May 6—JAMESTOWN — The Jamestown City Council, by a 4-1 vote, approved an annual membership to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to support a long-distance rail route that could pass through Jamestown in the future.
Mayor Dwaine Heinrich and Councilors Brian Kamlitz, David Schloegel and David Steele approved the membership while Councilman Dan Buchanan opposed it at the Monday, May 6, meeting.
The city council has not joined the High Speed Rail Alliance. Annual membership would have cost $250 per year.
Annual membership in the High Speed Rail Alliance supports the creation of the former long-distance passenger rail line from Chicago to Seattle.
Steele said the High Speed Rail Alliance passenger rail route would not pass through Jamestown.
Annual membership to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority will cost $2,000 per year.
Annual membership supports the planning and development of the long-distance rail route from Chicago to Seattle.
Steele said Jamestown would be a stop on the rail route because it is a historic site.
“The goal is to have a seat at the table of the discussions that are taking place and continuing to evolve,” Steele said.
In December, the Federal Railroad Administration awarded a $500,000 grant from its Corridor Identification and Development Program to the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority to restore passenger rail service to Amtrak’s North Shore Hiwatha route between Chicago and Seattle. Amtrak’s North Shore passenger rail projects in Hiwatha are overseen by the Big Sky Passenger Rail Authority.
Steele said the annual membership would allow the town of Jamestown to work with Amtrak and BNSF Railway Co. He said BNSF fully supports the project.
He said members also contribute to grant opportunities and grant application processes for rail-related projects. He said the city will have to work with Amtrak for a ticket office.
“Some communities are looking at multi-use buildings with dining options,” he said.
Steele said grant opportunities may also be available for shuttle and taxi services to transport passengers to and from the station.
He also said the train service would operate two round trips daily.
Buchanan asked about using other dollars to possibly pay for annual membership.
Heinrich said he visited the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. and that the city may have further discussions with the organization in the future.
At the Jamestown Finance and Law Committee meeting in April, Heinrich said economic development dollars through the Jamestown/Stutsman Development Corp. could potentially be used for memberships rather than general funds.
The City Council unanimously approved a cost-share reimbursement agreement with the North Dakota State Water Commission for the lime sludge filter press and recycling and reuse project. Heinrich was also authorized to sign the agreement.
The agreement stipulates that the National Water Commission will provide the city…
