The Mitchell City Council will hold its first reading of the 2022 annual appropriations budget on Monday night to begin prioritizing the list of major projects the city plans to take on next.
Among the items that will be discussed during Monday’s meeting include the list of capital improvement projects on deck for 2022 and beyond, subsidy applications and an overview of the city’s 2022 budget. The council will meet at 6 p.m. at City Hall.
As of now, the proposed budget includes $38.7 million in capital improvement projects, which entails the construction of a new groundwater storage tank, a handful of major improvements to the wastewater treatment plant and Lake Mitchell watershed improvements, to name a few of the more costly projects.
The upgrades to the wastewater treatment plant is estimated to cost $10 million, while the ground water storage tank that will provide Mitchell with a three-day backup water supply in an emergency event is estimated to hover around $9.7 million. The two projects are the costliest capital improvement projects in the 2022 budget.
Infrastructure, equipment, facility improvements and professional planning and design are among the four categories that account for all the capital improvement projects. Infrastructure work makes up the majority of the capital improvement projects in the 2022 budget, which the city is proposing to invest roughly $32 million in. The city is eyeing to bring $4.3 million in upgrades to city facilities and $1.6 million in equipment.
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On the 2022 subsidy applications, the council will consider allocating around $550,000 to a handful of local nonprofit organizations that submitted applications to the city this year.
Each year, the city reviews subsidy applications submitted by local nonprofit organizations, which are then reviewed by a committee made up of council members. Combining all of the subsidy applications that were submitted, a total of $611,540 was requested. However, the council agreed to trim that down to roughly $550,000.
Of the 11 applications that were included in the proposed 2022 budget, the Mitchell Area Development Corporation, Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB), Regional Economic Development, Mitchell Municipal Band, Mitchell Exchange Club fireworks show and LifeQuest were the groups proposed to receive the full amount of subsidy funds as initially requested.
Dakota Counseling is the lone organization that the council requested to receive further information on prior to deciding the amount of subsidy funds they intend to approve for 2022.
The Mitchell-based mental health counseling group initially requested $62,000 in subsidy funds from the city. The committee recommended trimming the requested amount down to $14,300, representing a roughly $48,000 cut, but Michelle Carpenter, executive director of Dakota Counseling, urged the council to reconsider such a drastic reduction, citing the vital work that the organization provides to the area during such a tumultuous time amid COVID-19.
Consent agenda
The following items will be considered as part of the consent agenda:
Approve the minutes and reports from the following meetings: Oct. 18 City Council meeting; Oct. 12 Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
Approve the following raffle permits: Mitchell Area Networking Association with the drawing to be held on Jan. 12, 2022; Mitchell Community Scholarship Fund with the drawing to be held on Feb. 28, 2022.
Approve special event permit for 2021 Parade of Lights on Nov. 30, 2021.
Approve Hairball fireworks permit.
Approve declaring surplus items from community services for purple wave auction.
Approve declaring items from the Mitchell Police Departments as surplus.
Approve authorization to apply for EDA ARPA tourism grant.
Approve setting the date for the following heatings: An application to transfer retail (on-off sale) malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license from Jeanne Blaalid doing business as Leader Sporting Goods, located at 800 W. Spruce St., to Jeanne Blaalid, doing business as Leader Sporting Goods, located at 712 W. Spruce St.; An application to transfer retail (on-off sale) wine and cider license from Jeanne Blaalid doing business as Leader Sporting Goods, located at 800 W. Spruce St., to Jeanne Blaalid, doing business as Leader Sporting Goods, located at 712 W. Spruce St.
Approve Nov. 1 pay estimates.
Approve bills, payroll, salary adjustments, new employee hires, authorization of recurring payments and other expenses.
Other business
Recite pledge of allegiance and receive invocation from Word of Life Church.
Hear citizens input.
Meet as Board of Adjustment.
Consider the following applications: Ricardo Cruz’s application for a side-yard on a corner variance of 0 feet vs. 15 feet as required to construct a carport at 1320 S. Rowley St., legally described as lot 7, block 26, University Addition, in the city of Mitchell. The property is zoned in an R4 single-family residential district; Nov. 1, Montessori School’s application for a conditional use permit for a childcare, preschool and nursery at 620 E. Fourth Ave., legally described as lot 2, block 31 Cooley and Guernsey Addition, in the city of Mitchell. The property is zoned in an R2 single-family residential district.
Reconvene as City Council.
Approve special event permit for Shriners Parade.
Approve request for 15 mph speed limit signs on Arrowhead Pass.
Approve Resolution No. R2021-71, plat of lots 20 and 21, Block 7 Of Westwood First Addition, in the city of Mitchell, as requested by CJM Consulting Inc.
Approve Resolution No. R2021-72, plat of Lot 2, Block 4A, A Subdivision Of Block 4 Of Westwood First Addition, in the city of Mitchell, as requested by CJM Consulting Inc.
Approve Resolution No. R2021-73, plat Of Lot 9, Block 9 Of Westwood First Addition, A Subdivision Of Block 4 Of Westwood First Addition, in the city of Mitchell, as requested by CJM Consulting Inc.
Approve Resolution No. R2021-74, plat of Lot 56 of The Island First Addition, in the city of Mitchell, as requested by CJM Consulting Inc.
Approve Resolution No. R2021-76, Transfer of Lots 6, 7, and part of Lot 5, Block 13, in Mitchell.
