City of Big Stone City Council Proceedings
City of Big Stone City Council Proceedings
February 3, 2020
7:00 p.m.
The Big Stone City council met in regular session on Monday, February 3, 2020. Meeting began at 7:00 p.m. with Mayor Wiik presiding. Roll Call: Athey, Stecker, Redfield, Brown and Hughes present. Others present: William Coester, Bryan Austin, Bob Athey, Bob Goergen, Sheriff Kevin Owen, Emily Sigler, Melissa Stueve-Sherod, Travis Sherod, Mary Smithwick, Jim Laub, Gary Longhenry, Jayne Stecker, TJ Rabe, Julie Enstad, Missy McMahon, Teresa Goergen, Steve Weber, Jeremy Wiese, Blayn Ronglien, Brandon Schmidt, Tom Dew, Chris Rabe, Mike LaMee, Alex Goergen, Bryan Wiese, Joe Wiik, Doug Stengel, Betty Zahnow, Bob Zahnow, Tyrone Ronke, Margaret Kuefler, Rod Gustafson, Bill Voeltz and Deputy Mark Leusink.
The Pledge of Allegiance and the South Dakota State Pledge were recited. Motion to accept the minutes from the January 6th meeting was made by Redfield and seconded by Athey. All in favor, motion carried. A motion to approve the minutes from the January 13th Special Meeting was made by Redfield and seconded by Stecker. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Wiik stated she would like to address the council and public at the meeting and stated as follows: Before we begin tonight’s meeting, there are a few things that have been happening that I must comment on. First, I would like to thank everyone who came here tonight to take interest in our meeting. The history of this council has been one of cooperation, mutual respect, and a loose structure that allowed everyone to contribute even if a motion may have been in the wrong order. We are all here to serve the people of Big Stone City, and we have taken an oath to do that. Our employees have worked very hard to serve the people of Big Stone City. Our municipal staff works tirelessly to make sure we keep the lights on and the water flowing. Bob Athey has won several awards for water quality, has been there through sewer problems, floods, fires, and might be the best snowplow operator in the state of South Dakota. Bob has served this town for over 40 years. Bryan Austin has upgraded years of antiquated equipment, upgraded our streetlights, eliminated overhead power lines, and does it all while keeping electric rates low and therefore keeps costs and taxes down for the people of Big Stone City. Both are on-call 24/7 and 366 days this year for their departments and they have never let us down. Emily is the newest member of our team, and she has cleaned up a lot of problems most people would have run away from. She is the friendly face of our town in the city office, and she keeps the day to day business of the city running with a smile. We operate a municipal liquor store to help keep taxes low. Our liquor store employees are incredible people. Our management passes all audits without fail, and runs a law-abiding business that helps serve our city. All hiring and firing decisions are made by the council’s employee subcommittee in accordance with our budget discussions and then approved by the council as an extension of the budget. No one city council member has the authority to fire any city employee nor threaten to do so no matter what you hear around town. Our volunteer fire department raises most of its own money and is here tonight to continue doing that. I would like to thank them for their service to our city, for all their extra work raising their own money, and protecting our city and citizens no matter what the emergency. Therefore, it is my duty to make sure that the business of this city gets done first. We will operate by the book; we will follow our ordinances and the laws of the State of South Dakota. If any council member chooses to get up and walk out of this meeting before adjournment, that will be considered by the Mayor to be a resignation of your position. If you disagree with that ruling after storming out, you will be charged with a second-class misdemeanor which carries a $500 fine and/or 30 days in jail. Malfeasance of office under South Dakota Codified Law 3-16-1. We are here to take the hard votes and make the hard decisions. If you didn’t do your reading, you will not delay the business of this council.
A public hearing was held on a petition to vacate an alley submitted by Casey Seward and Elizabeth Gabriella. A motion was made by Hughes to approve the petition and seconded by Redfield. All in favor, motion carried.
A public hearing was held on a One Day Special Event Liquor License for the Fire Department. After a brief discussion a motion was made by Hughes and seconded by Stecker to approve the license. All in favor, motion carried.
A discussion was held about the current Liquor Ordinance and the Liquor Store. After a discussion and input from the council, liquor store manager, and the public a motion was made by Redfield to have the city’s liquor ordinance be the same as the state ordinance and seconded by Hughes. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Wiik asked Councilman Stecker to rescind his motion of suspending raises for 6 months. He did not. Mayor Wiik then exercised her power of veto to veto the motion from the January 6th meeting to suspend raises for 6 months. Mayor Wiik stated that the budget for the City of Big Stone was approved at a previous meeting, and included in that budget was a modest increase for our employees and if you studied your budget you should have seen there was a raise added in by Henderson. She than asked Councilman Hughes if there were any complaints about employees at reviews and he stated, no. After a discussion with input from employees a motion was made to grant employees a raise with retro pay back to January 1st by Redfield and seconded by Hughes. Voting in favor were Hughes, Brown, Redfield and Stecker with Athey abstaining.
An updated list of wage changes are as follows:
Robert Goergen, Police, $28.33 /Hour
Robert Athey, Utilities Manager, $29.22/Hour
Bryan Austin, Electric Superintendent. $28.49/Hour
Emily Sigler, Finance Officer, $36,050.00/Yearly
Melissa Stueve-Sherod, Liquor Store Manager, $16.97/Hour
John Hanratty, $18.13/Hour
Henry Gimmestad, $11.10/Hour
Michelle Patterson, $11.10/Hour
Melissa McMahon, $11.10/Hour
Travis Sherod, $11.10/Hour
Tyrone Ronke, $11.10/Hour, $14.00/ Hour Cleaning
Carrie Brown, $11.10/Hour
Pat Kaiser- Finance, $15.45/Hour
Abby Crist, $11.10/Hour
Steven Weber, $11.10/Hour
The following claims were presented for payment.
ADVANCED TECHNOLOGIES INC, $484.99, Fax Machine; BANK OF AMERICA, $200.00, JUTS 2020; BANYON DATA SYSTEMS INC., $990.00, Banyon Support; BERNATELLO’S PIZZA INC., $41.50; BLUE360 MEDIA, $78.75; BRYAN AUSTIN, $175.00, Travel Expense-JUTS; CHS, $1,546.38; CINTAS CORPORATION, $434.83; CITY OF BIG STONE CITY, $5,029.72, City Utilities; COESTER LAW OFFICE, $2,712.00; ELECTRO WATCHMAN INC., $195.00, Alarm Lease; ELLWEIN BROTHERS INC., $14,955.35; GRANT COUNTY AUDITOR, $22,500.00, Sheriff’s Office Contract; GRANT COUNTY REVIEW, $255.00; GRANT ROBERTS RURAL WATER, $11,080.00; HARRYS FROZEN FOODS, $327.00, Pizzas; HEALTH POOL OF SD, $6,890.38, Health Insurance; INSURANCE SOLUTIONS PLUS, $41,305.25, Insurance; JOHNSON BROTHERS FAMOUS BRANDS, $2,560.94; LITTLE FALLS MACHINE INC., $167.41; MAC DADDY’S DRIVE IN, $437.95; MIDCO BUSINESS, $555.65, Telephone/Internet; MILBANK GLASS & MORE, $10.00, Key for Kitchen Door; MILBANK WINWATER WORKS, $24.92; NORTHWESTERN ENERGY, $136.58; ORTONVILLE INDEPENDENT, $373.50; PEPSI COLA CO. OF ORTONVILLE, $267.38, Pop; PORTER DISTRIBUTING CO., $1,617.25; POSTMASTER, $26.35, Water Sample Mailing; POSTMASTER, $26.35, Water Sample Mailing; POSTMASTER, $123.20, Utility Bill Mailing; QUILL CORPORATION, $167.94, Copy paper, labels, pencils; RESCO, $9,370.30, Electrical Supplies; RUNNINGS, $106.99, Supplies; SD DEPT OF GAME, FISH & PARKS, $28.00; SOUTH DAKOTA RETIREMENT SYSTEM, $2,122.92; SOUTHERN GLAZERS OF SD, $288.08; STURDEVANT AUTO PARTS, $428.93; T & R SERVICE, $1,018.00, Pole Transformer Disposal; TEREX SERVICE, $3,755.75; TIDBITS OF THE LAKE AREA, $572.00, Full Year Advertising; TITAN MACHINERY, $919.68; TODD SANDBERG, $300.00, DJ Services; VALLEY SHOPPER, $372.00, Advertising; VERIZON WIRELESS, $147.05; WESCO RECEIVABLES CORP., $52.00, Chautauqua line pole underground; XEROX CORPORATION, $47.64; SDCS, $353.08; MISSOURI RIVER, $27,099.69; MISSOURI RIVER, $10,744.50; DEPT. OF ENERGY, $16,521.48; PRINCIPAL, $71.78; REPUBLIC NATIONAL, $802.45; INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, $3,020.17, Payroll Taxes; WORLD PAY, $222.12; INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, $2,571.74, Payroll Taxes; AFLAC, $224.50; SD DEPT. OF REVENUE, $5,453.54; SD DEPT. OF REVENUE, $2,087.47; RURAL DEVELOPMENT, $4,108.00, Sewer Bond; REPUBLIC NATIONAL, $2,275.65; INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE, $299.49; SDCS, $353.08
Motion to pay the presented claims was made by Hughes and seconded by
Brown. All in favor. Motion carried.
Sherriff Owen attended the meeting and gave the following report: Hours: 92 hours and 9 minutes with subject to call 24 hours per day.Written Citations: 4, Written Warnings: 11, and Investigations/events and incidents responded to 5. Sherriff Owen also updated the council on not having semis park on Hwy 12 across from Mac Daddy’s due to safety.
Gary Longhenry attended the meeting on behalf of the 135th Celebration Committee. He updated the council that things with planning are progressing and inquired about any license/permit needed to have fireworks on Friday night of the celebration. Mayor Wiik informed him she has already contacted the state and has a permit coming. 135th Celebration planning meetings are the second Mondays of the month at 7 p.m. at the community center. All are welcome.
Mary Smithwick attended the meeting inquiring about a restaurant on sale liquor license. The council informed her that the City needs to pass an ordinance allowing that type of license then she will be able to apply for the license. A motion was made by Brown to approve the first reading of an ordinance providing for the on-sale liquor licensing of full-service restaurants within the City of Big Stone City and seconded by Hughes. All in favor, motion carried.
Councilman Brown updated on the Ballfield Raffle. City Attorney Coester will be checking into this and report back at the March meeting. Mayor Wiik updated the council that FEMA will pay for the tiling work needed at Saputo Field.
Missy McMahon addressed the council to thank them for the raise and let them know it is appreciated.
Mayor Wiik gave an update on Chautauqua and the different options the city has for fixing the road and prices.
Mayor Wiik informed the council there will be no early pay off penalties for the Sewer Bond Loan.
Officer Goergen gave an update on the possibility of a city deer hunt. A motion was made by Redfield and seconded by Brown to table the discussion until the March meeting. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Wiik updated the council that the cop car order had been canceled with no penalties or fees. A discussion was held on what to do with the old white police vehicle. Mayor Wiik stated she will reach out to a town who had inquired on it before.
A motion was made by Hughes to change the City of Big Stone’s MRES Representative from Duane Henderson to Bruce Redfield and seconded by Athey. All in favor, motion carried.
Mayor Wiik informed the council of Duane Henderson’s resignation. A motion was made by Hughes and seconded by Brown to accept councilman Henderson’s resignation. All in favor, motion carried.
Emily Sigler updated the council on a petition to vacate that was approved in 1974 but never a resolution filed at the courthouse. A motion was made by Athey and seconded by Bruce to approve Resolution #2020-01.
RESOLUTION #2020-01
RESOLUTI0N TO VACATE STREET
BE IT RESOLVED that the Petition to Vacate a portion of Rogers Street lying between Cornell Avenue and Mitchell Avenue as recorded in Miscellaneous Record 159, page 544-545, in the office of the Grant County Register of Deeds be granted and approved and Rogers Street lying between Cornell Avenue and Mitchell Avenue is hereby vacated subject, however, to the City of Big Stone City reserving a perpetual utility easement on, over and under said vacated Street.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this resolution shall ratify, confirm and be effective retroactively to the Big Stone City Council Meeting of June 3, 1974.
Dated this 3rd day of February 2020.
/s/ Deborah Wiik, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ Emily Sigler, Finance Officer
After a discussion on the different options with Chautauqua a motion was made by Athey and seconded by Bruce to move forward and apply for the grant. Voting in favor: Athey, Stecker, Redfield, and Brown. Opposed: Hughes. Motion carried.
Being no further business a motion to adjourn the meeting was made by Hughes and seconded by Brown. All in favor, motion carried.
/s/ Deb Wiik, Mayor
ATTEST:
/s/ Emily Sigler
Finance Officer
Category:
Grant County Review
Latest articles
VARSITY LETTER winners during the 2023-2024 Milbank High School boys basketball season were, left to right, Micah Seyer, Yohana Ajwanga, Esteban Abrego, Graham Lightfield, Braylen Bowsher, Josh Keeton, Garrett Mertens, Jaxson Wildung, Collin Phinney and Emmett Hanson. Not pictured, Joe Schulte, Jacob Erickson, Olivia Foell, Haley Swenson, Kenadee Mueller and Kalli Grong.
Wed, 04/17/2024 - 12:02pm