PROCEEDINGS OF THE STURGIS CITY COUNCIL – MARCH 6, 2006

 

The Common Council of the City of Sturgis met in regular session at 7:30pm on Monday, March 6, 2006 at the Sturgis Community Center.  Present:  Mayor Mark Zeigler, Alderpersons Terry Jensen, Arvid Meland, Penny Green, Sherry Scudder, Mark Chaplin, Pokey Jacobson & Steve Anders.  Absent:  Bev Patterson.

 

Mayor Zeigler made the following announcements – a) there would be a meeting with the resident of Woodland Trailer Court on Wednesday, March 8, 2006 at 6:30pm at the Community Center; b) the District 10 meeting, which is hosted by Sturgis, is scheduled for April 18, 2006; c) congratulations to the Sturgis Brown High School Wrestling Team, which won the State Championship; d) the Scoopers would be hosting the Huron Tigers for District play-off on Tuesday, March 7, 2006; e) a meeting has been scheduled with Kathie Grant, Emergency Manager for Meade County, on Monday, March 13, 2006 at noon at City Hall.

 

Motion by Scudder, second by Chaplin & carried to approve the agenda as presented.

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Anders & carried to approve the minutes of the February 21, 2006 council meeting.

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Scudder & carried unanimously to approve the following wages, transfers & claims:

Wages – Mayor & Council $6,365.35; Finance $15,830.62; Buildings $2,036.38; Engineering $7,956.90; Police $61,379.24; Fire $4,969.90; Streets $15,375.12; Street Cleaning $2,562.63; Cemetery $3,911.81; Community Center $26,174.63; Library $18,079.86; Parks $17,516.49; Ambulance $14,899.31; Liquor $7,076.53; Water $20,636.88; Wastewater $15,750.05 Sanitary Service $19,067.04; Rally $10,457.73; Federal Withholding $23,509.99; FICA $39,872.82

            Transfers Out - General Fund $33,998.50; Capital Impr $61,585.09; UDAG $2,500.00; Liquor $6,250.00; Water $3,333.33; Wastewater $26,575.00; Rally $6,250.00

            Transfers In – Parks $33,998.50; General Fund $12,500.00; Debt Service (303) $29,908.33; Debt Service (304) $41,888.42; Debt Service (305) $2,916.67; Debt Service (306) $3,333.33; Community Projects $13,446.67; Revolving Loan Fund $2,500.00

            Accounting Services Out – Sanitation $675.00; Wastewater $675.00

            Street Overlay Out – Sanitation $4,166.67

            GENERAL FUND – BHP&L, $606.85, util; City of Sturgis Water Dept, $641.90, util; MDU, $286.44, util; Prairiewave, $1,250.47, util; Verizon, $1,298.05, util.

            PARK – BHP&L, $158.89, util; City of Sturgis Water Dept, $92.00, util; Verizon, $44.91, util.

            AMBULANCE SERVICE – BHP&L, $548.57, util; Cellular One, $14.29, util; City of Sturgis Water Dept, $29.30, util.

            LIQUOR – City of Sturgis Water Dept, $121.60, util; Prairiewave, $186.32, util.

            WATER SYSTEM OPERATIONS – BHP&L, $4,450.23, util; City of Sturgis Water Dept, $68.00, util; MDU, $98.63, util; Prairiewave, $148.05, util; Verizon, $179.64, util.

            WASTEWATER – Verizon, $89.82, util.

            SANITARY SERVICE – BHP&L, $169.31, util; Qwest, $43.53, util; Verizon, $44.91, util.

            RALLY – Verizon, $44.93, util.

            GENERAL – Kevin Aga, $250.00, group ins; Amcon Distributing, $431.22, merch for resale; American Red Cross, $760.00, cc prog exp; Argus Leader, $267.28, sup; Associated Supply, $281.26, merch for resale; Baker & Taylor, $418.96, sup; BH Drywall, $684.42, maint; BJ Jerkey Dist Co, $168.00, merch for resale; BHP&L, $196.85, util; BH Power, $144.00, maint; Boner’s Woodworking, $2,400.00, sup; Borders, Inc., $286.69, sup; Jerry Burnham, $2,125.00, prof fees; Shannon Butler, $30.00, other; Butte Electric, $237.66, util; Century Business Products, $41.17, maint; Chain Saw Center, $15.95, maint; Chamber of Commerce, $160.00, other; City of Belle Fourche, $8.00, prof fees; Commercial Door & Specialties, $50.00, maint; Community Center Petty Cash, $7.60, cc prog exp; CQ Press, $174.75, sup; Crossings, $28.00, sup; Dakota Supply Group, $89.94, maint; Joyce Ehlers, $73.15, group ins; Energy Labs, $70.00, maint; Engineering Dept Petty Cash, $56.13, sup; Extension Revolving, $30.00, sup; Farmers Brothers Co, $61.74, resale; Farmer Union Oil, $9,068.54, sup; Finance Office Petty Cash, $11.94, sup; Kevin Forrester, $462.00, maint; Freeman Electric, $211.65, maint; General Traffic Controls, $223.95, maint; Heartland Paper Co, $178.74, sup; Heiman Fire Equipment, $7,202.65, sup; Hersrud, $3.08, maint; Hills Septic Service, $155.00, maint; Iverson Construction, $508.14, maint; Johnson, Jones & Ireland Vet, $225.60, sup; Johnston hardware, $163.69, sup; Melissa Lensegrav, $500.00, group ins; Locks by Bernie, $20.00, sup; Loud American Roadhouse, $27.10, other; Lynn’s Dakotamart, $33.51, sup; Marlow White, $130.00, sup; Meade Co Auditor, $13,044.26, other; Meade Co Times, $26.50, publishing; Menard’s, $201.72, maint; Morman Law Firm, $4,232.57, prof fees; Candy Morrell, $2,500.00, maint; Mr. Rooter Plumbing, $180.89, maint; Jim Nelson, $340.00, maint; Neve’s Uniforms, $42.85, sup; Newman Traffic Signs, $301.30, sup; North Central Supply, $1,721.09, maint; Officemax Contract, $491.01, sup; Owens Interstate Sales, $83.42, maint; Pennington Co Firefighters Assoc, $30.00, travel; Pony Expresso, $44.08, sup; Potpourri Flowers & Gifts, $35.00, sup; Prairiewave, $36.75, util; Larry Prince, $120.00, cc prog exp; Quill Corp, $825.21, sup; Lois Rathman, $75.00, sale of cemetery lots; Justin Regan, $32.00, cc prog exp; Sam’s Club, $1,446.05, merch for resale; SD Community Foundation, $2,000.00, contingency Funds; SD State Historical Society, $35.00, sup; Dale Stoltman, $28.00, travel; Sturgis Veterinary Hospital, $6.84, prof fees; TDG Communications, $1,330.00, prof fees; Town-n-Country Plumbing, $15.33, sup; Vanway Trophy, $303.75, cc prog exp; Viking Office Products, $71.96, sup; Joey Weiland, $60.00, sup; West River Electric Assoc, $398.43, util; Justin Weyer, $30.00, other.

            PARK – BHP&L, $115.97, util; Finance Office Petty Cash, $10.88, sup; Morman Law Firm, $914.73, prof fees; Torgerson, Terry & Caroline, $185,000.00, cap imp;

            BRICK PROJECT FUND – Lamar, $400.00, publishing.

            AMBULANCE SERVICE – Commercial Door & Specialties, $50.00, maint; Prairiewave, $87.26, util; Regional Health, $1,021.57, sup.

            MAYOR’S RIDE – Outsource Solutions, $12.60, sup.

            SPECIAL SALES TAX – Chamber of Commerce, $7,500.00, chamber; Premier Pyrotechnics, $6,516.61, city promotion; SIEC, $6,416.67, ind dev.

            CERT POLICE GRANT – 54 Printing, $100.00, sup.

            UDAG – SIEC, $2,750.00, ind dev.

            PERPETUAL MAINTENANCE – Lois Rathman, $75.00, perp. Maint.

            CAPITAL PROJECTS – Ainsworth Benning Construction, $92,874.00, cap imp; American Technical Services, $937.00, cap imp; Geiger Architecture, $28,655.62, cap imp.

            LIQUOR – Chamber of Commerce, $500.00, other liquor; Eagle Sales, $4,021.75, off sale beer; Fisher Beverage, $3,518.15, off sale beer; Frito Lay, $12.68, snacks for resale; Johnson Western Wholesale, $9,348.78, off sale liquor; M&B Enterprises, $57.00, snacks for resale; Nash Finch, $50.00, other; Prairie Berry, $588.00, off sale liquor; Rushmore News, $58.80, snacks for resale; S. Ellwein, $62.56, resale; Sam’s Club, $110.01, maint; Sodak Distributing, $5,476.55, off sale liquor; Homeslice Group, $2,448.00, prof fees; Valiant Vineyard, $44.35, off sale liquor; Western Business Solutions, $395.00, other.

            WATER SYSTEM OPERATIONSButte Electric, $183.60, util.

            WASTEWATER FACILITIES – BHP&L, $1,659.60, util; Lawson Products, $179.85, sup; Morman Law Firm, $130.00, prof fees; Owens Interstate Sales, $10.39, sup; Sanitation Products, $471.73, maint; Shamrock Pipe Tools, $1,380.39, maint; USA Blue Book, $113.10, maint.

            SANITARY SERVICE – A&J Surplus, $249.88, maint; Farmers Union Oil, $1,488.76, sup; Fastenal Co, $135.06, maint; Interstate Power Systems, $628.19, maint; Kimball Midwest, $277.14, sup; Owens Interstate, $6.55, maint; RDO Mack Sales, $38.02, maint; Rose’s Sanitation, $18.00, prof fees; Sanitation Products, $579.50, maint; SDSWMA, $200.00, travel.

            RALLY – Farmers Union Oil, $56.46, travel; Fedex, $20.94, sup; Freeman Electric, $210.00, sup; Jacobson First Western Ins, $263.00, other; Lamar, $1,800.00, publishing; Morman Law Firm, $1,672.19, prof fees; Outsource Solutions, $462.29, sup; RC Postal Customer Council, $40.00, travel; Sam’s Club, $296.01, sup; TDG Communications, $1,500.00, prof fees.

            CC CHILDREN’S FUND – Community Center Dept, $120.00, other.

 

This was the time set upon application for a public hearing for a zoning amendment for Carolyn Erickson, Lot 13E, Block 8 of Ash’s Extension – to rezone from General Residential 2 to Highway Service.  The Planning Commission approved this with the contingency that the alley either be platted or that an easement is created for the alley.

 

City Engineer Bob Kaufman advised that a big portion of the property surrounding this lot was already zoned highway service and that the Erickson’s would like to rezone this to match those properties. 

 

Erickson advised that it is just a vacant lot and that they would be agreeable to creating an easement for the alley.

 

Milo Kolda, 2020 Cleveland St., reminded everyone that this request was denied a couple of years ago.

 

City Attorney Keith Smit advised that there was a misunderstanding the last time on how the property was zoned.  At that time, it was thought that all of the land was residential.  However, two of the lots had already been zoned highway service previously.

 

Kolda questioned where everyone would park when the property would be used in the future for rally purposes.  He also advised that this was the only entrance/exit for the residential area past the railroad tracks.

 

Joseph Bryant advised that he was here on November 15, 2004 for the first public hearing and he had spoken against it.  At that time, the people in this neighborhood that had signed the petition only signed it because they were tired of fighting it.  Bryant thought the west side of the properties was already zoned highway service due highly to the Hubbard Mill being across the street.  He is tired of seeing vacant buildings and if a building were built on this property, the chances were that it would only be for the rally.  This in turn, Bryant feels, would hurt the Sturgis economy.  The alley needs to be platted so people do not block it again and he urged the council to vote against the amendment request.

 

Mike Bachand advised that he had spoken with Terry Keszler, who lives in the area of the proposed amendment.  Keszler requested that Bachand voice his concerns, as he was dealing with a family emergency.  West Main St is slowly being eaten away and pretty soon it is all going to be commercial or highway service.  Bachand advised that Keszler had fought this issue before and he is still opposed to the amendment.

 

Palmer Dahl advised that he is also opposed due to the congestion in the area during the rally.  Also, Dahl advised that he had heard it was going to be a bar and feels that there are plenty of other places in which to put it.

 

Bryant advised that the City should not rezone this until they have received a written plan as to what the property would be used for.

 

Erickson questioned why people were assuming that there would be a bar built there, as she is very opposed to bars.  She would not even consider a bar.

 

Green advised that everyone keeps referring to this property as highway service, but it doesn’t appear in the Register of Deeds Office as such.  It was brought up at Planning Commission that it would be a grandfathered use, but if the use changes or there is a sale of the property, it would not be a grandfathered right.

 

Erickson advised that the last use for the property was Highway Service because there was a filling station there.  They had dug up tanks and satisfied the EPA.

 

Motion by Green and second by Jensen to deny the amendment request.

 

Mayor Zeigler advised that he felt that if Erickson came in with a plan, the council would be more amiable to supporting this request.  However, there are a lot of unknowns right now.

 

Chaplin advised that it would also help if the alley would be platted out.

 

Zeigler noted that the Erickson’s are meeting the City half-way with creating an easement for the alley.

 

Erickson advised that she had complied with everything that they (Planning Commission & City) have asked.

 

Jacobson advised that she had real doubts with a Highway Service zone right next to the residential owner-occupied houses.

 

The vote was taken with all voting no.

 

Finance Officer Pauline Sumption reminded the council what the motion was, which was to deny the amendment request.

 

Motion by Green, second by Jacobson & carried to reconsider the vote on the previous motion. 

 

The re-vote was taken, with all voting in favor of the motion.  The zoning amendment was denied.

 

This was the time set upon application for a public hearing for a zoning amendment for RIASH, LLC (Dan Roe), 1855 Ballpark Road (S1/2S1/2NE1/4SW1/4 of Section 9, T5N, R5E and Lots 1 & 2 of the Cruickshank Addition.  The Planning Commission approved this request.

 

City Engineer Kaufman advised that this is the property adjacent to the fire department to the north. The Planning Commission would prefer to rezone a larger area for that particular property but the request was only for the Cruickshank property, from Ballpark Road to the Interstate.

Wayne Roe advised that Meade County Title would build the same type of structure as they have on Junction Avenue and it would be used in the same manner.  The only reason they are looking at different property is because they need more parking spaces & more office area.  They do not intend to have any rally related activities.

 

Mayor Zeigler questioned if Robbie Symonds had been talked to regarding this.

 

Roe advised that he had and that Symonds had not voiced any concerns with it.

 

Green questioned what the land behind the building would be used for.

 

Roe advised that they had no plans other than to move the Title Company to a building along Ballpark Road, if this amendment were approved.

 

John Grisham, Chairman of the Trustees at the United Methodist Church, advised that the Church approves of this zoning amendment and would not be opposed to the expansion of the church property as long as their use permit is still honored.

 

Jade Temple, 1651 Ballpark Road, questioned where the expansion would fall if the amendment were to include the church property.

 

City Attorney Smit advised that it would be the property line between his property and the church.

 

Temple advised that he did not have any concerns with the amendment as presented but he would be somewhat concerned if the expansion were to go through and what that would do to the future use of the additional property.

 

Smit advised that the proposed zoning restricts the use of property so that no rally related business would be allowed.

 

Joe DesJarlais advised that, he too, would be concerned with the expansion to the viaduct because in the past the Planning Commission did not want to spot zone.  This area has been zoned residential for over 65 years and he does not want to see other types of entities to go in.  There is a lot of other commercial property available around town so he would hate to see the City open up a new area for commercial use.

 

Roe advised that Meade Title had moved off of Main Street to their Junction location to get away from the rally venues, as they have a negative impact on the title business.

 

Mayor Zeigler questioned why the council should consider changing the zoning of the church property if it’s always going to be a church.  He felt that there was no reason to go beyond what has been requested.

 

Smit advised that he has a problem on the issue of spot zoning and requested that the council continue the hearing so that he can have a chance to determine if it is legally possible.

 

Motion by Green, second by Scudder & carried, with Chaplin & Anders voting no, to continue this hearing to the next meeting, which is March 20, 2006.

 

Roe advised that this deal with the current owner will die tonight if he does not agree to give them an extension of time.

 

Green advised that the comment from the Planning Commission was that everything had been presented without a clarification of the legal description and that nothing had been received in writing from people adjacent to this property advising of their feelings regarding this.

 

Roe advised that he had just received a letter today from them and they do not have any objections to this.

 

John Teigen, the realtor representing Roe and the seller, questioned what Roe could do in the next two weeks to aid in this process.  The Title Company is very limited in choosing an area for an office setting.  This would be very convenient for them as they would be close to the courthouse, where they do a lot of business.  Teigen concluded with encouraging everyone to look at this positively.

 

Green introduced the following written resolution and moved its adoption:

 

RESOLUTION 2006-11

RESOLUTION APPROVING PROJECT PLAN FOR

TAX INCREMENTAL DISTRICT NUMBER NINE, CITY OF STURGIS

 

            BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of Sturgis, as follows:

 

            WHEREAS, the Common Council has established Sturgis Tax Incremental District Number Nine by Resolution 2005-45 on November 21, 2005, as amended on December 5, 2005; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Common Council deems it in the best interests of the City to promote the creation of housing development within the City; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Project Plan submitted helps make such housing development feasible by assisting with various public works improvements including streets and utilities within the tax increment district; and

 

            WHEREAS, the use of tax increment financing to promote this development is authorized by the statutes of the State of South Dakota; and

 

            WHEREAS, a Project Plan for this Tax Incremental District proposing such improvements has been developed; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Common Council has determined that the Project Plan developed for Tax Incremental District Number Nine is economically feasible; and

 

            WHEREAS, the Common Council has further determined that this Project Plan is in conformity with the City of Sturgis Comprehensive Plan;

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY OF STURGIS that the Project Plan for Tax Incremental District Number Nine be, and is hereby, approved as submitted by the Sturgis Planning Commission; and

 

            NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a tax increment bond or note, in principal amount not to exceed $406,000 is hereby authorized for private placement sale, as permitted under the provisions of SDCL 11-9.

 

            Dated this 6th day of March, 2006.

 

Published:  March 18, 2006

Effective:  April 8, 2006

 

Chaplin duly seconded the motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution.  All those present voted in favor of and the resolution was declared passed and adopted.

 

Motion by Green, second by Jacobson & carried unanimously to authorize the Mayor to sign the Performance Contract and the Contract for Private Development Tax Incremental District Number Nine.

 

Chaplin introduced the following written resolution and moved its adoption:

RESOLUTION 2006-09

RESOLUTION APPROVING PLAT

 

            WHEREAS, the statutes of the State of South Dakota require that plats of property within the City of Sturgis be submitted to the governing body for approval before the same are recorded in the Office of the Register of Deeds; and

            WHEREAS, John C Swenson & Barbara K. Beckwith, have presented to the Common Council of the City of Sturgis a plat of the following described real property:

 

TRACT JB IN BLOCK 1 OF HURLEY FIRST ADDITION (A REPLAT OF LOT 18 AND LOT 19 IN BLOCK 1 OF HURLEY FIRST ADDITION) LOCATED IN N1/2 NW1/4M OF SECTION 16, T5N, R5E, BHM CITY OF STURGIS, MEADE COUNTY SOUTH DAKOTA

 

WHEREAS, said plat meets the requirements of the statutes in all things, now

therefore,

            BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City Of Sturgis, South Dakota, that the within and foregoing plat is hereby approved.

 

            Dated this 6th day of March 2006.

Published:  March 18, 2006

Effective:  April 8, 2006

 

Green duly seconded the motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution.  All those present voted in favor of and the resolution was declared passed & adopted.

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Jensen and carried, with Green voting no, to approve the mayoral appointment of Cliff Linn to the Planning Commission for a 5-year term.

 

City Engineer Bob Kaufman gave a brief update on the Library/Municipal Offices Complex.  The construction has progressed well.  The steel is 95% complete and the roof decking should be complete this week.  The second floor concrete has been poured and we are looking at a completion date towards the end of July.

 

City Engineer Kaufman gave a brief update on the Exit 32 project.  The eastbound driving surfaces have been removed and there is head to head traffic in the west bound lanes.  They will be demolishing the bridges and they are continuing with the earthwork for Junction Ave & the new off ramps.

 

City Engineer Kaufman also gave a brief update on the Whitewood Service Road project.  They have submitted the final piece of easement information to SD DOT.  Once the right-of-way certificate is signed, the City can advertise for bids.  Bids would then be awarded at the first meeting in April.

 

Motion by Green, second by Chaplin & carried to authorize the Mayor to sign the Right-of-Way Certificate for the Whitewood Service Road project.

 

This was the time set to award the bids for the Woodle Field Restroom/Concession Stand Facility.  The following bids were received:

            Concrete                     Iverson Construction                  $27,000.00

            Plumbing                     No Bids Received

            Electric                       Scott’s Electric                          $34,828.00

                                                Freeman’s Electric                    $14,000.00

            Mechanical                 No Bids Received

            General Construction Iverson Construction                  $76,400.00

 

Motion by Scudder, second by Chaplin & carried to table the awarding of this bid until March 20, 2006 to allow the Meade School Board to consider the bids as well.

 

Motion by Anders, second by Jensen & carried unanimously to authorize the advertising of bids for the Strong Field Lighting Project.

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Anders & carried unanimously to approve second reading of Ordinance 2006-04 – Library Supplemental.  The ordinance reads as follows:

Ordinance No. 2006-04

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING ORDINANCE NO. 2005-15 ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE YEAR 2005 OF THE CITY OF STURGIS, MEADE COUNTY, SOUTH DAKOTA

 

            BE IT ORDAINED by the Common Council of the City of Sturgis, Meade County, South Dakota, that ordinance 2005-15 be amended so that the following amounts are hereby appropriated to meet the obligation of the municipality for the year 2006.

 

            General Fund - Library

                 4110                       Salaries                       $62,026.00

     4120                       OASI                                3,910.00

     4140                       Retirement                       3,066.00

     4150                       Insurance                        5,076.00

     4260                       Supplies                           5,648.00

     4270                       Travel                                 300.00

     4280                       Utilities                                           700.00

                

            TOTAL                                                 $80,726.00

           

First reading:  February 21, 2006

Second reading:  March 6, 2006

Adopted:  March 6, 2006

Published:   March 18, 2006

Effective:  April 8, 2006

 

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Anders & carried to approve the mayoral appointment of Rod Hines to the Airport Board for a 2-year term.

 

Motion by Meland, second by Chaplin & carried to table until March 20, 2006 Resolution 2006-10 – Resolution Adopting the Volunteer Fire Department Incentive Program.

 

Motion by Chaplin, second by Meland & carried unanimously to enter into an agreement with SD DOT to hire Brosz Engineering to complete the bridge inspections.  SD DOT will pay 80% of the project and the City would pay the balance.

 

Motion by Meland, second by Jensen & carried unanimously to approve the 2005 Annual Report.

 

Motion by Scudder, second by Chaplin & carried unanimously to authorize the Mayor to sign the engagement letter with Ketel Thorstenson to complete the 2005 Audit.  Costs of this audit are estimated at $16,000.

 

Motion by Anders, second by Chaplin & carried unanimously to waive the lot rent for the residents of Woodland Trailer Court.

 

Jensen requested that the council also think about offering an additional $500 to those residents that would be moving their trailers out of the court by September 1, 2006.  This was referred to the Legal & Finance committee.

 

OTHER MATTERS THAT MAY COME BEFORE COUNCIL

 

Mayor Zeigler advised that Rally Director Lisa Weyer & TDG Communications would be having a formal presentation of Digital Sturgis at the April 3, 2006 meeting beginning at 6:30pm.

 

Condolences were given to Water Superintendent Eldon Christians in the loss of his father.

 

City Engineer Kaufman advised that if anyone was interested he had a seminar brochure on team building.

 

Motion by Anders, second by Jacobson & carried to adjourn the meeting at 8:53pm.

 

ATTEST: ____________________________ APPROVED: _____________________________

            Pauline Sumption, Finance Officer                                  Mark T. Zeigler, Mayor