Weinreis sworn in as commissioner

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HURON — To open the Huron city commission meeting Monday evening, city finance director Paullyn Carey had newly-elected city commissioner Drew Weinreis raise his right hand and swore in the new commissioner.

With the addition of Weinreis, the official roles were adjusted on the commission. Commissioner Bryan Smith retains the role as finance and revenue commissioner and Commissioner Mark Robish retains the role as public safety commissioner. Commissioner Rich Bragg will move into the role of utilities commissioner and Weinreis will fill the role as public works commissioner.

Assistant city engineer Dennis Bennett presented a recommendation to purchase a Bobcat skid-steer loader from Clark Equipment Co. for $45,902.92 for the Solid Waste Department. This was under the budgeted amount of $50,000 and was approved.

Bennett presented payment #2 to Gridor Construction Inc for the wastewater treatment facility for work that has been completed in the amount of $200,097.90. Commissioner Robish asked about the phases of the wastewater project, and Bennett explained that Gridor’s portion will entail all of Phase I. This payment was approved.

The final discussion Bennett brought to the commission was regarding the street milling and overlay project being done by Asphalt Paving & Materials Co. A payment for $108,483.65 was approved and a net change in the project for additional overlay of $94,922.40 was approved by the commission.

Frank Palleria spoke to the commission about the Huron Municipal Band. He requested $2,500 from the commission for expenses for the band. Palleria also requested that the band be included in annual budget discussions as a recurring part of the city budget to ensure the band does not go away.

Previously, the commission had allotted $1,500 to the municipal band, but Commissioner Bragg made the motion to give the band $2,000 this year and revisit the amount during budgeting going forward. This was approved.

Library director Shirley Apley presented the commission with a grant program that the library had been awarded for an internship program for the summer. The commission approved a memorandum of understanding for the position and a job description.

Commissioners also:
• Proclaimed May 6 as the National Day of Prayer.

Designated the Huron Plainsman as the official newspaper for the City of Huron.
• Approved the official depositories for the City of Huron.
• Approved a parade permit filed by the Huron Chamber & Visitors Bureau for an Independence Day Parade on July 3, contingent upon approval by SD Dept. of Transportation for use of Hwy 37.
• Approved the transfer of Derek Layher to Detective Captain in the police department.
Approved the hire of Elaine Hines as engineering department intern.
• Accepted the resignation of Courtney Gibson from the police department.
• Approved the correction in the posting/advertising date for the Parks & Recreation Director.
• Approved the hire of Deb Mattke as park maintenance in the parks & recreation department.
• Approved the termination of Galin Larson as Ravine Lake Ranger with the parks & recreation department.
• Approved a special event on-sale alcoholic beverage license for Huron Little League for the Canaries game on May 7 at Memorial Baseball Park.
• Approved re-appointment of appointed city officers.

In his new role as utilities commissioner, Commissioner Bragg read the following statement from the solid waste department:

“The solid waste department will go back to our regular collection schedule of one time per week beginning Monday, May 3.

Trash, recycling, and yard waste collections will all be done on regular pick up day, so be sure to have bins in place the night before as trucks will not be rerouted.

Please keep containers three feet apart and away from other objects with the arrows on the lid facing toward the alley or street.

Please call 353-8542 if you have any questions.”