Development News for Huron, South Dakota

Election Reminders, Staff Achievements, and New Hire Introduced

During the public forum, Commissioner Bragg reminded residents about election day, emphasizing that the arena is the only voting location and will be open from 7:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. for city commission, county commission, school board, gubernatorial primaries, and state legislature primaries. Commissioner Clue recognized Library Director Angela Bailey for being elected vice president/president-elect of the South Dakota Library Association and praised Chad Schroer and the Parks and Recreation Department for being named Employer of the Year by the Center for Independence. HR Generalist Sharon Hitler introduced Andrew Hansen as the new Assistant Solid Waste Superintendent, who previously worked in Loveland, Colorado, and has over 11 years of public works experience.

Additional Funds Approved for City Hall Freight Elevator Repair

An additional $8,712 is needed for fabrication and repair of the freight elevator at City Hall. These funds will be drawn from second penny funds. Capital Assets recommended approval. Local companies inspected the elevator but were not comfortable with the repair work due to lack of expertise or liability concerns, leading to the need for specialized fabrication.

Bids Awarded for Asphalt Work and Sewer Lining, with Budget Adjustments

The commission considered bid acceptance for asphalt emulsion. No bids were received initially, so competitive quotes were solicited from past bidders. Flint Hills Resources provided the lowest quote at $657 per ton. The engineering department recommended approval, noting that funds would need to come from reserves as the project could come in over budget. Subsequently, the commission considered awarding a bid for asphalt concrete crack sealing to Lot Pros Incorporated for $66,125, which is $13,000 over budget and will be funded by second penny funds. This was deemed a good price compared to other quotes ranging from $89,000 to $93,000. Finally, a payment request for sanitary sewer manhole lining from Key Contracting was approved for $90,68.80, which was approximately $4,400 under budget.

Additional Funds Sought for Fireproof Doors at Event Center

The commission considered new fire doors for the Hearing Event Center. While funds were allocated in the 2026 budget for ADA ballroom doors, the original budget amount was insufficient for fireproof doors. An additional $7,500 is required, to be funded by the Hearing Event Center Foundation. The original doors, installed in 1987, are not currently connected to the fire alarm system, which is a safety concern. New doors would allow for proper connection and ADA compliance.