McGirr: Finding workers to fill openings is big job in Huron

HURON — With a new primary focus on the retention and expansion of local businesses, Greater Huron Development Corporation has also been busy due to an unusually large amount of commercial business activity in the last six months, said David McGirr, president and chief executive officer.
In a semi-annual report to the City Commission, he said GHDC is working with several businesses looking to either expand, relocate or start new in Huron.
“While all of these are not likely to occur, the level of interest in Huron is very high, which is encouraging for our future,” McGirr said.
Workforce development remains the city’s greatest need, but is also the hardest to accomplish, he said.
“There is no silver bullet to quickly or easily solve this problem,” McGirr said.”We literally have businesses that are unable to complete planned expansions, or even maintain past production levels, because they can’t fill both skilled and unskilled job openings.”
He said GHDC is working with the Governor’s Office of Economic Development and a group of similar-sized South Dakota communities to identify best practices for attracting new residents. But all indicators are that it will be a long-term problem, not just for Huron but for the state and nation.
Ted Haeder, the new vice president and chief operating officer who came on board recently, introduced himself to the commission and shared the development experience he brings to the job.
In news about the housing market, McGirr said Broadland Creek, Prairie Green and the Shallbetter residential developments all have building activity, with mid-to-high-level new homes under construction.
“However, there is still an unmet need for new and newly renovated starter homes that are critical to attracting young professionals and families to our community,” he said.
New incentives were recently announced to encourage the construction of new entry-level housing in Southtown.
McGirr also updated commissioners on activity at Southtown, the West Industrial Park and elsewhere.

SOUTHTOWN
• Wheatgrass Village — Eighty-one unit multi-family housing complex opened June 1 and rental activity has been above initial projections.
• Jefferson Village — Forty unit senior housing complex is 70 percent completed.
• Ground Round — Opened mid-May.
• Dakotaland Federal Credit Union headquarters — Construction on pace to finish this year.

• ELO Professional Accountants and Huron Title Company — Framing is completed on the joint office building and occupancy is expected in the fourth quarter.
• Iverson Motors — Building design is finalized, survey work under way and dirt work will begin in late summer.

WEST INDUSTRIAL PARK
• North Central Foam — Limited production began in late January.
• Dakota Provisions West — First production line opened in late January and is now at normal production.
• City public works building — Occupancy expected in the fourth quarter. GHDC helped secure a grant to pave Third Street from Pennington Avenue to Westpark Avenue, with bid specifications to go out soon.
• GHDC spec building 9 — Bids were let this spring for a 30,000-square-foot building on Union Avenue. Work to begin soon.

ELSEWHERE
• Asphalt Paving & Materials — New headquarters completed in east Huron.
• Nordby Center for Recreation — Renovations have been completed in reception area and locker rooms.
• Lori Rathjen — She is constructing a new mini-mall on Lincoln Avenue Southwest. All but one space has been rented out.
• Fieldstone Properties — Renovations are under way at the former feed mill site north of Iverson Ford on Market Street. One building has been moved off site, one has been renovated and a new structure will be built this fall with two rental spots for commercial businesses.
• Huron Regional Medical Center — Mid-way through renovation of the third floor. The project will expand and renovate facilities for delivering newborns.
Meanwhile, Mayor Paul Aylward said the new odd-even watering schedule will take effect July 26. However, residents are encouraged to begin following it now as the heat of the summer is ongoing. For more information, visit  or call City Hall.
In other action, commissioners, convening as the board of adjustment, approved a variance request filed by ABE South Dakota LLC to construct a truck scale one foot from the north property line at 694 Westpark Ave. N.W.
ABE South Dakota is purchasing land from Overbuilt, which has indicated support for the project and reduced setback. The scale will be outside, above ground, open with guardrails and a bumper.
Commissioners also:
• Accepted the voluntary resignation of Nick Bogart, police officer.
• Approved the hiring of Jacob Westover for a police officer position.
• Approved the hiring of Belinda Songer as a volunteer firefighter.
• Approved the regular status of Tim Opheim as detective sergeant after completing his probation.
• Approved the promotion of Rob Harder within the parks and recreation department.
• Appointed David Harrington to the Huron Golf Advisory Board to succeed Ben Dragt.
• Approved a special event on-sale alcoholic beverage license filed by The New Plains for a wedding reception Aug. 4 at the Campus Center.
• Approved a special event on-sale alcoholic beverage license filed by the South Dakota State Fair for the Grandstand area in designated party zone and VIP areas Aug. 29 through Sept. 3 during the State Fair.
• Approved an application for alcoholic beverage consumption in a public area and a raffle filed by the Sioux Falls Jaycees for a reunion potluck Sept. 7-9 in the Women’s Building on the state fairgrounds.
• Approved an application for alcoholic beverage consumption in a public area filed by Linda Bell for a wedding Aug. 25 at Memorial Park south shelter.
• Approved a $332,741 progress payment to Kyburz Carlson Construction of Aberdeen for the public works building.
• Approved plats filed by Gary Rudloff for Rudy’s Lots 1 & 2, by the Ron Wiedner Trust, Kurtis and Denise Brock, Neil and Pamela Poulisse, Lea Ulvestad and Aung Asian Market Inc., Kyaw Aye for Lots E, F, G, H and I of Frank’s Addition and by Craig Jones for Jones Outlot 3.