Latest news with #SenateBill2225
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JSDC board funds $1M for program to develop residential lots
May 13—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board of Directors unanimously approved on Monday, May 12, funding $1 million for a program that would help develop infrastructure for residential lots. The program would be 100% funded by the city of Jamestown's economic development fund with Jamestown City Council approval. The JSDC board previously approved in March a forgivable loan of $1 million to the city of Jamestown that would have been used as matching dollars for the Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment (HOME) grant program established by Senate Bill 2225. Senate Bill 2225 failed in the North Dakota Legislature. The HOME program would have provided grant dollars for one-third of the infrastructure costs for residential development projects. The local political subdivision and the developer of the residential lots would have each provided one-third of the costs for residential development projects. The JSDC is structuring the program similarly to the HOME grant program. The JSDC's program will fund 50% of the infrastructure costs for new residential development while the developer pays 50% of those costs. The $1 million allocated for the HOME grant program will go toward the JSDC's similar program. The same parameters for the HOME grant program will be used with the JSDC's program. A minimum of five residential lots would need to be developed and the agreements for residential lot development would be between the city of Jamestown and the developer. "I don't think it's prudent for us to be investing in single lots ... across town," Shevlin said. The program can only be used for residential projects within Jamestown city limits. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich, a member of the JSDC board, said residential lots are needed in Jamestown. "They have to be somewhat affordable or we have lots that nobody can afford," he said. Heinrich said the City Council will need to decide if the remaining portion of the developer's cost will be included in the lot sale so the purchaser of the lot will be buying it without any special assessments. He also said the intent of the program is to make the lots affordable for the community. "We just want to make sure that there are lots in the community for people who want to build a house," he said. In other business, the JSDC board unanimously approved seven internships for the organization's Internship Reimbursement Program. Six internships will be eligible for the maximum reimbursement of $3,500. One internship is eligible for $1,425 of reimbursement. The program contributes up to $3,500 to reimburse employers that hire university or college students to assist in payroll costs. The program allows employers to get half of the internship reimbursed. Employers are required to pay the intern at least $15 per hour. The employer and internship position must be located in Stutsman County. Interns must be juniors or seniors or within two years of completing their program.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Two bills focused on supporting North Dakota's rural regions see forward motion in Bismarck
Apr. 14—BISMARCK — Two bills focused on serving North Dakota's rural regions are in the midst of being seen by committees. One, targeted focused on assisting North Dakota's eight regional councils, has been discussed by the Senate Appropriations Committee, while another hoping to create a rural catalyst committee is being seen by House Appropriations. Both bills, and the legislative session in general, have drawn eyes to North Dakota's rural areas and the councils that serve them, said Dawn Mandt, executive director of the Red River Regional Council. "I feel like we're finally finding a seat at the table and trying to be a part of those conversations," she said. House Bill 1524, sponsored by Rep. David Monson, R-Osnabrock, has most recently received an amendment by the Senate Appropriations Committee to alter the nature of its funding to regional planning councils. The bill initially asked to provide $8 million to the North Dakota Department of Commerce to fund regional planning councils, before the funding was reduced to $2.4 million. On Wednesday, April 9, Senate Appropriations amended the bill from specific funding to instead say the commerce department may "award grants to regional planning councils ... to support local and regional implementation of state-authorized programs and initiatives." The amendment was introduced by Sen. Michael Dwyer, R-Bismarck, from the Senate Appropriations Government Operations Division Committee. "We understood the sentiment behind providing some additional support to the regional councils so they could be the local entity to implement all of the grant programs that the Department of Commerce has," he said. The amendment passed unanimously, and the bill received a "do pass" recommendation with a vote of 14-2. Senate Bill 2390, which has been seeking to create a rural catalyst committee, grant program and fund to support small North Dakota towns, was introduced to House Appropriations on Monday, April 7. Sponsored by Sen. Terry Wanzek, R-Jamestown, the bill was introduced by Rep. Donald Longmuir, R-Stanley. Longmuir said the bill would create a rural catalyst committee consisting of one member from each of the eight regional councils, two members at large from the rural communities appointed by the governor, one member of the Legislative assembly, the governor or his designee and the commissioner of commerce or his designee. The committee would have $5 million to support North Dakota towns of 8,500 or fewer, with 50% of the funds having to go to towns of less than 1,500, and the maximum amount of money that can be given through a grant would be 500,000. Longmuir and members of the House Appropriations Committee compared SB 2390 to Senate Bill 2097, which relates to creating a rural community endowment fund and committee, and Senate Bill 2225, which relates to creating a housing for opportunity, mobility and empowerment program. When asked which bill Longmuir preferred, he voiced support for them all, though said if he had to pick, he'd choose SB 2390. "I think 2390 has a better structure to it, in that it's already maintaining some of the things that we already have in place, so we're not creating a new level of bureaucracy," he said. "We're working with assets we already have in place, so we're not tripping on toes." House Appropriations decided SB 2390 will be discussed more at a later date. Mandt, who has provided testimony on both SB 2390 and HB 1524, said it's time to leave the bills in the hands of Appropriations. "We've been on pins and needles," she said.
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Approval recommended for purchase agreement on lot for indoor baseball, softball facility
Mar. 27—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown Finance and Legal Committee recommended approval on a 4-0 vote to have the city of Jamestown enter into a purchase agreement with Eagles Nest LLC for a city-owned lot that will be developed into an indoor practice facility for youth baseball and softball. Councilman David Schloegel was not present at the meeting on Tuesday, March 25. The property is on lot one and block two at the Harold P. Bensch Addition and is adjacent to 12th Avenue and 5th Street Southeast. The purchase price is about $76,000 for the property. Matt Perkins with Eagles Nest said he had a couple of concerns with the purchase agreement but didn't want those concerns to derail the project. His concerns included needing Jamestown City Council approval to sell the property within the first 30 months after the purchase agreement and city staff being able to request records from Eagles Nest of the indoor practice facility's operations. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said the city needs to ensure that the project in the request for proposal is what happens at the location. Abbagail Geroux, assistant city attorney, said the city would actually need a valid reason to look into the records of Eagles Nest regarding the performance of the purchase agreement. The purchaser must agree to sell the property back to the city at the original purchase price if development does not occur within 30 months of the purchase in accordance with the development plan submitted as part of the original purchase proposal. The indoor practice facility for youth baseball and softball was originally planned to be on 2 acres in the JMS Aviation Park near Jamestown Regional Airport before changing its location, Perkins told The Jamestown Sun after the meeting. The Finance and Legal Committee unanimously recommended approval of a request from the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. for a forgivable loan of $1 million to the city of Jamestown that will be used as matching dollars for a grant program that helps create residential housing development. Heinrich said $500,000 is also being deobligated for a JSDC housing program for the development of residential lots within Jamestown city limits. The $500,000 will be reallocated to use as matching dollars for the Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment (HOME) grant program in the North Dakota Department of Commerce if Senate Bill 2225 is approved. Senate Bill 2225 would create the Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment grant program. It would appropriate $50 million to the program. If SB 2225 is approved, the Commerce Department would award grants to political subdivisions to build infrastructure to support affordable market-rate housing. The grant program would be funded one time and ends on June 30, 2027. The Commerce Department would allocate $10 million for communities with a population of 5,000 or less, $20 million for communities with a population of 5,001 to 20,000 and $5 million for rural metropolitan areas located within 20 miles of city limits of a community with more than 20,000 people. The program would provide grant dollars for one-third of the infrastructure costs for residential development projects. The local political subdivision and the developer of the residential lots would each provide one-third of the costs for residential development projects. A minimum of five residential lots would need to be developed using the HOME program and the agreements for residential lot development would be between the city of Jamestown and the developer. The Finance and Legal Committee unanimously recommended approval to introduce the first reading of an ordinance to prohibit camping on public property within Jamestown city limits. The ordinance would add Article 53 of Chapter 22 to Jamestown city code and amend the existing city code — Section 21-16-04.1 — regarding campers. Geroux said the ordinance would prohibit camping on city streets, boulevards, parks and other publicly-owned property. She said camping would be allowed in designated areas for camping. She said a camper or recreational vehicle is still allowed to be placed adjacent to a property owner's property for up to 14 days. The Jamestown City Council will make the first reading of the ordinance at its meeting on April 7. In other business, the Finance and Legal Committee unanimously recommended approval to introduce the first reading of an ordinance to amend Section 1-10 of the city code to increase Jamestown Municipal Court fees. The administration fee will increase from $30 to $125 and the facility fee will increase from $25 to $100. Heinrich said the intent was to have the Municipal Court fees match the fees at Southeast District Court in Jamestown.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JSDC board approves $1 million for housing grant program
Mar. 12—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board of Directors unanimously approved on Monday, March 10, a forgivable loan of $1 million to the city of Jamestown that will be used as matching dollars for a grant program that helps create residential housing development. The funding is contingent on approval of Senate Bill 2225 in the state Legislature. The bill was approved in the Senate and is now in the House. SB 2225 establishes the Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment (HOME) grant program in the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The Commerce Department would award grants to political subdivisions to build infrastructure to support affordable market-rate housing. The grant program would be funded one time and ends on June 30, 2027. SB 2225 would appropriate $50 million to the program. The Commerce Department would allocate $10 million for communities with a population of 5,000 or less, $20 million for communities with a population of 5,001 to 20,000 and $5 million for rural metropolitan areas located within 20 miles of city limits of a community with more than 20,000 people. The program provides grant dollars for one-third of the infrastructure costs for residential development projects. The local political subdivision and the developer of the residential lots would each provide one-third of the costs for residential development projects. In related business, the JSDC board unanimously approved deobligating $500,000 for a housing program for the development of residential lots within Jamestown city limits. The $500,000 was reallocated to use as matching dollars for the HOME grant program. The JSDC's housing program has not been used by any developers. If the $1million in funds are not used for the HOME grant program, they will return to the JSDC and go back into the economic development fund, said Corry Shevlin, CEO of JSDC. Although SB 2225 has not passed both chambers in the Legislature, Shevlin recommended approval of the forgivable loan to the city of Jamestown because the bill contains an emergency clause that would immediately fund the program once it is signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong. "There is an emergency clause on it, which is another reason that we're seeing this today versus next month or after session just so we have the ability to move quickly and not lose a construction season," Shevlin said. Shevlin said the HOME grant program would be used to develop residential lots within Jamestown city limits. He said dollars could be leveraged from the HOME grant program for projects outside of city limits if it makes sense. "There are some pretty significant differences in what it takes to stand up a residential development in the city versus outside the city," he said. He said additional costs in city limits include sewer, paved roads and curb and gutter. Using the HOME program would reduce the cost by two-thirds to develop residential lots in Jamestown. Shevlin said those lot prices would need to reflect that cost saving to the end buyer. How special assessments on a developed lot would be paid back will need to be negotiated between the developer and the city of Jamestown, he said. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said a special assessment should be paid off when each lot is sold so the end buyer is purchasing a lot with no special assessments. "It would have to be in the lot price," he said. Shevlin said a minimum of five residential lots would need to be developed using the HOME program and the agreements for residential lot development would be between the city of Jamestown and the developer. He said anywhere from 35 to 55 lots could be developed with the program. He said developed lots are needed for all types of housing including multi-family and single-family residences. He said larger residential lots are needed for bigger houses that can be used to recruit doctors or other professionals to Jamestown. Heinrich said residential lots that could be developed are in east, northeast and southwest Jamestown. In 2021, the JSDC Board approved a request for $50,000 to contract preliminary engineering for cost estimates to proposed housing development sites. The cost of the preliminary engineering report completed by Interstate Engineering was $30,000. Interstate Engineering prepared the preliminary engineering report that includes existing conditions for five locations — Beverly Hills Sixth Addition, Horizon Estates First Addition and Schumacher Acres, Loose Bypass Subdivision, Looysen Scenic View Estates and the Meadows Addition — for potential development that would require additional city water and sanitary sewer infrastructure. The report analyzed the city's existing infrastructure that would connect to the proposed development locations and reviewed sanitary sewer and water mains.
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
JSDC board approves $1 million for housing grant program
Mar. 12—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. Board of Directors unanimously approved on Monday, March 10, a forgivable loan of $1 million to the city of Jamestown that will be used as matching dollars for a grant program that helps create residential housing development. The funding is contingent on approval of Senate Bill 2225 in the state Legislature. The bill was approved in the Senate and is now in the House. SB 2225 establishes the Housing for Opportunity, Mobility and Empowerment (HOME) grant program in the North Dakota Department of Commerce. The Commerce Department would award grants to political subdivisions to build infrastructure to support affordable market-rate housing. The grant program would be funded one time and ends on June 30, 2027. SB 2225 would appropriate $50 million to the program. The Commerce Department would allocate $10 million for communities with a population of 5,000 or less, $20 million for communities with a population of 5,001 to 20,000 and $5 million for rural metropolitan areas located within 20 miles of city limits of a community with more than 20,000 people. The program provides grant dollars for one-third of the infrastructure costs for residential development projects. The local political subdivision and the developer of the residential lots would each provide one-third of the costs for residential development projects. In related business, the JSDC board unanimously approved deobligating $500,000 for a housing program for the development of residential lots within Jamestown city limits. The $500,000 was reallocated to use as matching dollars for the HOME grant program. The JSDC's housing program has not been used by any developers. If the $1million in funds are not used for the HOME grant program, they will return to the JSDC and go back into the economic development fund, said Corry Shevlin, CEO of JSDC. Although SB 2225 has not passed both chambers in the Legislature, Shevlin recommended approval of the forgivable loan to the city of Jamestown because the bill contains an emergency clause that would immediately fund the program once it is signed by Gov. Kelly Armstrong. "There is an emergency clause on it, which is another reason that we're seeing this today versus next month or after session just so we have the ability to move quickly and not lose a construction season," Shevlin said. Shevlin said the HOME grant program would be used to develop residential lots within Jamestown city limits. He said dollars could be leveraged from the HOME grant program for projects outside of city limits if it makes sense. "There are some pretty significant differences in what it takes to stand up a residential development in the city versus outside the city," he said. He said additional costs in city limits include sewer, paved roads and curb and gutter. Using the HOME program would reduce the cost by two-thirds to develop residential lots in Jamestown. Shevlin said those lot prices would need to reflect that cost saving to the end buyer. How special assessments on a developed lot would be paid back will need to be negotiated between the developer and the city of Jamestown, he said. Mayor Dwaine Heinrich said a special assessment should be paid off when each lot is sold so the end buyer is purchasing a lot with no special assessments. "It would have to be in the lot price," he said. Shevlin said a minimum of five residential lots would need to be developed using the HOME program and the agreements for residential lot development would be between the city of Jamestown and the developer. He said anywhere from 35 to 55 lots could be developed with the program. He said developed lots are needed for all types of housing including multi-family and single-family residences. He said larger residential lots are needed for bigger houses that can be used to recruit doctors or other professionals to Jamestown. Heinrich said residential lots that could be developed are in east, northeast and southwest Jamestown. In 2021, the JSDC Board approved a request for $50,000 to contract preliminary engineering for cost estimates to proposed housing development sites. The cost of the preliminary engineering report completed by Interstate Engineering was $30,000. Interstate Engineering prepared the preliminary engineering report that includes existing conditions for five locations — Beverly Hills Sixth Addition, Horizon Estates First Addition and Schumacher Acres, Loose Bypass Subdivision, Looysen Scenic View Estates and the Meadows Addition — for potential development that would require additional city water and sanitary sewer infrastructure. The report analyzed the city's existing infrastructure that would connect to the proposed development locations and reviewed sanitary sewer and water mains.
