held at the Frontier Village, on August 9, 2014, from 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM.
The City Council then approved the request from Paul & Janel Monson for a permit to pasture three (3) horses at 1900 3rd Avenue SE, Lots 1 – 6, Block 11, and All Block 20, plus vacated alleys & 20th St adjacent to Blocks 11 and 20, Atkinson & Pannell Addition. ..with a condition of termination.
Approved Payment No. 1 & Final to Nill Construction, Inc., for
construction on Jamestown Civic Center Exterior Concrete Steps-Platform, in the amount of $40,210.00.
The City Council appoved allowing the placement of a life size firefighter statue at the Main Fire Station, 209 2nd Avenue NW. The statue costs will come from the Memorial Fund, dedicated to past, present and future fighters.
The Council approved adding to the agenda, the city fireworks Ordinance for discussion purposes moved by Council Member Buchanan. Mayor Andersen was concerned that the topic without previously notice to the public would not allow public discussion on the issue.
Buchanan moved the Ordinance be amended concerning the use and detonation only of legal fireworks.
His proposal is to allow from July 1-5 each year.
July 1-4 from 12 noon to 11-p.m., and until 1-a.m., on July 5th then from noon to 11-p.m., on the 5th.
Council Members Gumke and Brubakken suggested placing the issue of fireworks on the November 2014, election ballot.
The City Council denied the amendment to the City Ordinance.
The Council then voted unamously to place on an August 19, 2014 Special City Council meeting agenda further discussion of placing the language on the November 2014 election ballot including sales and use of fireworks.
The meeting was shown live on CSi 67, followed by replays.
Jamestown (CSi) On Monday, U.S. Senator, Heidi Heitkamp in Jamestown presented a U.S. flag to WWII veteran, Ernie Hubacker, to honor him both for his military service and volunteer commitment to Jamestown.
At the Knight’s of Columbus Hall, in Jamestown, Heitkamp met with Jamestown-area veterans to discuss her new legislation as well as bipartisan veterans legislation the Senate just passed last week. The new bill works to restore trust in the VA and launches a nationwide Veterans Choice Card to improve access to care for rural veterans – an initiative Heitkamp has called for since before she joined the Senate.
Heitkamp announced that she introduced legislation to better connect the nation’s new veterans with the services, resources, and benefits that are available in their communities.
After hearing from too many veterans about the challenges they face in getting access to needed services and benefits, such as employment or education assistance or access to health care, Heitkamp’s Connect with Veterans Act would help resolve many of these issues.
Specifically, the bill would create a database of contact information for newly-separated veterans to allow local communities, as well as the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) and State Departments of Veterans Affairs, to better connect with veterans and provide them with information about services and other resources. Heitkamp believes this program is critical because there is currently no mechanism for local governments to directly interact with transitioning servicemembers, veterans, and their families who live there or plan to relocate there and help them get access to many needed supports.
She said, “Since traveling the state to meet with North Dakota veterans last summer and more recently hosting my Native American Veterans Summit in Bismarck, it’s clear that veterans are looking for more information, and an effort to better connect them with their communities is a way to do just that. We have a moral responsibility to do better for our veterans, and I’m confident this initiative is a much-needed step in the right direction. It will help ease the transition back to civilian life for many new veterans, establishing a way for them to connect with job opportunities in their new communities, other veterans, and additional resources and benefits. It’s not just up to the VA to help veterans – all of us need to play a role, and my initiative will better enable us to honor our collective responsibility to help those who have protected us.”
Heitkamp’s bill would create a database to:
· Help towns, cities, and counties in North Dakota, and across the country, interact more with new veterans moving to these communities;
· Make it easier for communities to contact veterans with specific information in towns, such as the hours health care facilities are open, or if the community has an unique family support program; and
· Help companies that are specifically looking to hire veterans find those employees, while helping veterans find good jobs.
Participation in the program is completely voluntary and a veterans’ contact information would only be shared with his or her permission. Veterans’ personal information will be kept safe and secure. For a one-page summary of the bill, click here. For reactions to the bill from community leaders and organizations working to assist veterans, click here.
Since joining the Senate, Heitkamp has fought to stand up for veterans in North Dakota and throughout the country. Last July, Heitkamp completed a statewide listening tour to discuss some of the most pressing issues facing veterans, holding meetings and discussions in Minot, Bismarck, Devils Lake, Grand Forks, and Fargo. Last month, Heitkamp hosted her first Native American Veterans Summit in Bismarck. She brought together about 140 Native veterans, officials from the VA and Indian Health Service (IHS), and other advocates to give veterans a chance to be heard. It was also an opportunity for Native veterans to learn more about ongoing initiatives to connect them with services and benefits.
Throughout her discussions with veterans and work with the Senate Defense Communities Caucus, Heitkamp often heard from veterans about a desire to learn more about services and resources, and communities looking to help veterans. The Connect with Veterans Act is a direct result of that work, and it follows another recent initiative to get more information to veterans. Last week, she launched a new one-stop-shop webpage for Native American veterans, aiming to more easily connect these veterans with information about benefits and services available to them.
On Monday morning, Heitkamp first stopped by the Anne Carlsen Center in Jamestown, for a tour and see the facility and meet the staff, children and families who rely on its services to meet educational, residential and therapeutic needs.
Valley City (CSi) Valley City (CSi) U.S. Senator Heidi Heitkamp Monday afternoon, toured Mercy Hospital in Valley City to see firsthand how its telehealth initiatives have become an important tool to providing quality rural health care in North Dakota.
Mercy Hospital uses telemedicine in its emergency room to remotely connect with emergency room physicians in a central hub at Avera eCARE in Sioux Falls to assist in treating trauma, access specialty support, and triage the need for higher levels of care for critical conditions.
Heitkamp said, “Where folks live shouldn’t impact the access to and quality of health care they are able to receive. By using telehealth, senior citizens, veterans and all North Dakotans from rural areas are able to receive the care they need, when they need it. Providing quality service can’t be done with just the right tools, it also requires a dedicated and knowledgeable staff like those at Mercy Hospital to assist folks receiving the care.”
Heitkamp strongly supports the use of technology to improve the access rural North Dakotans have to quality and affordable health care. Telehealth initiatives not only increase access to care for rural North Dakotans, but they also address many of the other challenges to rural health care, including the lack of specialty doctors in small communities, coping with health care workforce shortages, and enabling rural providers to find a work-life balance.
Valley City (CSi) The North Dakota Highway Patrol continues to investigate multiple crashes on I-94 Saturday morning about 9-O’Clock.
Several people were injured and a Barnes County deputy avoided serious injury as law enforcement worked at a traffic crash, near mile marker 290 in the eastbound lane.
The report says a pickup pulling a trailer lost control and rolled blocking the east bound lane.
Valley City Police and Barnes County Sheriff’s Office, deputy, Dan Anderson responded to the crash.
Sheriff Randy McClaflin says another eastbound vehicle failed to slow down and crashed into the Anderson squad car that was empty.
Anderson avoided injury by jumping clear before the impact. The driver and a passenger were transported to Mercy Hospital and treated for undisclosed injuries.
The Highway Patrol says a few minutes later a semi struck the rear of a vehicle stopped on the interstate waiting for the crash scene to clear.
That vehicle had several people inside.
No additional information was immediately available as the mulitple accidents remain under investigation with the Highway Patrol.
OAKES, N.D. (AP) – A man initially accused of murder in a fatal hit-and-run in southeastern North Dakota has been sentenced on lesser charges of manslaughter and leaving the scene of an accident.
23-year-old Dakota Sutton reached a plea deal with prosecutors under which he pleaded guilty and received a 20-year prison term.
Authorities alleged that Sutton was drunk in April 2013 when he forced 28-year old Reavis Dandridge out of his truck on a road in Oakes, then struck him and left him for dead.
WAHPETON, N.D. (AP) – A Wahpeton man is accused of pointing a handgun at his cousin and pulling the trigger in a dispute over family matters.
Thirty-five-year-old Rogelio Martinez is charged with attempted murder and terrorizing, and could face up to 25 years in prison if convicted.
Rogelio Martinez asked Andres Martinez to come to his house on July 12. He allegedly approached his cousin’s vehicle and put a gun to his face, pulling the trigger when his cousin grabbed the gun. Police say the bullet went through the vehicle door and grazed Andres Martinez’s hand.
Rogelio Martinez’s defense attorney did not immediately respond to an Associated Press request for comment Monday. Martinez is due in court for a preliminary hearing on Tuesday.
MINOT, N.D. (AP) – A Minot man who pleaded guilty to aggravated assault and kidnapping has been sentenced to serve 12 years in prison.
Forty-two-year-old John Straight was arrested last November for an alleged incident in a car dealership lot. Authorities say he beat up a woman, hit a car dealership employee and tried to assault a police officer.
Straight pleaded guilty in April and requested treatment for violent behavior. He was sentenced on Friday.
VALLEY CITY, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota’s superintendent of public instruction wants to put together a statewide student cabinet.
Superintendent Kirsten Baesler would like the group to have between 12 and 18 members who would provide feedback on ideas being considered by the Legislature and the Department of Public Instruction.
Baesler says students as young as 9 or 10 years old can have useful opinions about education proposals. She says the group would include middle and high school students and possibly a few pupils in elementary school.
The station reports students would meet in the fall and the spring.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – North Dakota Secretary of State Al Jaeger says backers of a proposed conservation fund ballot measure have submitted their petitions.
Jaeger on Monday said he received 1,970 petitions, which supporters have estimated have more than 41,000 signatures.
Conservation advocates want a bigger slice of North Dakota oil tax revenues for a fund to benefit water, wildlife and parks projects. Backers want 5 percent of the state’s oil extraction taxes for the fund. That would raise about $150 million during the 2015-17 budget period. The current fund is capped at $30 million.
Opponents say they worry that a bigger fund would take away from other critical needs.
Jaeger has until Sept. 8 to certify whether supporters submitted the necessary 26,904 signatures to appear on the November ballot.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Ag Coalition has clarified its opposition to a proposed ballot measure that would set aside more oil taxes for water, wildlife and parks projects.
The group represents more than 40 organizations with interests in agriculture. But some are nonvoting associate members.
The coalition says voting members have decided unanimously to oppose the proposed Clean Water, Wildlife and Parks Fund. Some nonvoting coalition members have not taken a position.
Conservation advocates want 5 percent of the state’s oil extraction taxes for the proposed fund. The current fund is capped at $30 million during the state’s two-year budget cycle.
Supporters say more needs to be done to protect the state’s air, water and land. Opponents worry about the amount of the fund and taking land out of agricultural production.
BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) – The North Dakota Department of Commerce as awarded two grants for Bismarck State College totaling more than $93,000 for workforce training programs.
The state says the “workforce enhancement grants” are given to two-year colleges for training programs that address workforce needs of North Dakota’s private-sector employers. The projects require a dollar-for-dollar match of all state money with private funds.
The grants for the Bismarck college are going to automotive and agriculture programs.
WILLISTON, N.D. (AP) – Plans for a $57 million high school in the western North Dakota oil patch hub of Williston are starting to take shape.
Architects are working on plans, and school officials are determining whether to break ground in the fall or the spring.
Voters in June overwhelming approved a $34 million bond measure to help fund the new school, which will be built on about 30 acres of donated farmland northwest of the city.
The current high school is on a plot that measures only about 5 acres, and booming enrollment has led to space problems.
Superintendent Viola LaFontaine says the district’s enrollment has increased about 40 percent over the past five years, to about 3,200 students.
The new high school is scheduled to open in fall 2016.
STURGIS, S.D. (AP) – Organizers expect attendance at this week’s Sturgis Motorcycle Rally to top the estimated 466,000 who made the annual trek last year.
The 74th rally starts Monday and runs through Sunday.
Dethroned cyclist Lance Armstrong is the official grand marshal of the mayor’s ride, which formally begins the rally.
Armstrong won seven consecutive Tour de France titles and was later stripped of those titles for doping.
Rally officials say they understand the controversy that surrounds Armstrong, but say he represents the American spirit and a city that believes in second chances.
Joining him on a ride through the Black Hills will be Sturgis Mayor Mark Carstensen, state and local legislators, industry professionals, motorcycle enthusiasts and other celebrities.
In sports…
VALLEY CITY (VCSU) – Valley City State University men’s basketball coach Jeff Kaminsky announced the Viking men’s basketball schedule for the upcoming season. Kaminsky, who is entering his 10th season at the helm of the Viking basketball program, says this may be as challenging of a schedule as any since his arrival at VCSU in the fall of 2004.
The Vikings open the season Oct. 24, 2014 at home against NAIA Division 1 opponent Carroll College from Montana. The schedule will feature four NCAA Division 2 opponents: MSU-Moorhead; Augustana College (S.D.); McMurry University (Texas); and University of Puerto Rico, Bayamon.
Highlighting the non-conference schedule are five nationally ranked opponents from last year. Embry Riddle University (Fla) was the No. 1-ranked team for four consecutive weeks and was ranked in every poll. Dordt College (Iowa) was ranked in every poll last season, including as high as No. 3. Bellevue University (Neb.) was ranked in every poll and was as high as No. 8. Bellevue has qualified for 12 straight NAIA National Tournaments. Northwestern College (Iowa) was ranked No. 15 in 2013-14 preseason poll, and York College (Neb.) was ranked four weeks in 2013-2014, including as high as No. 20.
The feature trip of the season will take the Vikings to much warmer weather. On Dec. 30, VCSU will match up with Embry Riddle University in the feature game of the Land of Magic Classic in Daytona Beach, Fla. From there, the team will fly to Puerto Rico where they will play UPR-Bayamon and University of Sacred Heart on Jan. 2 and 3.
North Star Athletic Association play will begin Jan. 21 as the Vikings head to rival University of Jamestown, who won last year’s conference championship. Dickinson State University also joins the NSAA this season, which will improve the quality of the conference schedule. The conference tournament begins on Feb. 26and concludes on March 3, with the champion receiving an automatic bid to the NAIA National Tournament in Point Lookout, Missouri.
For more information on VCSU Basketball, or to view the complete schedule online, visit www.vcsuvikings.com.
In world and national news…
WASHINGTON (AP) – A man who became known for his crusade for gun control — after being seriously wounded in a presidential assassination attempt — has died. His family is announcing the death of former White House press secretary James Brady at the age of 73. He was wounded in 1981 by the gunman who also wounded then-President Ronald Reagan outside a Washington hotel. A federal law requiring a background check on handgun buyers carries his name.
WASHINGTON (AP) – The head of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence says because of James Brady’s work on gun control, “countless lives have been saved.” Dan Gross says with Brady’s help, “an estimated 2 million gun sales to criminals, domestic abusers and other dangerous people have been blocked.” At the White House, spokesman Josh Earnest is remembering Brady as someone who “revolutionized” the job of press secretary — and who later showed his “patriotism” by being “very outspoken on an issue that was important to him.”
DETROIT (AP) – A Detroit-area man is testifying at his murder trial in his fatal shooting of an unarmed woman who showed up drunk on his front porch before dawn last November. Theodore Wafer is charged with second-degree murder in the killing of 19-year-old Renisha McBride. His lawyer called him to testify today on what is the seventh day of testimony in his trial. Wafer says he shot McBride in self-defense. But prosecutors say Wafer didn’t need to open his locked front door and could have called 911 instead of confronting and shooting McBride.
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) – It’s safe to drink the water again in Toledo, Ohio — and in surrounding areas of Ohio and Michigan. That announcement came Monday from Toledo’s mayor, two days after he warned some 400,000 people not to drink their tap water. The city lifted the advisory after dozens of tests over the weekend showed that the levels of a toxin contaminating Lake Erie had dropped to safe amounts.
DONETSK, Ukraine (AP) – Residents of the eastern Ukrainian city of Luhansk are describing an increasingly desperate situation there, as government forces slowly tighten their ring around the city. It’s one of two major strongholds of pro-Russian rebels. The power grid there is completely shut down today, and fuel is running dry. Store shelves are emptying, and those who haven’t managed to flee must drink untreated tap water. The mayor says the city is “on the verge of a humanitarian catastrophe.”