Request to construct storage building fails

JAMESTOWN – A request to move forward with constructing a heated 150-by-60-foot storage building for the Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office failed during the Stutsman County Commission meeting Tuesday, June 7.

Roll call votes were not taken on the request because the motion to move forward with the project did not get a second from another county commissioner.

The total base bid from Hillerud Construction Inc. came in at more than $1.2 million and included a deductive alternative for over $29,400, which would put the base bid just shy of $1.2 million.

The total base bid Roers Construction came in at more than $1.7 million and included a deductive alternative of $80,000, which would put the base bid over $1.6 million.

The bids are good for 60 days.

Stutsman County Sheriff Chad Kaiser previously told the commission that a heated storage building is needed for the Sheriff’s Office’s equipment. The Stutsman County Sheriff’s Office rents a portion of the North Dakota National Guard’s maintenance shop.

The National Guard could be locating on North Dakota State Hospital property in the future. The National Guard’s maintenance shop is on land owned by the city of Jamestown.

The proposed building would be located near the existing Stutsman County Park Board shop that is located between two sets of trees on the west side of Lakeside Campground on Jamestown Reservoir.

The building would include storage bays and be used for vehicle storage.

Kaiser previously said American Rescue Plan Act funds could be used to fully fund construction of the storage building.

Stutsman County Commissioner Joan Morris said she would like to get a “wishlist” from department chairs in the county on what projects they want, so the county commission can decide how to best spend American Rescue Plan Act funds. She said American Rescue Plan Act funds could be used for other projects that are “strongly needed” in Stutsman County.

She also wants to see the costs for getting electricity, rural water and internet service to the site, which was not included in the bids.

Kaiser said the building is not a wish.

“This is a need,” he said. “If we don’t find something, I don’t know what we are going to do.”