Project frustrations, Construction offical for Titan Machinery: Water issues affecting project

Talk about it

The controversy over who will provide water to the area west of Jamestown Regional Medical Center has gone on long enough, according to Robert Thompson, president of C.I. Construction which is the project manager for the Titan Machinery building under construction in that area.

The city of Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water District have been engaged in a conflict over which will provide water service to the area. The disagreement has prevented either group from providing water service to the Titan Machinery project.

“We have confidence a deal can get done but we’re frustrated at the lack of progress,” Thompson said. “There have been significant costs and delays associated with this.”

The Jamestown City Council and Stutsman Rural Water have met twice but have been un able to negotiate an agreement. The talks centered on the city providing the water service and paying a royalty to Rural Water. The amount of the royalty has not been agreed upon.

Thompson said he first raised the issue with Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water District officials about 12 years ago with more active discussions in the last two years.

“We’re no further today than we were 12 years ago,” he said.

Jamestown Mayor Katie Andersen said she also wants to see an agreement reached.

“We would like to see it resolved as soon as possible but it has to be a good solution for Titan, future developers and the city,” she said.

Andersen also said a resolution by Jan. 15, could allow water lines to reach Titan on time.

“There is still a good possibility we could extend the water and sewer lines by March,” she said.

Bids opened in October for the water and sewer line extensions expired on Dec. 15. One contractor has extended its bid until about Jan. 15 for the $1 million project. Completion of the project would meet the requirements of a developer’s agreement that Jamestown and Titan Machinery made in August.

Thompson said he doesn’t think the timeline can be met.

“We’ve been idling on the project that was supposed to open March 30,” he said, referring to the new building for Titan Machinery. “Titan wanted to be in that building by March 30. That is not doable. Maybe we make completion by June 1. Anything after that is unacceptable.”

Thompson also said communications with the city have been difficult.

“Other than through Titan and the city attorney, we have had no contact,” he said. “We have had no contact with an elected official of Jamestown since Nov. 6.”

Andersen said the city had no intention of not meeting its obligations.

“The city fully intended to honor the developer’s agreement but was delayed when we went to award the bids,” she said.

Thompson said he just wants to see the issue resolved.

“It should be quite simple,” he said. “This shouldn’t be that difficult.”

Andersen said the issue is more complicated.

“We haven’t resolved it yet so I can’t judge how difficult this is,” she said. “It is a very complicated issue requiring a lot of time and research.”

At this time no further meetings between Jamestown and Stutsman Rural Water officials are scheduled.

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

Tags: local news, news, water