Category Archives: Announcements

11/16/2020 Mayor’s Message

Posted on by

Hello Barnes County,

  • Well, our weather has certainly been living up to North Dakota Standards.  What is the old saying, “If you don’t like our weather, wait a few minutes, it will change”? With the nice days sprinkled in our weeks, make opportunities to get out and enjoy them. The air smells great.
  • The Corona Virus is ravaging our nation.  Our Barnes County positives have increased 137 in the last three days!   
  • Governor Burgum and the State Health Officer issued four mitigation orders Friday evening                                             
    • Face Covering Order where we cannot socially distance and violation carries a penalty of infraction.                                       
    • Adjusted bar, restaurant and food service venues. 
    • Addressed Tiered Capacity for large gatherings and events.                                   
    • Pauses all school, community, association and club sports until December 14th.
  • People, we have to “come together” if we are to effectively battle the virus.  We must have compassion and respect for our family, friends, co-workers and other citizens to slow the spread.  Remember the virus does not differentiate between family or friends, it will transmit through all contacts regardless of the relationship.  So unless we are with someone from our own household and cannot social distance, Mask-UP.
  • Our City County Health Department has Mask-UP Kits with signage available for use in your building(s).  Please call CCHD at 845-8518.
  • Be compassionate to those less fortunate and respectful to all.

“Friendship is the rainbow between two hearts sharing seven colors.”                        (Snoopy Quotes)                                                   

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

11.17.2020 Commission Agenda

Posted on by

The City Commission Meeting will begin on Tuesday, November 17th, 2020 at 5:00 PM CT, via Zoom due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.

Members of the public may view the meeting online https://zoom.us/j/92301265901 or listen by calling (1 346 248 7799) Webinar ID: 923 0126 5901

Call To Order
Roll Call
Approval of Agenda

Approval of Minutes

Minutes from November 3rd and November 6th Meetings.

Proclamation

Shop Small Proclamation

Approval of Consent Agenda

A.  Approve Chamber of Commerce Parade Permit.

Roll Call:  Gulmon          Erickson         Magnuson        Bishop             Carlsrud

Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting.  The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.

  • No personal attacks to persons present or not
  • No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform
  • 5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair
  • Thank you for participating in City Government.

Ordinance

  1. Approve first reading of Ordinance No. 1067, an Ordinance creating and enacting Section 19-01-08 of Valley City Municipal Code re penalty for violation of City emergency orders. (City Attorney Martineck)

Roll Call:     Magnuson Bishop            Gulmon           Erickson           Carlsrud

2.  Approve first reading of Ordinance No. 1068, an Ordinance Amending and Reenacting Sections 8-06-07 and 8-06-12 of the Valley City Municipal Code, related to removal of stumps and renewal of licenses.  (City Attorney Martineck)

      Roll Call:          Gulmon          Erickson         Magnuson        Bishop             Carlsrud

New Business

1.  Approve Small Projects Funding for 2020 – $20,000. (Jennifer Feist)

          Roll Call:     Bishop            Gulmon           Erickson         Magnuson        Carlsrud

2.  Approve Resource Development Specialist – Funding Increase – $4,000.  (Jennifer Feist)

     Roll Call:     Magnuson       Bishop             Gulmon           Erickson         Carlsrud

3.  Approve R&R Coordinator – Funding Increase – $10,000/year for two years.  (Jennifer Feist)

    Roll Call:      Erickson          Magnuson       Bishop             Gulmon           Carlsrud

4.  Consider Accepting Project No. UGP-SU-2-990(057), PCN 22043-CPR-Streetscape Phase I – Central Ave N     (KLJ)

Roll Call:     Gulmon           Erickson          Magnuson         Bishop           Carlsrud

5.  Consider Accepting Project No. SU-SS-2-990(053)057, PCN 21095 – Storm Sewer Improvement District No. 50 (KLJ)

Roll Call:     Bishop             Gulmon           Erickson          Magnuson         Carlsrud

6.  Approve City Engineer Section Committee Final Report.  (City Administrator Crawford)

Roll Call: Magnuson       Bishop             Gulmon           Erickson         Carlsrud

7.  Discuss Mask Plan Emergency Order.  (President Carlsrud)

8.  Discuss Liquor Licenses.  (Commissioner Magnuson)

Roll Call:     Erickson          Magnuson        Bishop             Gulmon           Carlsrud

9. Approve Preliminary Engineering Reimbursement Agreement with NDDOT (Project No. NHU-2-094(175)928, West I-94 Business Loop hill slide).  (City Administrator Crawford)

Roll Call:     Gulmon           Erickson          Magnuson        Bishop             Carlsrud

10. Approve Tobacco Permit for Loves Travel Stop & Country Stores, Inc. (Finance Director Richter)

Roll Call: Magnuson        Bishop             Gulmon           Erickson          Carlsrud

City Administrator’s Report
City Updates & Commission Reports
Adjourn

11/9/2020 Mayor’s Message

Posted on by

Hi Folks,

  • Thank a “Veteran” as November 11th is Veterans’ Day.  Many people out there have served our country’s military to provide the freedoms we have today.  Also, when you see active military personnel, please say “Thank you” to them as they are currently protecting our freedoms.
  • “Thank you” to all the “close contacts” out there who are patiently quarantining to protect people around them.
  • Recycle CARDBOARD.  Cardboard “weighs up” in a hurry so it is beneficial to recycle, as it is “cash flow”.  If it is thrown in our garbage it becomes an “expense”.  The less garbage we have to ship to Fargo’s Landfill, the longer we can hold our Garbage Rates steady for you.  Please try it.
  • We are now in the Orange Risk Level for the COVID spread which prompted a “Mask Mandate” in Valley City.  Our number of positives spiked again with 30 one day last week and double digit increases since.  The virus has caused a number of Barnes County people to be very sick for a couple weeks and there have been deaths.  This is serious, please Mask-UP, it helps.  We NEED to be “North Dakota Smart”!!
  • What we have been doing is not slowing the spread.  Please ask yourself, “To slow the spread, what can I do better”?
  • Long time Senator Larry Robinson was defeated in this year’s election.  As Senator, Larry served District 24 faithfully, effectively and with dignity.  He worked both sides of the aisle in efforts to “do the right things” for all North Dakota.  Thank you Larry and thank you to your family members for their support over the years as well, you will always be remembered.
  • Be courteous, respectful & kind. 

“Courage is being scared to death but saddling up anyway.”  (John Wayne)                                                   

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

11.6.2020 Special Commission Meeting

Posted on by

The City Commission Meeting will begin on Friday, November 6th, 2020 at 12:00 PM CT, via Zoom. Members of the public are not permitted in the Commission Chambers due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.

Members of the public may view the meeting online https://zoom.us/j/98487551097 or listen by calling (1 346 248 7799) Webinar ID: 984 8755 1097

Call To Order
Roll Call

New Business

1.  Discuss COVID (President Carlsrud)

          Roll Call:     Bishop            Gulmon           Erickson         Magnuson        Carlsrud


Adjourn

Minutes Available text with City of Valley City Logo above

10/20/2020 Commission Meeting Minutes

Posted on by

The City Commission Meeting began on Tuesday, October 20th, 2020 at 5:00 PM CT, at City Commission Chambers, 254 2nd Avenue NE, Valley City, ND. Members of the public were not permitted in the Commission Chambers due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.

President Carlsrud called the meeting to order at 5:00 PM.

Members present: President Carlsrud, Commissioner Magnuson, Commissioner Bishop, Commissioner Gulmon, and Commissioner Erickson.

Others present: City Administrator Crawford, City Attorney Martineck, Deputy Auditor Klein, Fire Chief Magnuson, Police Chief Hatcher, Chad Petersen from KLJ.

Approval of Agenda

No Changes

Approval of Minutes

Commissioner Magnuson moved to approve the October 6 and October 12, 2020 Meeting minutes seconded by Commissioner Gulmon.  Motion carried.

Approval of Consent Agenda

  1. Approve Application to Block off Street Request from JE Dunn Construction for the dates of 11/2/2020-11/6/2020 on Viking Dr. SW, from 4th Ave SW to VCSU Student Center Drive Way for the Center for the Arts Underground utilities.
  • Approve Raffle Permit for North Dakota Hereford Assn. for the date of 12/5/2020 held at the North Dakota Winter Show.

Commissioner Erickson moved to approve the Consent Agenda, seconded by Commissioner Magnuson.  Motion carried.

Public Comments

There were no public comments.

New Business

  1. Form Selection Committee for City Engineering/Planning Services (RFQ).  (City Administrator Crawford)

City Administrator Crawford stated we have three companies that turned in for an RFQ.  Before we can set time lines we need to form a committee.  City Administrator Crawford stated she and Operations Superintendent Klemisch would be on the committee, City Attorney Carlsrud recused himself, President Carlsrud, Commissioner Erickson, Commissioner Gulmon, Commissioner Magnuson and Commissioner Bishop all stated they would like to be on the committee.  Discussion also took place inviting Dan Bernhardt and/or Lance Coit to fill spots.

Commissioner Gulmon made a motion to form the committee as mentioned inviting Dan and if Dan declines invite Lance, seconded by Commissioner Erickson.  Motion carried.

  • Consider Final Review and Acceptance for Paving Improvement District No. 121. (KLJ)

Chad Petersen from KLJ stated the seal coat was completed in June satisfactorily and we are working on the final review and acceptance.

Commissioner Magnuson moved to approve, seconded by Commissioner Gulmon.  Motion carried.

City Administrator’s Report

City Administrator Crawford stated she received an email from Love’s and there is an issue with the weather and the asphalt plant shutting down.  We are evaluating our options. 

5th Ave NW has issues between driveways and sidewalks but we want to get the first layer down.  There is a meeting tomorrow for our game plan.

Today was the first meeting on the I-94 landslide.  In 2021 they will lay out the plans and in 2022 would be the project. 

We realized the emergency flood protocols that are currently in place are great but we also realized we don’t have protocols in place for anything else really so we are working on that.

City Administrator Crawford also stated she did a ride along with Brandi from the PD and the crew from the North sanitation route.  It was beneficial to see firsthand the process and the issues these employees are facing.  With the upcoming snow there are vehicles that need to be moved.  The sanitation crew wanted to commend Bob for the work he did on getting several of the branches cleaned up.  An issue they also have is yards that have the wooden garbage holders.  Sometimes in order to get the can out you have to lift them really high and they can be heavy.

President Carlsrud thanked Gwen and added that on his walks he sees lots of cardboard and encouraged everyone to recycle.  If it is recycled it pays for itself but if it goes to the garbage we pay to have it removed.

City Updates & Commission Reports

City Attorney Martineck reported we had 2 applications for the City Planner/Building Inspector position.  We will be reviewing those in conjunction with the RFQ process.

Chad Petersen from KLJ updated on Streetscape Phase II that bids were open by the DOT last week and will have more information at the November Finance/Commission meeting.  Strata was the low bid at $2,197,000, the Engineering estimate was around $2,180,000.  More will be presented at the next meeting so a decision can be made.

Chad Petersen from KLJ provided an update on the 5th Ave project.  Two blocks of curb and gutter are complete with three more to go.  The sidewalk work is happening and if not already complete the electrical is almost completed up to 12th St.  Completion date is set for October 16th but will likely extend beyond that but shouldn’t be by much.

Commissioner Gulmon stated in regards to the COVID situation it would be best if all citizens do our part.  Wear masks and encourage businesses to ask customers to wear masks.  We need to step up and do a better job.

Commissioner Bishop continued off of Commissioner Gulmon’s statement stating he knows firsthand as he is in quarantine now due to being in close contact. 

Mayor Carlsrud reported he was on a call with the Governor and City Mayors and they were calling it a COVID storm due to the escalation.  We are at about 41/10,000 active cases.  We’ve been doing a good job, we were down to about 25 a week ago.  We need to rededicate ourselves to doing the right thing.  Kudos to the Public Schools and University along with their employees represent around 2,750 people.  Infections in that group are in the range of 20.  The school systems are doing a great job and part of that is because they are wearing masks everywhere.

It’s simple, social distance, wash your hands, practice good hygiene and wear a mask when you can’t social distance.  Business owners and operators, Fargo is afraid this could move them to red down the road and we don’t want to go there.  I invite you to put signs on your door and when you can’t social distance put your mask on.  I don’t know how many can afford to be shut down again but I don’t want to see it.  Please help and respect the signs on the doors.

Meeting was adjourned at 5:24 PM

11/2/2020 Mayor’s Message

Posted on by

Hello Everybody,

  • Even with “COVID Fatigue”, we are grateful, seeing acts of kindness such as, people leaving Halloween Treats for a family in quarantine, drivers yielding to pedestrians and some friendly “waves”.   Battle “COVID Fatigue” and be friendly as “Courtesy is Contagious”.
  • Thank you to the people on our Beautification Committee.  These folks do volunteer work all over town, securing grant monies, planting trees, planting flowers, and providing upkeep for their many projects through countless volunteer hours.  One of their projects is the beautiful Hi-Line Prairie Gardens & Orchard located at 5th Avenue and 9th Street NE.
  • Walking:  When you are out walking, be sure to wear high visibility colors and always face traffic when walking on the streets.  There are many distracted drivers and more hours of darkness so it is important you see them and they see you.  Please be safe.
  • COVID numbers are exploding around the USA and North Dakota.  I saw one statistic saying if North Dakota were a country, it would have the most positives per capita in the world.  Wow.
  • Last week a “Mask Plan” was implemented to help slow the spread and protect all of us.  Some people are not accepting the experts’ knowledge telling us “masks help”.  Maybe we could liken the COVID battle like we battle floods.  Our whole community “comes together” for the good of all.  Like the floods, to slow COVID, we need to “come together” again.  Masking-up helps protect your family, friends and fellow workers.  Please help.
  • Businesses need to help too as nonessential businesses in certain areas are being shut down.  We want you open, have employees and customers wear masks in your stores.  You are in control of your destiny.

“We are in this together.”         (Anonymous)                                                   

Blessings, Pray and Be Safe,

Dave

11/3/2020 Commission Agenda

Posted on by

The City Commission Meeting will begin on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 at 5:00 PM CT, at City Commission Chambers, 254 2nd Avenue NE, Valley City, ND. Members of the public are not permitted in the Commission Chambers due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.
Members of the public may view the meeting online https://zoom.us/j/93667792633 or listen by calling (1 346 248 7799) Webinar ID: 936 6779 2633

CALL TO ORDER

ROLL CALL

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE (PLEASE STAND)

APPROVAL OF AGENDA

APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Minutes from October 20, 2020 meeting

APPROVAL OF CONSENT AGENDA
A. Approve Monthly Reports from the Fire Chief, Building Inspector, Auditor, Municipal Judge and Public Works Accountant.
B. Approve Monthly Bills for the City and Public Works in the Amount of $
Roll Call: Bishop Magnuson Gulmon Erickson Carlsrud

Public Comments
Attorney General’s “A Citizen’s Guide to North Dakota Open Records & Open Meetings Laws” *A member of the public does not have the right to speak to the governing body at an open meeting. The public is only entitled to see and hear what happens at a meeting, and to record or broadcast those observations.
 No personal attacks to persons present or not
 No inflammatory language used during time that you have the platform
 5 minute maximum or as directed by the chair
 Thank you for participating in City Government.

ORDINANCE

  1. Approve first reading of Ordinance No. 1066, an Ordinance Approving Franchise Agreement with Qwest/CenturyLink. (City Attorney Martineck)
    Roll Call: Erickson Magnuson Bishop Gulmon Carlsrud

RESOLUTION

  1. Approve Resolution No. 2264, a resolution accepting bid and awarding contract to Strata Corporation for Project No. UGP-SU-2-999(051), PCN 22280-Streetscape Phase II. (KLJ)
    Roll Call: Gulmon Erickson Magnuson Bishop Carlsrud

NEW BUSINESS

  1. Approve annual Maintenance Certification for urban federal aid projects. (KLJ)
    Roll Call: Bishop Gulmon Erickson Magnuson Carlsrud

CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
CITY UPDATES &COMMISSION REPORTS
ADJOURN

11/3/2020 Finance Agenda

Posted on by

 The City Commission Meeting will begin on Tuesday, November 3rd, 2020 at 3:00 PM CT, at City Commission Chambers, 254 2nd Avenue NE, Valley City, ND. Members of the public are not permitted in the Commission Chambers due to COVID-19 and as allowed in ND Executive Order 2020-16.

Members of the public may view the meeting online

https://zoom.us/j/99846994464 or listen by calling (1 346 248 7799) Webinar ID: 998 4699 4464.

Call to Order

Roll Call

Agenda items

  1.  Department reports.
    • Out of State Travel Requests.
  2. Review monthly bills/reports (10 minutes) – (President Carlsrud)

3.   Discuss Tree Ordinance Change.  (City Administrator Crawford)

4.   Discuss 2021 Employee Benefits.  (City Attorney Martineck)

5.   Discussion around Recycling Cardboard. (President Carlsrud)

6.   Consider Placing Vacant City Lots for Bids.  (City Assessor Hansen)

7.   Review bids for Streetscape Phase II – NDDOT Project No. UPG-SU-2-999(05) (KLJ)

8.  Discuss Urban Roads Program Solicitation (KLJ)

9.  Discuss NDDOT Urban Grant Program (UGP) Solicitation (KLJ)

10. Discuss NDDOT Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) Solicitation (KLJ)

11. Discuss NDDOT Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Solicitation (KLJ)

12.  Discuss Elks Building. (City Attorney Martineck)

13.  Form a committee for PFP storage. (Commissioner Magnuson)

14.  Discuss Future Outlook of the City.  (Commissioner Magnuson)

15.  Discuss Coronavirus.  (Mayor Carlsrud)

Adjourn