[{"_1":2,"_100":-5,"_101":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,76,88],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},"mediaId",6073940,"mediaKeyId","2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6","parentId",2988423,"title","Votes at a glance: Watertown council approves recruiting firm, endorses SkyWest and signs off on permits, contracts and budget items","audioSeconds",5210,"startMs",1352000,"endMs",6562000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6&start=1352&end=6562","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6/thumbnail_1352000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6073940/South-Dakota/Votes-at-a-glance-Watertown-council-approves-recruiting-firm-endorses-SkyWest-and-signs-off-on-permits-contracts-and-budget-items","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073940-1ad25e3c560c3332f1cfe317b8ab2cb3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109666&Signature=j8MQMeSI0XZS6eQyVEatIs76FPQBg-o4ZxD5scRMr~pDek4MMwkmzJLTB-ATdD4-DpYqAPZznj36JEJ1vUg7LEEHNdNFTba470VgcWk3RuIC53wbrhOMQfodUHCPmWhKmO9SUJ1l9hmT1iqJ~f9nAbTww41TqWjI7eVvoJI9eS1WYAwqoXRZIXyx6BEB5ySa9BKdfXIr3EbLE0k10D8PyUdqhFeejLEstS0dBwB8-QFo4l39en0-kG9I3fwZznoHC5HN0MmkejVMHf3JMU26bOypbbX78odenLdrk4CQYHpHGrQzasaY23uj8Rs6TmurB8w2-HrFObipIYgjTHrKBw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Watertown","date","2025-02-03T00:00:00Z","article","The Watertown City Council took a series of votes on Feb. 3 on contracts, construction and operating items. Most passed by unanimous or near-unanimous roll call votes. Highlights and official outcomes are below.

Votes at a glance

- Recruiter for city manager: Approved — Council approved hiring Robert Half Group to assist in recruiting and vetting candidates for the city manager position. (Agenda item 9b; mover: Councilman Peters; second: Councilman Jerns; result: unanimous.)

- Essential Air Service (EAS): Approved — Council authorized the mayor and interim city manager to send a letter recommending SkyWest Airlines to the U.S. Department of Transportation for Watertown’s EAS contract. (Agenda item 9a; mover: Councilman Jerns; second: Councilman Danforth; result: passed, Peters recorded the lone no vote.)

- County parking-lot maintenance MOU: Approved — Council approved a memorandum of understanding between the City of Watertown and Coddington County to add two county parking lots to the city’s 2025 crack-and-chip project; the county will pay 100% for the courthouse lot and share 50/50 the lot at the Coke softball complex. (Agenda item 9c; mover: Councilman Jurins; second: Councilman Shutti; result: unanimous.)

- 2025 Miscellaneous concrete project: Approved (partial) — Council awarded the work for locations 3 and 4 to Seth Scapes LLC for $28,753 and rejected bids for locations 1 and 2 (bids for the latter exceeded estimates). (Agenda item 9d; mover: Councilman Tupper; second: Councilman Peters; result: unanimous.)

- City Hall elevator project: Rejected bids — Council rejected the single bid received for the 2025 City Hall elevator project because it was approximately twice the engineer’s estimate. Staff reported they can pursue repairs for an interim cost in the $30,000–$50,000 range. (Agenda item 9e; mover: Councilman Danforth; second: Councilman Jerns; result: unanimous.)

- Ordinance, second reading — Fines: Approved — Council held a second reading and approved an ordinance increasing the city maximum fine from $200 to $500 (adopts state changes for class 2 misdemeanors). City Attorney said the change does not mean every fine will be increased to $500. (Agenda item 11a; mover: Councilman Peters; second: Councilman Tupper; result: unanimous.)

- Building permit extension: Approved with reimbursement condition — Council extended the expired commercial building permit for the “Ruins” apartment project at 315 East Kemp and approved a condition to reimburse the waived extension fee if the developer obtains a certificate of occupancy (CO). Staff said the one-year extension is intended to allow completion; the developer asked that the fee (half the permit fee, listed at $12,341.50) be waived and council approved contingent reimbursement upon CO. (Agenda item 12a; mover: Councilman Bueller; second: Councilman Tupper; result: unanimous as amended.)

- Declare current City Hall surplus: Approved — Council declared the existing City Hall surplus and authorized staff to proceed with a sealed-bid sale (statute requires sealed bids or auction as the first step). Appraisal and sale terms to be returned to council for approval. (Agenda item 12b; mover: Councilman Danforth; second: Councilman Peters; result: unanimous.)

- Bridge inspection services: Approved — Council authorized Civil Design Inc. (CDI) to perform 2025 bridge and culvert inspections; the program is funded 80% by federal/state monies and 20% by the city (city share roughly $1,600 for the work this year). (Agenda item 12c; mover: Councilman Tupper; second: Councilman Shutti; result: unanimous.)

- Fire truck repair contingency: Approved — Council authorized use of contingency funds to repair a Watertown Fire Rescue engine after an internal-engine failure; staff estimated the overhaul at roughly $23,000 (engine replacement would have been costlier). Spartan (manufacturer) said it would assist in covering some costs; exact contribution not specified in discussion. (Agenda item 12d; mover: Councilman Tupper; second: Councilman Jerns; result: unanimous.)

What the votes mean

The council approved the immediate and operational items that staff and advisory boards recommended, including the airport recommendation to DOT and the hiring of a national recruiting firm. Several items include follow-up administrative actions (contract execution, appraisals, DOT petitioning for route changes, and implementation details) that staff must carry out and report back to council.

Records and next steps

Council members and staff noted specific next steps: staff will execute the Robert Half engagement and post recruitment links; airport staff will forward the SkyWest recommendation to DOT and monitor any DOT petition regarding route changes (for example, Minneapolis); staff will develop sale documents and an appraisal for the city hall property and will return to council to accept sealed bids or consider alternate sale methods if the bid process fails.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Meeting - 2-3-2025","oneSentenceSummary","The Watertown City Council took a series of votes on Feb. 3, approving contracts, a recommendation to DOT for Essential Air Service and several construction and procurement items.","taxTitle","City of Watertown, Codington County, South Dakota","taxId",64127,"location","South Dakota","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":77,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":78,"_41":79,"_43":80,"_45":81,"_47":82,"_49":83,"_51":84,"_53":85,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":86,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":87,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6073944,"Council backs SkyWest recommendation for Watertown’s Essential Air Service",960,2136000,3096000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6&start=2136&end=3096","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6/thumbnail_2136000.jpg","/articles/6073944/South-Dakota/Council-backs-SkyWest-recommendation-for-Watertowns-Essential-Air-Service","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073944-d48dfbbda9ed4e7ef8ee1e6ff9c0abf4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109666&Signature=I-jbqaFbg2SPA9o818C9WFxs0ktl8NFECbGgDE2zRsFf6EPp27pgPrM~iMcFwr26oM8eHj9xW9BtmGsQbEY0fmmwBR~qrMdCWsf0cWuWDNDjIRKVuKiu-79TKdEzEg8LkRBeugvX187tPolzK4D7hbTu2rajxc~ibjMe2E287K0kKalqE6Nuzz9NF5rfdPkdm8vikhY4YaxXF3ko7DF5~aRIV4x15JErUzeZTaKh8Dlf4Qg1gIQZYDf9SXR5bpzkhy7lMXG5Y4COqA~vnbRfJP8h6txx9PWUIaNYujBu3QEz7cO7AJ7N1x5fBkJWQMRCbhG~f8DT70HxJIUM6UmhHg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Watertown City Council voted Feb. 3 to authorize the mayor and interim city manager to send a letter recommending SkyWest Airlines to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) as the community’s carrier under the Essential Air Service (EAS) program.

Airport Manager Ian Merriweather summarized the airport board’s process, saying the board held two meetings (one about 3½ hours and a second about 45 minutes) during which applicants made presentations and the board reviewed proposals and aircraft options. \"We had 3 actually very good applications,\" Merriweather said. \"The board came to their decision within the best interest of what they believe to help Watertown and its flying public.\"

Jerry Scribe, vice chair of the Watertown Airport Board, and Wes Wilkins, chair of the airport board, explained the board’s recommendation and cited several factors that favored SkyWest. The board emphasized full codeshare capability with major carriers (SkyWest operates as a regional partner for Delta, United, American and Alaska), which the board said reduces confusion for connecting passengers, simplifies ticketing and better supports business travelers. Jerry Scribe told the council that SkyWest’s codeshare arrangements mean a single itinerary and more seamless rebooking during irregular operations; he said that finding was a major part of the board’s evaluation.

The airport board also noted economic considerations. According to board discussion presented to council, SkyWest’s subsidy request was lower than Denver Air Connection’s by about $535,000 in the first two years and about $1,470,000 in the second two years, yielding roughly $2 million less requested subsidy over four years. The board presented that figure as likely influential to the DOT, which considers compensation as part of its selection criteria.

Council members pressed for clarity on Minneapolis (MSP) routing and code-share details. Some council members said Denver Air Connection had included a Minneapolis option in its written proposal while SkyWest did not include Minneapolis in its initial EAS proposal; SkyWest representatives later indicated they would pursue a Minneapolis routing with a Delta partner if selected. Airport board members said a Minneapolis option would require an additional petition to DOT but that a change usually is possible if the subsidy request does not change.

Councilman Peters said he would vote no because SkyWest’s Minneapolis option was not in SkyWest’s original written proposal; other council members said they had confidence in the airport board’s detailed review, noting SkyWest’s operational scale, codeshare advantages for business travelers and the four‑member airport board’s unanimous recommendation. The council voted by roll call; the motion to authorize the mayor and interim manager to recommend SkyWest to DOT passed with one recorded no vote (Councilman Peters).

Airport board leaders noted the board’s vote was unanimous. Merriweather told the council the board had held extensive questioning about reliability, connectivity and marketing, and that SkyWest’s offer to explore Minneapolis service and to position overnight equipment to support early-morning departures for business travelers factored into the recommendation. The council’s formal recommendation will be forwarded to DOT; DOT makes the final choice under the Essential Air Service program.","The Watertown City Council voted Feb. 3 to authorize the mayor and interim city manager to recommend SkyWest Airlines to the U.S. Department of Transportation as the community’s Essential Air Service carrier.",{"_33":89,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":90,"_41":91,"_43":92,"_45":93,"_47":94,"_49":95,"_51":96,"_53":97,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":98,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":99,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":72,"_73":74,"_75":74},6073949,"Watertown council approves Robert Half to lead expedited city manager search",1160,940000,2100000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6&start=940&end=2100","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2988423-0c14913e38cb6ff14819f7de1ff8a8b6/thumbnail_940000.jpg","/articles/6073949/South-Dakota/Watertown-council-approves-Robert-Half-to-lead-expedited-city-manager-search","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6073949-89363707424ec07a749428bb52f888cb/orig.mp4?Expires=1771109666&Signature=bdEFRvuMlavLkAOidgjIU0exr~E7z4UQu46d5nTA02Z4KPPgWk57kPUWdEqoIxU4B2KfPn5OjpNXgnHxuTS8He7Nv2m~uBKzHJOOU6TkbHsyByhBmZoFd9iktATlLsc4GQUIqXLwIeK7q1q3JBM1e27PF5Wa92qH~FMnEt92w0GZC-EraTrUPNC6NhfiUKtJFRaTxD4rZgfvhVb9vFZ0ZJRWGK8Nrs-mf5YA2FjY30UX~gIegjNi~CLnx~vCGhjp~7JmUKLRHUbq6GlPfIUGLv9N3orlPC~26mas0ii~f-Cr4OWss8qIL5-zxftC2gLiWYzrr~YW2OeWEKHYnSbm7w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Watertown City Council on Feb. 3 authorized hiring the Robert Half Group to conduct a national search for a new city manager, following a formal recommendation from the council’s Succession Planning Committee.

The recommendation came from Rob Peterson, chairman of the Succession Planning Committee, who told the council the committee issued a revised job description, issued a request for proposals and received two responses. “We’re recommending that we go with the Robert Half Group as our firm to help us find the next city manager,” Peterson said. The council approved the motion by roll call vote; the motion passed unanimously.

The committee said it selected Robert Half because it is a national executive-search firm and can run a broader search than regional firms. Peterson said the net effect should be a faster, more varied candidate pool: Robert Half would seek candidates nationally, present roughly 8 to 10 candidates to the committee, the committee would interview and trim that list, then forward 2–3 finalists to the council for final interviews and selection.

Interim City Manager Bob Zine and the committee told the council they prefer an expedited timeline. Peterson characterized the process as “fairly quick — a couple of months” compared with an alternative that could take eight to nine months. HR Director Nichols told council members that the city will post recruitment links on the city manager page of the city website and recommended adding the posting to the SDML (South Dakota Municipal League) portal.

Council members asked about public involvement and internal candidates. Peterson and other committee members said any internal or local candidate should go through the same vetting process handled by the recruiting firm to ensure parity and avoid later questions about whether finalists were adequately vetted. Peterson added the committee could, if council directed it, include select stakeholders in interviews but advised caution about large public interview forums.

Council discussion also addressed the revised job description the committee drafted to streamline and focus the city manager qualifications. Councilman Peters said the group shortened the prior eight-page description to three pages and said that “less is more” would likely attract more candidates. Several council members expressed support for seeking a candidate with a “CEO mindset,” including private-sector or nonprofit executives who can manage complex organizations and work with an appointed council.

The motion approved tonight directs staff to contract with Robert Half Group to assist the committee and council in recruiting and vetting candidates for the city manager position.","The City Council voted to hire Robert Half Group to conduct a national executive search for a new city manager after a Succession Planning Committee recommended the firm, citing a shorter timeline and broader candidate reach. Council discussed public involvement, candidate vetting, and the search timeline.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: Watertown council approves recruiting firm, endorses SkyWest and signs off on permits, contracts and budget items

Council backs SkyWest recommendation for Watertown’s Essential Air Service

Watertown council approves Robert Half to lead expedited city manager search