City of Big Stone City Council Proceedings • April 6, 2021

April 6, 2021

6:30 p.m.

The Big Stone City council met in regular session on Tuesday, April 6, 2021. Meeting began at 6:30 p.m. with Mayor Wiik presiding. Roll Call: Athey, Brown, Redfield, Roscoe, Longhenry and Stoddard. Others present: George Boos, Bob Athey, Bryan Austin, Maria Loughlin, Kathryn Rabe, Geven Rabe, Teresa Goergen, Pat Kaiser, Julie Enstad, Ryan Bakeberg, John Wiik, Mike Rausch, Darin Wixon, Regina Wixon, Joe Wiik, Nate Harmening. 

The Pledge of Allegiance and the South Dakota State Pledge were recited.  Motion to accept the minutes from the March 1st meeting was made by Longhenry and seconded by Athey. All in favor, motion carried.

The following claims were presented for payment.

BERKNERS PLUMBING & HEATING $594.06; BERNATELLOS PIZZA $81.00; 

BIG STONE AREA HARDWARE $29.48; 

BOOS JENNEN LAW FIRM, LLC $1,200.00; BORDER STATES $3,445.80; 

CAN SURETY $541.80; CINTAS, $108.73; COCA-COLA BOTTLINg $170.00; CORPORATE WAREHOUSE SUPPLY $519.75, TONER; Design Electrics $294.63; DURICK FIRE EXTINGUISHER $290.00, ANNUAL INSPECTION and 2 NEW FIRE EXTINGUISHERS; ELLWEIN BROTHERS $12,680.65; GRANT COUNTY HWY DEPT. $108.16; Grant County Review $377.25; Grant Roberts Rural Water $16,376.00; HARRY’S FROZEN PIZZA $462.50; HEALTH POOL OF SD $6,793.65; INFOTECH $470.00; INSURANCE SOLUTIONS $21.00; IRBY $1,320.00; IRBY $71.17; JIM DANDY SNACK FOOD CO $81.00, JERKY; JOHNSON BROS OF SOUTH DAKOTA $1,496.26; JOHNSON BROS OF SOUTH DAKOTA $2,260.14; KDIO $50.00; LOCATORS & SUPPLIES, INC $392.28; MAC DADDY’S $391.88; MISSOURI RIVER ENERgY $617.55; NELSON ELECTRIC $1,455.51, FURNACE MAINTENANCE & NEW FLOOR THERMOSTATS; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY $108.70; ORTONVILLE INDEPENDENT $238.00; PEPSI BEVERAGES $417.10; PORTER DISTRIBUTING CO. $655.10; QUILL $20.47; RESCO $4,933.00; RESCO $6,626.00; RONGLIEN EXCAVATING $132.60; SD DEPT. OF GAME FISH & PARKS $394.00; SOUTH DAKOTA ONE CALL $1.12; THE VALLEY SHOPPER $886.11; TIDBITS OF THE LAKE AREA $572.00, AD. CONTRACT; TWIN VALLEY TIRE $1,024.00; 

TWIN VALLEY TIRE $1,828.95; VERIZON $101.79; WESCO $3,741.02; WINWATER $28.00; Xerox $16.11; STURDEVANT AUTO $593.76; POWERPLAN $451.07; CITY OF BIG STONE $4,350.56, UTILITIES BILLING; HARTMANS $263.11; GENERAL FUND $11,435.91, MARCH PAYROLL; LIQUOR FUND $8,661.68, MARCH PAYROLL; WATER FUND $1,745.62, MARCH PAYROLL; ELECTRIC FUND $4,966.90, MARCH PAYROLL; SEWER FUND $1,361.03, MARCH PAYROLL; AFLAC $224.50; DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY $27,151.50; FARNER BOCKEN $1,053.52; HARBOR TOUCH $156.75; HARLAND CLARK  $64.28; INTERNAL REVENUE $2,571.63; INTERNAL REVENUE $3,268.66; MIDCO $483.92; MIDCO $968.72; MISSOURI RIVER BASIN $ 18,631.77; MISSOURI RIVER MPA/S1 $9,424.67; MN DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $1,286.74; PRINCIPAL $71.78; REPUBLIC BEVERAGE $488.55; SD DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AND REGULATION $2,302.52; SD DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $6,280.36; SD DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE $2,198.42; SD RETIREMENT $2,480.08; SHIFT4PAYMENT $282.07; SOUTHERN GLAZIERS $231.45; WASTE MANAGEMENT $4,899.25; WORLDPAY $135.34 

Motion to pay the presented claims was made by Redfield and seconded by Roscoe. All in favor. Motion carried.   

Deputy Sheriff Ryan Bakeberg reported that Sheriff Owen had been out sick, there being there was no report to be given at the time. Bakeberg stuck around for any questions.

Sheriff Owen submitted the following report for the month of March to the City Finance Office on the Thursday following the meeting: Hours worked within the city: 80 hours 36 minutes, subject to call 24 hours per day. Traffic Warnings:6. Traffic Citations:1. One scam call, 2 traffic complaints, one welfare check, one noise complaint, assist another agency, and one theft report.

Mike Rausch presented to the council his intent to buy a lot by Rausch Brothers. Equalization and the Treasurer signed off and the next step is to get city council approval. Moving forward council will bring the proposal to the planning and zoning committee for recommendations.

Senator John Wiik from the State offered land that could be available to the city from the state in agreement that the responsibility of the city would be to take care of any notches and weeds. The land is about 6 acres, south of Veterans Park, that the State owns and have very little interest in. After discussion, the land being offered is prone to flooding and lacked interest from the council. 

Darin and Regina Wixon from Brookings are looking at buying property in one of the industrial lots to build a camper storage and office. Wixon’ s inquired about the prices of the property and whether those properties could be equipped with utilities. Wixon’ s will be meeting with City Utility Manager, Bob Athey and Electrical Superintendent, Bryan Austin to discuss possible utilities hook-ups on industrials lots. 

Councilwoman Darcy Roscoe touched base on her further research of the automatic meter reading infrastructure. Roscoe questioned Ortonville Electrical City worker on their take on the similar infrastructure system they use. After discussion, either way, with or without the infrastructure, water meters are going to have to be replaced. A motion to move forward with advertising for bids for the automatic meter reading infrastructure was made by Redfield and seconded by Athey. Voting in favor; Longhenry, Redfield, Roscoe, and Athey. Opposed: Stoddard and Brown. Motion carried. 

A public hearing was held for a Three-Day Special Event Liquor License for the Fire Department in event for the 135th/136 Celebration for July 9,10 and 11th. After  discussion and input from fire chief Joe Wiik a motion was made by Redfield to approve the license and seconded by Roscoe. All in favor, motion carried.  

Joe Wiik represents the Fire Department and their interest in purchasing a digital sign. The fire department is still in the early processes of looking into pricing and options. They are  looking to see if the city has interest in going in on the purchasing along with the fire department. Further research and discussion to follow. 

Mayor Wiik updated the council on status of the police vehicles. Expecting a response on an offer to follow up.

Utilities Manager Bob Athey asked for the okay from council to advertise for bids for the first of May. A motion to get bids for asphalt was made by Athey and seconded by Redfield. All in favor, motion carried. 

Finance officer Maria Loughlin requested to table new tax call to July’s meeting. A motion to table new tax call was made by Longhenry and seconded by Redfield. All in favor, motion carried.

A public hearing was held to review Special Fireworks Retail License applications. One application was submitted to the City. The application was for Kens Fireworks at 468 Main Street. A motion was made by Stoddard and seconded by Longhenry to accept Ken’s Firework application. All in favor, motion carried. Accepting applications for Special Retail Fireworks license for 2021 fireworks until Monday, April 19th, 2021 AT 5:00 PM.

On topic of fireworks, councilman Gary Longhenry, requested to have a licensed insured person he has lined up for the 135th/136 celebration. A motion to renew the motion created last year for allowing a licensed insured person to provide fireworks at this year’s celebration was made by Athey and seconded by Brown. All in favor, motion carried. 

Mayor Wiik spoke for the Cancer Team regarding if they could clean up areas of the city again this year, and if there would be any kind of donation made. A motion to let the Cancer Team do a clean up with a $1,000 donation was made by Redfield and seconded by Athey. All in favor, motion carried. 

Mayor Wiik discussed a grant that Lori Seidell had asked for last year for the ball field. The grant from the Land and Water Conservation Fund (79.81.) is an aid in financing for construction on specific public outdoor recreation projects. Funding would provide 50% of the total costs of the project. The stipulations that come with this grant is that the city can never move the ball diamond. A motion to go forward in filling out the LWCF grant was made by Brown and seconded by Longhenry. Voting in favor; Brown, Longhenry, Roscoe, Stoddard, and Redfield. Opposed; Athey. Motion carried. 

Being no further business a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Athey and seconded by Longhenry. All in favor, motion carried. 

/s/ Deb Wiik, Mayor

ATTEST:

/s/ Maria Loughlin

Finance Officer