Jamestown, ND (KCSi-T.V. News) -- Residents in the two Southwest Jamestown locations who were asked to plug floor drains, may now unplug them, if they so choose. ...MORE STORY BELOW VIDEO....
On Thursday's (Jul 2nd) Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable Channel 2, Jamestown City Engineer Reed Schwartzkopf said, the main sewer lift station is pumping an average 5-million gallons per day, compared to the normal 2-million gallons per day. He asks Jamestown residents to continue with the voluntary odd even usage of the system, based on the calendar date, and house or business address, concerning using a bit more water on those days. He says, it's likely that in another 2 weeks or so the voluntary program may be discontinued. He says the sewage treatment lagoon is not currently discharging any excess capacity into the river, and maintaining the odd-even system will help keep the lagoon level managable. He said all lift stations are pumping into the system.
Schwartzkopf added that starting the week on July 6th contractors will start removing the clay levees and sandbag dikes, installed last spring by the Corps, National Guard and city volunteers. He said the city will issue news releases on which areas of Jamestown are in the process of removal, alternating with debris removal. He says the removal will begin in the south end of Jamestown and work north, reaching the north end when the Stutsman County Fair is over, due to heavier traffic during fair time. The removal process should take about 30 days barring any heavy rainfall. The removal is contracted through FEMA with Corps of Engineers.
Most storm sewers are back on line with the exception of two or three where the infrastructure was damaged during flood mitigation, especially in Northwest Jamestown at the north end of First Avenue, and 7th Street Loop, and near the Anne Carlsen Center. Those areas will need extensive repairs.
Also on the show Stutman County Emergency Manager Jerry Bergquist said local officials continue to file paperwork for monetary assistance for local political subdivision, concerning recovery efforts. In some instances the federal and state dollars available are unknown. Bergquist said the costs of levee and dike removal is 100-percent paid for by the Corps of Engineers. The city will pick up 3-percent of the costs of having the National Guard troops in Jamestown during the flood fight, and all costs of re-landscaping propery damaged by the installation of dikes and levees. Stutsman County will likely need to pick up 20-percent of the 6-8 million dollars in road repair costs. He added, other percentages relative to projects are not known yet.
Bergquist points out that the registration period with FEMA expires August 10th. The incident reporting period remains open until further notice. He pointed out that truck traffic will increase dramatically in Jamestown over the next few weeks with vehicles hauling away the clay and sandbag dikes. Motorists should usage caution and parents should remind children on bikes to be very careful.
Updates on the levee and dike removal process will be issued daily by the City of Jamestown, and posted at Jamestown USA dot com under River Watch, along with CSi Cable Channels 10 and 67 and on The Wayne Byers Show on CSi Cable Channel 2.
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