In case you missed it in The Sun the week of May 1, 2023

The following stories from this week appeared on www.jamestownsun.com and in The Jamestown Sun.

The Jamestown City Council unanimously recommended approval to the Stutsman County Commission of a request from Jessica Alonge, Stutsman County auditor/chief operating officer, to reduce the number of precincts within city limits from six to two.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said on Monday, May 1, that the city used to have six precincts and voters would go to different polling locations in Jamestown. Now, the polling location for city residents is at the Jamestown Civic Center.

In an email to City Administrator Sarah Hellekson, Alonge wrote that there would be no change in the number of ballots, but few judges could potentially be needed for future elections, “which would reduce Stutsman County’s election budget some.”

“It would make election training more straight forward and eliminate confusion for the judges at the polling place,” Alonge wrote. “It would also reduce the risk of error in giving voters the incorrect ballot. Currently the contests and candidates being voted on are exactly the same for five of the six ballot styles we have for the city.”

Pam Musland spread some goodwill Monday, May 1, with the delivery of May Day baskets in Jamestown.

May Day is one of Musland’s favorite holidays, when May Day baskets are given to others.

Musland has been handing out May Day baskets since 1995 when she and her husband, Roy, moved to Jamestown.

Pam Musland spent about six hours on Sunday, April 30, filling 9-ounce Dixie cups with various treats for 80 recipients including neighbors, family, friends and coworkers. Each cup is addressed individually to a specific person – child or adult – with “Happy May Day!” written on it.

The estimated reimbursement for snow removal for October through December from the state of North Dakota could be around $66,000, according to Andrew Kirking, Stutsman County emergency manager/911 coordinator.

Kirking told the Stutsman County Commission on Tuesday, May 2, that the total snow removal costs from October through December were more than $258,000 with the county share being more than $144,000. He said the average costs for snow removal from October through December were more than $22,000. (DONT UNDERSTAND LAST SENTENCE; THINK IT IS NOT NEEDED)

He said 15 townships in Stutsman County applied for reimbursement for snow removal.

Any unallocated funds from the first period — Oct. 1 through Dec. 31 — can be made available as part of the second period — Oct. 1 through April 30. The bill will reimburse up to 60% of costs exceeding 150% of the average of four of the last five years’ snow removal costs.

“If we are able to get the full 60%, the reimbursement over the 150%, we are looking at about $66,500,” Kirking said. “I don’t think there is really any chance that we are going to get that. I think $20 million for snow removal for the whole state and the counties and the townships and the tribes and the cities, I don’t think we are going to see all of that.”

Kirking said 38 townships in the county have applied for reimbursement for snow removal for the period of Oct. 1 through April 30.

Sanitation department employees are making final preparations for citywide residential curbside cleanup week May 8-12 in Jamestown, according to Shawn O’Neill, sanitation foreman.

O’Neill said the sanitation department tries to get workers on top of the hill where the inert landfill is located to get the area ready for city trucks and extra traffic. He said the department will get city workers ready to help with citywide cleanup next week.

City workers collected 90 tons of material during citywide cleanup week last year.

The designated cleanup days for Jamestown are:

• Monday, May 8: southeast
• Tuesday, May 9: southwest
• Wednesday, May 10: northwest
• Thursday, May 11: northeast

During cleanup week only, the city baler and landfill will be open from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday.
Each household may dispose of 500 pounds at no charge and must show proof of residency such as a utility bill.

A preliminary hearing and jury trial date have been set for a Jamestown man accused of negligence and wrongful conduct that resulted in the death of a 20-year-old man riding a bicycle in June 2022 about 10 miles north of here.

James Charles Lees, 78, Jamestown, faces charges of leaving the scene of an accident involving death or personal injury, a Class B felony, and negligent homicide, a Class C felony.

On Wednesday, May 3, Southeast District Court Judge Cherie Clark set a preliminary hearing for June 28 and a jury trial for Sept. 5. Lees made an initial appearance on March 15 in Southeast District Court.

Timothy Wayne St. John, 20, Northbrook, Illinois, was riding a Canyon road bicycle southbound on N.D. Highway 20 near mile marker 10.5 shortly after 12:30 p.m. June 19, while Lees was driving a 2016 Chevrolet Silverado southbound on Highway 20. Lees failed to yield to the bicycle and struck the rear tire, pushing the bicycle and rider into the west ditch, the North Dakota Highway Patrol said in a news release about the accident in June.

The patrol said Lees left the scene but returned and found St. John, who was declared dead at the scene after emergency personnel arrived.

Lees told his grandson that he thought his vehicle struck a bike and they notified law enforcement on their way to the scene of the accident, according to a North Dakota motor vehicle crash report. The two located St. John, who was dead, in a ditch, the report says.

No citations were issued by the patrol.

What once was a vacant building for many years has turned into a 33-unit multi-family housing development in downtown Jamestown at the site of the former Eagles building.

A grand opening celebration was held Wednesday, May 3, at the Eagle Flats Apartments where attendees took tours of the building. The Eagle Flats Apartments at 211 2nd Ave. SW has 33 one-, two- and three-bedroom units.

The property features covered first-floor parking with residential units above, an on-site leasing office, a fitness center and a community room. The community room includes a kitchen, a dining area, computers and a lounging area with seating and a TV.

Each unit includes a washer and dryer. Three-bedroom apartment were available to tour during the grand opening.