Wilmot City Council Proceedings
Wilmot City Council Proceedings
February 9, 2026
The Wilmot City Council meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 9, 2026, at the Wilmot City Office in regular session with Mayor Zachery Zempel presiding. Council members present: Roger Butler, Lindsey Dorosh, Jack Hansen, Michael Hook and Clayton Winge (6:05pm). Absent: None. Others in attendance were PW Superintendent Brett Halseide and Finance Officer Diana Halseide.
No conflict-of-interest items on the agenda for anyone on Council were declared.
Hansen Motioned to approve the agenda as read. Butler seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Visitors in attendance: DeDe Minnala-Backhaus, Cheryl Rondeau-Bassett, and Gerald Terrill
Butler Motioned to approve the following Minutes: January 12, 2026, Regular Council Proceedings. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Reports and Communications:
Mayor Zempel presented the progress and/or completion of the following projects as reported.
Water Purchased vs Water Sold: The January loss variable was 24.76%.
PW Maintenance Superintendent Report: PW Halseide’s report included snow removal, shop maintenance and the addition of Mega Bugs to the lagoon for maintenance.
Sanitary Sewer Project Status Update: Remaining pay applications from IMEG.
Outfall Line on 2026 State Water Plan: The City of Wilmot is on the Water & Natural Resources Board meeting scheduled for March 26-27, 2026.
W-2s, 1099s, Certificates of Insurance, and Work Comp Liability: All documents have been mailed.
Office Closures: All City Offices will be closed Monday, February 16, 2026, for President’s Day. Office closure for carpet cleaning was tabled to the next regular meeting.
Citizen Complaints: Council discussed snow removal on sidewalks for Main Street businesses and requested an ordinance fine of $100.00 be charged to Billy and Arlene Argo for being in violation of Ordinance No 8-8-4 (dog running at large).
Claims: Council reviewed the claims for warrants.
Butler Motioned to accept and approve the disbursements. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Financial Reporting ending January 31, 2026, was submitted to Council by Finance Officer Halseide and reported as: Checking $906,918.09; Savings $402,776.73; SRF Checking $34,907.95; SRF Debt Reserve CD $209,279.97; RD Water Debt Reserve CD $16,272.00; RD Sewer Debt Reserve CD $11,274.00; Petty Cash $200.00, Library; $23,821.44
January Income (included above)
General Fund $36,607.13
Sewer Fund $14,220.96
SRF Fund $18,825.00
Water Fund $12,328.24
TOTAL INCOME $81,981.33
January Expenses (included above)
General Fund $29,813.63
Sewer Fund $2,565.33
SRF Fund $22,590.00
Water Fund $7,233.06
TOTAL EXPENSE $62,202.02
January NET: $19,779.31
Council reviewed the January 2026 financial statements, sales recap, and outstanding receivables.
Butler Motioned to accept and approve the City Financials for January 2026 and the end of year budget review as submitted by FO Halseide. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Interim Librarian Argo submitted the December 2025 Library Minutes and the January 2026 financials for the Wilmot Public Library.
Hansen Motioned to accept and approve the Library Minutes for December 2025 and the Library Financial Statement for January 2026, as submitted by Interim Librarian Argo. Hook seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Old Business:
Council discussed 602 3rd Street utilities. No action taken.
Council tabled a discussion on fraud prevention to the next regular meeting.
Council discussed the Fire Department budget. No action taken.
Council tabled a discussion on the Federal holiday schedule to the next regular meeting.
Dorosh Motioned for the first reading of Ordinance No 345: Code of Ordinances. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
New Business:
Butler Motioned to approve the Wilmot Volunteer Fire Dept. request for a Special Alcohol Permit to serve alcoholic beverages at the community center at their Sportsman’s Supper event to be held Saturday, March 14, 2026. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Dorosh Motioned to waive the $350.00 Community Center rental fee for the Sportsman’s Supper on March 14, 2026. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Winge Motioned to approve the purchase of 500 tons of gravel from Peter’s Gravel LLC at the rate of $12.20 per ton. Hook seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
A request from Lake Township to purchase clay and have it delivered was tabled to the next regular meeting.
Hansen Motioned to approve FO Halseide to invite all area townships to a special meeting with council and the Wilmot Fire Department with a date TBD. Butler seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Hook Motioned to waive all late fees after the first three and to remove garbage service fees during water shut off during the dates of July 2025 through January 2026 for property 521 Main Street. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Council tabled a discussion on utilities for property 602 1st Avenue to the next regular meeting.
No action was taken on a revision for library vouchers.
Council tabled a discussion on posting the position for a part-time librarian to the April regular meeting.
Council discussed a water tower fee. No action taken.
Butler Motioned to rescind a past motion to increase the wages for council members to $100 per meeting. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
At 8:01 p.m., Butler Motioned to enter into Executive Session Pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(1) for personnel. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
At 8:58 p.m., Mayor Zempel declared the meeting back in regular session. No actions taken.
Warrants approved:
GENERAL: 1st District, 682.95, dues; ATI, 69.99, services; Auto Value Sisseton, 125.87, supply; Auto Value Milbank, 168.99, supply; Avera Occupational, 109.80, service; CHS, 1,277.82, utility; Delta Dental, 208.94, insurance; Delta Vision, 45.96, insurance; Fluegal, Anderson, McLaughlin, 932.50, legal; Grant County Review, 128.71, publishing; Halseide, Brett, 26.40, Phone reimb; Halseide, Diana, 26.40, Phone reimb; Health Pool of SD, 1,928.80, insurance; Hopkins for Hire, 63.52, supply; Johnsons Lawn Care, 320.00, services; Jurgens C-Store, 294.04, fuel; Minnwest Bank, 5.50, service; Minnwest Bank Visa, 1,453.12, Supply; NIS, 50.00, insurance; Otter Tail Power, 1,630.59, utility; OverDrive, Inc, 600.00, service; Petty Cash, 9.25, postage; RC Technologies, 165.84, utility; Reil Repair, 89.40, service; Roberts County Treasurer, 1,007.71, service; Runnings, 40.95, supply; SD Retirement, 807.34, 403b contribution; SD State Treasurer, 288.53, sales tax; USPS, 234.00, postage; Wilmot Lumber, 828.90, supply; Zempel, Zachery, 33.00, Phone reimb; United States Treasurer, 2,313.76, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Governing Board Salaries, 2,839.74; Admin Salaries, 2,316.76; Garbage Salaries, 1,079.73; Street Salaries, 2,517.62; Library Salaries, 842.49.
WATER: Delta Dental, 12.78, insurance; Delta Vision, 2.26, insurance; Grant-Roberts Rural Water, 4,795.20, utility; Halseide, Brett, 3.30, Phone reimb; Halseide, Diana, 3.30, Phone reimb; Health Pool of SD, 200.40, insurance; Otter Tail Power, 29.21, utility; RC Technologies, 52.79, utility; SD Public Health Lab, 20.00, samples; USDA Rural Dev, 1,356.00, water loan; USPS, 78.00, postage; SD Retirement, 100.90, 403b contribution; United States Treasurer, 196.98, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Water Salaries, 476.73.
SEWER: Delta Dental, 12.78, insurance; Delta Vision, 2.26, insurance; Halseide, Brett, 3.30, Phone reimb; Halseide, Diana, 3.30, Phone reimb; Health Pool of SD, 200.40, insurance; RC Technologies, 16.45, utility; USDA Rural Dev, 977.00, sewer loan; US Bank Trust, 6,941.67, Sewr loan; USPS, 78.00, postage; SD Retirement, 100.90, 403b contribution; United States Treasurer, 196.98, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Sewer Salaries, 476.73.
SRF Fund: IMEG, 18,825.00, Engineer.
The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Wilmot City Office located at 725 Main Street.
The City of Wilmot Equalization Meeting is scheduled for Monday, March 16, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Wilmot City Office located at 725 Main Street.
At 9:05 p.m., Hansen Motioned to adjourn. Butler seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
/s/ Zachery Zempel, Mayor
ATTEST
/s/ Diana Halseide,
Finance Officer
“The City of Wilmot is an Equal Opportunity Provider and Employer.”
