HURON – With sales tax receipts on the rise and announcements on new growth expected soon, the city of Huron is in excellent condition, Mayor Paul Aylward said Thursday.
“We’ve had a lot going on in the last couple three years and I think we’re going in the right direction,” he said at the annual State of the City luncheon.
“And there’s good days ahead for the city of Huron,” Aylward said. “I think you’ll be pleasantly pleased when you hear what’s going on.”
In the hour-long session, the mayor, Commissioner Gary Harrington and Police Chief Kevin Van Diepen talked about rising sales tax revenues, removal of run-down houses and the community’s anticipation of a new drug dog in the coming weeks.
The mayor also encouraged residents to get involved in the upcoming 2020 census. An accurate count locally and statewide is important because the amount of federal dollars coming to South Dakota is based on the census findings. The state receives $1,500 per capital in federal dollars.
U.S. Census Bureau staff will be in Huron Oct. 30 to conduct a training session at City Hall.
Hosted by the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau’s Governmental Affairs Committee and held in conjunction with the weekly Huron Kiwanis Club meeting, the event also featured the recognition of members of the current Leadership Huron class.
Huron is enjoying 7 percent increases in both the first and second penny sales taxes, Aylward said. Each tax is bringing in $2.7 million. First penny revenues go to the general fund and second penny money is earmarked for debt service and capital asset spending.
The third penny sales tax, more commonly known as the bed, board and booze tax, is raising $305,000 this year to promote the city and the chamber and to support the operation of the Event Center.
“Last year was a good year for sales tax; this year is even better,” the mayor said to applause.

“I think that says a lot about our businesses here in Huron and the people who pay the sales tax, the shoppers, the people who are staying here in Huron and spending their dollars here in Huron,” Aylward said. “And it all goes to make Huron better.”
The South Dakota State Fair and last summer’s National Junior High Finals Rodeo were two contributors to the higher sales tax revenues.
Huron will host the thousands of young contestants and their families and rodeo fans again this June.
“It was great this year and it’s going to be even better next year,” Aylward said. “We’re looking forward to that again.”
Commissioners, just in the past few weeks, adopted the city’s 2019 budget, which totals $31.5 million, or just 1 percent higher than last year.
Residents will see their water and solid waste rates going up 3 percent and their sewer rate going up 4 percent. Part of the reason for the hike is so the city can qualify for state grant funding for major treatment plant improvements.
Aylward said the city has begun implementation of findings from a 2017-2018 salary study that is raising city employee wages to the level paid by the 10 largest cities in the state. The new wage scale could be in place for up to 10 years, he said.
“We want to keep our employees well paid and up to the average of where everyone else is,” Aylward said.
Harrington, meanwhile, said nine houses and other structures have been torn down this year and three more are scheduled for demolition by the end of December. Last year 21 houses and other structures came down.
It costs about $12,000 to demolish a house. Four houses were close to condemnation, but were purchased and one is being renovated. Three houses were torn down by the owners. Four properties taken by the county for nonpayment of property taxes have been condemned. One will be taken down this year.
Aylward said removing deteriorated structures has been one of the issues he and Harrington have collaborated on since they came into office.
A 2012 housing study recommended that 100 houses in the city should be torn down, he said. The city has made a dent in it, but there is much more to do, he said. Aylward thanked Beadle County for its assistance.
In just a few weeks, the city water, sewer, traffic and street departments will move into the new $5.1 million public works building that is now 95 percent complete in the West Industrial Park.
Replacing the century-old, poorly lighted, inefficient facility in a residential neighborhood next to the Federal Property Agency has been another priority, the mayor said.
“This had been in the planning stages for a long time,” Aylward said. “Other city commissioners have worked on it, other mayors have worked on it and it just was a problem because of the cost.”
But he said money that has been set aside and accumulating for a number of years finally reached a level where the city could move forward on a project and not have to borrow money for it. An open house will allow the public to tour the new facilities in the near future.
Van Diepen announced that the police department’s drug dog, Cody, will be retiring in the next few weeks after having health problems. Replacing Cody will be Poli, a 16-month-old dog who graduates from training today.
Poli will be a great asset in law enforcement’s fight against drugs in Huron, Van Diepen said. Methamphetamine continues to be the major drug problem. The city is on pace to have 17 more meth cases than a year ago, he said.