Tag: Mayor Lukas Driesein

11/21/2023 A Voice From the Gallery

“A hypocritical businessman, whose fortune had been the misfortune of many others, told Mark Twain piously, “Before I die, I intend to make a pilgrimage to the Holy Land.  I want to climb to the top of Mount Sinai and read the Ten Commandments aloud.”  “I have a better idea,” suggested Twain.  “Why don’t you stay right at home in Boston and keep them?”

The Wit and Wisdom of Mark Twain

Mark Twain

The November 21, 2023, 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, Alcester City Attorney Austin Felts Councilman and Alcester Finance Officer David Hodgson, Councilman Brian Johnson was absent.

Agenda Item #3 – Approve the Agenda-  (00:39.18)  Motion was made, seconded, no discussion with unanimous approval of four (4) Aye votes.

Agenda Item #4 – Vacant Ward I Council Seat Candidate interviews if needed.  Since there were no candidates present for this vacant Ward I seat, no action was taken.  (00:01:10.20)

Agenda Item #5  – Approve November 7, 2023, regular meeting minutes.  (00:01:19.49)  Motion was made, seconced, no discussion with unanimous approval of four (4) Aye votes.

Agenda Item #6  – Approve November 9, 2023, Special meeting minutes. (00:01:37.42)  Motion was made, seconded, no discussion with unanimouse approval of four (4) Aye votes. 

Agenda Item #7  – Public Input (00:01:59.62) Vickie Larsen had public input. (00:02:06.60) I made the following comment regarding MY blog,

“…I want to reiterate something that was discussed in a meeting I was not present at.  I am the author of ‘avoicefromthegallery’, it is MY opinion!  If anybody has a problem with it…they contact me!  DON’T jump all over the city!…

thank you.

Agenda Item #8  –  6:15 p.m. Public Hearing  Phase I Sanitary Sewer Collection System Improvements (00:02:35.11)

Agenda Item #9  – 6:30 p.m. Public Hearing Variance request for 301 Lincoln Drive, Alcester.  (00:02:52.22)

Agenda Item #10  – Finance Office  (00:03:05.01)

  1.  Approve abatement of taxes on 505 Ofstad, 204 Ofstad and 103 west second street. (00:03:12.26) Motion made, seconded, no discussion with unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.
  2. Approve payment of taxes still due o properties of 505 Ofstand, 204 Ofstad and 103 West Second in the amount of $321.64.  (00:03:48.53) Motion made, seconded, no discussion with unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.
  3. Approve purchase of Banyon Software per proposal to include UBLite Software, UBLite Online Pay module and annual support costs for $4,010.00.  (00:05:01.06) Motion made, seconded, no discussion with unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.
  4. Approve purchase discounted Banyon Software for fund accounting software for $3,196 and payroll software for $1,836 through South Dakota Municipal League discount program.  (00:06:00.52 ) Motion made, seconded, no discussion with unanimouse approval vote of four (4) Ayes.
  5. Approve sponsorship of Union County Fair 2024.  (00:06:43.36)  TABLED
  6. Approve donation to Alcester-Hudson High School after prom 2024. (00:07:56.13)  TABLED

Agenda Item #11 – Waste Water Treament Plant –  (00:09:17.89)   Motion to approve change order #5.  This involves a change in the contract price.  Original contract price was $5,338.000.00 plus increases from change orders 0-4 in the amount of +$27,743.05 bringing to new contract price to $5,360,186.65.  Change order #5 will add an increase of $9,635.86 bringing the total contract price to $5,375,378.91 with substantial completion date of November 30, 2024.  These costs are attributed to the second re-bid.  This project is important to the city of Alcester in that this involves repairs and necessary upgrades due to necessity not whim.  Motion was made, seconded with no discussion, unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.  Folks keep in mind the hard, difficult decisions the council of today is being forced to make due to decisions in the past.  Motion made, seconded, unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.

Agenda Item#12  – City Utilities  (00:10:31.17)  Discussion onLand fill price increases, (L.P. Gill) and contract with Fischer expires December 31st.

Agenda Item #13  – Legal Updates (00:13:28.38)  Second Reading of Ordinance 2023-09  Speed restriction in trailer park.  Motion, seconded, unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.

REVISIT OF AGENDA ITEM #8  PHASE I SANITARY SEWER COLLECTION SYSTEM IMPROVEMENTS.  (00:16:31.69)  TANYA MILLER  (00:22:07.84)  HARLEY FERGUSON – SECOG  (00:37:12.58)  Motion made, seconded to authorize application for public funding of Phase I Collection System Improvement with Banner CBDG and state Revolving Loan Funding unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.

REVISIT OF AGENDA ITEM #9   – VARIANCE FOR 301 LINCOLN DRIVE.  (00:38:08.14)  Council took no action after explanation, due to lack of information on property lines. 

AGENDA ITEM #14  OLD SCHOOL BUILDING   (00:42:36.66)  Discussion took place on a proposed 6 month lease agreement with Alcester Industrial Park in the amount of $1000.00 including gas and electric utility costs for city offices.  Motion made, seconded and unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes for a six month lease agreement.

AGENDA ITEM #15 CLUB HOUSE DISCUSSION (00:56:57.65)  Discussion with Councilwoman Kendra Hatle regarding employee acknowledgement document to job description, duties of job, restrictions regarding duties, agreement to these provisions of employment and signature acknowledging prospective employee.

AGENDA ITEM #16 EXECUTIVE SESSION  SDCL 1-25-2.3 LEGAL COUNSEL  (00:59:25.64)  Motion made, seconded, and unanimous approval vote of four (4) Ayes.  Council went into Executive session at 7:00 P.M. and back into open session at 7:42 P.M.  No action taken on subject of executive session.

AGENDA ITEM #17  ADJOURN  (01:00:42.45)  

10/03/2023 A Voice from the Gallery

THINGS ARE LOOKING UP,  FINALLY

I would like to take this opportunity to thank our mayor and council members for all they have endured, the extra miles they are taking to get our city back on track.  I know the time, effort and research you all have taken to rescue our city.  We are still not out of the woods, but with the help of residents, Mayor Driesen and our council, Councilwoman Reppe, Councilwoman Peeples, Councilman Hedden, Councilman Johnson, Councilwoman Hatle and Councilwoman Sundstrom.  Folks I have gone through just four or five tubs of city records which I had requested FOIA and for which I paid the fees for copying, and I cannot even imagine the time Councilwoman Kendra spent trying to get the city budget in line and on time.  Thank you for the councilmembers who have vounteered their time and expertise to solve some of the city’s more pressing problems.

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 Cyndi Peeples, Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom, Councilman Brian Johnson, Alcester City Finance Officer David Hodgson and Alcester City Attorney Austin Felts.

Agenda item #3   Approval of the agenda.  The agenda was approved with the amendment of adding an executive session 1-25-2.1 Personnel to agenda item #8 Finance Officer to accommodate a change in employment of current staff, and approving authorization on city bank accounts.  Motion was made by Councilwoman Peeples to approve the agenda as amended; Second came from Councilman Johnson.  Unanimous vote aye, motion passed.

Agenda item #4   Approval of minutes.  (00:01:46.84)   Councilman Hedden moved to approve the minutes of the September 12, 2023, meeting and the minutes of the September 19, 2023, meeting as written.  Unanimous vote aye, motion passed.

Agenda item #5   Approval of warrants.  (00:02:27.51)   Councilwoman Peeples moved, Councilman Johnson seconded to approve the warrants from July 2023 through September 2023.  Unanimous vote aye, motion passed.

Agenda item # 6   Public Input (00:02:58.53)     (00:03:06.46)    Vickie Larsen input dealt with City Visa credit cards/statements and the computer App titled ‘work from home’ which was purchased the former finance officer.     (00:06:55.16)    Kyle Kleinschmit input dealt with the circumstances surrounding his resignation as full-time officer.     

Agenda item #7   Finance Office (00:09:10.64)   Motion from Councilman Johnson, second from Councilman Hedden to go into Executive session 1-25-2.1 Personnel.  Unanimous vote aye.  In executive session at 6:10 p.m. and out of executive session at 6:44 p.m.  (00:10:18.07)   Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, second by Councilwoman Sundstrom to hire Abigail Moore part-time in the finance office starting October 7, 2023 through October 31, 2023, at $25.00 per hour rate.  Unanimous vote aye.  (00:10:50.94)   Motion by Councilman Johnson, second by Councilwoman Peeples to authorize Finance Officer David Hodgson as User ACH at Premier Bank-City Bank accounts.  DISCUSION   IT WAS NOTED ON THIS ACTION OF AN PROCEDURAL ERROR BY COUNCILWOMAN REPPE.  PROCEDURALLY FORMER DEPUTY FINANCE OFFICER ABIGAIL MOORE HAD TO BE REMOVED FROM THE PREMIER ACCOUNT DUE TO HER EMPLOYMENT CHANGE, THEN MOTION COULD BE MADE TO AUTHORIZE FINANCE OFFICER DAVID HODGSON AS ONLINE BUSINESS USED ACH PREMIER BANK.  (00:13:16.01)   Motion by Councilwoman Reppe, second by Councilman Johnson to remove Abigail Moore as authorized user on the city accounts at Premier Bank.  Motion passed by unanimous vote aye.  (00:14:15.06)   Motion (do over) by Councilman Johnson, second by Councilwoman Peeples to approve Finance Officer David Hodgson as authorized ACH user on the city bank accounts at Premier Bank.  Unanimous vote aye.

Agenda item #8   Police Department Update    (00:14:47:70)  Chief  Thompson gave an abbreviated update with some concerns.  (00:16:26.00)   Motion to go into Executive session to discuss PD personnel SDCL 1-25-2.1   Unanimous vote aye.  Council moved into Executive session to discuss hiring a part-time police officer at 6:50 P.M.  (00:17:02.18)   Council out of Executive Session at 7:04 P.M.  (00:17:10.13)   Motion was made by Councilwoman Peeples to hire Jason Baker as part-time police officer at $25.00 per hour, seconded by Councilwoman Hatle, motion passed with unanimous aye vote to hire.

Agenda item #9   City Website Renewal   (00:17:44.94)  Discussion included the renewal due date, the limited, convoluted administrative issues with this website.  Discussion took place on finding a better suited website and just plain over-all user-friendly city website which would cover all of the city’s needs.  Decision on final requirements to take place October 17, 2023, meeting.

Agenda item #10   Legal Updates     (00:27:04.73)  Discussion on the Property Maintenance ordinance with regard to fair for all not just a handful of residents. 

Agenda item #11   Summer Rec Program   (00:42:48.93)   Question over the lack of the city’s past funding contribution of $500 per year in past year few years.

Agenda item #12    Community Center   (00:51:15.47)   Pay the balance due even though it seems a final inspection has not been made or construction failures not corrected and discussion.

          Agenda item #13    Streets   (00:58:52.49)   John Deere repairs.  Discussion on repair or replace.  $7250.00 project cost of repairs which has already been approved versus what sounded like to me exorbitant machine replacement cost on a ‘new’ used machine. 

          Agenda item #14    City Government   (00:01:02:23.15)  A social event designed to involve residents with their city officials.  Discussion took place and develop a plan and date for this event.

          Agenda item #15   City Insurance   (00:01:05:30.29)  Discussion and review of city insurance policies.  At present the city insurance plan is replacement versus used.  $38,642.00 fee.

          Agenda item #16    Executive Session if needed    (00:01:07:11.54)  Was not needed.

          Agenda item #17      Reminders   (00:01:08:02:11)  Recap of upcoming events and a review of what clean items would be allowed in the dumpsters.

          Agenda Item #18    Adjourn     (00:01:10:07.90) 7:58 P.M.

          As you have seen on my blog, I have published the number and ilk of the anonymous, malicious maelstrom of Mailed letters I received.  Thank you, Anonymous Annies, for making it easy for me to prove what type and genre of harassment to which our Mayor and his family were exposed.  To date I have received 35 plus anonymous, malicious missives and I am still receiving them. 

I longer need to allow you any place on my blog to prove my point.

Contact City Council

Mayor Lukas Driesen

Councilwoman Darla Reppe

Councilwoman Cyndi Peeples

Councilman Kerry Hedden

Councilwoman Kendra Hatle

Councilwoman Julia Sundstrom

Councilman Brian Johnson

Finance Officer David Hodgson