Mitchell police doing their job, city council told

• Lyndon Overweg

Lyndon Overweg

Talk about it

The Mitchell Police Division is doing its job in dealing with snowstorms and vehicles parked on city streets, the Mitchell City Council was told Monday night at City Hall.

Public Safety Chief Lyndon Overweg was asked to respond to a letter in The Daily Republic, which said the city was not completely observing its snow removal ticket and towing policy. Overweg said the city was complying, and said officers checked the area mentioned in the letter and did not find any vehicles illegally parked.

“What we would ask is you call us,” he said. “Call us. We’ll send someone out for a ticket, if it’s warranted. If it’s an emergency route, they’ll be towed. If it’s in District A, they’ll be towed.”

District A is the downtown core area and is designated by signs. Overweg said the city waits 48 hours after a storm to ticket or tow vehicles in other parts of town.

Mayor Ken Tracy said after the relatively brief meeting (slightly less than one hour), that he did not feel there was a problem.

“We’re good to go,” Tracy said. “Maybe slight communication problems. I think we’re doing fine.”

In other agenda items, the council:

Authorized spending $749,000 for a new ladder truck for the Fire Division. The city will pay that to Heiman Fire Equipment, of Sioux Falls, when the truck is delivered in the next week or so. The current ladder truck, a 1982 model, was purchased in 1983 for $238,000, according to Overweg. It will be sold at some point, with the revenue from that going into the city’s general fund.

Awarded a bid for recycled asphalt and concrete crushing, Project 2013-9, to Bowes Construction, of Brookings, for $95,000. A Minnesota firm submitted the same bid, but the city has a policy of doing business with South Dakota companies in such cases.

Awarded a bid for 48 golf carts, Project 2013-19, to Yamaha Golf & Utility, of Burnsville, Minn., for $79,980. They are fuel-injected carts, which are the trend of the future, said Cemetery and Golf Course Director Kevin Thurman. They were the second highest-priced of the four types of carts offered to the city through the bid process.

Thurman said fuel savings will be 25 to 28 percent, and the trade-in and resale value in a few years will be “significant,” making it a wise investment of public dollars. The city could buy those carts, staffers said, since the other carts were not fuel-injected, and the city was rejecting the other carts and buying the low bid for fuel-injected vehicles.

Awarded a bid for two greens mowers, Project 2013-20, to Midwest Turf and Irrigation, of Omaha, for Toro mowers for $52,276.

Awarded a bid for a soccer complex mower, Project 2013-23, to Midwest Turf & Irrigation, of Omaha, for $53,315 for a Toro Groundmaster 4500 D. The other bidder’s mower did not meet specifications, Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department Director Dusty Rodiek said, so the city opted to spend more than $20,000 more than the other bidder’s offer.

Councilman Mel Olson wanted to make clear that the mowers are moved around the city for use, and are not parked at one location. Rodiek said city workers “use the heck out of them.”

Held a hearing on the Norway Avenue lift station project to obtain a grant from the state Consolidated Water Facilities Construction Program or a loan from the Clean Water State Revolving Fund program. No citizens offered comments.

The city is seeking up to $800,000 from the state Board of Water and Natural Resources to replace the current lift station. That station is “vintage 1977,” Public Works Director Tim McGannon said. It has served its time and needs to be replaced, he said.

Such equipment lasts 35 to 40 years, he said. The city will know in about a month if it will get a grant, which McGannon said is unlikely, or a loan. He said part of the loan, between $150,000 to $200,000, may be forgiven. There is a chance of a combination of a loan and grant.

Adopted Resolution 3074, which calls for bridge reinspection by the South Dakota Department of Transportation, and designates Brosz Engineering Inc. for the inspection work. The city has seven bridges and box culverts that are inspected on a rotating basis, McGannon said. Three bridges must be inspected this year.

Brosz has done the inspections for several years. The DOT will obtain a federal grant of around $1,000, McGannon said, and the city will pay a 20 percent matching share of that, or around $200.

Adopted Resolution 3075, a resolution giving approval to sewer facilities improvements, and giving approval to issue and sell a revenue bond to finance the improvements. The project is the $800,000 Norway Avenue lift station replacement.

Heard the second reading of and approved Ordinance 2429, supplemental reappropriations for several city projects.

These dollars were appropriated for 2012, but not spent. They include the $10 million for four major building projects, $150,000 for a satellite fire station by Lake Mitchell, and other short- and long-term projects.

Held the second reading of and approved the 2012 Annual Financial Report. It has to be submitted to the council on its first meeting of March. Olson called it a “historical document.”

Agreed to purchase, off a state bid, a 4-by-4 pickup for the Street Division for $23,146 from Lamb Chevrolet, of Pierre. The city asked Vern Eide, of Mitchell, to meet or beat the price but it could not.

Set a March 14 date to receive and consider bids for the Mitchell Ice & Activity Arena addition, Project 2013-3, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. Puetz Corp., of Mitchell, is designing the addition. The city will hire other firms to do the work as a second sheet of ice is added.

Set a March 18 date to receive and consider sealed bids for surplus property, Lots 13 through 16, Block Five in Rowley’s Second Addition, including the portion of the adjoining vacated alley that is now part of the property, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The land is valued at $35,000, according to a three-man appraisal committee.

Set a March 18 date to receive and consider sealed bids for surplus property, the south half of Lot Eight, Block Two of E.B. Bracey’s Addition, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. The committee assessed the land at $7,500.

Set a March 27 date to receive and consider bids for sidewalk, Project 2013-4; and irrigation supply and install for Cadwell and Pioneer parks, Project 2013-30, at 1:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers.

Approved applications from the Palace City Lions Club for special event malt beverage and wine licenses at the Corn Palace for three shows: April 13 for Hairball, April 14 for Clint Black and May 16 for Willie Nelson.

Approved the application of Dan’s Pro Shop, owned by Dan and Jackie Sabers, for a special event license at the Corn Palace and City Hall on April 26 for the Louie Anderson show.

Heard from Mitchell Main Street & Beyond Executive Director Molly Goldsmith, who offered an update on the downtown streetscape project.

A team composed of staffers from James Valley Nursery, in Mitchell, as well as Rapid and Sioux Falls design firms, is working on a plan, and public input has been taken, Goldsmith said. More public input will be taken, a public meeting is scheduled, and property owners are being contacted for their thoughts and ideas as well.

“We are moving ahead, though,” she said.

Was told the city will have additional costs to shore up the VFW wall to prevent a collapse when the city removes the old Longhorn Bar.

Tracy said the city, which assumed ownership of the oldest building in town, wants to make sure there is no damage done to the adjoining business. Mitchell architect Larry Jirsa will provide an estimate, the mayor said. He said the demolition should begin in two weeks.

Approved pay estimates.

Acknowledged that Council President Jeff Smith and Finance Officer Marilyn Wilson were absent. Both are on vacation.

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