Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- The Jamestown City Council met in Special Session Monday morning at City Hall to pass Resolutions, associated with the Army Corps. Of Engineers, Advanced Measures implementation. The meeting was run by Council Vice President, Kelani Parisien. Mayor Liechty, and Councilman Nygaard were not present.

City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said the City Council needs to amend the Emergency Declaration to include the new plan for emergency dike construction.
He said, late Friday, (Mar 12th) the Corp of Engineers told local officials that due to a large rain event, last week, and warming temperatures this week, it’s anticipated the combined releases from Jamestown and Pipestem Dams will likely be 3,200 cfs, the same as the maximum releases in 2009.
The Council voted 3-0 to approve the amendment indicating a combined release of 3,200 cfs, and resubmitted to the Governor’s Office.…Mayor Liechty, and Councilman Nygaard were not present.
Schwartzkopf said the footprint of the levees will be identical to last year’s placements, which included 5 and a half miles of earthen levees to accommodate anticipated combined flows from Jamestown and Pipestem Dam at 3,200-cfs..
He told the Council, that the Corp of Engineers is planning to have construction contracts in place on Wednesday this week, for earthen levee installation, with work anticipated to start later this week.
He told KCSi-T.V. News, that, it’s likely volunteer sandbaggers will not be used this year, except for possible sandbagging by inmates at the James River Correctional Center. That scenario may change, based on the urgency of the flood event. Contracting workers for sandbagging may also be a possibility.
He said due to time constraints the Corps will have HESCO baskets, and Rapid Deployment Flood Walls installed, in many locations where sandbags were placed last year.

In other business, City Administrator Jeff Fuchs said the North Dakota Insurance Reserve Fund has indicated a claim for property damages stemming from last year’s dike installation and removal, has been received. the insurance carrier denied the claim. He said the amount in claims approved totaled from $150,000-$200,000.
He asked the Council, if it wants to address those potential property damage issues, now, or wait until after the event.
Property owners were allowed to file claims with the city for property damages from last year, on a case by case basis.
Councilman Schulz said, seeing that the dikes will be placed in the same locations, it may be better to wait until after the flood event, this year.
The Council approved a motion to suspend action on existing claims made from last year’s mitigation damages.

Schwartzkopf suggested, if some property owners prefer dike placement, not be made on their property, to notify City Hall as soon as possible.

On another topic, the Council approved a motion to define cleanup and repair following this year’s flood event, as limited to grading and seeding property, on a case by case basis, not including structural damages, as a result of levee installation.

On another issue, the Council approved, Public Works Department flood fighting purchases and rental agreements for flood control measures.

The Council then re-affirmed the Council’s previous action to commit $1-million per year, over the next 12years, from the City Sales Tax fund …one half of one percent, to be used to improve city infrastructure including design and costs of improving the sanitary sewer system. Schwartzkopf said the action was necessary, for the State Health Department to consider approving any pumping of sewage material into the river, for the third time, without fining the city for the action.

Schwartzkopf’s suggestion was approved by the Council, for the city not being responsible for damages incurred due to private individuals removing dikes without permission, and addressed unlawful trespassing on levees.


Stutsman County Emergency Manager, Jerry Bergquist said the city and county need to reach a consensus on supplying sandbags to area residents. A motion to purchase sandbags, with reimbursements available, was approved.


Councilman Schulz suggested better communication between contractors and property owners concerning notification of taking down structures on their property, to install levees. Council Woman Parisien said property owners affected by last year’s levee placement should be taken down as soon as possible.

The meeting was shown live on CSi Cable 67 followed by replays

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