COUNCIL

Sales tax funds: Council approves taking 50 percent, extending tax

The City Council voted 3-1 Monday to enact the amended ordinance taking half of the 1 percent sales tax for the city’s share of special assessments and extending the tax to Dec. 31, 2018.

April 06, 2010

South Heart City Council passes noise ordinance

The South Heart City Council has passed an ordinance restricting noise between the hours of 10 p.m. and 7 a.m. The ordinance was opposed by the owner of the bar in the southwest North Dakota town. Mike Sticka, owner of the I Don’t Know Bar, said it might mean the end of his business. He says he plans to take every citation to court.

March 03, 2010

McNamara won't run again in Grand Forks

A Grand Forks city councilman who drew attention four years ago for running for office and later attending meetings by telephone while stationed in Iraq as a Marine says he will not run for re-election this year.

February 18, 2010

City Council meeting Tuesday

There will be a special meeting of the Jamestown City Council at 3 p.m. Tuesday at City Hall, 102 Third Ave. S.E.

February 13, 2010

City council moving ahead on strategic plan

Strategic planning took another step forward at the City Council meeting Monday. Councilman Ken Schulz had originally suggested using a community-based strategic plan called the COPS plan to get the process moving. However, he said Monday, the City Council had never accepted the plan so he didn’t think it should be used as a preliminary strategic plan.

January 05, 2010

NDCA announces five new artists in residence

The North Dakota Council on the Arts announces five new Artist in Residence rostered artists: William Hessian, St. Louis Park, Minn. (visual arts), Jescia Hoffman, Mandan, N.D. (visual arts), Patrick Kasper, Fargo (dance), Kevin Locke, Wakpala, S.D. (folk arts), and Diane Shore, Marietta, Ga (literature).

December 31, 2009

City reaffirms actions taken by Nygaard, Fuchs

With Mayor Clarice Liechty absent, the Jamestown Finance and Legal Committee passed a resolution reaffirming the legitimacy of the actions of one of its board members in regard to documentation for a PACE interest buy down for a Jamestown business.

By Keith Norman , December 23, 2009

McMillan, Willer elected to council

Andrea McMillan, Wimbledon, N.D., and Nathan Willer, Jamestown, have been elected to the North Dakota Farmers Union’s 2010 Senior Youth Advisory Council.

November 25, 2009

City may drop road project

The project to reconstruct the Business Loop East roadway is in danger of being canceled as property owners and City Council members complain about a lack of communication and information. Business Loop East, which runs past S&R Truck Plaza, Mac’s and the South Stop ‘N’ Go, was removed from the state highway system when the U.S. Highway 281 Bypass was completed in 2000. However, the city lobbied the North Dakota Department of Transportation to provide funding to turn the country road into a city street, with curb and gutter, lighting and underground storm drainage. The change would bring that Interstate 94 entrance into Jamestown up to urban standards.

November 06, 2009

N.D. Youth Council limited with no funds

The North Dakota Youth Council created by the 2009 Legislature was a feeble step, but at least it keeps outmigration of young people on the public agenda. Unfortunately, the Legislature gave the council no money, meaning that it will have minimal impact on policy down the road.

By Lloyd Omdahl , November 02, 2009

City rejects ballot proposal

Apparently bothered by the lack of results at the first meeting of the subcommittee on use of the 1 percent sales tax the mayor wanted to put the issue on the June ballot. The vote at the City Council’s Finance and Legal Committee meeting Tuesday failed 2-2, with Mayor Clarice Liechty and Councilman Charlie Kourajian voting in favor and Councilmen Ken Schulz and Pat Nygaard voting against. Councilwoman Kelani Parisien was absent.

October 21, 2009

List of members of N.D. Youth Council

Members of the North Dakota Youth Council, which were announced Wednesday.

September 23, 2009

Mill increase: Council approves 7.92-mill increase in general fund levy

The City Council approved a preliminary 2010 budget Wednesday that includes a 7.92-mill increase in the general fund levy and a .69-mill increase in the city’s share of special assessments. Coming off two years, 2007 and 2008, of no increases in the mill levy, 2009 will see a 13.8 percent change. The city will be levying 99 mills and collecting $2.7 million in property taxes, up from about $2.4 million last year. City Administrator Jeff Fuchs said the increase amounted to $35.64 on a $100,000 house.

September 03, 2009

Council tables JSDC budget request

After voting down a motion Monday to approve the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp.’s 2010 budget as originally requested, the City Council voted 4-1 to table the item for more study. Councilwoman Kelani Parisien removed the item from the consent agenda saying approval of a reduced JSDC budget was premature. The council had voted 3-2 to cut the budgeted amount from $302,000 to $280,000 in its Finance and Legal Committee meeting two weeks ago. Parisien, who had voted with Mayor Clarice Liechty and Councilman Pat Nygaard to reduce the budget increase by 7 percent at that meeting, said she wanted to table the item to work with the JSDC on the budget. It’s possible, she said, that portions could be cut without hurting marketing and recruiting plans.

August 04, 2009

City to meet on hospital request

The City Council will hold a special meeting to review and vote on a certification of community support for the hospital’s application of federal funds for its building project.

April 07, 2009