HURON – After several weeks without a functioning video system that has been broadcasting City Commission meetings, the board on Monday voted to approve a $40,000 contract with Mid States Audio of Sioux Falls to provide an equipment upgrade.
Mid States Audio installed the current equipment a number of years ago. An upgrade will mean a new high definition system giving a better video quality as well as other new features for connecting laptops to the projector and live streaming and capture options, said Chad Borgan, the city’s information technology officer, in a memo to commissioners.
Cameras now in place have stopped functioning on occasion and the camera monitors in the media room have issues with turning on and occasionally losing video signal, he said.
Repairing the existing cameras is not an option because the manufacturer no longer offers service parts for them due to their age, he said.
“We have also had members of our community let us know that the video quality isn’t very good and it is hard to make out some images in the recordings,” Borgan said.
The quote for the work only includes camera equipment. If any electrical work needs to be done, an electrician will have to be hired to work with Mid States Audio, he said.
Purchasing the equipment has been recommended by the city’s Capital Asset Committee. Funds will come from second penny sales tax reserves.
Meanwhile, commissioners approved a variance request from Chad Chenoweth, 4587 Illinois Ave. S.W., to plat a 0.40 acre parcel of land where code requires a five-acre minimum lot size and a minimum lot width of 300 feet in the large lot residential district in the joint jurisdictional area.
He has an easement for the driveway to his house. Due to the pending sale of adjacent property that includes the driveway, he asked the owner to be able to purchase some of the land so he would own the driveway.
The easement is 16-feet wide, and Chenoweth is purchasing a 60-foot wide strip to make snow removal easier and for better drainage to the ditch. A plat was also approved. County commissioners will now consider the variance and plat.
Commissioners also considered a number of matters dealing with ongoing projects.
They approved a final change order for concrete replacement work done by Rexwinkel Concrete of Corsica for a net deduction of $5,071. A final payment request of $149,373 was also approved.
Commissioners approved a change order with Premier Contracting of Huron extending the work at the sludge drying beds by 15 days. A $17,747 change order was also approved.
Commissioners awarded a $70,772 bid to Howe Inc. of Sioux Falls for a new chiller for the Campus Center.

They approved a $263,497 payment request to Kyburz Carlson Construction of Aberdeen for the public works building project. The city has taken ownership of the building and has begun moving in.
An open house will be scheduled for after the first of the year.

Commissioners also:

• Accepted the voluntary resignation of Tadd Biederstedt, golf maintenance supervisor.

• Accepted the voluntary resignation of Kileey Lueck, Center Park manager.

• Accepted the voluntary resignation of Shane Price, volunteer firefighter.

• Approved the regular status of Bob Hentzi, water-sewer treatment operator, on completion of his probationary period.

• Approved a special event on-sale alcoholic beverage license filed by Ryan’s Hangar Restaurant for a wedding reception Dec. 22 at the Campus Center.

• Approved special event on-sale alcohol beverage licenses filed by the State Fair for a wedding reception on Saturday and a Farm Credit Service Grow On meeting Nov. 28 at the Nordby Exhibit Hall.

• Set Dec. 3 as the public hearing date to consider a 2018-2019 retail  on-off sale malt beverage and South Dakota Farm Wine license filed by Picante, 107 Lincoln Ave. S.W.

• Set Dec. 3 as the public hearing date to consider a lease agreement with the Karen Association for office space at the Fine Arts Center.

• Accepted a donation of an estimated $3,000 in office furniture and equipment from ELO Prof. LLC, which had leased office space on the second floor of City Hall and has now moved to its new location in Southtown. The city will use the furniture and equipment as part of the police department’s expansion in City Hall.

• Declared retiring police service dog Cody as surplus and appointed an appraisal committee. Cody is retiring due to an injury and inability to be re-certified with another handler because of physical limitations. The new dog in the police department is Poli, who is 16 months old.

• Declared property as surplus and set a Dec. 3 sale date for an online only auction.

• Approved renewal of liquor and wine licenses for 2019.