Approval recommended to apply for grant for bridge project in Jamestown parks

Masaki Ova, The Jamestown Sun, N.D.
·2 min read

Jan. 26—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Public Works Committee unanimously recommended approval on Thursday, Jan. 26, to have the city of Jamestown apply for a grant with the Garrison Diversion Conservancy District with funds to be used toward the replacement and repair of pedestrian bridges in parks.

Tyler Michel, public works director, said grant funds up to $75,000 are available through Garrison Diversion and the pedestrian bridges would be eligible for the funds. He said the grant application has to be submitted by March 1.

The city of Jamestown was an applicant of a grant from the North Dakota Department of Transportation's Transportation Alternatives Program to assist with replacing bridges at Klaus, McElroy and Nickeus parks. The NDDOT approved the grant for 80% up to $1 million

The cost to replace three bridges is more than $1.6 million. The city of Jamestown will be allowed to let contractors bid on the project to replace all three bridges with the one at McElroy Park being an alternative.

The Public Works Committee unanimously recommended approval of an engineering agreement with Interstate Engineering for the pedestrian bridge improvement project.

Interstate Engineering will perform various professional engineering services required for the design and construction of the project, according to the agreement.

In other business, the Public Works Committee unanimously recommended approval to support a collaborative effort to address a food-grade carbon dioxide shortage in North Dakota.

A draft of a resolution will be created for the City Council to review and possibly approve at its Feb. 6 meeting.

Joseph Rowell, water superintendent, said there is one company that produces food-grade carbon dioxide and one that transports it within the state.

"More companies want to stay within a certain mile range and only use the product that is available to them," he said, referring to the transportation costs and the shortage of food-grade carbon dioxide.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said there needs to be a collaborative effort by state leaders with support from municipalities and others working with the industry in North Dakota to establish additional food-grade carbon dioxide production facilities within the state.

"Storage would be part of that," he said. " ... If we wanted to have some sort of resolution that is supporting collaborative efforts by the state Legislature, governor's office, municipalities and everyone else to ensure additional sources of food grade CO2 within the state and adequate storage facilities, I think that would be more the type of resolution."