City takes tally of special election results

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HURON — A canvass of the votes in last Tuesday’s special election confirmed the election night totals of 1,977 in favor and 465 against rezoning 10 acres for a multi-family development in southeast Huron.
Passage of the issue means that Sioux Falls developer Steve Boote can now proceed with the apartment and townhouse project in Southtown known as WheatGrass Village.
Boote has said work on the $8 million development would begin within a matter of weeks if the election outcome was positive.
Earlier this year, the City Commission voted to rezone property near 24th Street and Idaho Avenue Southeast to multi-family use. Petitions were then filed to refer that decision to a public vote.
Mayor Paul Aylward thanked all those who voted in the special election, saying the turnout was 32 percent of eligible voters.
He said that is a very good turnout “and which for a special election is just great.” Aylward said he was also gratified that many young people in Huron took an interest in the election.
In another announcement, Aylward said the city will once again offer an opportunity for residents to place usable, but no longer wanted items on the boulevard for others to consider taking free of charge.
The date is set for Saturday, June 10.
Also, Commissioner Mark Robish said the city is asking for volunteers to paint the fire hydrants. They can contact him at 350-3729 or City Hall for more information.

Commissioners also:
• Announced that they will not meet Monday in observance of the Memorial Day holiday. City offices will be closed that day.
• Announced that the solid waste department rubble site will be closed this Saturday and Monday due to the holiday weekend.
The Monday garbage, recycling and grass collection routes will be done on Wednesday, May 31. Containers should be out at the regular pickup point the night before as drivers will not be rerouted.
• Accepted the resignation of Guadalupe Tavarez from the library.
• Approved a progress payment of $59,674 to Dahme Construction Co. of Aberdeen for water main replacement work.
• Approved progress payments of $3,963 and $189,802 to Asphalt Paving & Materials Co. of Huron for street milling and paving work.
• Approved the transfer of a 2016-2017 retail on-off sale malt beverage license from Zheng’s Inc. to Yang Inc. at Panda Garden.
• Approved a home occupation permit filed by Donald Bennett, 1427 McDonald Drive, to operate a small engine, lawn and garden equipment and golf cart repair business.
• Approved 2017-2018 malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license applications.
• Renewed the contract with KONE for elevator maintenance.
• Authorized an application for West Nile Virus prevention grant funding through the state Department of Health. The city is requesting $15,000.
• Deferred for two weeks a resolution changing the fee for re-inspections of rental housing – if a re-inspection is required after any inspection to confirm/verify the corrections were done – from $20 up to a maximum of $500.
Commissioners said they want to talk with the city building inspector to get more information before making a decision. There was some discussion suggesting that a $500 maximum penalty is too high, but that a $20 fee is too low.
City Attorney Jeff Banks said the request is being made to give the inspector more discretion in assessing a fee when issues such as the property owner not showing up for an appointment arise.
He said the resolution came about not because of one missed appointment, but because those situations have become a real issue in the office.