JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown City Council will be looking into gate open and close times for the Frontier Village and Buffalo Museum in the next few weeks.

Nellie Degen, President of the Frontier Village Association, came before the committee to state her issues with leaving the gate to the village open during un-staffed hours. Currently at this time because the road is a public road, it is required to remain open at all times. Degen says it should be up to the last ones leaving to shut the gate in order to provide more protection to the Frontier Village.

Degen pointed out that they could lose insurance if the gate isn’t shut, leaving the artifacts and buildings susceptible to after hours malicious intent. Frontier Village Secretary Tina Busche stated that the gate would help protect all of the business owners and items they have.

Mayor Katie Andersen asked City Attorney Leo Ryan if there was some sort of mechanism that could be installed without violating the public access of the road. Ryan said according to the plat recorded in 2003, the road needed to remain open to the public.

Leo says the public access shouldn’t be a determiner if the village loses insurance or not.

Tom Mueller, a site owner at the village, stated that locks on the doors of their businesses do not deter individuals from breaking in.

Former FVA Board President Charlie Tanata agreed that the gate needed to be closed when the village and museum were not staffed. He stated that it was the cities property and they should want to make sure all the artifacts and everything else was safe.

Paul Olson is on the Buffalo Museum Board and says they originally sent a letter to the FVA Board, detailing why they wanted to keep the gate open.

Councilmember Dan Buchanan suggested finding a way to electronically open and close the gate to make it easier when it came to access for the first and last employees leaving the premises.

Jamestown Police Chief Chief Edinger stated that they have been called up in the past when it comes to breaking in and trespassing. He says there has been damage to property and thefts as well and says locking the gate during unmanned hours would be one less thing they would need to worry about.

Councilmember Ramone Gumke stated he would like to know what the options for the city were regarding closing the gate on the public access road, stating that he would like to have an answer to the issue without closing off the potential for funding any projects there.

He stated it should be as easy as whoever is first there open the gate and whoever is last lock it. Attorney Ryan pointed out that they would just need to look at certain items before making a decision.

Mayor Andersen says they may need to look at technology to streamline the issue.

The issue will be readdressed at the April Public Works Committee meeting.