(ongoing criminality?)

Mayor Dan Haeder called the April 19, 2021, city council meeting to order with the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.  Council members present were Councilman David Larsen, Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Linda Talbott, Councilwoman Melissa Kay and City Attorney Sam Nelson with Councilman Marcus Ireland participating via telephone. 

Agenda Item #3 – Mayor Haeder called for Approval of the Agenda.  An adjustment was made to add an additional Executive Session SDCL 1-25-2.3 Legal Contract to Agenda Item #6.  Like we really needed another Executive session last night.

Agenda Item #4 – Public Input – 

*Vickie Larsen – Wheel Loader throwing good money after bad.  (0:07:07.00)  Direct Deposit for employees.  I ask the question does the city offer direct deposit to its employees.  Finance Office Jurrens answer was no. (0:37:70)  So Why not?  Don’t know how FOPat?  Too much work for you?  I handed out ‘how to direct deposit’ to the council with a detailed packet to Mayor Haeder.  The detailed packet I handed to Mayor Haeder explained how direct deposit would save the city money. Folks keep this mind, ’til you get to the HSA Healthcare provider change Agenda Item #10 (0:54:42.90) and (0:55:14.87)

*Don Drown – (0:10:10.10) Junk and dead cars in the city.  Mr. Drown was asked by Attorney Sam Nelson, “have you contacted the city?” (0:14:01.53)  Mr. Drown answered, “…numerous times…” (0:14:12.23)  Attorney Sam tells Mr. Drown to keep contacting the city office to establish a time line (0:14:19.00)  Mayor Haeder says, to talk to him, talk to your councilmember (0:15:18.20)  I asked about the a complaint form (0:16:11.77)  FOPat answers the city has a form, really?  Why didn’t you have Mr. Drown fill out a complaint when he spoke to you all those numerous times?  Councilman David Larsen asked, “…Are they (the complaint forms) on the website (0:16:28.57)  FOPat replied, : No, but I can put them on it….What you waiting for, why are ya draggin’ your feet FOPat?

*Councilwoman Darla Reppe – (0:17:37.20) Musical Garbage Cans Game the Alcester home version.  Frost is out, time to change back.  (0:18:36.33) Councilwoman Talbott thinks we should keep the game of Musical Garbage Cans going and FOPat well FOPat says (0:18:45.97), “Actually Loren loves it…”  Of course “Loren” loves it, he can get into town and get out of town so he can pick up more garbage on the route and get home.  He does not have to pay the street maintenance fee!

*Councilwoman Melissa Kay – Interstate 29 Sign –  My advice to Councilwoman Kay, do your homework before you suggest another Bambee-like fiasco such as interstate signage.  For instance madam Kay, SDCL 31-29-1 through SDCL 31-29-87.  That is just the South Dakota, the Union County, local licensing fees.  Then there is the IOWADOT (Iowa Outdoor Advertising Regulations of Interstate Highways) and then there is the Linchpin Article, How to Effectively Use Outdoor and Billboard Advertising at https://linchpinseo.com/the-guide-to-outdoor-advertising/    updated 03/16/2021 author Team Linchpin.  Folks I took the advertising course in school.  Leisure Sports looked into Bill Board advertising when we became a Recreational Vehicle Dealer.  Want to know the potential costs, let’s see there is the annual state licensing permit ranging from $16 to $72 per sign based upon size, State zoning restrictions apply, County zoning restrictions apply, Cannot be in public right-of-way or over-hang it, the maximum area of one sign can be 1200 sq ft and cannot exceed thirty feet in height and 60 feet in length. private property contract for land rent for structure of the sign, and now the biggie. Traditional billboard require a monthly payment of $250.00 to $14,000.00 or more.  Digital billboards monthly payments start from $1200.00 to $15,000.00 or more.  Now folks FOPat is all hot-to-trot to replace the decrepit signs North of Alcester and South of Alcester.  There would be tear down fees, licensing fees from South Dakota and Union County along with any zoning changes along with any restriction as to content of the signage. (0:20:30.97)

Agenda Item #5 – Wastewater Facility with presentation by Banner Representative Ms. Tanya Miller.  (0:23:11.03)  Duties of the engineering, too bad the city did not have this in place during the SRTS fiasco which bought the city a tort suit.  (0:34:23.80)  Executive session #1 SDCL 1-25-2.3 Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters;  Length of session was 6:34 pm – 7:02 pm equaling a total time of 28 minutes.

Agenda Item #6 – Executive Session SDCL 1-25-2.3 Consulting with legal counsel or reviewing communications from legal counsel about proposed or pending litigation or contractual matters;  discussion and decision to settle the claims of Terry and Jessica Christensen under any terms and conditions recommended by outside counsel.  Length of session was 7:08 pm – 7:17 pm for a total discussion time of  eight (8) minutes.

Agenda Item #7 – Executive Session SDCL 1-25-2.1 Personnel 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;Motion made by Councilwoman Melissa Kay.  The group entered Executive Session at 7:19 pm and was out of Executive session at 8:09 pm for a total time of 50 minutes.  Boy-howdy somebody was in deep do-do.

Agenda Item #8 – Library- Hired a part-time summer read person at $9.60 per hour.

Agenda Item #9 – Wheel Loader – bill $12,629.37  The Wheel Loader which was purchased used at a cost of $39,500.00 and as I remember to work on streets.  Ours wheel loader is a 2000 John Deere 544 (K) unknown hours with a speculative value somewhere around $15K to $30K in running condition.  So it appears the city just did $12,629.37 worth of repairs on a machine valued at or around $12K and that doesn’t include the hauling charge to and from Sioux City? (0:48:01.00) diagnosis:

*Leak in Boom Lift

*Replace O-rings

*Bad U joint

*Oil

*Rebuild Fuel Pump

*Full Service

*Alarms going off due to bad connector

*Issues with shifting

*Issues with Steering

(0:51:49.50) leave it up to the operators.  What operators?  Why would we leave a $12629.37 bill in the hands of operators?  Vote went to pay the $12,629.37 without question.

Agenda Item #10 – Health Plan change from Sanford to Wellmark with HSA option.  (0:54:42.90)  Pat’s health plan.  So Pat cannot handle direct deposit for the city employees but she is more than willing to take on the management of an HSA for the employees and the city?  Really it seems that FOPat is playing Robin Williams’  “Pinocchio, the Home Game” again.

Agenda Item #11 – Department Head reports –

Garbage pick-up moved to accommodate Park Street and Sixth Street rip up. (1:06:09.97)

Ordinances to be reviewed in the paper.

Agenda Item #12 – Reminders and Updates

Agenda Item #13 – Adjourn  8:35 pm

Karma

Contact City Council

Mayor Dan Haeder                   605-934-2287

Councilman David Larsen        605-934-2434

Councilwoman Melissa Kay     712-557-0689

Councilwoman Darla Reppe    605-934-2602

Councilwoman Linda Talbot    605-934-1849

Councilman Marcus Ireland     605-370-1193