HURON — During the consent agenda of Monday evening’s Huron City Commission meeting, the commission accepted the voluntary retirement/resignation of two long-time Huron city employees. Janet Bockorny retired, effective July 30, as the deputy finance director after more than 25 years with the city. Larry Cooper retired from his position as the manager of the Huron Regional Airport after 33 years of city employment on July 30.

Both long-time employees were commended for their dedicated service to Huron.

The meeting opened with public forum, which brought Huron Police Chief Derek Layher forward to encourage Huron residents to come out Tuesday from 5 to 8 p.m. at Campbell Park for National Night Out.

Multiple service organizations in the city will have booths, bouncy houses will be available for children, and multiple emergency vehicles will be present for youth to examine and potentially climb in! Layher also stated that multiple bikes will be raffled off.

Commissioner Drew Weinreis announced the results of last week’s city cleanup efforts. Weinreis reported that 37 total loads were brought in Tuesday and 58 loads were brought in Wednesday, for a total of 95 loads of debris on the two days. The final citywide cleanup days will be August 13-14 with the drop off on the South Dakota State Fairgrounds.

Assistant city engineer Dennis Bennett presented a pay request from North Star Logistics LLC for the work on the Huron Transfer Station in the amount of $453,158.46. Bennett noted that steel will be going back up at the facility “soon.”

Annual trailer court licenses were renewed for the Sheltered Trailer Court at 1500 3rd St. SW, Huron Mobile Estates at 541 Ohio Ave. NW, Huron Mobile Court at 602 Jersey Ave. NE, Wody’s Trailer Court at 1350 4th St. SW, and Prairie Villa at 1400 21st St. SW.

Amy Fullerton the director of Huron Housing presented an update on the work of Huron Housing. She explained that vacancy rates in Housing-owned properties has risen from six percent in 2023 to more than seven percent this year. Fullerton stated that much of the increase was due to additional rehabilitation being done on units after previous renters leave before renting out a property again.

She also reported that the Huron Choice Voucher program spent $720,000 in support of recipients in 2023 and is working to do even more this year. Finally, she discussed the housing rehabilitation program. She explained that this program has been slowly gaining speed, with nine applicants this year, up from six last year. The program allows for homeowners that meet income requirements to receive assistance doing repairs to homes they occupy.

Commissioners also:
• Approved the appointment of Jeff McGirr to the Mid Dakota Rural Water Board.
• Approved the appointment of Dale Fortin to the Capital Asset Committee.
• Approved removing Bockorny from the City of Huron banking and finance accounts and approved Finance Director Paullyn Carey to be the accont controller at Dakotaland FCU.
• Approved the resignation of Tucker Volesky as city attorney, effective August 31.

• Accepted the resignation of Jasmine Field from the 911 telecommunicator position.
• Approved posting and advertising for a 911 telecommunicator.
• Approved a 2024-2025 retail on-off sale malt beverage and South Dakota farm wine license for Fire Pit Pizzeria at 460 Dakota Ave. S.
• Approved Resolution No. 2024-08 to issue a letter of support for the Dakota Mainstream Regional Water System.

The commission held an executive session and then convened a work session on the 2025 city budget.