Milbank City Council Proceedings
Milbank City Council Proceedings
March 30, 2026
Call to Order – The City Council met in a special session at 12 p.m. on March 30, 2026, at the Milbank Visitor Center, 1001 East Fourth Avenue.
Present – Pat Raffety, Steve Pendergrass, Craig Weinberg, Mindy Rogers, John Weyh, Roger Briggs, Ryan Gruba, Jeremy Breon, Kim Carlson, Dillon Dwyer, Craig Arthur, Brent Hoffmann, Jay Gilbertson, Pat Carey, and Sara Pankonin. Josh Karels was absent.
Meeting was called to order at 12 p.m.
Discussion was had in the reconsideration of the Antelope Valley water supply as follows:
One of the reasons for the Councils decisions to rescind the application in the first place was because the City is going many different directions right now. However, we want to have this one last meeting before we pull our application.
Jay Gilbertson, manager for the East Dakota water district and former geologist for the State of Geological Survey filed a letter of comment not because he is opposed, but because he has many questions to the water rights report. For instance, they are not filling up a swimming pool. The water flows from north to south and moves in different directions, which is not accounted for in their calculations. Because we will be the last people in line, we get the last dip of the bucket. They believe the water will be available, but they have no idea whether it will be or not when the future water rights will be needed.
Milbank would never be able to negatively impact the water rights of other permit holders already on the system. They, if used correctly, will always be able to meet their needs first.
If Whetstone water is ever impaired for conductivity, then we would be in need for better quality water.
This is a future use for a future problem, and it would be wise to file for the permit to have this as a solution IF needed in the future – 7 to 20 years from now. All that is required at this point is a lawyer to represent us in Pierre, and a small fee every 7 years if the permit is granted to have it if we ever need it.
Weinberg made a motion to rescind the motion from the previous Council meeting to pull the application and move forward with it. Rogers seconded the motion. All was in favor. Motion carried. The application will not be withdrawn.
Briggs made a motion to adjourn the meeting. Gruba seconded the motion. All was in favor. Motion carried. Meeting was adjourned at 1:20 p.m.
Pat Raffety, Mayor
ATTEST
Cynthia Schumacher,
Finance Officer
