The Rugby Police Department reported 22 arrests made in March at a Public Safety Committee meeting held at city hall Wednesday, April 21.

The committee was one of seven holding meetings that day.

The Public Safety Committee listened to information presented by Rugby Police Chief John Rose, who reported officers responded to 77 calls in March. Officers issued 36 traffic citations including 12 for speeding, five for violating stop and yield laws and 19 other violations.

Officers made 22 arrests in March, with one for an alcohol-related offense, four for criminal traffic offenses, four drug-related offenses, three violations of judicial orders, seven crimes against a person and three crimes against property. Officers responded to four traffic collisions within city limits and assisted with nine medical calls.

The committee also reviewed a request to purchase two electronic traffic signs to warn speeders in problem areas to slow down. Members voted to recommend the purchase, noting the cost of approximately $6,200 for the signs would fall below the $8,000 budget for the department

The Recreation Committee reviewed applications by candidates for summer recreation director and manager positions. Committee members also reviewed job descriptions for the seasonal recreation and groundskeeper positions. The committee voted to set up interviews for job candidates.

The committee also discussed possible work needed for a picnic structure at the city baseball diamonds.

The Finance Committee heard information from City Engineer Jim Olson on progress of raising funds for infrastructure projects, such as planned work on water and sewer lines near 2 ¢ Avenue in Rugby. . Olson told the committee rising costs for some materials such as pipe might affect project budgets and discussed the possibility of locking in prices from manufacturers.

Olson said some city water/sewer infrastructure work would be included in a North Dakota Department of Transportation project, which he said would begin in 2022.

The committee also heard from Nick Senf of Otter Tail Power Co., who said the utility company was “going over possible LED lighting, taking over what’s left of the city-owned lights to add into the Otter Tail lights.” Senf asked the committee if the city would be interested in the change, which would include Otter Tail assuming the liability for the lighting.

The City Ordinance Committee voted to table a review of ordinances pertaining to city purchasing policy. Members also asked for update of progress on the Municode project, which puts municipal codes and ordinances into digital form.

“I’ve had a discussion with the city attorney and he has worked with the person that was hired but there has been some discussion about how Municode has presented all of their footnotes, which would require a lot more work. I don’t know if the city attorney has had a discussion about changing how they presented it.”

Steinke said footnotes and other format issues led to more work than the city had anticipated.

Steinke noted she had hoped the project would be completed by January of this year.

Steinke and Public Works Committee members met next, reviewing updates on the 2 ¢ Avenue infrastructure project.

Olson told the committee the project was on hold temporarily until an application for funding was approved by the USDA’s Rural Development program.

Olson reported the water plant’s carbon dioxide tank had been installed and fenced and was working properly. The city’s current CO2 provider would refill the tank once more before terms for future supply contracts could be worked out.

Olson gave the committee an update on plans for Jamestown firm Pipe Detectives to send a camera through sewer lines in the northwest quadrant of Rugby as part of ongoing sewer and water infrastructure work.

Olson reported the city had applied for a community development block grant for the Rugby Armory to fund repairs and work needed for compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act.

The committee also voted to allow Steinke to sign a task order for engineering firm AE2S to seek bids for new windows for an improvement project on the Rugby swimming pool building. The project will also include overhead doors and fans.

Olson told the board the project would “come in under the $200,000 mark.” Work above that sum requires a bidding process following requirements by the North Dakota Century Code.

The committee would review bids from Fargo Glass and Swanson. “That’s not just for the windows; it’s for the overhead doors and fans as well,” Olson told the committee.

Olson said the windows would feature electric controls and air sensor awning upgrades.

Olson said the electric controls adjust the window openings based on air temperature.

Other business discussed by the committee included a proposal to integrate geographic information about underground locations of city property such as curb stops, water and sewer lines, valves and manholes into city computer software, which could then be uploaded to city workers’ phones.

The GIS system integration would cost approximately $12,000 and include all information about facilities, buildings and infrastructure within the city limits downloaded into the system.

The system would then be updated once a year.

Committee member Gary Kraft suggested the software could also be used by the Rugby fire department.

Other business discussed included updates on electrical wiring for lift stations and city wells. City worker Greg Boucher said perimeters should be placed around well sites in the city, while city employee Troy Munyer discussed working on alarm systems for the lift stations.

The committee approved placing five items for bid, including a 1989 Freightliner truck, mileage 870,000 miles; a 1988 GMC truck with 405,000 miles; a John Deere 1445 lawn mower with a broom; a 1989 LECO fogger with a 15 gallon tank and a 2015 Ford Taurus with a mileage total of 140,000.

The Buildings Committee heard information about the swimming pool building Olson had presented to the Public Works Committee. The committee also heard an update on grant applications to fund needed work in the armory building, which includes window replacements, remodeling classroom space to conform to requirements set by the Americans with Disabilities Act and repairing a roof leak that causes water to drip onto the armory stage.

The Personnel Committee met next to review and approve a cell phone manual for use by city employees.

The city council meets Monday, May 3 at 7:30 p.m. at city hall.