Mitchell City Council to discuss cost of replacing one-way signs

The Mitchell City Council will discuss the cost of signage for converting one-way streets to two-way traffic during its meeting tonight.

Voters will decide on June 5 if they want to uphold the council's decision to change Second, Third and Fourth avenues from one-way traffic to two-way.

The council voted to make the change last fall, with the Traffic Commission recommending the change and Mitchell Main Street and Beyond representatives also speaking out for the conversion.

Public Safety Chief Lyndon Overweg, who chairs the Traffic Commission, said he was concerned about traffic safety on the three streets, while MMS&B officials said they feel changing the three streets to two-way would boost downtown commerce.

But the decision was quickly opposed by people who wanted the streets, which have been one-way since 1950, to remain in their current state. Signatures were collected and petitions submitted to put the decision up to a vote.

The council meets at 7:30 p.m. at City Hall Council Chambers, 612 N. Main St. The meeting is open to the public.

In other agenda items, the council will:

• Consider approving a contract with the Puetz Corporation for architectural, mechanical and electrical services for City Hall office remodeling at the Mitchell Technical Institute North Campus site.

The city and Puetz made an agreement on Feb. 28 to study sites as possible new City Hall locations. The city is considering moving out of City Hall and converting that space into tourist attractions to enhance the attached Corn Palace.
The MTI location has been suggested as a possible new home for City Hall.

The cost for the study is $5,000 per site studied plus between $1,500 and $2,000 for each artist's rendering for the proposed remodel.

• Hold the first reading of Ordinance 2403, calling for drainage and storm sewer plans for subdivisions to be submitted to and approved by the public works director.

The plans must, at possible conform to the natural contour of the area and must be submitted prior to other utility plans.

• Hold the first reading of Ordinance 2404, supplemental appropriations of $48,000 for playground equipment at Cadwell Park, with half from the Parks, Recreation and Forestry Department cash balance and half from a donation.

It will also send $15,000 to the Convention and Visitors Bureau, $15,000 in a transfer to the Corn Palace, $5,000 to the Mitchell Area Development Corporation and $2,500 to a regional marketing effort. Those dollars will come from entertainment sales tax revenues.
The ordinance also calls for $10,000 for Lawler water utilities from the Water Fund cash balance and $1,000 for water and sewer at the Mitchell Public Library, with the money coming from the general fund. The library's bill for 2011 exceeded the budgeted amount.

• Authorize the Mitchell Fire Division to apply for a grant from Walmart for smoke detectors.

Fire Marshal Marius Laursen said the division has been working with Walmart and other local businesses and agencies to ensure there are smoke detectors made available for anyone who wants one.
A 3-year-old boy was killed in a fire last month and investigators said they did not see a smoke detector in the home, although a family member has said there was one in the house.

• Award bids for the Sanborn Street concrete panels, phase II, project 2012-22, and a dump truck chassis, project 2012-32.

The lowest of the four bids for the chassis is $82,949 by Westman Freightliner, of Marshall, Minn. The firm promises delivery within 120 days.

• Hold a hearing on the application of the Palace City Lions Club for a special event malt beverage and wine license at the Horseman's Sports Arena, on July 19-22 for the Corn Palace Stampede Rodeo.

• Consider approving Resolution 2985, tax increment financing district 17.

• Consider Resolution 2986, the plat of Spruce Acres Tract A.

• Consider Resolution 2987, quit claim deeds of Gary E. and Gloria A. Oldenberg, Jason L. Stoebner and Chad E. Larson.

• Review these raffle requests: Abbott House Inc. with the drawing to be held Dec. 1; St. Mary's Episcopal Church with the drawing to be held May 23; and Heart & Sole Cancer Walk with the drawing to be held June 15.

• Consider an abatement of taxes in the amount of $307.90 to city of Mitchell legally described as the west 942.2 feet of the southwest quarter north of Railroad since it was purchased by a tax-exempt entity.

• Hear a report from the Finance Committee, which meet at 7:20 p.m. to review first-quarter sales tax collections.

• Sit as the Board of Adjustment to:

Set a May 21 date for a hearing on the application of Brad Ciavarella for a conditional use permit to construct apartment housing at 410 W. Second Ave. That is the former Whittier Elementary School, which was built in 1935.
Set a May 21 date for a hearing on the application of Glen Vilhauer for variances for side yard setback to match existing garage, a back yard setback from the alley, and an oversized garage at 1105 W. Sixth Ave. The request is being made because the side yard, back yard setbacks and height limitations are not being met.

Set a May 21 date for a hearing on the application of Jerry and Pam Thomsen for variances for a roadside setback to construct a detached garage, and for a future attached garage at 214 N. Harmon Drive. The request is being made because the roadside, side yard setbacks and height limitations are not being met.

Set a May 21 date for a hearing on the application of Ron and Linda Parks for variances to construct a detached garage at 313 Milan Ave. The request is being made because the side yard and back yard setbacks are not being met.

Hold a hearing on the application of Doug Krantz for a conditional use permit to sell and display trailers and vehicles at 1501 W Spruce.

Hold a hearing on the application of Jerry Bertsch for a variance to construct a garage at 316 W. 13th Ave. The request is being made because the building height standard will not be met.

Hold a hearing on the application of Tim and Sherry Hines for a variance to construct an addition at 605 W. 14th Ave. The request is being made because the front yard setback will not be met

• Approve these pay estimates:

Bridge on northwest edge of Mitchell, project 2011-2 contracted to South Dakota Department of Transportation. Pay estimate 12 in the amount of $195.10
Birch-Foster-Wallace sidewalk, project 2011-4E contracted to Big O Concrete. Pay estimate 1 in the amount of $19,442.67.

Ash & Langdon sidewalk, project 2012-4A contracted to Colwell Concrete Inc. Pay estimate 1 in the amount of $13,187.60.

Hazardous sidewalk, project 2012-4C contracted to Big O Concrete. Pay estimate 2 in the amount of $7,297.77.

Water meters-transmitter supply, project 2012-11 contracted to HD Supply. Pay estimate 2 in the amount of $38,831.60.

Paving and overlay, project 2012-15 contracted to Commercial Asphalt. Pay estimate 1 in the amount of $12,156.70.

North Highway 37 water main, phase II, project 2012-20 contracted to H & W Contracting, LLC. Pay estimate 2, final, in the amount of $28,206.60

Old landfill leachate monitoring, project 2012-28 contracted to Leggette, Brashears & Graham. Pay estimate 2 in the amount of $819.83.

• Hear the invocation from a St. Mary's Episcopal Church representative.