HURON — The Huron City Commission committed more than $1.4 million to two bids for summer work on crack sealing and street milling and overlay, to be completed this summer during Monday evening’s meeting.

City engineer Brett Runge presented the two bids to the commission. The bid for crack sealing was awarded to Lot Pros, Inc. of Fergus Falls, Minn. The bid was for $76,422.30 on a budgeted amount of $67,379.26. Runge explained with the current bid climate, a bid that was one percent over bid is acceptable and the commission agreed, approving the bid unanimously.

The bid for street mill and overlay was awarded to Asphalt Paving & Materials Co. of Huron for $1,335,040.70. This came in under the $1,456,979 budget for the project, which also includes airport paving. This was unanimously approved.

The meeting opened with Mayor Gary Harrington sharing some reminders during public forum after the recent snowstorm. He prompted city residents that all fire hydrants should be cleared within three feet of the hydrant on all sides and cited multiple recent fires as evidence of the importance of this.
Harrington also reminded residents to check gas vents and roof vents for snow blockage after the heavy snow last week.

The commission met as the city board of adjustment to review a variance request filed by Iglesia Mission Evangelica Del Pincipe De Paz, to hold church services at 63 3rd St SW, an area zoned B-2, or central business district.

The variance came with a suggested denial from the planning commission. When Commissioner Rich Bragg asked the reason that a church would not be welcome in the downtown area, he cited multiple long-standing churches in the downtown area and multiple other churches using areas near downtown to meet.

Commissioner Drew Weinreis noted that there was no opposition to the church, and it had the support of businesses surrounding. Previous concerns cited about churches downtown regarding parking were recently addressed in actions taken by the commission.

In the end, the commission voted 4-1 to grant the variance with Mayor Harrington voting against the variance, citing a desire to listen to the planning commission recommendations.

Runge also presented a bid from Minnesota state bid to Kibble Equipment of Huron for a new tractor for the Waste Water Treatment Facility. The bid was for $68,245.87, which was under budget. This was approved.

The commission met for three work sessions.

The first was on the parking ramp project, known as the Crossroads Parking Lot project. Runge presented the commission with the layout of the preliminary plans to fill in the underground parking and create a 170-spot parking lot on the North side of the Hangar/Crossroads/Huron Event Center facility. The plans will be further refined before official approval and before going to bid on the project in April, but the hope is to have the work done over the summer, with completion by the end of September.

Parks & Recreation Director Chad Schroeder presented an update on the storm shelter project at Memorial Ballpark. Plans have changed with the initial scope and design of the project, and Schroeder was seeking guidance from the commission on how to best proceed forward. Finally, the commission reviewed fund balances in the general fund. After review of the COVID relief funds, designated funds to the “dirty water project” were reassigned to the upcoming Dakota Avenue project.

Commissioners also:
• Approved a raffle for Huron Little League.
• Set March 13 as the public hearing date to consider retail on-off sale malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine licenses filed by MG Oil Company for Corner Pantry #27, 563 3rd St SE Ste B, and Corner Pantry #30, 2075 Dakota Ave S Ste C.
• Approved the second reading of Ordinance 2249-23-411 regarding zoning of accessory buildings and structures.
• Authorized the employee wellness committee to apply for a Work Well grant through the Department of Health.

The commission finished the meeting in executive session on a personnel matter and to receive an information technology assessment.