Votes at a glance: Hot Springs council approves routine claims, personnel actions, ordinances, appointments and budget supplements
April 12, 2025 | Hot Springs, Fall River County, South Dakota
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The City of Hot Springs City Council approved a set of routine and substantive items at its April meeting. Key outcomes approved by the council included:
- Amended agenda: Council voted to amend the agenda to change New Business Item A from $11,000 to $12,500 and to delete items D, I and J. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Minutes: The council approved minutes from the March 17 meeting. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Claims and bills: The council approved interim bills totaling $304,047.07; current claims of $116,441.28; Wells Fargo credit card claims of $6,517.46. All motions passed by voice vote.
- Personnel actions: The council approved two groups of personnel actions — full‑time items A through H and a second group A through V — by voice vote.
- Ordinance 1265 (second reading): The council approved the second reading of ordinance 1265, revising Title 9 (General Regulations), Chapter 90 (Animals and Fowl), Section 90.04 (Keeping of Animals). Roll call recorded: Larry Cratt — Yes; Linda Varvel — Yes; JR Huddleston — Yes; Travis Orbach — No; Gary Telkamp — Yes; Hal Glanville — Yes; Bill Lukens — Yes. Motion passed 7‑1.
- Resolution 2025‑9: The council approved Resolution 2025‑9 to support the "Christmas in the Hills" Light Up the Town campaign, with revised language to guarantee a three‑year sponsorship commitment for business banners and to clarify the months decorations may be displayed (November through March, contingent on staffing availability). Motion passed by voice vote.
- Airport and grant actions: The council approved awarding the AWOS 3 contract to Efemerson Electric in the amount of $387,145.44 (contingent on FAA funding) and authorized the mayor to sign FAA and SD DOT grant documents (anticipated FAA AIP grant number 3‑46‑0020‑019‑2025). Both motions passed by voice vote.
- Wayfinding packet: Council approved the 2025 wayfinding packet for submission to the South Dakota DOT; staff estimated sign costs at roughly $5,000–$7,500 and confirmed available budgeted funds for the project.
- Public hearing scheduled: Council scheduled a public hearing for April 22 at 7:10 p.m. to hear comments on proposed zoning code changes to Section 155.058 (cannabis dispensary hours of operation). Motion passed.
- Plat approval: Council approved the plat of Engstrom Tract of Boulder Falls Addition, combining Lots GC‑64 and GC‑73. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Financial/investment actions: Council authorized reinvestment of a maturing U.S. Treasury bond at South Dakota FIT for a six‑month term at roughly 4.03% (subject to market fluctuations) and approved several automatic budget supplements tied to FAA AIP reimbursements and other grant reimbursements (amounts as listed in packet: $32,500.78; $4,736.88; $13,050.59; $2,717.29). All motions passed by voice vote.
- Appointments: The council reappointed Brian Powers to the Historic Preservation Commission for a two‑year term and appointed Jason Heidebrink to the Planning Commission for a five‑year term (2025–2029). Motions passed.
Most motions were adopted by voice vote; where a roll call was recorded it is noted above. Where the packet or transcript did not give a recorded tally, the article reports the motion outcome as "passed" and notes the method (voice vote).
- Amended agenda: Council voted to amend the agenda to change New Business Item A from $11,000 to $12,500 and to delete items D, I and J. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Minutes: The council approved minutes from the March 17 meeting. Motion approved by voice vote.
- Claims and bills: The council approved interim bills totaling $304,047.07; current claims of $116,441.28; Wells Fargo credit card claims of $6,517.46. All motions passed by voice vote.
- Personnel actions: The council approved two groups of personnel actions — full‑time items A through H and a second group A through V — by voice vote.
- Ordinance 1265 (second reading): The council approved the second reading of ordinance 1265, revising Title 9 (General Regulations), Chapter 90 (Animals and Fowl), Section 90.04 (Keeping of Animals). Roll call recorded: Larry Cratt — Yes; Linda Varvel — Yes; JR Huddleston — Yes; Travis Orbach — No; Gary Telkamp — Yes; Hal Glanville — Yes; Bill Lukens — Yes. Motion passed 7‑1.
- Resolution 2025‑9: The council approved Resolution 2025‑9 to support the "Christmas in the Hills" Light Up the Town campaign, with revised language to guarantee a three‑year sponsorship commitment for business banners and to clarify the months decorations may be displayed (November through March, contingent on staffing availability). Motion passed by voice vote.
- Airport and grant actions: The council approved awarding the AWOS 3 contract to Efemerson Electric in the amount of $387,145.44 (contingent on FAA funding) and authorized the mayor to sign FAA and SD DOT grant documents (anticipated FAA AIP grant number 3‑46‑0020‑019‑2025). Both motions passed by voice vote.
- Wayfinding packet: Council approved the 2025 wayfinding packet for submission to the South Dakota DOT; staff estimated sign costs at roughly $5,000–$7,500 and confirmed available budgeted funds for the project.
- Public hearing scheduled: Council scheduled a public hearing for April 22 at 7:10 p.m. to hear comments on proposed zoning code changes to Section 155.058 (cannabis dispensary hours of operation). Motion passed.
- Plat approval: Council approved the plat of Engstrom Tract of Boulder Falls Addition, combining Lots GC‑64 and GC‑73. Motion passed by voice vote.
- Financial/investment actions: Council authorized reinvestment of a maturing U.S. Treasury bond at South Dakota FIT for a six‑month term at roughly 4.03% (subject to market fluctuations) and approved several automatic budget supplements tied to FAA AIP reimbursements and other grant reimbursements (amounts as listed in packet: $32,500.78; $4,736.88; $13,050.59; $2,717.29). All motions passed by voice vote.
- Appointments: The council reappointed Brian Powers to the Historic Preservation Commission for a two‑year term and appointed Jason Heidebrink to the Planning Commission for a five‑year term (2025–2029). Motions passed.
Most motions were adopted by voice vote; where a roll call was recorded it is noted above. Where the packet or transcript did not give a recorded tally, the article reports the motion outcome as "passed" and notes the method (voice vote).
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