Mitchell voters could see full ballot in June

Talk about it

Mitchell voters could make many choices in June, apparently including the direction of traffic on three city streets.

During its meeting tonight, the Mitchell City Council is scheduled to set an election date of June 5 for the vote on a referendum opposing the council decision to change Second, Third, and Fourth avenues from one-way streets to two-way streets.

Opponents of the council action, led by former councilman Jerry Toomey, collected more than 1,200 names, more than twice as many as needed, to force a public vote.

Toomey said he didn’t want a special election called, and Mayor Lou Sebert, Council President Jeff Smith and other members of the council said they have no intention of doing so. Special elections cost more than $6,000, they said, and turnout is traditionally low.

In addition to the traffic vote, the June 5 election could also include races for mayor and four council seats.

Sebert’s second term expires next year, and he has said he is leaning against seeking a third term. Toomey, meanwhile, has said he is considering a run for mayor.

The terms of Councilmen Mel Olson, Travis Carpenter, Marty Barington and Smith also expire in 2012. None has made any official declarations, although Carpenter has repeatedly indicated at meetings — sometimes jokingly — that he will not be on the council after June.

Olson has also suggested allowing the public to vote on designs for the Corn Palace, which is being studied for a remodel, during the June election.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. today at City Hall Council Chambers, 612 N. Main St. The meeting is open to the public and was postponed from the typical Monday date because of the Parade of Lights.

In other business, the council will:

• Hold a hearing on the application to transfer a retail (on- and off-sale) wine license (RW-6586) from Teresa Quist, doing business as Café Teresa, to McCain LLC, dba Café Teresa, at 312 N. Main St.

• Hold a hearing on the application to transfer a retail (on-sale) liquor license (RL-5759) to include Sunday sales from Hay Company Partnership, dba Thirsty’s, to V.V. Inc., dba Thirsty’s, at 1801 N. Main St.

• Hold a hearing on the application of the Area Community Theatre of Mitchell for a special event malt beverage and wine license at the Pepsi Cola Theater, 700 N. Main St., for the Ladies’ Night Out event Jan. 27-28.

• Consider adopting Resolution 2956, a Palace Transit operating funds agreement between the city and the state of South Dakota.

• Consider adopting Resolution 2957, a residual equity transfer of $39,082.44 from three special assessment funds that have paid all claims to two other funds, with the money split into chunks of $15,035.09 and $24,047.35.

• Consider adopting Resolution 2958, approving Lot A of James River Property Group First Addition to the city of Mitchell.

• Hold the first reading of Ordinance 2383, amending the city of Mitchell zoning code to set definitions for manufacturing and light manufacturing.

• Hold the first reading of Ordinance 2384, supplemental appropriations of $5,000 for professional services for the Finance Department; $7,500 for professional services for the Fire Division; $1,000 for debt service for Second and Fourth streets bond interest; $30,000 for debt service on a bond principal; $100 for bond interest on the Mitchell Area Development Corp. business park; $27,838 for bond interest on TIF district 13 at Mitchell Technical Institute; $31,500 for the Foster Street lift station and $16,500 for a mower for the airport.

• Hold the second reading and consider approval of Ordinance 2373, the 2012 annual appropriation as amended.

• Hold the second reading and consider approval of Ordinance 2381, supplemental appropriations of $12,000 for a radio system upgrade for the Public Works Department and $4,000 for a payout of unused sick leave and vacation for a retiring Corn Palace maintenance worker.

• Hold the second reading and consider approval of Ordinance 2382, repealing Title 4-4-3 and amending Title 4-4-4 of the city’s taxicab ordinance to ensure the finance officer reports to the chief of police or a designated representative when someone seeks a license to open a cab company in the city.

• Hear a request from the Mitchell Softball Association for the city of Mitchell to fund half of the project costs, in the amount of $24,000, for playground equipment installation at softball diamonds.

• Authorize Gary Larson, CPA, to conduct the audit for 2011 for a payment of $22,000.

• Consider an automatic supplement to the Debt Service Fund, Tax Increment Financing district 8, Highland Conference Center, in the amount of $1,612 from an overpayment.

• Review and approve these pay estimates:

South side water tower project 2009-30 contracted to SPN & Associates. Pay estimate 24 in the amount of $2,974.45.

Sidewalk, hazardous project 2011-4C, contracted to Big O Concrete. Pay estimate 10 in the amount of $503.75.

Rowley-Norway 2011-4H contracted to Big O Concrete. Pay estimate 2 in the amount of $3,332.80.

Paving and overlay project 2011-15 contracted to Commercial Asphalt. Pay estimate 11 in the amount of $19,025.18.

Landfill loader project 2011-39 contracted to RDO Equipment Company. Pay estimate 1 in the amount of $132,078.50.

• Sit as the Board of Adjustment to:

Set a Dec. 5 date for a hearing on the application of Dean and Betty Sadler for a conditional use permit to operate an office/clinic at 2409 N. Main St.

Set a Dec. 5 date for a hearing on the application of Brandon and Rachel Dykstra for a conditional use permit to operate a custom furniture and retail store at 102 and 104 N. Main St.

Set a Dec. 5 date for a hearing on the application of Karl Knight for a variance to construct a shed/garage at 1800 Snead Ave. The request is being made because the height and size limitation will not be met.

Hold a hearing on the application of Joe Kindle for a variance to construct a 24-by-24 foot garage at 1401 S. Main St., Lot 167. The request is being made because the front yard setback will not be met. The Planning Commission tabled this request and made no recommendation.

Hold a hearing on the application of New Home Lutheran Church for a variance to construct a canopy over the entrance, located at 1023 S. Minnesota St. The request is being made because the side yard setback will not be met.

Hold a hearing on the application of Tim Hartman for a variance to construct an addition to a garage at 1016 E. Second Ave. The request is being made because the maximum size will be exceeded.

• Hear a report from the Traffic Commission, which will meet at 7:15 p.m. to:

Hear a request from Mike Kuchera to extend the noparking area on the northwest corner of the East Second Avenue and Lawler Street intersection, with the yellow line painted on the west side of Lawler for an additional 20 feet.

Hear a request from Tim Pranger to double the noparking zone in front of 804 N. Winsor St., which would extend it about 30 feet to the south. That would ease efforts to remove snow and make it easier to see when entering the street, Pranger said. He has also asked to do the same at 814 N. Winsor St., this time to the north, and for the same reasons.

Hear a request for a stop sign at Eighth Avenue and Gamble Street for north and south traffic.

Hear a request from Jeanie Morgan to extend restricted hours on the no-parking signs on Winsor Street. The current restriction is from 10 a.m. until noon; the request is to extend that to 3 p.m. to allow for garbage pick-up and mail service.

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