JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – The Jamestown Public Works Committee discussed the prioritized list of projects in Jamestown for the NDDOT State Transportation Improvement Plan Tuesday evening.
Each year, the committee needs to determine which projects they would like to see accomplished. This list is then sent to the North Dakota Department of Transportation for them to consider potential funding in order to meet the specifications of the projects on the list.
City Engineer Travis Dillman compiled the list to be submitted to the NDDOT. It includes rehabilitation work on ND Highway #20 and US Highway 52. Also considered on the list was 12th Avenue SE and a potential overpass on 7th Avenue East.
Dillman says as far as the overpass is concerned, he isn’t sure what the city thinks of that project right now for the future.
Dillman says if they can get clearance and pumps large enough to remove storm water, they can make the viaduct work rather than installing an overpass. He says they may consider an engineer report before moving forward on an overpass.
Dillman says it comes down to city emergency access and ensuring that all parts of the city is accessible in the event of a train blocking parts of the community.
The community recommended approving the transportation priority list.
More discussion was held on possibly entering an agreement with New Phase Energy for a feasibility study to determine whether the city can recover methane gas from wastewater treatment plants as an energy revenue source.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich says in talks with the group, the city would be asked to pay part of the study and find more information before paying for the entire study.
Heinrich says they would pay be responsible to pay $15,000 for the study, plus up to $7,500 in incurred costs including travel expenses for the group. If the city decides to move forward with the project, it would then be responsible for the rest of the $65,000 cost.
Daryl Hornbuckle says the group would just be studying the feasibility of the gas capture and not anything as far as building plans and costs to do so.
The committee moved to table the discussion until their next council meeting in January.