City OKs billboard agreement

The Jamestown City Council ultimately approved a billboard agreement with Newman Signs during its regular meeting Monday. The item was removed from the consent agenda by Mayor Katie Andersen.

“I want to clarify a couple of things,” she said. “They are allowed to place signs on city property in exchange for the city’s use of signs. The signs are mostly used for tourism.”

Andersen said any income from leases of space for the billboards would be deposited to the city’s general fund. The cost of advertising for tourism is paid by the Buffalo City Tourism Foundation, which is funded by restaurant and hotel taxes.

“It is a good working relationship between Newman and the city,” Andersen said. “But I’m uncomfortable how the funding works out.”

The issue did not concern other City Council members.

“We’re kind of all in this together,” said Ken Schulz, council member. “We don’t need to break (down) that tourism needs to pay for this and the city needs to pay for that.”

The measure passed on a 4-0 vote with council member Pat Nygaard absent.

The city also agreed to pay $15,426 to Motter’s Custom Grinding for work done in grinding tree branches and trunks into mulch at the city landfill site.

The issue became clouded with accusations that work had not been done on schedule. Motter’s was authorized to do the work based on a proposal in January. The company was replaced in May when the city authorized another grinding company to do the work.

Roger Mayhew, sanitation foreman, said the original deadline was Jan. 1 but was extended to March 1 to accommodate Motter’s. The company did not arrive until the first week of March and had extensive down time during March and April.

Daniel Motter said there were no deadlines and maintained he should be reimbursed for lost income for the work he was not allowed to complete.

Ken Dalsted, city attorney, said the city had to pay Motter’s for the work completed and any other issues about the performance of the contract would be dealt with as a separate issue.

The Jamestown City Council also had the first reading of an ordinance that prohibits engine brakes on trucks from being used in the city limits.

Engine brakes, sometimes called “Jake Brakes,” use an engine to slow the vehicle by releasing compressed air early in the combustion cycle. It results in a loud sound.

The ordinance requires a second reading before it goes into effect.

Sun reporter Keith Norman can be reached at 701-952-8452 or by email at knorman@jamestownsun.com

Tags: local news, news, jamestown