JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – Stutsman County Commission Chairman Mark Klose says there’s a “stalemate” between Stutsman County and the City of Jamestown when it comes to the First Street Bridge.

According to the county, maintenance and ownership of the bridge was the City’s responsibility after a review of local bridges. This means the city would be responsible for maintenance and inspections.

In April 2020, the county commission voted to not claim responsibility for the bridge.

Klose says the bridge is in excellent condition, but it’s a requirement that the bridges are inspected. He says NDDOT no longer conducts inspections, leaving it up to consulting engineers.

Klose says it was recommended to do a one-time only 50/50 split with the city to pay for the inspection. If the inspection isn’t completed, the bridge would be closed.

Commissioner Steve Cichos made a motion to approve paying for half the bridge inspection cost, along with sending a letter to the city indicating they would not be accepting responsibility for the bridge moving forward.

The motion was unanimously passed.