Milbank City Council Proceedings • November 8, 2021

November 8, 2021

PURSUANT TO DUE CALL AND NOTICE THEREOF, a regular meeting of the City Council was duly held at City Hall at 7:00 PM, November 8, 2021. The following members were present: Mayor Pat Raffety, Councilmen Roger Briggs, Steve Wiener, Mike Hanson, Josh Karels, Scott Hoeke and Mindy Rogers. Absent: none. Present from the staff: John Forman, Boyd VanVooren, Cynthia Schumacher, Darin Thiele, Don Settje, Dan Keyes, Ron Krause, Scott Meyer, and Kevin Schuelke. Public present: Holli Seehafer, Steve Wenzl, Craig Weinberg, Angela Lambrechts, Marty Christian, Anna Swaney and Laurie Folk.

Mayor Raffety called the meeting to order, and the roll call was taken.

Public Input – Angela Lambrechts addressed the Council inquiring about assistance for developers. The Council stated infrastructure is the responsibility of the developer. 

Public Hearing – A public hearing was held for the transfer of the Retail (on-sale) Liquor and Retail (on-off) Malt Beverage & SD Farm Wine licenses from Swanedog Ent. LLC, DBA The Pump to Heidi Schell, The Pump 2.0 LLC, located at 205 South Main Street, Lots 15 & 16, Block 6, Original Townsite, Milbank, South Dakota. Anna Swaney and Heidi Schell were available to address questions. No one spoke against the request. Motion carried 6-0.

Minutes – A motion was made and seconded to approve the minutes from the October 11 and November 1, 2021, meetings. Motion carried 6-0.

Proposed railroad regulations up for consideration by the Surface Transportation Board and Federal Railroad Administration were reviewed. The regulations would adversely impact the railroad’s operational capacity and impact communities, like Milbank, down the line. Given the strain our nation’s supply chain has experienced during the COVID-19 pandemic, it would be imprudent to mandate regulatory and operational changes onto our railroads when they are helping to facilitate our economic recovery. A motion was made and seconded to submit a letter of opposition to the proposed regulations. Motion carried 6-0.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the Consent Agenda as follows. Motion carried 6-0.

CONSENT AGENDA

1. Accept the resignation of Sharon Pinkert, Unity Health & Fitness, effective 10/24/21.

2. Approve Change Order #1, Airport AWOS III-P, extend completion date from 12/1/21 to 12/15/21, cost deduction of $681.35.

3. Ratify hiring of Beth Motschenbacher, Unity part-time front desk, $10.97/hr.

4. Approve advertising for 3-year ground maintenance contract, 2022-2024.

5. Approve Milbank springs hay ground lease agreement one-year extension for 2022 season, Mark Schuler, $30/acre, $990/annual.

6. Approve Banner Engineering Agreement, Ground Storage Reservoir Coatings, $49,000.

7. Proclamation – Roger & Paula Henry Day.

DEPARTMENT REPORTS

Water – Councilman Wiener reported the park water lines have been winterized. Hydrants are being checked and main flushing is almost complete. The air compressor was repaired, and a new heater installed in the underground storage pump room. There were twenty-two on the monthly shut off list. The city is utilizing 80% spring water.

Property Standards – No report.

Rubble Site – Councilman Hoeke reported they continue to pump water from the pits. Bates Construction will assist cleaning up the damage to the new pit caused by heavy rains. Normal maintenance continues.

Street – Councilman Hoeke reported the summer equipment has been stored for the season and they have begun prepping the winter equipment. Fall street sweeping continues. Staff attended a West Nile Virus conference via zoom. Normal equipment and shop maintenance continue. No bids were received for snow removal. 

Housing & Redevelopment – No report.

Police – No report.

Personnel – No report.

Attorney – No report. 

Finance – A motion was made and seconded to approve the October Treasurer’s report. Motion carried 6-0.

A motion was made and seconded to approve the bills list, $281,064.17. Motion carried 6-0.

CLAIMS 11/8/2021

Adler Feed & Seed, softener crystals, $37.74; Advanced Technologies Inc., shipping/supplies, $769.63; American Engineering Testing, testing, $424.05; Anderson, Aaron, window repair, $153.06; AT&T, cell phone, $466.57; Auto Value Parts Store, parts/supplies, $1,091.15; Avera Medical Group, flu shots, $500.00; Avera Occupational Medicine, CDL testing, $122.00; Banner Associates, Inc., engineering services, $218.00; Bates Constructions, dig new pit, $32,973.11; Berkner Excavating & Gravel, hydrant repairs, $313.71; Bio-Plex Organics, tree rings, $3,737.89; Bituminous Paving Inc, asphalt paving, $515.84; Brewster Building Center, building repairs, $340.00; CHS, gas, $1,241.95; City of Milbank, deposit to final bill, $100.00; Climate Systems Inc., system repairs, $338.08; Cole Papers Inc., supplies, $449.53; Companion Life Ins., admin fee, $10.00; Corporate Technology, service agreement, $1,519.50; Doheny’s, paint/supplies, $320.00; Eastside Car Wash, rental/truck wash usage, $135.06; Efraimson Electric Inc., AWOS-III project, $99,754.46; Energy Laboratories, Inc, testing, $2,344.00; First Bank & Trust credit card, supplies/parts/equipment, $4,758.71; First District Assn of Local Govn’t, GIS website, $4,500.00; Food-N-Fuel, gas, $143.42; Forman, John, clothing allowance, $35.92; Galeton, supplies, $127.71; Grant County Auditor, county services, $1,675.00; Grant County Review, publications, $244.52; Hartman Family Foods, supplies, $17.79; Helms & Associates, engineering services, $1,961.56; Hillyard, building supplies, $447.41; Hydro Klean, televise/clean mains, $18,396.63; ITC, telephone/internet service, $1,499.14; Jankord, Trey, clothing allowance, $65.01; John Deere Financial, parts/repairs, $1,153.50; Kelly Kutters, mowing contract, $12,725.00; Lacal Equipment Inc., parts, $45.77; Lewis Drug Stores, supplies, $58.43; Linde Gas & Equipment, service air system, $46.64; Maguire Iron, Inc., tower clean, $7,210.00; Milbank Glass & More, door repair, $79.88; Milbank Winwater, parts/supplies, $3,816.45; Modern Marketing, DARE supplies, $289.02; NAPA Auto Parts, parts/supplies, $1,118.03; Norm’s Auto & Truck Repair, truck repair, $88.10; Nova Fitness Equipment, back ext. bench, $737.21; NW Energy, natural gas, $356.42; Otter Tail Power, electric, $16,964.41; RDO Equipment, Co, parts, $125.00; Real Tuff, gas cylinders, $302.05; Reedstrom, Mark, retainer fee, $1,000.00; Roger’s Electric Motor, parts /motors/parts, $803.81; Running’s Supply, Inc., supplies/parts, $1,955.84; SD Dept of Revenue & Regulation, sales tax, $2,059.92; SD Public Health Lab, testing, $86.00; Settje, Donald, clothing allowance, $44.65; Share Corp, supplies, $108.01; South Dakota 811, one calls, $70.35; Star Laundry & Cleaners, laundry service, $163.11; Street Graphex Inc., logo shirts/banner, $170.26; Stuntcams LLC, body cameras/mounts, $440.00; Tennis Court Supply, court surface, $2,999.83; The Original Marketing Group, marketing/ website service, $791.98; Twin Valley Tire, tire service/battery, $259.37; Unity Health & Fitness, membership, $385.00 

Unzen Motors, vehicle repairs, $397.92; UP North Concrete, concrete work, $9,976.00; UPI Petroleum, gas, $2,865.13; US Postal Service, postage, $400.00; USA Bluebook, supplies/parts, $2,995.36; Valley Office Products, supplies, $265.39; Valley Rental & Recycling, recycling agreement, $650.00; Whetstone Home Center Inc., supplies/misc. lumber, $1,060.57; Wiese Electric, install campground electric, $19,542.92; Wilbur Ellis, FBO Contract, $1,200.00; WM Corporate Services Inc., garbage service, $2,913.60; Xerox, copier lease, $495.09; Zinter, Keil, clothing allowance, $100.00; $281,064.17 

A motion was made and seconded to approve Resolution 11-8-21, not to exceed $6,560,000.00. Motion carried 6-0.

September salaries: Mayor/Council $1,600; Finance $14,366; Police $26,953 Fire $1,671; Street $12,083; Rubble Site $850; Recreation $19,394; Park $14,408; Water $8,145; Wastewater $15,160.

Airport – No report.

Wastewater – Councilman Briggs reported the plant is running well. The jet rodder truck was serviced, repaired and is operational. Midwest Communications was on site to review communications issues on the Pribyl Park lift station. 

Park – Councilwoman Rogers reported the parks have been prepped for winter, docks removed from Lake Farley, windscreen removed from the tennis courts and the community gardens tilled.

Planning & Zoning – No report.

October Permits: Building Permits: Michael Maurer – 505 Drake Ave-deck. Randy Doctor-913 S 7th St – garage addn. Whetstone Home Center-513 W 4th Ave-commercial storage building. SLH Holdings/HME Management-410 E 10th Ave – assisted living/apartment units. Tim Brown – 302 E 10th Ave-accessory structure. Cole Bolin-201 E 8th Ave – shed addn. 

Demolition Permits:  none

Sign Permits: none

Roofing Permits:  Mike Copeland-214 W 5th Ave-asphalt. Tracy Grant-102 N Dakota St-metal. Ryan Koh/RGC Properties-asphalt. 

Fence Permits: Michael Maurer-504 Drake Ave. Henry Harms-1005 S Viola St.

Special Event Permits: none.

Unity Health & Fitness – Councilwoman Rogers reported the aquatic area is expected to be operational by the first week in December. A job description and application form were developed for the position of park & recreation volunteer and is awaiting review. Three adult programs have started and will run thru December: men’s basketball, coed volleyball and pickleball. The fitness programs have been struggling in attendance. However there has been a slight increase in attendance with free admission to all members. 

Fire – Councilman Hanson stated several truck and equipment repairs were completed in house. Fall controlled burns were conducted. Training and walk-through pre-fire planning began and will continue through winter. Scott Niedert transferred from active service to honorary status.

A Halloween stop included goodie bags, coloring contest and photo op with the fire truck. They received a “Friend of 4-H Award.” They escorted the cross-country team as they headed to the state competition and Cody Wellnitz as he left for his Make A Wish trip. 

Lake Farley Projects – No report.

Adjourn – The next regular meeting will be December 13, 2021, at 7:00 PM. A motion was made and seconded to adjourn at 8:34 PM. Motion carried 6-0.

/s/ Pat Raffety,

Mayor

ATTEST:

/s/ Cynthia Schumacher,

Finance Officer