HURON – An upcoming major project at Huron Regional Medical Center is one of a number of indicators that the city continues to do well, Mayor Paul Aylward said Thursday.
“The last couple of years have been really good as far as the city is concerned,” he said at the District 22 Democratic Forum.
Building permits in 2017 reached $33 million in valuation, about twice the previous record high in Huron, Aylward said.
Much of it can be attributed to the commercial and residential construction going on at Southtown, but there were also significant projects in the West Industrial Park and on the east side of town.
As 2018 dawned, HRMC is planning to begin a $2.4 million remodeling of its birthing center, he said.
“It’s a big project and it’s kind of nice to see that they need to remodel a birthing unit, because of the numbers of babies that are being born in Huron,” Aylward said.
“It’s nice to see the population growing in Huron,” he said.
The city also experienced healthy sales tax revenues in 2016 when workers were here for much of the year constructing the Dakota Access Pipeline.
Receipts were up 7 percent that year.
“It’s been a long time since we’ve seen a 7 percent increase in sales taxes,” Aylward said.
The city has set aside funds for years to replace its street shop, a century-old building in a residential neighborhood that he refers to as a dungeon.
The new shop in the West Industrial Park will put the street, water, sewer and traffic departments under one roof, with a second building on the site for cold storage.

Dirt and foundation work is done, and the structural steel is expected to arrive this month.
The project will cost about $5.3 million, with the total amount available in reserves and restricted funds.
Huron will host the National Junior High Finals Rodeo this summer, an event expected to have a $7 million economic impact on the city.
More than 70 volunteers are needed to serve on the rodeo committee, and those interested are asked to contact the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau.
Huron will also play host to two major softball tournaments, Aylward said.
Joining the apartment complexes, townhouses and commercial ventures under construction at Southtown will be a new Ford and Chrysler dealership facility for Iverson Motors.
Aylward said owner John Iverson was the first individual to purchase property in the addition.
Architectural plans are now being drafted and dirt work is expected to get under way this summer, with the project completed by fall of 2019.
Along with the new public works building in the West Industrial Park are the latest Dakota Provisions facility and a locally owned North Central Foam business.
When it’s up to speed, the Dakota Provisions plant will employ up to 250 workers. North Central Foam, now up and running, will eventually have 40 workers to produce insulation for homes and highway construction, Aylward said.
Meanwhile, the mayor said he wanted to share news about some of the city’s newest residents.
The Karen population of refugees from Myanmar, also known as Burma, have formed an association. The city has agreed to provide the organization with an office in the Fine Arts Center for a year. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday.
“Their job is going to be to try to integrate their culture into our culture and make it so there’s understanding both ways,” Aylward said.
“I’m really optimistic on how that’s going to work, because they are a part of our community and they plan to remain a part of our community, and I think it’s incumbent on us to help them assimilate,” he said.