The Jamestown City Council discussed executing a $3 million grant for the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities for a $5 million water line replacement project in the city.

The Jamestown City Council will vote later this month to execute a $3 million grant for the Jamestown Board of Public Utilities.

During a council work session meeting Monday, members discussed a resolution to execute the grant agreement with the state Environmental Facilities Corporation for a $5 million water line replacement project in the city. In July 2020, the BPU approved a resolution to authorize the city to accept the $3 million state Clean Water Infrastructure Improvement Act grant and enter into an agreement to borrow $2 million from the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund.

In July, David Leathers, BPU general manager, said the city will borrow $2 million from the state’s revolving loan fund as part of the local match to receive the $3 million grant from the state. He said it’s a low-interest loan, and added that phase one of the project will happen in 2021 along Washington Street. He said phase two will take place throughout the rest of the city in 2022.

In December 2019, the state announced the grant the BPU received for the project. The water line replacement project will also take place along Hazeltine Avenue, May Street, Strong Street, Juliet Street, Roland Road, Glenview Avenue, LaSalle Street, Mercury Lane, South Everett Avenue, Elm Street, Shady Lane, Harvard Street, Connecticut Street, West End Street, West 18th Street, Langford Street, Gwendolin Avenue and West Virginia Boulevard.

In other business, the council discussed the BPU’s request to change the city code for the new Assigned Garbage Container Program. Last week during the BPU monthly meeting, the board approved a resolution requesting the Jamestown City Council make changes to the city’s code for the new garbage container program. The change will be to require all residential solid waste customers to use only the assigned garbage container provided to them by the BPU.

Each residential unit in the city of Jamestown will be provided with an assigned garbage container for garbage collection and disposal. Last week, the BPU announced garbage containers will start to be delivered May 10. BPU officials stated it will take three to four weeks to deliver the garbage containers throughout the city.

Customers can start to use the new garbage can once they receive it, with the program officially starting July 1. The BPU garbage containers are made specifically to fit BPU tipping mechanisms, meaning that older containers not assigned by the utility may not be used for overflow garbage. Customers should place bagged garbage in the containers and no overflow garbage may be left on the ground without incurring a fee of $25 per occurrence and a $5 per bag fee.

If needed, customers also may request that an additional BPU-issued garbage container or containers be assigned to their addresses for an extra flat monthly fee by contacting the garbage hotline at 661-1651. Extra containers may be requested for a minimum period of six months.

If a customer has an unusual amount of garbage that will not fit in the BPU-issued container for an upcoming week, the customer can call the garbage hotline to request an extra collection in any given week on the day before or the day after their regular garbage day for a fee of $10. As of July, residents can also schedule an extra collection themselves by completing an online form on the BPU’s customer portal under “My Account” at www.jamestownbpu.com.

The council is scheduled to vote on the resolutions during its voting session meeting Monday, May 24.

¯ the council’s Public Safety Committee approved the special event application for the Jamestown Public Market. Linnea Carlson, Jamestown Public Market director, said the market will be moving from Cherry Street to Third Street this year.

“We’re moving because the market continues to grow,” she said. “Numerous vendors who are interested in coming to downtown Jamestown. We don’t have the space on Cherry Street.”

The market is scheduled to start June 12 and will operate through Oct. 29 each Saturday. Carlson said the public market is coming off its most successful season in 2020. She said pandemic restrictions have been lowered and children’s activities will be available once again at the market. She added, at this point, at least 23 vendors will be attending opening day.

¯ the committee also discussed placing bags on parking meters on Cherry Street in front of the James Prendergast Library when the Jamestown Mobile Market is on site. Carlson said only two or three parking spots, not including any handicap spaces, will have bags on them. She said having the spaces open makes it easier for them to prepare for the mobile market, which has a tent in front of the entrance to the library.

The Jamestown Mobile Market offers fresh fruits and veggies to all community members at a low cost of $1 per serving. Cash, credit and debit cards are accepted.

Carlson said the mobile market will only be at the library for an hour and half on Wednesdays.

“We were very successful last year,” she said “We met a lot of community members last year, so it’s impactful.”

¯ Jamestown Mayor Eddie Sundquist announced the city will be receiving $1.2 million in American Rescue Plan funding for a Home Investment Partnership Program. He said the city will have seven to eight years to spend the funds that will go toward repairing and buying affordable housing for rentals and home-ownership. He added the program will provide assistance to low-income families for housing in the city.