JAMESTOWN N.D, (NewsDakota.com) – The Mayor of Jamestown Dwaine Heinrich gave the State of the City Address on Thursday May 8th at the North Dakota Farmers Union building. The address opened with CEO of Dakota Central, Holly Utke who gave a short speech on her gratitudes along with a quick bio of the mayor. Mayor Heinrich started his address with thanks to the Chamber of Commerce, North Dakota Farmers Union, and Dakota Central.

Mayor Heinrich expressed how much growth the city of Jamestown has had over the years with buildings like the Two Rivers Activity Center, Courthouse, and Civic Center being updated or built new. Also highlighting the transformation at the University of Jamestown with record student enrollment, expanding facilities, and offering new degrees. Heinrich stated, “Jamestown is  home to the spirit energy park, which is the largest private rail yard in the state of North Dakota”. This area also has a 100 megawatt power plant, ethanol plant, and soybean crushing plant.

Mayor Heinrich, throughout his speech, expressed gratitude for the amount of grants the city has received in the past 2-3 years, with the number around $16,000,000 being the total. The mayor also expressed his concerns for the 3% property tax cap on future increases in local property tax budgets.This cap limits property tax increases from residential, commercial, and agricultural property which will motivate cities to budget for their needs. Heinrich also stated that while Jamestown has high property tax it is not high nationally or regionally.  Heinrich said that out of the 12 largest cities in North Dakota, Bismarck is the highest, Wahpeton is the lowest, and Jamestown is fourth lowest with property tax income. Heinrich mentioned the city receives  roughly $5 million in tax revenue for its general fund and this money is taken by the police, fire, and municipal court budgets.