The City Council meeting in Hot Springs, South Dakota, on April 7, 2025, focused on several key topics, including upcoming municipal elections, legislative updates, and necessary ordinance revisions.

The council announced that six individuals have submitted nominating petitions for five open seats in the upcoming municipal election, which will take place in Ward 1 only. The candidates include Hal Glanville, Craig Romey, and Randy Graham for Ward 1; Linda Varvel for Ward 3; and Deborah Johnson and Gary Telkamp for Ward 4. Notably, no petitions were submitted for Ward 2, resulting in a vacancy that will need to be filled in July. Voters are encouraged to check their registration status, with the last day to register being May 19 by 5 PM. Absentee ballots for both the municipal and school board elections will be available from May 19 through June 2 at City Hall.

City officials also attended the South Dakota Municipal League (SDML) annual District 9 meeting in Custer, where they received updates on the recent legislative session. Key issues discussed included property taxes, pipelines, firearms, voting rights, prisons, and policies affecting transgender individuals. The session was deemed successful, with several new laws set to take effect on July 1, which will impact city operations.

Additionally, the council reviewed a growing list of ordinances identified for revision, including chapters on water, wastewater, storm sewer, fire prevention, licenses, subdivisions, and zoning codes. All proposed revisions will require two readings before becoming effective 20 days after publication in the city's official newspaper.

In other news, the council noted that city offices will be closed on April 18 and April 21 for administrative leave in observance of the Easter holiday, with the next council meeting rescheduled to April 22. The assistant finance officer will represent the city in the upcoming meeting.

Overall, the meeting highlighted important electoral preparations, legislative developments, and ongoing efforts to update city ordinances, reflecting the council's commitment to community engagement and governance.