Nov. 21—JAMESTOWN — The Stutsman County Park Board on Tuesday, Nov. 20, unanimously approved several projects to release excess American Rescue Plan Act funds by Dec. 31.
The park board approved a bridge project on the island at Jamestown Reservoir, which would be funded under a grant from the North Dakota Department of Transportation, and released $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds from the local portion of the project.
Other projects the park board has approved include obtaining a master plan for the county park system, replacing a bathhouse at Pelican Point, creating a walking trail from Hondo’s Hideaway to the shared-use area with the North Dakota Farmers Union and installing speed bumps and signs near Hondo’s. . Approval for these projects is preliminary and requires quotes.
Jessica Lange, Stutsman County auditor/chief operating officer, said every dollar of American Rescue Plan Act funds must be formally allocated by Dec. 31, with evidence in the form of a contract, invoice or purchase order.
The island bridge project consists of replacing the bridge with a box culvert. The box culvert is placed in the area of the bridge to the island. Once the box culvert is installed, water can flow through it, creating a bridge that allows a road to be built over it.
Lange previously said that $800,000 in American Rescue Plan Act funds had been set aside for the increase in the bridge project, which is estimated to cost $1.36 million. The remaining $560,000 would come from the park fund balance or from leftover American Rescue Plan Act funds from under-budget projects.
Stutsman County Commissioner Mark Klose said the intent of allocating $800,000 to the bridge project was so the county didn’t have to find additional dollars. He said the cost of the project then increased and the county received the bridge funding from the state.
Daren Peterka, senior project engineer and surveyor with Interstate Engineering, said bids on the island bridge project won’t be received until January 2026. The project is expected to be completed later in 2026, he added.
Stutsman County Commissioner Levi Taylor said the group consisting of Commissioner Jerry Bergquist, park board member Merri Mooridian and himself met with Interstate Engineering about developing a master plan for the county park system.
Taylor said Interstate Engineering has not yet provided a quote for the master plan.
A list of potential projects for 2025 estimates the cost at $185,000.
The master plan would give the park board and park superintendent a general idea of what needs to be done in the coming years.
“The master plan we’re talking about, we’re not just talking about a master plan for the Jamestown Reservoir,” Bergquist said. ‘They are all qualities.’
Replacing the Pelican Point bathhouse is estimated to cost $350,000, according to the 2025 list of potential projects. Arounde said she added another $30,000 to the estimated $350,000 cost to help cover the additional costs.
Bergquist said the bathhouse should be higher than 1,500 feet above sea level so it doesn’t flood again.
The cost for the trail from Hondo’s Hideaway to the shared use area with the North Dakota Farmers Union shall not exceed $175,000.
Lange said once the county receives the final quote for the trail, the park board must give final approval to contract for its construction.
The cost of installing the speed bumps and signs near Hondo’s Hideaway cannot exceed $10,000.
During the winter months, the speed bumps can be removed.
Taylor said the speed bumps and signs would make the area near Hondo’s safer.
