“Truth is like the sun. You can shut it out for a time, but it ain’t goin’ away.”

Elvis Presley

 …and neither am I…

Vickie

 Mayor Glas called the November 4, 2019, regular city council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. with Council members Melissa Kay, Linda Talbott, David Larsen, Dan Haeder and Darla Reppe present. Also present was Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson, Chief Jeff Christie and Alcester Police Officer Austin Schuller. Absent again this month was Council member Lance Johnson.The council approved the agenda without change and the October 2nd meeting minutes without change.

video was to be inserted here but due to human error and foul up the memory card was compromised.  My profound apologies.

Dwight Berglin presented the 2018 audit which was after a question posed by Councilman David Larsen concerning a rumored $60K shortage was approved as presented.

Mark DeRaney AMKO Advisors representative presented an option to change from the outstanding USDA Loans on the waste treatment and water tower to bonds. Mr. DeRaney needed signature approve by the mayor to move the process forward. The Mayor’s signature did not commit the city to anything more than a forward movement on the process. The council voted to allow the mayor to sign the agreement. Judging from the mayor’s expression, now they just have to ‘splain it to him.

Agenda Item #7-Public Input-

1. I gave my opinion of the City Office proposed move to the Golf Course/Community building if it is built.
2. Gordon Richard of the Alcester Union-Hudsonite Newspaper asked the question, what progress was being made on the ballot box complaint and investigation. Alcester City Attorney paused, then answered, “…no comment…”.
3. Councilman Dan Haeder said he had been approached about a city dog park. Discussion ensued concerning where such a facility would be located the former ice skating rink in the park, maybe the ball field, who would pick up the poop–honor system (?) etc.

Agenda Item #8-Legal updates

•  Cemetery transfer 01/01/20
•  Sewer discharge/lines update-easement needed
•  On-sale liquor-Hillbillies not renewing their liquor license

Agenda Item #9-Community Clean Up

•  Possible condemnation of two properties

Agenda Item #10- Street Update

•   Street Update-sump pump discharge into street. No discharge in winter
•   Street sweeper-two broken sprockets and chain. Unknown fix-it charge.

 Agenda Item #11- Police Dept.  Up-dates

•  Meth resurgence
•   Suicide alerts
•   School sign battery issues
•  Advisory board make-up: Police Department, Fire Department, Alcester EMS and council members Haeder and Kay.

Agenda Item #13-Update given by Councilman David Larsen

Agenda Item #14-Tiny House

•   Contact Patrick from Secog for zoning change
•   Add R-4 to Residential district

Agenda Item #15-Finance Office

•   Approve Warrants.
•   City Letterhead change-FO Pat did not like the green.
•   2020 Resolution for Fees.
•   Community Building-according to FO Pat they must develope a menu to design the kitchen. Ya’all cannot afford the building let alone hire a chef that requires a speshal menu to design a commercial kitchen.
•  Approve $2500 appraisal fee on the auditorium. Mayor failed to ask for discussion during the motion process.  Council voted to approve.
•  Approve operating agreements with local bars.  With the community building bar set-up (no pun intended), the city will be a full-blown competitor with the private bars in the city.
•   Resolution of fees 2019-08 Waste water discharge-a 5% raise in fees with a specific   minimum.
•   Water Deposits levied.
•   Flag Burning-Legion-Council approved.
•   Special Meeting set in December approved for December 30th at 6:00 p.m.
•   Reminders and updates.
•   Wanda brought up the need for extra funding for meals for kids.  Councilman Dan Haeder made the comment, “…Prisoners eat free…”*  

*Funds received for the inmate, from any approved source, while the inmate is in custody of the Department of Corrections will be deposited into the inmate’s account.

Inmates may use the funds in their bank account to purchase items such as writing supplies, hygiene items and snacks. Court ordered financial obligations, special program financial obligations and costs incurred while in custody of the DOC are automatically withdrawn from an inmate’s account.

Each inmate has a bank account set up in their name. There are a number of subaccounts that can be utilized depending on DOC policy. 

https://doc.sd.gov/about/faq/finances

Agenda Item #16- HRC Update

• Rents to increase $25 per month

Agenda Item#17-Community Flyer

• Finance Office worked hard on getting the community flyer out-who paid for this? The labor and postage?

Agenda Item #18-Volunteer roster-nothing

Agenda Item#19 Executive Session-Contracts SDCL #1-25-2-4*

*1-25-2.   Executive or closed meetings–Purposes–Authorization–Violation as misdemeanor. Executive or closed meetings may be held for the sole purposes of:

 (4)   Preparing for contract negotiations or negotiating with employees or employee representatives;

                *https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx? Type=Statute&Statute=1-25-2

Agenda Item #19-Council went into Executive Session at 8:12 p.m. ostensibly to discuss contracts with the mayor, the council, FO Pat Jurrens and Alcester City Attorney Sam Nelson.

FO Pat Jurrens exited the executive session at 8:36 p.m. and remained in the atrium pacing back and forth until the Council was declared out of executive session at 9:09 p.m. Take my word for it, this never happens unless the council is discussing FO Pat. Please note the agenda notations for Agenda Item #19, obviously there was some sort of decision to occur. What happened?

Agenda Item #20-Executive Session for the purpose of discussing personnel. SDCL 1-25-2-1*

*1-25-2.   Executive or closed meetings–Purposes–Authorization–Violation as                         misdemeanor. Executive or closed meetings may be held for the sole purposes of:

(1)  Discussing the qualifications, competence, performance, character or fitness of any public officer or employee or prospective public officer or employee. The term, employee, does not include any  independent contractor;

*https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/Codified_Laws/DisplayStatute.aspx?Type=Statute&Statute=1-25-2

It is to be noted here the police department appeared to have been instructed to be available for Agenda Item#20 to be declared. Was there maybe some idea to interview about the Indictment?

Agenda item #20 did not happen.

Agenda Item #21-Adjourn

      Council adjourned at 9:11 p.m.