Wilmot City Council Proceedings January 12, 2026
Wilmot City Council Proceedings January 12, 2026
The Wilmot City Council meeting was called to order at 6 p.m. on Monday, January 12, 2026, at the Wilmot City Office in regular session with Mayor Zachery Zempel presiding. Council members present: Roger Butler, Lindsey Dorosh, Jack Hansen, and Clayton Winge. Absent: Michael Hook. 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.
Winge Motioned to approve the Agenda as read. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Visitors in attendance: George Boos, Gerald Terrill, Sterling Owen, Jenny DeGreef, and DeDe Minnala-Backhaus
Butler Motioned to approve the following Minutes: December 8, 2025, Regular Council Proceedings and December 15, 2025, Special 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 December loss variable was 18.91%. The yearly loss variable to date is 37.53%.
PW Maintenance Superintendent Report: PW Halseide’s report included snow removal, vehicle repairs and maintenance.
Sanitary Sewer Project Status Update: Remaining pay applications from IMEG.
Outfall Line on 2026 State Water Plan: Meeting is scheduled in February.
American Legal Publishing Corporation: Binders have been received for review.
Office Closures: All City Offices will be closed Monday, January 19, 2026 for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
MFO Vacation Request: Council approved the request for 01/15-01/16/26 and 02/09/26 (morning)
Citizen Complaints: Council requested FO Halseide to send letters to: Hinders about driving on the Wilmot Care Center’s grass and property, Argo’s dog running at large, and Midboe for pet and chicken registration.
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 December 31, 2025, was submitted to Council by Finance Officer Halseide and reported as: Checking $883,652.82; Savings $402,330.31; SRF Checking $38,672.95; 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; $23,812.44
December Income (included above)
General Fund $29,101.31
Sewer Fund $14,243.73
SRF Fund $22,590.00
Water Fund $12,501.42
TOTAL INCOME $78,436.46
December Expenses (included above)
General Fund $20,669.27
Sewer Fund $9,144.93
Water Fund $8,372.40
TOTAL EXPENSE $38,186.60
December NET: $40,249.86
Council reviewed the December 2025 financial statements, sales recap, and outstanding receivables.
Butler Motioned to accept and approve the City Financials for November 2025 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 financials for the Wilmot Public Library. No meeting minutes and no librarian report were provided.
Hansen Motioned to accept and approve the Library Financial Statements for September and October 2025, as submitted by Interim Librarian Argo. Winge seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Old Business:
None
New Business:
Butler Motioned to approve PW Halseide to work with Tyler Ammann to reconstruct a ditch on the west side of town where a tree row existed previously in hopes to assist with flooding on the west side of town during rainfall and snow melt. Dorosh seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Butler Motioned to waive the $200.00 Community Center rental fee for the Vitalant blood drive on January 27, 2026. Dorosh seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Dorosh Motioned to approve a Special Alcohol Permit for the Rodeo Club to serve alcoholic beverages at the community center during a Pinochle Tournament on February 28, 2026. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Hansen Motioned to waive the $350.00 Community Center rental fee for the Pinochle Tournament on February 28, 2026. Butler seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Butler Motioned to approve a Special Alcohol Permit for Lancers Bar to serve alcoholic beverages for a Super Bowl Party on February 8, 2026. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Council discussed vehicle towing when a vehicle is not removed during a snow event or plowing.
A discussion on fraud prevention was tabled to the next meeting.
Council discussed the organization of the cleaning closet at the Community Center.
Butler Motioned to approve the purchase of a conference table quoted at $379.99 and a set of 10 conference chairs quoted at $419.99 for the city office. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Council discussed the Fire Department Budget.
Butler Motioned to revise the utility billing to only surcharge fees, removing all late fees and services fees, for the property located at 602 3rd St. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
FO Halseide discussed with Council the City’s current water meter reading system.
Discussion on the Federal Holiday schedule was tabled to the next meeting.
Hansen Motioned to authorize the official signatories to sign payroll and liability checks, and all other regular monthly bills in a timely manner, prior to Council approval, to avoid penalties and to take advantage of discounts, etc. In addition, to purchase needed supplies, order parts, software, hotels, etc. with the corporate card with appointed Committee approval. Winge seconded. Roll Call vote of Aye: Butler, Dorosh, Hansen, Winge. Nay: None. Absent: Hook. Motion carried.
Butler Motioned to approve the application and publication of the Mining License Notice of Intent per SDCL 45-6-72 as presented. Dorosh seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Hansen Motioned to designate the Grant County Review as the 2026 official newspaper for the City of Wilmot. Butler seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Hansen Motioned to designate Minnwest Bank as the 2026 Official Bank Depository for the City of Wilmot. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Butler Motioned, in accordance to SDCL 6-1-10, the following Salaries and Wages for 2026 are as listed in effect with the first paycheck issued in 2026: PW Maintenance Superintendent Brett Halseide: $26.15/hr.; Finance Officer Diana Halseide: $21.53/hr.; Office/Janitorial Clerk; Paula Minnala: $236.25/mo.; Interim Librarian Cindy Argo: $15.07/hr.; Intermittent Sub Librarian Amanda Hickman: $12.00/hr.; Intermittent Sub Librarian Elizabeth Fasy: $12.00/hr.; Garbage Collector Justin Johnson: $150.00/haul; Intermittent PW Maintenance/Landfill Operator Clayton Winge: $21.00/hr.; Mayor Zachery Zempel: $200/mo. plus $75/meeting; Alderman Roger Butler: $75/meeting; Alderwoman Lindsey Dorosh: $75/meeting; Alderman Jack Hansen: $75/meeting; Alderman Michael Hook: $75/meeting; Alderman Clayton Winge: $75/meeting. Dorosh seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
Winge Motioned for the City of Wilmot to provide workers compensation coverage in 2026 through the SDML Workers Compensation Fund for volunteers as listed:
Wilmot Volunteer Firemen: Nathan Jurgens (Chief), Alex Reyelts (Asst. Chief), Alex Berndt, Scott Butler, Daniel Donnay, Randall Fasy, Ryan Frerichs, Rick Herniman, Austin Hooth, Jacob Huff, Kevin Jurgens, Brendan Letsche, Derek Miller, Jordan Pedersen, Michael Piechowski, Grant Remily, Timothy Reyelts, Peter Reynen, Devon Wenck, Clayton Winge, and Zachery Zempel.
Wilmot Library Volunteers: Allison Butler, Brenda Butler, Julie Nelson, Mesa Kirchmeier, and Paige Zempel. Hansen seconded. All voted Aye, Motion carried.
Council reviewed Ordinance No 345 and tabled until the next meeting.
At 8:02 p.m., Butler Motioned to enter into Executive Session Pursuant to SDCL 1-25-2(1) for personnel. Winge seconded. All voted Aye. Motion carried.
At 9:21 p.m., Mayor Zempel declared the meeting back in regular session. No actions taken.
Warrants approved:
GENERAL: ATI, 69.99, services; American Legal Publishing, 2,088.64, services; CHS, 1,577.35, utility; Davis Trucking, 1,050.00, service; Delta Dental, 208.94, insurance; Delta Vision, 45.96, insurance; Fluegal, Anderson, McLaughlin, 429.00, legal; Foss Security, 4,375.00, service; Grant County Review, 479.91, publishing; Halseide, Brett, 26.40, Phone reimb; Halseide, Diana, 26.40, Phone reimb; Health Pool of SD, 1,928.80, insurance; Hopkins for Hire, 96.69, supply; Johnsons Lawn Care, 260.00, services; Jurgens Auto Body, 933.97, fuel; Jurgens C-Store, 788.54, fuel; Minnwest Bank Visa, 119.44, Supply; Otter Tail Power, 1,627.55, utility; Petty Cash, 18.00, postage; Pye Barker, 514.00, service; RC Technologies, 156.36, utility; Roberts County Treasurer, 1,514.96, services; SD Retirement, 929.22, 401a contribution; SD State Treasurer, 313.69, sales tax; USPS, 234.00, postage; Valley Office, 24.59, supply; Wilmot Foods, 18.74, supply; Wilmot Lumber, 221.66,
supply; Zempel, Zachery, 33.00, Phone reimb; United States Treasurer, 2,170.94, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Admin Salaries, 2,519.53; Garbage Salaries, 1,278.26; Street Salaries, 3,256.89; Library Salaries, 722.40.
WATER: Delta Dental, 12.78, insurance; Delta Vision, 2.26, insurance; Grant-Roberts Rural Water, 4,532.80, utility; Halseide, Brett, 3.30, Phone reimb; Halseide, Diana, 3.30, Phone reimb; Health Pool of SD, 200.40, insurance; Otter Tail Power, 27.45, utility; RC Technologies, 52.80, utility; SD 811, 0.53, utility; SD Public Health Lab, 20.00, samples; USDA Rural Dev, 1,356.00, water loan; USPS, 78.00, postage; Valley Office, 24.58, supply; SD Retirement, 116.16, 403b contribution; United States Treasurer, 230.70, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Water Salaries, 572.00.
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; Milbank Winwater, 281.95, supply; RC Technologies, 16.46, utility; SD 811, 0.52, utility; USDA Rural Dev, 977.00, sewer loan; USPS, 78.00, postage; Valley Office, 24.58, supply; Wilmot Plumbing, 45.92, service; SD Retirement, 116.16, 401a contribution; United States Treasurer, 230.70, WH-SS-Medicare liability; Sewer Salaries, 572.00.
SRF Fund: IMEG, 22,590.00, Engineer.
The next Regular Council meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 9, 2026, at 6 p.m. at the Wilmot City Office located at 725 Main Street.
At 9:22 p.m., Bulter Motioned to adjourn. Dorosh 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.”
