HURON — The Huron City Commission completed the regular meeting Monday evening and then moved to a work session that involved downtown businesses and led to the commission room being packed with people ready to hear the plans for downtown construction in 2024.

Huron Chamber President/CEO Laurie Shelton thanked all the business owners for showing up and opened the forum for questions regarding the plans for travel in the downtown corridor. Huron area Department of Transportation (DOT) engineer Brad Letcher explained most of the details about the plans that have been tentatively finalized at this point.

Letcher noted that the plans will go to bid for contractor in March 2024, though he would like it earlier. “I’m pushing for January, but we’ll see,” Letcher explained. “January would allow more time for securing supplies for the job and everything else.”

Once a contractor bid has been chosen, the city will approve the bid, and then the contractor who is awarded the bid will hold a public meeting to lay out final plans in April 2024, with the project beginning work in May 2024.

Letcher explained that the project will be completed in three phases: 3rd Street North to Market Avenue, Market to 5th Street South, and 5th Street South to 9th Street South. The second project along Dakota, affecting 9th Street South to 21st Street South, is planned for 2026.

Business representatives in attendance asked questions regarding parking during the project. Commissioners and Letcher both encouraged the use of city parking lots during the project to offset lost parking in front of the building. Businesses will retain a five-foot strip of sidewalk in front of their building until the day that it is being replaced, and replacement should last one day, meaning that throughout the project, access will be nearly continuous.

Letcher emphasized that the project is planned for one year, to be completed in November 2024.

“That is why we have the second portion (from 9th to 21st) planned for 2026,” Letcher said. “That allows for weather or whatever else may come up to potentially bump completion back, but the contractor will be incentivized to complete within the time frame.”

Questions were asked about hooking into the new city water line that will be done while the street is torn up. City engineering was contacted to report that the plan is to have the city pay for a portion of new line, but businesses could choose to add in new line at the time to update existing lines in their buildings.

Business owners expressed concerns about upkeep of alleyways and parking lots during additional traffic. Private parking spaces were also addressed, with businesses encouraged to place signage for any private or leased parking throughout the project. Ted Haeder also explained how Greater Huron Development’s facade grant could assist with alley entrance work if a business chose to do that ahead of the construction.

Final plans will be approved before going to bid in March, so some things could change slightly before then, but commissioners and Letcher both thanked the business owners for sharing concerns that will assist in the finalization of plans before approval and going to bid.

To begin the regular meeting, Linda Marcus addressed the commission during public forum, encouraging a city staff member or two to take the South Dakota State University master gardener course in order to learn to properly care for the trees, flowers, and other greenery within the city.

Commissioner Rich Bragg spoke on behalf of the Solid Waste department to note that the large cardboard bins are not being picked up in the city, but this does NOT affect the pickup of cardboard in individual residence recycling bins. Bragg stated that Solid Waste has been receiving calls with some misinformation, so this was clarified.

The commission approved a transfer of funds to Greater Huron Development Corporation for purchase of property. The property would then be deeded back to the city. Cost is currently estimated at $1.4 million. Further details on the proposed use of the property will be presented to the commission once acquired.

The IT department was set up with a separate line item within the city budget, department 103 in the General Fund. The department will have a total budget of $318,487.

An adjustment on the final contract for the City Hall conference room updates were approved with an increase of $6,147.14 from the approved budget item. COVID Cares fund reserves will be used to offset the expenditure.

Commissioners also:

• Approved a raffle filed by Starla McKown for Fire Pit Pizza.
• Approved the hiring of Nicholas Ferguson for the IT Specialist position.
• Approved the hiring of Curtis Ryman for the Park Maintenance I position.
• Approved the posting and advertising for an engineering technician position.
• Approved the job description, posting and advertising for a project engineer position.
• Approved hiring Landon Wager as pro shop attendant at Broadland Creek Golf Course.
• Approved hiring Jay Kightlinger for a part-time year-round custodian position with the Parks & Rec department.
• Approved the hire of part-time seasonal positions for Parks & Rec and Splash Central Waterpark.
• Approved the second reading of Ordinance 2254-5-134 pertaining to the Business Improvement District.