JAMESTOWN, N.D. (NewsDakota.com) – COVID-19 derailed the Rough Rider Rodeo finals in 2020, forcing them to move the popular event to the Stutsman County Fairgrounds.

On Tuesday, Greg Carlson with the James River Rodeo Finals informed the Jamestown Civic Center & Promotion Committee that they would like to enter into an agreement to bring the rodeo back to the Civic Center.

Carlson stated because they didn’t have a contract with the city last year, he came before the committee to request a new contract for the event.

Jamestown Civic Center Director Pam Fossee informed the committee that the fees the city may incur would be higher than in previous years.

Estimated equipment cost would be anywhere from $13,615 to $16,285 for the Street Department and dirt move-in and move-out. In the past, an informal agreement was extended to rodeos to provide complementary services, the delivery and removal of dirt, sweeper services to remove debris from the Jamestown Business Center, and public streets/parking areas following the event.

Civic Center fees incurred would be around $12,800.

Mayor Dwaine Heinrich recommended that if the event were to be brought back to the Civic Center, that there would be clear direction on contact information and communication between the rodeo staff and the Jamestown Civic Center.

Casey Aldinger, James River Rodeo Committee president, stated that Carlson has done a lot to bring the rodeo finals to the community once they decided to not host in Devils Lake.

Councilmember Dave Steele added that the city also doesn’t recoup what they put into the event, but thinks open communication beforehand would be best for both parties moving forward.

The committee unanimously approved to enter into an agreement to bring the event back to the Civic Center in 2021.