“…A city is not gauged by its length and width, but by the broadness of its vision and the height of its dreams…”
Herb Caen
“…There is nothing here that’s broken that can’t be fixed, but it won’t happen on its own!…”
Mitch Landrieu
The February 6, 2024, Alcester City Council meeting was called to order by Mayor Lukas Driesen with a recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance by the council and members of the gallery. Present were Councilwoman Darla Reppe, Councilwoman Kendra Hatle, Councilman Kerry Hedden, Councilwoman, Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom, and Alcester Finance Officer David Hodgson, Councilman Brian Johnson was absent as well as City Attorney Sam Nelson.
Agenda Item #3 –Approve the Agenda (00:37.39) Motion by Councilwoman Sundstrom, Seconded by Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed 4 X aye votes.
Agenda Item #4 – Vacant Ward I. (00:01:04.67) Vacant Council Seat Candidate interviews if needed. Since there were no candidates present for this vacant Ward I seat, no action was taken.
Agenda Item #5 – Approve January 16, 2024, regular meeting minutes. (00:01:13.32) Motion by Councilman Hedden, Seconded by Councilwoman Hatle, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #? – Public Input (00:01:38.84)– Vickie Larsen had public; Aaron Larsen addressed the council regarding dissolution of the Alcester Police Department, Kama Johnson addressed the council regarding the sale of the downtown bar.
Agenda Item #6 – Water Meter project presentation Core & Main (00:12:05.61)
Agenda Item #7 – Public Safety (00: 36:42.59) Union County Sheriff Dan Limogesa) Blank
b) PD inventory by City Council
i) Motion to approve inventory of Alcester Police Department as surplus. Motion by Councilman Hedden, Second by Councilwoman Sundstrom, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
ii) Motion to approve sale of surplus property of City of Alcester Police Department. Motion tabled for complete inventory.
iii) Motion to approve surplus of Dodge Ram PD vehicle, vin 1C6RR7XT7HS821450. Motion table for complete inventory.
Agenda Item #8 – Bar Update discussion of the appraisal price and a final inventory update. (00:01:00:40.01)
Agenda Item #9 – Clubhouse/Golf Course (00:01:21:32.36)
a) Motion to approve purchasing advertisement in the South Dakota Womens Magazine for Morningside Event Center for up to $525.00 for two months-Landon. Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilwoman Sundstrom, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
b) Motion to approve $580.00 for annual one-half (1/2) page advertisement in the Sioux Links Magazine-Landon. Motion by Councilwoman Hatle, Second by Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
c) Motion for approve hireing McKenna Huenik as a server at $7.87 per hour effective immediately. Motion by Councilman Hedden, Second by Councilwoman Sundstrom, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
d) Clubhouse Signs-(Landon/Darla) Selection of sign choice #103246 at projected cost of $48,675.00 to come from the 2nd (second) penny sales tax fund and donations. Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilwoman Sundstrom, discussion included selection of sign design with projected cost and funding source for payment. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
e) Golf Fees on 2024 Resolution of golf Fees discussion
i) Motion to approve amending 2024 resolution of fees to change High School land College rates so they do not increase after 5/15/2024. Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilwoman Hatle, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
ii) Motion to approve decreaseing the All-Day golf rate, with cart, from $60.00 to $40.00 and adding this descrease excludes after 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday and Thursday for golf league. Motion by Councilwoman Sundstrom, Second from Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #10 – Finance Office (00:01:40:10.21)
a) Motion to approve January warrants. Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilwoman Hatle, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #11 – Union County Fair (00:01:42:37.69 ) Fair Board (August 1-August 3, 2024) Update by Councilwoman Reppe who spoke to the date placement of the Tractor pull and Union Commissioner budgeting more money to the fair but contingent of fair attendence result.
b) Motion to approvea donation to the Union County Fair in the amount of $500.00. Motion made by Councilwoman Hatle, Second from Councilman Hedden, nor further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item#12 – Wastewater Updates (00:01:49:55.93)
a) Motion to approve payment application #9 to Industrial Process Technology (IPT) in the amount of $63,658.71. Motion was made by Councilwoman Sundstrom, Second by Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
b) Motion to approve payment of Invoice #41786 in the amount of $1,352.17 to Banner Engineering for work completed in January. Amendment to amount to show $3608.63 correction. Motion was made by Councilwoman Hatle, Second by Councilman Hedden, no further discussion other than amendment to cost number. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
c) Motion to approve reimbursement to John Serck for Invoice from Dan’s Drain and Dust Cleaning in the amount of $446.04 due to city line clog. Motion by Councilwoman Sundstrom, Second by Councilman Hedden, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
d) Motion to approve payment of invoice #9016 from Dan’s Drain and Dust Cleaning in the amount of $860.00 for the city line clog. Motion by Councilwoman Hatle, Second by Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
e) Motion to approve Job Title change for city employee Lonne Johnson from Street Superintendent to Superintendent of Public Works. Motion was made by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilwoman Hatle, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
f) Motion to approve advertising for Assistance Superintendent of Public Works Position. Motion was made by Councilwoman Hatle, Second by Councilwoman Sundstrom, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #13 – Union County Pre-Disaster Mitigation Planning (00:01:55:09.07) – Finance Officer Hodgson/Jeff Nohava. Brief discussion. Jeff Nohava not present.
Agenda Item #14 Street Department (00:01:56:39.15)
- Contract labor rates discussion.
- Motion to approve changing Contract Labor rate to $17.00 per hour for non-CDL operations and $20.00 per hour for SDL perations for snow and asphalt driving. Motion was made by Councilwoman Sundstrom, Second by Councilwoman Reppe, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
c. Motion to approve request to purchase new Stihl MS 500i or 600 chainsaw for amount up to $1700.00. Motion was made by Councilwoman Reppe, Second by Councilman Hedden, no further discussion. Motion passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #15 Text Alert System (00:02:04:27.59)
- Motion to approve TextMyGov proposal for text alert system up to the amount of $2800.00 Motion by Councilwoman Hatle, Second by Councilwoman Reppe, discussion included the up to amount phrasing and all departments share the cost of this system. Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, Second from Councilman Hedden, no further discussion. Motion was passed X 4 aye votes.
Agenda Item #16 – Executive Session (00:02:14:37.44) Not needed.
Agenda Item #17 ADJOURN (00:02:14:44.80) Adjourned 8:15 p.m.
* I congratulate the Current City Council and Mayor Driesen on their hard work in fixing and attempting to fix what was broken by accident and intent by past actors. Keep up the good work for the citizens of Alcester, future residents of Alcester, local businesses, being role models for our youth and for yourselves.
A Voice from the Gallery 